A Guy Who's SUPER-Into His Church

I'd be lying to myself if I said I wasn't a little outraged when I read a link from the Glamour twitter account.

The question proposed was:

"Should I Consider Marrying a Guy Who's SUPER-Into His Church?"

Before I even read what came after this question I was already upset that there has come a point in our society where a man that is 'SUPER-Into His Church' would be a reason NOT to marry him. For me that would definitely go on the PRO side of the pro/con list. The first paragraph of her letter read like this:

"I’m in love with the MOST amazing man! We have so much in common, and the best part is, he accepts me for who I am.
Here’s my concern: He does a LOT of volunteer work through his church, which takes a lot of time from me."

Whoa now! Since when did volunteering become a bad thing?! She has this most amazing man. A man she shares so much in common with and a man that accepts her as she is.

So here is my problem with this entire thing: Why can't she accept him for who he is? Actually, why can't she accept him for who he is in HIM, our Lord. To have a fiance that is dedicated to God and willing to spend his life working for Him is a gift. Isn't this a trait that you'd want your husband to be able to pass down to your children. A husband that not only talks the talk but walks the walk?

I guess the most disheartening part of the whole thing was when she complained about how his volunteering takes time away from her. His life is dedicated to doing what God asks and hers is dedicated to doing what she asks. While he is worrying about those that are less fortunate she is worrying about herself.

I don't write about this to degrade her or to judge her as a person. In my Theology of the Body class this evening our instructor talked to us about judging. There are three things that people judge in this world and only two of them are okay.

1. You can judge words.
2. You can judge actions.
3. You cannot judge people.

He explained it like this: If you were a teacher and a child took a test and answered a question wrong you would have to mark it wrong. You would have to judge the words. If this same student threw a rock at another kid at recess and you saw him you would have to give him the appropriate punishment. You would judge his actions. You wouldn't however, judge the student. You would never go up to the student and tell him that he is a horrible person because you do not know his soul.

I don't judge this woman but I do judge her words. I'm not deeming her a horrible person, what she said was just very selfish. But she is a child of God and I hope that through her fiance's work in Him she will find God and His will and know that by working for Him her fiance is doing what is best for the both of them.

Why Saint Genevieve?

This is a question I get quite often.

When it came time to pick a Saint for my Confirmation this was not something that I took lightly. Just ask my mother, I spent days in front of the computer looking up the life stories of every Saint under the sun to find the PERFECT one.

There are many websites out there that can tell you the life story of Genevieve which was remarkable in itself, but there were a few inspirations and one story in particular that led me to choose Saint Genevieve to be my Patron Saint.

Inspiration #1

St.Genevieve was born in the year 422 as a peasant girl in the small village. (I'm from a small village!) When She was 7 years old St.Germanus made a stop in Genevieve's village where crowds flocked to welcome him. He was drawn to Genevieve's devotion and thoughtfulness. Before he left the next morning he renewed Genevieve's consecration, blessed her and gave her a medal with a cross engraved in it. This was to remind her of her dedication to Christ and she was to wear it instead of pearls and gold necklaces or bracelets. For those of you that know me you may recollect that I rarely wear jewelry but it would be rare for you to catch me on a day where I'm not wearing my St.Genevieve medal and Holy Spirit dove around my neck.

Inspiration #2
She liked to go to church alone at night, praying by candlelight. One night, a gust of wind blew out her candle, and she accredited this to the devil trying to frighten her.  It's a well known fact that I'm a night-owl so it shouldn't come as a surprise that some of my most fruitful prayer comes in the middle of the night when darkness is around me. It is nice to know that when I ask she is there in the night praying for and with me

Inspiration #3
Genevieve was devoted to works of charity and practiced multiple mortifications including a vegetarian diet and fasting on all days of the week except Sundays and Thursdays. She drank only water and her meals included small amounts of bread and beans. She followed this diet until she was 50 when she was counseled that it would be best for her to eat more frequently so she added only milk and fish to her diet. I fail miserably with mortification. I guess that's the point right, mortification isn't supposed to be easy. Genevieve lived this as a part of her daily life. When I am struggling to make it even one day I turn to her prayers and support.

The story that led me to choose Saint Genevieve
In the year 451 when the Huns were marching towards Paris the citizens were ready to run in terror. It was Genevieve who persuaded them to stay. God had spoken to her and she told them that if they kept their faith in God, fasted, prayed and performed penance than the city would be protected by heaven and their lives would be spared. Some of the citizens did not believe her and when the Huns got closer to the city they fled out the back way which connected with a road that completely bypassed the city. Saint Genevieve and a group of people chose to stay. When the Huns arrived at Paris they decided not to take the city but to continue on the road that went around the city.

Because of Genevieve's trust in God she was saved. For this reason I chose her to be my Patron Saint. So many people were frightened and left. You could say it was the 'popular' thing to do. Genevieve knew that God would protect her and chose to stay. I pray that through the intercession of Saint Genevieve I will be able to listen to God, to do His will and to trust in Him to the extreme that Genevieve did. I pray that I may not succumb to what the world says is right as opposed to what the Lord says is right and know that no matter what if I do the will of God He will not lead me astray.

Her feast day is actually the same day as my oldest brother's birthday January 3rd!

Exodus 20:7

My mom often likes to remind me of this little thing my cousin's daughter Ashlyn said once.

"I say Oh My Goodness because Oh My Gosh sounds too much like the one you're not supposed to say."


How simple is that?

"You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished him who takes his name in vain." Exodus 20:7

Day 29: A picture that can always make you smile :)

Alright, so its not a picture its a video. You know those days? YOU know! those DAYS! Nothing seems to be going right, you were late to class, forgot about your assignments, didn't get enough sleep, feel like crud, stubbed your toe and it started raining while you're wearing flip flops and walking in mud.

Issue.

This beautiful girl is my youngest niece London. She's adorable and at the age of 2; HILARIOUS! On those days that I'm feeling like the world's against me, underachieved and underappreciated I watch this video and I'm reminded that there are more important things in life. I love this little girl, and knowing that she loves me back is more than enough.

I'm actually visiting my sister and her family today and I can't wait to hug my nieces tight and tell them how much I love them!

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

This may come as a surprise to all of you, but an animal person I am not. 

Sometimes when I say that out loud to people they look at me in shock, like HOW can I not be an animal person? EVERYBODY is an animal person. Let's set the record straight, it's not that hate animals I just prefer most of them behind a fence and on a leash.

I was raised on a farm and we had our fair share of animals; cows and calves, hogs, piggies, dogs, puppies, cats and kitties. And when I was little all of these animals were great! I got to bottle feed a calf every once and a while which was cool but kinda gross at the same time(so slobbery!).

My mom told me a story about when I was really little and my dad was moving hogs and the pen was really muddy. His boot must have been stuck in the mud and when the hogs kept coming he went over backwards and I just started crying and screaming 'the pigs ate my daddy!'

When I was a little older than that I was at my Aunt and Uncles house one night with my dad. My dad and uncle were looking at something, it could have been a cow/calf but my memory is a little hazy. I had been playing with their dog and was down petting him when it happened. I was a gonner, buh-bye animal kingdom, no way, no how, ain't gonna happen. HE BIT ME! Right on my upper lip on which I still have a little scar to this day.

From that moment on I was deathly afraid of dogs. DOGS! Big dogs, small dogs, white dogs, black dogs, solid color dogs, spotted dogs, loud dogs, quiet dogs, yippy dogs, barking dogs, dogs. I couldn't take a step in to my best friend Brittany's house in Elementary/Jr.High without making her put her Golden Retriever Summer in a separate room while I made a mad dash up the stairs away from her.

I'm 20 now and I still curl my hands up in a fist when dogs start sniffing around me, I just don't trust their mouth and my fingers in the same general vicinity. Oh and don't even get me started on doggy kisses, there is no way. that I'm ever going to let a dog get that close to my mouth on purpose ever again. NO. WAY.

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.

Let me introduce you to my youngest 1st cousin MaKenna. 

I remember when she was born, I was a 7th grader and it was the same night as one of my brothers Senior football games. She was born premature and her birth was both very joyful and very scary. I only have 3 younger 1st cousins (we're at the bottom of the lot) and I wasn't old enough to remember the other 2 so this was my first real experience with a family member being born. I could NOT wait.

Christmas!

She's just about the most adorable thing you've ever seen. I'm asked quite often if MaKenna is my niece. Sadly she isn't but she doesn't have to be my niece for me to love her like one. The 13 years between us doesn't separate much as we practically share the exact same hair color, skin color, freckles and light eyes. 

It's funny when my nieces Addison and London come to visit and MaKenna comes out to see everyone how messed up people will get telling MaKenna to go ask 'Aunt Cassi' something. Especially when it's my Grandma or Mom!

As much as she loves to spend the night with us I probably love having her spend the night with me even more. At that age everything is so fun, everything is an experience. Creativity is booming and the world is a fabulous place. Board games are never ending and with this little one I don't even have to lose on purpose because she can put up a pretty fair fight, especially in Sorry! 

Easter!

I love getting to come home and watch her dance, especially because that's something that I used to do. She's got an arm like a rocket and can throw a ball better than I could at her age. We've got a lot in common this little one and I. We were raised in the age where boys dominate the family (when you have 5 uncles it seems like guys are just always around) so we're a little bit girly but a whole lot messy.

Koinonia Family

This was my third one and I can't believe for one second I forgot about the transforming grace that comes from it. 

Koinonia, meaning 'community' in Greek. It's amazing how a community can grow over a weekend, and how beautiful it is to see it happen. Going in to the weekend retreatant's have no idea what they're getting themselves into. They have no idea that by the end of Sunday they will have a new family, a family that accepts them as they are, that knows their joys and will share in their sorrows. This family has seen them cry, loved them, shared meals with them, made sacrifices for them, stumped them in a game called Psychology, made them laugh, and prayed with, for and over them. A family that is centered in Christ. This family does not disappear after the weekend never to be seen again; Koinonia is a way of life.

I'm filled with joy to welcome SLK 13 to the Koinonia family! How beautiful it was to see them give their time over to Christ and allow Him to work in them. How amazing it is to know that He has done the same in me just by breaking from the mountain of homework/projects and very little sleep I had the week before and allowing myself to be with our Lord.

Koinonia can change lives, and it has definitely changed mine.

Without my Koinonia family I wouldn't have my best friends, my prayer partners, my future roommates and neighbors, people to sit with at Mass, my coworkers, my camping group, my teammates and the reason I love it here at KU. Who knows where I'd be without all of them. And I mean that, ALL of them. Each one of them has been a true blessing and helped shape my life in a way that they may never know. (hmm...idea for a new blog series?)