So inspiring!

Those who are close to me know how much I love inspirational quotes and sayings.  I have one that I heard from a colleague in my cohort during my first semester during PhD school (yes, I just made up that term) back in Fall 2010 hanging up in  my office at school.  I've got one of my favorite letters Adam ever wrote to me on January 22, 2014 stored under the glass on my desk by my laptop in the home office.  Each time I drive somewhere and I glance up at the sun visor, I catch a glimpse of beloved Aunt Ollie (one of my favorite pictures of the two of us, albeit worn and faded over time, hangs there) and recall her last words to my parents as they sat by her side when she drew her last breath, "Celebrate my life" and vow to strive to make her proud as I go about daily living trying to make a small difference each day as she did with all those she came into contact.  Such a beautiful soul she had.  Even a fortune cookie fortune I received somewhere along the way was saved to remind me that life is always a journey and to embrace every moment via this statement, "You are about to embark on a delightful journey".  Beautiful words that were written on the bathroom mirror by one of my housemates on my birthday nearly a month ago still reflect back at me upon each gaze in the mirror.  Yes, I love words!

While grading this afternoon, today's gem of a comment is brought to you from one of my students upon her reflection of attending a job fair on campus for one of my classes yesterday:

"Sometimes we think we know what we are supposed to do and God surprises us with something completely different." 

 Oh, how I love working at my place of employment!  What a contrast it is to be in an environment where others profess and live out their lives in this beautiful faith we share.  I think I just found a new quote to hang on my office door at work; how appropriate as we are in the throes of advising for the summer and fall semester!

He Goes Before Us Always

This past Sunday, at mass, my NC anthem was played. 

The comfort I drew from listening to these words being sung while sitting in the front pew on Sunday night was that as we near the wedding date and prepare for this blessed sacrament of marriage that Adam and I need not fear.  Now, after having read this update on the plane crash that recently occurred in the French Alps.  How my heart aches for these people...so many lives lost...so many families and friends dealing with the loss.  Having had many students recently travel near and far for missionary work over Spring Break and having just recently flown back from New Orleans with Adam on Saturday morning, many aspects of this story hits home.  16 high school students from Germany as well as two teachers are presumed dead.  One couple who perished in the plane crash had been married just two days prior to the crash...probably enroute on their honeymoon.  Wow...Adam and I have been excitedly counting down the days to what will probably be my favorite sacrament and the honeymoon shortly after it that I can't help but imagine what it must have been like for the couple to surely have been ecstatic at marrying one another then continuing on for rest and relaxation as they boarded the plane days after the wedding.  Reading the description of the parents desperately calling their children on their cell phones to find that there was no answer was so heartbreaking.  This article sure puts things into perspective.  Prior to reading this update on the plane crash, I had been stressing over grading projects and finding time to respond to wedding related emails that have been sitting in my inbox for over a month.  Now, I'm just grateful that I can reply to these folks and that my students are safe and sound and attending my classes day in and day out on campus.  Let's all offer up a prayer and send peaceful healing thoughts to those affected by this tragedy amidst the hustle and bustle of today.