catching up

Hello there!

Well, it's been quite a while, hasn't it? I apologize for the rather lengthy hiatus, but life has really been quite occupying as of late. I hope you enjoyed my last post, however, which was originally intended for Facebook, but I haven't plucked up the courage to post it there quite yet. I apologize for how preachy it is, and hope it is not too much so and that is it not bothersome.

First off, Father of the Bride, the high school comedy my homeschooling group put together this fall, went just beautifully both nights (the twenty-seventh -and-eighth of November). There were a couple instances when some actors laughed during a part they weren't supposed to laugh in, but it was no big deal and I actually recently watched the DVD of it and it was very sweet. Everyone worked so hard and it really paid off by two wonderful, professional performances. This year I was just a background character - one of the "cake girls," to be specific, but it was still so fun and I was glad of the break from being a lead actress like last year, and to get to know a new girl in our group, Mariana, who was the other cake girl (far left in second picture).

Then (because I really can't think of anything too momentous after that besides this) Christmas break was just lovely. From December 20th to January 11th, I had a break from school and could just spend time with the "college kids" and "teacher," which I guess my siblings now are, which is very weird, but at the same time, just right. They're mature and old enough to be all those things, but I suppose I just don't feel old or mature enough for my siblings to be those things. ;) It was so nice having them here for the three weeks that they were. Many laughs and great memories were shared. And I had my roommate back (Mary-Catherine), and we had plenty of good, long chats. I was so, so, so happy to know that nothing had changed in our relationship - it was just as sweet and easy and close and happy as before. I miss her a lot again, but now that I'm used to her being gone it's not quite as painful as when she first left, when I actually experienced depression and separation anxiety, and, well, just a lot of stress being the oldest girl and creating all this responsibility in my head, when in reality, it did increase, but not quite as much as I thought it did. ;) I tend to do things like that. And the Silver and Gold Ball was just magical. A week or so before the event, my oldest sister Lucia surprised me with a dress she bought in Arizona where she teaches at a thrift store. A beautiful, full-length, navy blue dress with lovely detail on the top that was just perfect for this ball and I hadn't had one before she gave it to me. She was just like an angel in that moment. I was so relieved and happy. It was a bit long and I had to hem it a bit, but otherwise it was a perfect fit and I loved it. Other than that (which is rather important, mind you) the evening was just lovely in every way. Several guys asked me to dance, and I only asked one. There were many times I felt like a princess and I had such a good time with all of my dear friends. Deanna Casey, a good, sweet friend of mine who I hadn't seen in a long while, who is in a band with her sisters, write songs, and plays the violin was there and it was great to see her and catch up with her.

We hosted a couple of new priests (one of them being our new pastor) a few times over Christmas break as well, which was a lot of fun. They're very sweet, generous, fun, conversational guys and are such blessing and we love having them at our parish.

Then a few days afterward, we went on a spontaneous, last-minute trip with the whole fam to NH. I prayed the night before that we might be able to visit with cousins during the Christmas season this year like we had planned to for years before then but hadn't been able to due to someone always getting sick or a snowstorm always happening, despite the, once again, impending snowstorm, and my oldest sister having to leave on New Year's Eve. But, sure enough, the next morning, the morning of December 28th, after I had long forgotten about my prayers, Dad woke all the older kids up, thus waking me up as well since I share a room with Mary-Catherine, to go to NH to see grandparents and possibly our cousins, the Bean family, before Lucia had to go. He was only going to take them at first, but then, last-minute, after Bridget expressed sadness at not being able to go that day to Mom, our parents decided to take everyone, and before the clock struck eleven the Froula family was on the road, all of us very happy, expectant of an adventurous, great day. And that it was. We shared and enjoyed a meal of pizza, cookies, and leftover pie from hosting new priests at our house, caught up, and played Trivial Pursuit among many a laugh. It was a beautiful, grand old time.

And on that nice note, I think I'll sign off. A beautiful night or day to you, wherever you are!

thoughts

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" ~ Micah 6:8

Last year I wrote in little bits of pieces of paper little memories or things that happened to me that made me smile and put them in a jar throughout the year. I did this the year before, too, and both times I forgot months in the middle, but it's so nice to read the ones I remembered to include at the end of the year/beginning of the next year. This year I found this one that wasn't necessarily a memory but something I was inspired to remind myself of: "Practice kindness. The soft-hearted are let into the Kingdom of Heaven." I think this is one of the most basic reminders but also easiest to forget. Just one simple word, smile, hug, or using your artistic, musical, cooking, or anything talents to bring someone else joy, or simply letting our anger die and forgiving someone (no matter what they did or who they are; even if we don't know them), choosing not to yell at someone or insult them (even in our minds), even if they don't know we are, just not complaining about anything we have to do, be it eating something that's not our favorite or doing a chore we'd rather not do, or even doing the same things we do every day with a little more love, a little more gentleness. This is so easy yet so hard to do sometimes, but we're always paid back for it in a hundredfold and never regret it. And it is in these small but easy and simple steps that we grow closer to God. I'll be the first to admit I'm the last one to say these things, but I suppose that's also why I'm saying them: to remind myself as well. As the famous words of Mother Teresa go: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” And this is what so many of us, seemingly most of us these days, are called to do.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my cliche, rambly, unqualified-to-say words! Have a great day!

Happy Fall!

'Tis the season to be joyful, in my opinion. I never want this apple-and-pumpkin-treat, vibrantly colorful season to end. 

A poem I wrote pretending to be a chic girl in boots walking to her every-day job working for Apple:

Fall In My Neck of the Woods

The heels of my boots collide with the wet, smooth substance of autumnal foliage
Creating the crunching sound a fall-lover craves to hear
Before I make my way to my daily grind
I absorb every sight I can
Before it leaves me forever
Another day in the crown of all seasons
Blurs of popping orange, crimson, and orange
Meet my wonder-struck, beauty-searching eyes
And bring a beam to my made-up face
Before I step into the office once again
Tapping away to the music of pattering raindrops outside my window

Choosing a Confirmation Saint

I will be confirmed in October of next year, and I am presently contemplating my choice of a Confirmation saint. No one warned me about how hard this would be. Perhaps it is hard for very few people. It definitely is for me. Right now I'm pretty sure I want St. Philomena. She died for the sake of preserving her purity, is a very powerful intercessor, is known for her great love of Jesus, and is the patron saint of youth, infants, and babies: all things I love so much. I believe holiness is easier for the youth, since we are usually the most innocent and willing to avoid sin, believe, and trust in God then. So, who knows. Maybe God will want me to pick her; maybe for some reason before next October arrives I will be inspired otherwise. But until then, St. Philomena, pray for me. Help me to choose the right one: the saint that God wants me to choose. Currently, I believe He wants me to choose you, but I don't know yet. 

Music

I have finally begun piano lessons, and have, at last, started to understand a little bit of why being able to play instruments, and making music, makes people so happy. And I will continue understanding with each wonderful lesson each Tuesday. It is so very delightful to be able to play little ditties, however insignificant now. I learned Ode to Joy already, and my piano teacher is already pleased with how I am progressing at two lessons in. I really hope it is something I will always be able to do; a skill I will never lose. I want to be able to play the piano when I'm eighty.


My piano teacher really couldn't have been more perfect for me. I naturally want to play fast, but he urges me to go slow and be sure I have the right technique. God never ceases to amaze me with how he works out every little thing to go the best for me as long as I follow His will the best I can.

A Tree

A tree, brimming with life, beauty, and strength

A wonderful, marvelous creation

A tranquil sight

To My Sister

My dear older sister left for her first semester of college this morning. I will miss her immensely. I wrote this sort of testimony to her approximately a year ago, and I feel the same way today.

I couldn't have asked for a better sister to love me, care for me, and most importantly, guide me and help me along on the bumpy road to our destination of eternal life. She never ceases to bring sunshine into my life with her cheery grin and personality, her happy outlook on life, and her radiant voice which was quite often heard singing. She has a huge devotion to the Holy Rosary, and, sometimes, when we couldn't say a Rosary as a family she would say it with me, and those were some of the moments I cherished the most with her. We would have some of our heart-to-heart talks then, and I found praying with her such a calming, reassuring thing.

She would go to Adoration once a week with my dad, and one day, when I was 12 or 13, I decided to go with them, and I absolutely loved it. Now I never want to miss a week. I don't think I would have gone if not for her example. She has always given me encouragement and love whenever I had the nerve to go to her for it, and to this day encourages me in my faith.

She shows me that life goes on even after the passing of loved ones, and never fails to inspire me to pray more, to love more, and to smile more.