Pilgrams for Life

This course taught me so much about being a spiritual person.  Sexuailty is something that God gives to you.  The world is full of so many unexpected surprises.  Being on good terms with God will make it easier to pursue happiness.  Who I am and how I feel are all parts of God.  This course taught me that being myself (crazy cat lady) is perfectly okay.  The acceptance shown to me and everyone is this course real enlightened me.
Throughout my four years at the Mount, I can honestly say that this is one of the courses I learned the most from.  It is not enough to memorize vocal cards and recite power points.  It is what changes your views and perspective that will mold you into who you are.  Thank you so much Mrs. Kennedy.  This course meant so much to all of us!! See you next quarter for Catholic Social Teaching!

Some Say Love...

What do I care about what others think? Who is that person who keeps whispering? You are the universe that I chose. Will you hold me? Would you? So I can hide in you. 

This song is about finding your first love.  While some people may whisper and gossip about your first love, it is important to know that you and the other person are the only people who are important in the relationship. 

that's right, i love you. i always believe in you.
dreams and passions, i want to give them all to you

This song is about making your love happy.  Love is a two way street.  You have to we willing to sacrifice in order to make the relationship healthy. 

Fall into me again uh
A second love once again
Did you hear it? Can you hear my heart?
Let’s go back to the first feeling
This song is about falling in love with the same person twice.  Sometimes we are meant for each other. Soul Mates can sometimes happen it yo u believe in them.  Build on what you had the first time.  Make what you couldn't work the first time, work.  Try you hardest and don't be afraid to fall in love again. 

I regret giving you my love
I regret getting attached to you
I regret holding you back
Why do I have to face the pain alone?
I regret giving you my love
I regret getting attached to you
I regret holding you back
Why do I have to face the pain alone?

This song is about breaking up with the person you love.  Sometimes it just does not work. You have to understand that even the people you love can break your heart. Take the good from the bad and try to make the best out of the situation. 

Oh I feel so embarrassed
I can't look at you
I feel shy because I've fallen in love
 
Sometime you feel embarrased when you fall in love. This is a natural feeling. Love is a new expeirence for you and you will feel jittery and scared.  It is important to embrace these feelings.  Discuss them with your friends  and keep day dreaming about you new love. 

The changing face of marriage

My experience of the domestic church is similar and orthodox to every other family. We love, forgive, understand, and accept each other. Based on what I have seen in the movies, the domestic church is alive and well in many families. While the gender roles may have changed, the innate feeling of love and respect remains. 

While the statistics may say a person who has a college degree is less likely to divorce, the reality is love is not education. Sure you may be smarter but the truth is, love is not going to revolve around school. Love is not something you find in books or can learn about in a lecture, love is spontaneous. While I am all for education, I do not think it has anything to do with your love. 

When I have a family, I want to establish a domestic church. All the benefits of the church can be celebrated in my home. Love, forgiveness, respect and many more benefits will be established in my (future) home. 

Vatican II

Marriage, the constitution says, is a “vocation.”  While many people believe that marriage is a "vocation", especially in the church, the meaning of marriage in the new world has a completely different meaning. Today, marriage can be abused to the point where it can no longer be called a sacrament. People get married for money, fame, security, and all sorts of other reasons.  The fact is: marriage is a sacrament.  It should not be abused by any two people. 

The call to love reaches beyond the home to the extended family, the neighborhood and the larger community.” I know this line too well.  Recently, a former school mate of mine committed suicide. When his death became public, the whole St. Gens family gathered to comfort the morning family.  Everyone in Flourtown went to the Luxton's house.  The love of the community reached out to the family. 

The love of a husband and wife ought to “grow and ripen.” While love should grow, in today's world, it most likely will wither.  The rate of divorce is at its highest.  Many people will easily give up on their marriage and sign the divorce papers. 

Marriage — both as a natural institution and a Christian sacrament — is a blessing and gift from God.” Marriage is a gift, however, many will treat is as a paycheck. Marriage is whole, free, and natural. It should not be forced or otherwise hurtful. God has blessed two people with His love. Today, people will marry for lust and other factors. We forget that marriage is a sacrament and a gift from God. 

Dating: What's the point?

I do not believe that dating is practice for divorce.  I also do not believe that we should not date at all.  I think a good middle ground is the best road to a better relationship. Dating someone can help us know what it is like to be emotionally and sexually attached to someone else.  Relationships are all about self sacrifice.  You must put the other person before yourself.
 While hooking up can have a range of different definitions, to me hooking up would be having sex with that person.  While many catholics (according to the survey) believe that hooking up is a casual thing, I strongly disagree.  I respect myself enough to not let sex be a causal thing.  Many people might get immediate pleasure from hooking up, however, I believe that some things are worth waiting for.  Sex is an gift from God.  If we abuse that gift for our own personal gain, the worth of our being is diminished.  Many college students will say that sex is prevalent in their college campus.  After all, college freshmen are still teenagers.  While having fun may be the most important thing in a colligate student's life, having sex right off the bat is not the best idea.

When Will He Propose?

I completely disagree with what Andy stated.  I love the idea of a romantic proposal.  Yes, it is traditional, however, the excitement and the nervous feelings are ones that you will never forget.  The media has taught us that getting on one knee and proposing in a beautiful setting is the traditional proposal.  While Andy think this act is boring and too traditional, I cannot wait for my "special day".  Ever since I was little,  I've always wanted to be proposed to like in the movies.  The romantic theme will always find a way to my heart.  I completely respect Andy's opinion on the matter, however, I personally love the traditional proposal.
My parent's love story is similar to the Nicholas Sparks themed love story.  While Andy might say it is too orthodox, I believe it is the sweetest act of love.  My father dropped everything and followed my mother home.  That act of love is something that I will never forget.  When I fall in love and want to spend the rest of my life with that person, I want to experience agape.
Love can be expressed in many different ways.  If it is filled with sappy love story themes then so be it. God does not care whether you have the most romantic love life or the most bland love life.  He just want us to be happy.

Wonderful Gift and Awesome Responsibility

The message of sex as a expression of love is very evident in this article.  The bishop talks about how people blame the church for making the word "sex" very dirty and impure.  We are created in God's image and likeness. If God created us and sex, then why would it be impure? I have now learned that the church has a very open view of sex.  Of course the Church stands behind the statement of no sex before marriage, however; the bishop explained that sex is an extension of marriage or "unitive".  The church does not label sex as a "bad" or "impure".  Rather, the church explains that sex is a very human thing to do.  God wanted us to have sex.  The church just wants the act to be between a married couple (male and female).  I was disappointed in how the church labeled the homosexual sexual orientation.  They are accepting of homosexuals but not homosexual activity.  I was confused on what the church wanted to accomplish by stating this.  How is homosexuality accepted in the church if the act of homosexual intercourse is a sin?  All in all, I do see clearly now that the church did not intend to make the act of sex a "dirty" action.  They wanted to make sure that sex was between a male and a female who are in love and are ready to commit to each other for the rest of their lives.  

My Mission Statement

It is more important to care for another than yourself.  Use each day to better another person's life. Give your time, energy, and effort to another.  When you use your God given ability to help save another person's life, your life becomes better because of it. Each day has an objective.  Make that objective be to help someone out.  Care for others and then you will be rewarded.

My Identity

My Family
Where I was born is very special to me.  I was born in Nagoya, Japan.  I have a mother from Japan and a father from the United States.  Having lived in Japan from my birth to five is not something I remember very much.  I do remember traveling from Japan to the United States to see both sides of my family.  My family is a hodgepodge of people who are very different.  On my Dad's side, I have two Aunts and three Uncles.  On my mother's side I have three Uncles and their families.  I love my family very much but being in-between the two countries can be sometimes difficult.  I visit my grandmother every summer and leaving her and my family in Japan is a very sad occasion.  I do not want to leave the country I was born in just yet.  Because I feel so far apart from my grandmother, I sometime feel as though I have not spent enough time with her.  However, have technologies that allow us to communicate has become a fun and exciting way for me to converse with her. All in all, I my family is my identity because I they have helped me discover my roots.

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My Friends
My friends have helped me throughout my entire life.  It was not until grade school that I met the friends that I am closest with today.  They have helped me with my hardships and laughed with me at my best.  The friends that I have today are the best friends any person can ask for. They have helped me identify myself as an individual through their advice and recommendations.  And intern, I have helped them.  The two way street that connects us is a friendship that will never die off because of a fight or a bad mood.  I am truly lucky to have the friends that I have today.

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My Music
The music I listen to may not be the customary genre that most high school girls listen to.  In fact, I can't even understand the lyrics at all.  While it was a phase in America for about a month, I have liked the genre long before the fame it received in America.  Even though I do not know the lyrics, I love the catchy beat and the powerful voices of the singers.  The groups that I listen to are the the people I look up to the most.  While some may say that I am a typical fan girl, I have learned to not care what people have to say about the music I listen to.  I respect every person choice in music and the other choices they make.  Listening to my music gets me up in the morning, energizes me when I'm down, and overall puts me in a good mood.  I may not understand the lyrics but the songs have identified me as a person.


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