home sweet doctrine.

I attended a Christianity panel put on by the world religions class here at USD.

The four panelists were: a woman minister from the Lutheran Church, a man minister from an evangelical branch of Christianity, the Hillside Church, a man who was a pastor at a local Methodist Church but was representing a form of "progressive" Christianity, and our Catholic priest from our Newman Center.

Our representative, Fr. Scott, was able to offer clear, complete, and reasonable answers to each question. He cited doctrines of our church, and wisdom from certain Church Fathers. The others offered their personal opinions, and made light of many of the questions. Though each leader modeled a love for Jesus Christ, their answers weren't cohesive, didn't seem authoritative, and were soaking with relativism.

My disciple came with me to the panel, and had one thing to say after it was all over: "I am so thankful to be Catholic."

I left with that same overwhelming feeling.

problem solved.

I'm typing on a wireless keyboard right now, not for convenience, but because my laptop is jacked. The ball of tape supporting the connection between my power cord and lap-top may look ridiculous, but it's a God-send.

Last week my computer fought hard to prevent me from sending many emails, extracting contact information, and designing my wedding programs. It was all in vain, however, because the stubborn hp hadn't met my father. My dad can fix just about anything. So I wasn't surprised when he came up with some brilliant temporary fixes for my inconvenient situation. 

As a result, I can finally update you, reader... New post coming soon. (Thanks Dad!) 

share life. bar nothing.

One constant in my life right now is wedding planning. Showers, invitations, flowers and cake. Woo!

It is tempting to think that wedding planning must be a side note to my ministry. While I'm bogged down constructing the final guest list and fishing for addresses, I worry that there is nothing to do but hibernate into a "wedding planning only" cave and only return to mission when it is all said and done.

God's a much more creative planner than that.

This last weekend I had two wedding showers to attend. One was in Lincoln, NE, and the other in Atchison, KS. Both were put on by my friends from my time at either college. I worried that another weekend away was another weekend wasted at USD. God had a different idea, and he prodded me to invite some of the ladies here into my life in a deeper way.

Two students, Jordan and Julie, agreed to come with me to my showers. The end result? We visited 5 states, attended 2 showers, ate dessert in a rotating restaurant, met a multitude of amazing people, and watched the Catholic world shrink a little more.

The whole weekend was an unintentional example of the joys of sisterhood, something many college women are starving for during this time.

Below is a photo from the shower my friends and sister put on at Benedictine. Jordan and Julie are the two women on the right side of the group.

One of the biggest blessings of the weekend was when my disciple, Jordan (right), got to meet my discipler from last year, Marnee (left). It was incredible to have all three of us together.

We returned to Vermillion physically worn, but spiritually rejuvenated.

It's wonderful what God can do when we allow our entire lives to be a gift to him and others, barring nothing from our mission.

And, it turns out, women love wedding talk. Shocking. :)

brother love.

My teammate, Tommy, and my Fiance, Josh, have really taken a liking to each other. They have formed a sort of "bromance."

My other teammate, Patrick, found a video that perfectly describes what it will be like when Josh and I return from our honeymoon and move up here to Vermillion.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTGv8xTByio

Joy in your pursuit of Eudaemonia

smart women.

"It's like I am red, and he is blue. Together we can make purple, but it doesn't mean I'm not a full color until I become purple."

Last night, during the bible study I lead, with mostly junior girls attending, we began what I foresee being a lengthy discussion on chastity (sweet!). A girl threw out this color analogy as we discussed one of the main lies women are being told about relationships and love: that we are incomplete without a boyfriend.

With movies featuring lines like "you complete me" and "I can't live without you" we are led to believe that we are less of a person without a boyfriend. Then, once we start dating someone, it becomes intensely difficult to end the relationship, because the destruction of the couple would seem like the end of our identity.

These women became annoyed as they realized the ridiculousness of such a mentality, and a beautiful conclusion was reached: I am beautiful and whole because God loves me, and I don't need another human to complete me. However, if I am gifted with a man who loves my whole person, I can choose to receive that love, and  I am enriched by it.

The only person we should say "I can't live without you" to is Jesus. And, we can be certain that God did not create us as incomplete persons. Blue is a beautiful color, lacking nothing. So is red. Purple is also a wholly wonderful color created by the mixing of two.

Brilliant realization, women.

Peace in your pursuit of eudaemonia.

welcome.

Dear Reader,

I am preparing to send out a newsletter to the people who support my mission with FOCUS. I was saddened though as I nudged text and slimmed down pictures and realized that I couldn't include much on one page front and back. So, since I truly desire to share my mission, and life with you, dear mission partner and friend, I have created this blog. I hope it will offer an honest insight into my pursuit to experience and spread eudaemonia to a culture so hostile to it.

Perhaps it will help me organize my pursuit, and offer you guidance in yours as well.

Until next time,
Peace in your pursuit.