September 11th

This morning I thought that I would reflect on September 11th, 2001 and the last 10 years since that fateful day.

September 11, 2001
This was my first day on my own in college. I had spent the last couple of days moving into my dorm room at Wright State University with my room mate and high school friend  Annie Felix. We were just waking up, watching Regis and Kelly when news broke in that a commercial airliner had crashed into one of the twin towers.

I remember talking with Annie and our Suite mates about how dumb that was, and the pilot must have really been an idiot. We were planning out the rest of our day, eating cereal and sitting on our beds when we both saw the second plane go into the second tower. Our hearts dropped. We both got on the phone with our parents. We jumped in the shower and we made plans to go home.

By the time we were ready to go the pentegon had been hit. We were at Wright State University which sits right next to Wright Patterson Air Force base.  We were terrified. I recruited a couple of other girls I knew from home and before long we were in my Buick racing down 675 towards Cincinnati on the most beautiful day I ever remember.

Lots changed within a day, just 3 months earlier I was sitting in St Peter in Chains Cathedral celebrating my High School graduation. We all became much more aware. I remember crying for all of the people I didn't know. Crying for wives and children, policemen and firefighters and I cried for myself and my family because there was so much I didn't understand.

10 years later I am a completely different person thanI was on September 11, 2001. 

I suffered some of the greatest personal loss I ever endured with the loss of Mr. Ben Price and later the death of my grandma Dorothy Hensler.

I gained great confidence and experience through my involvement with Alpha Xi Delta, American Humanics and volunteering with the American Diabetes Association.

I graduated from Wright State University with a BS in Public Administration and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management.

I bought my first house with my best friend.

I married my best friend.

I had 2 beautiful children with my best friend.

I started Saints Helping Saints with a handful of the most genuine and selfless women I have ever known and I can say I would never have gotten to know.

I am not the same person I was 10 years ago, just as this country isn't the same as it was 10 years ago. We are all more aware. We are all more tolerant. We are all more unified and we are all more proud to be Americans.

So, here I sit 10 years later. Living in my mom's basement with my family of 4 and preparing for the next one. I just started a new job and we are starting a new life in a new place, but it all feels like home.

Go tell John, we are back at home and ready for whatever the next 10 years bring.

Todays Gospel Reading - Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Matthew 18: 21 - 35
21	Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"
22	Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
23	"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
24	When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents;
25	and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26	So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'
27	And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
28	But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.'
29	So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'
30	He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt.
31	When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.
32	Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me;
33	and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'
34	And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt.
35	So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

The news has broke!

We have some great news!

But first I want to take a second to pray for all of our neighbors on the east coast being affected by Hurricane Irene. I pray that all of the people take the advice to evacuate where it is needed. I pray that the first responders are safe and helpful to the people needing help. And I pray that people help eachother wherever they are able. I also want to thank God for the safety of my sister Jessica who drove through the night to come home where it is safe (also very thankful for Paul driving with her).

Not to the news!
We have decided to move back to the West Side. We are going to be moving in with my mom until we sell our house and then buy a house on that side of town. I will be working with Seton High School as the Director of Major Gifts and Sepcial Events. The boys are starting a new school and they are really excited.

I can't believe how well things are coming together.

Go tell John, I am very grateful!

Today's Gospel

Matthew 25: 14 - 30
14	"For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;
15	to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16	He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more.
17	So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18	But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
19	Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20	And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
21	His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
22	And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'
23	His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
24	He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow;
25	so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'
26	But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed?
27	Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28	So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29	For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30	And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'

...and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Lately I have had mixed fealing about the gospel readings.

I love them because they remind me of GodSpell and I have so so so many fond memories of being in the 6th grade and performing GodSpell. It makes me think of my cousins Chris and Ryan and  what an awesome place we were in our lives. I remember being so proud of my cousin Chris for his part in the show. I was proud to be a part of it and really felt "cool" that I could hang out with my too older cousins after school every day. I really learned a lot about theater and about the Gospels from that experience.

But even though I learned a lot as a child, as an adult I am having a hard tim applying them to my life. It has been taking a couple of days later for me to be able to reflect and understand.

All that aside, I like this "Normal Time", it is comfortable and meaningful.

Todays Gospel

Matthew 23: 1 - 12
1	Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples,
2	"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat;
3	so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.
4	They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.
5	They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
6	and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues,
7	and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.
8	But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren.
9	And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
10	Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ.
11	He who is greatest among you shall be your servant;
12	whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Funny Things My Kids Say V

8/16/2011

Nicholas "home home on the range where the beer and apple loaf play"

8/13/2011

Nicholas says he isn't going to brush his teeth anymore because he wants to have gold teeth like a pirate.

8/7/2011

I told the boys im going to make them pirate boots and jack said "ok tomorrow can we get a ship with a canon?"

8/5/2011

I just witnessed Nicholas on the playground reaching his hand out to another kid and saying "high my name is nicholas, what's your name" the kid told him his name, they shook hands and nicholas said "its very nice to meet you"

7/30/2011

Jack says im his girlfriend.

Nicholas has a girlfriend named Ashlyn "she looks 3 and has squirly hair"

Nicholas told me he knew Spanish yesterday so I told him to say something in Spanish. He said "Burrito"


7/23/2011
The boys fish died yesterday (over fed, you should have seen how much food was in this things belly). Nicholas was really upset and said "I need a pet! We have to go buy a dog!!" Sob sob sob...