Life as it Moves Forward...

It feels like it's been a while since I last blogged. There have been longer periods of time between blogging than this one, but so much has happened since the last time I wrote that I feel like it's been months since my last entry. Whew... That was a long sentence...
Vincent has been out of school for the past three weeks. He attends a school that goes year-round, so they have these 3 to 4-week breaks in between terms. In some ways it's nice, like I've been able to attend morning Mass. There are disadvantages to this as well. He has been so bored out of his mind because I still have to go to work and there really isn't much going on for kids in his situation during this time of the year. He is so looking forward to going back to school again to be with his little buddies (I call them little because they are all at least a head shorter than Vincent :) -- who would have thought that an Asian boy would be taller than his white, male friends!?).

It's hard to believe that Vincent is turning 12 years old this year! How did I get to have a 12-year-old son!?! I remember turning 12 years old and what I was doing that year... That's when boys were really cute. I was back in Manila attending Assumption (I was in the 7th grade) and hanging out with my WAB (We Are Bad -- oh my goodness!) group of friends. I remember going to Shakey's Pizza and ordering a pitcher of beer! Worst of all... They gave it to us!!! Aaagggghhhhh!!! I am very worried now!!!! Um, we may not be taking any trips to Manila until Vincent turns 21 years old :) This makes me realize how much more responsible and smarter he is than I was at his age. He loves to watch the news, give people advice about their love life (he told me at one point that I needed to learn how to give up a bad relationship and move forward -- he has since given more advice), and he enjoys baking with his tutor. I think I'm happy with how he's doing.

Work continues to be something I enjoy tremendously. I still deal with challenging personalities, but it only makes my job all the more interesting. I am amazed at the opportunities that present itself and the people that I encounter through my work. I am getting more and more involved with homelessness in Corvallis, organizations that address poverty within Benton County and Oregon, and advocating for various ethnicities (primarily Asians and Hispanics). The people that are sent to me also make me wonder what God wants me to do. I was previously in contact with a woman who has had some brain damage and needing a bit of assistance. She was quite a struggle and very time-consuming because nothing was ever good enough for her. It came to a point where Barb, our Pastoral Associate who supervises me, had to tell her that there's nothing more I can do for her. There are times when I wonder if I could have done more for her. Well, God must have been listening to me because he decided to send someone else with a somewhat similar disposition my way yesterday. This one, however, is a bit more self-sufficient and is actually able to take action for herself. Our conversation, though, was quite similar to the previous one. What was heartbreaking for me with both cases is that they are both all alone in this world without anybody to really care for them. Yes, they have family here and there, but their families have given up on them because it's a neurological damage rather than a physical damage. Their families do not understand why they don't function well since there is no outward, physical damage. They decide that all the help and attention these ladies need are made up in their heads and turn their backs to them. As we talk, this is always the point they break down and cry. I am thankful that this second one mentioned to me that she turns to praying to find comfort. She is from no specific religion, she just believes in a higher being. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit gave me the opportunity to talk about her faith life. She now wants to attend our Easter celebration, receive a blessing, and asked me to take her to our Perpetual Adoration Chapel so that she could pray in peace even for just a few minutes. These experiences are more powerful for me than the person I am talking with I'm sure.

As for me... I am amazed once again with the power of God in my life. Truly and incredibly amazed. We always hear and talk about how God answers prayers in His own way, but never fully realize the power in it until He shows us the beauty of His work. As most of you may know, there was a time when I was struggling with a broken relationship. I went through so much in trying to figure out what God had planned for me and then one day decided to just let go. It was the best feeling ever and I realized that all I needed to do was trust God to lead me down the path that He had in store for me. Not too long after that God sent my way a most amazing man. I've known of Bruce for a few years now, but never really got to talk much with him. The first time we got to talk really was at our Mardi Gras back in February. During this time I was happy to have gotten to talk with him, but my mind was still in other places. Soon after I let go of past relationships and was feeling very happy about how life turned out, Bruce asked to be friends on Facebook (yay Facebook!). Ever since this time we've been continuously communicating, gone on hikes, spent time with each other's friends and family, and really been spending time to get to know each other.

I must say that I've been thoroughly enjoying Bruce's company. He makes laughter come so easily, time fly by so quickly, and sharing more meaningful. Most important to me is how he loves and follows God. His faith and the community he belongs to is very important to him. I admire this tremendously. For those who have been following my blog, you know how important this is to me. Bruce just makes me so happy. I never knew that a relationship could be so full with so little effort. It just flows and happens. It's even harder to believe that it's been just a little over a month. In this short amount of time, I feel as if I've connected with a man more than I ever have with any other. It's crazy! I love it!

It's hard to believe that Easter is just a couple of days away. I look back at this Lenten season and reflect on what I've learned. I am feeling a bit bad about not being able to live out all that I had hoped to, but I also did pick up on a couple of things that I had let go of previously. This Holy Week just brings to the forefront the love that God has for us. It blows my mind that Jesus died for us in such a cruel and painful manner, all to save us from our sins. Our Church just recently got it's new cross. It is beautiful not just because of how it looks. It is beautiful because of what it stands for. The Corpus (Jesus' body) arrived yesterday and I dropped by to see it. It wasn't hung yet and was lying on the ground wrapped in plastic. I was hoping to see it hung up in front of the cross, but they were still working on it. I looked at Jesus and was filled with joy. I touched the part of his shoulder that did not have any plastic. How many people in our lives would die for us? We say it so easily, but would we really do it? How many people loves us as deeply and abundantly? Who else will save us time and time again from our own mistakes, forgives us, and still loves us wholeheartedly?

I wish you all a wonderful Easter. I hope you are surrounded by those you love!