I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your calls, texts, and emails asking about Lauren while at the Leadership Retreat in New York. She and her classmates arrived home safe and sound on Saturday afternoon. They all said they had a wonderful experience and made a lot of friends.

I’d like to mention here in particular La Salle High School teachers Ms. Acosta and Ms. Shaw for the excellent job they did keeping our kids safe and seeing them through this week-long event. Taking on this mission with the time, planning and effort it entails, is no small feat, and I think I speak for the other parents when I say that they are both to be commended. Thank you to both of them so very much. : )

God bless.

The thing about the inevitable is that it comes. Sooner or later, but it comes. There are many “inevitables” during the course of one’s life – – dental work (my favorite…NOT!), taxes (yes, even for politicians), death of course, and a parent’s first real separation from a son/daughter. The latter, my friends, is my inevitable at this particular time.

Lauren leaves to New York at the crack of dawn tomorrow. Her first outing without us. That’s especially big for us because those of you who know us well, know that we’ve travelled in a pack since inception of this family. Even to do as mundane a thing as grocery shopping. Right. So the thought of our baby girl leaving us for a week is a bit unsettling. Don’t get me wrong, we couldn’t be happier that this opportunity arose for Lauren. Being part of this event is something she had been hoping and praying for since her freshman year at this school. She, along with 6 of her classmates, will be representing the State of Florida at this Leadership Retreat, where they will not only be injected spiritually, but also socially, as they will be meeting and interacting with teens from Salesian schools from other states.

It has hit her hard all this religion stuff. We noticed her interest when at the tender age of 8 she asked to join our Catechism staff to help out every Saturday. She’s still doing that. And since her freshman year at La Salle, she has progressively gotten involved with various service clubs and with helping out during retreats given for other students, etc. She’s got the fever in a big way. But before you go assuming that we think we have a daughter who’s “all that,” let me assure you that Lauren is not a “perfect teenager” — that being an oxymoron if I ever heard one. She’s your typical attitude-filled teenager, with a wide array of moods, and who makes mistakes she later regrets (thank goodness for that because we all know that’s when most of the lessons come). But yes, we are very happy that, at least for now, she has chosen this road. The other day she told me she had come to a realization. She said, “Mom, you know how I don’t really like any sport and never been involved in any? Yes, I said (the girl is not sports-inclined at all, is she really our daughter?). “Well,” she said, “it came to me that all this service stuff I do, well, that’s MY sport.” I like that, I said, that’s cool. I can only hope and pray that this will be a life-time sport for her.

Meanwhile, back to the inevitable. “Now it’s your turn,” my mother said to me, referring to my first outing on a missionary trip when I was a teenager. “Preparate.” Prepare yourself, she said. I remember my mother’s concerned look at the airport that first time; and actually come to think of it, each and every trip that followed. I thought I knew and understood to a certain extent how she felt, and appreciated her letting me go. But no, I really didn’t. Not until now. This type of inevitable is hard to swallow for parents. Both of us will be going through some serious separation anxiety this coming week, I can assure you. Even as I write these words I think I feel the freak out mode kicking in.

Okay, forgive my restless tone. We are newbies at this type of preordained separation. Some people tell me it gets easier. Does it? Oh God I hope not. As much as I hate the anxiety it causes, I love the affection and connection it stimulates. Not to mention the faith it triggers, as we confidently put her in God’s hands.

My family and friends, may I ask that you keep in your prayers Lauren and the rest of the teens attending this event? That our loving Virgin Mary sees to their health and safety. And that the the grace of God instills in them enough spiritual energy to carry them through years to come. As I wrote to Lauren about this retreat: soak it up and breathe it in, so you can later live it out.

Thanks to all of you.

        Change, change, change is in the air.  I don’t think we had ever heard the word “change” mentioned as much as in the last year.  But no, I’m not talking about THAT change, not in a political context. The change I’m talking about is not an external one of conditions or behaviors, but rather an internal one that transforms us.  The type we experience during Lent.  Yes, it’s incredible, but Lent is around the corner once again.  It begins next week on Ash Wednesday, one of my favorite days of the year, and continues until Easter, Sunday, April 12^th. 

        It is a perfect season for cleansing and renewal.  A time for us to take stock of our lives and our relationships to figure out and adjust those glitches which may be distancing us from the Lord.  In a perfect world, we wouldn’t rely on Lent to make these adjustments; this would be a year-long effort.  But let’s face it; it’s not a perfect world.  Fortunately Lent affords us this specific time in which to look within, and hopefully experience a change of heart and a deeper conversion.

        I came across a question once that asked, “Do you need a faith lift?” I loved that.  I can tell you that I live in constant need of that kind of spiritual makeover.  Because just when I think I’m good in that department, something happens that shows me I’m not. There is always room for growth in the faith department.

        This Lenten season we should ask ourselves what we need to do to strengthen our faith and get closer to the Lord.  Is it to spend more time in thanksgiving and gratitude? We are so blessed on so many levels that we should be in a continuous state of gratitude.  Is it to practice forgiveness and humility? Yikes! This is my area.  There may be people in our lives we need to forgive or from whom we need forgiveness, and pride should play no part in this.  Is it to serve? This is a good time to put into practice the love your neighbor part of that greatest commandment.  Is it to attend Mass weekly? The opportunity to receive the Eucharist should be right up there on our list, we should honor this invitation from Jesus.  Or is it maybe to dedicate time to prayer? Without prayer our faith just wouldn’t be. You could say it would be like not making time for someone close to us.  He or she probably wouldn’t remain close for every long.  

            This Lenten season, let’s take a look at what’s inside of us and ask the Lord to help us tweak those glitches that need adjustment so that we can be better towards ourselves and others, and in turn feel closer to Him.  And let’s definitely strive for this to become a a year-long practice in our lives.  On that note, I leave you with some very good advice:

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragements; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on verities that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayer that undergirds.

-Unknown Author

Wishing all of you a blessed Lenten season.  May the peace of the Lord live in your hearts.  : )

This Tuesday my son will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.  In preparation, this past weekend he attended a retreat given at his school.  His first retreat.  He loved it.  Said it was great.  Having been through a number of retreats myself, both on the receiving end and as a leader/helper, I know the life-altering effect they can have on one, especially a retreat well planned and lead.  His retreat was.  And I want to take a moment to thank the teachers and school alumni who made it happen.  In particular, Ms. Cindy — you rock!  She did an amazing job.  As well, the group of teenagers who volunteered their time to plan and work this retreat — Vicky, Juanqui, Ali, Annette, Ashely, Melissa, Lauren, to name a few.  These teenagers’ dedication and show of faith is a refreshing reminder that not all the youth of this country is lost.  That a large number of them are out there doing their best to set an example for us all, spreading and living the Word — walking the talk, if you will.

Thank you guys for making this a special and memorable retreat for Danny and his classmates.  Keep up the good work.  The Lord needs you.  The world needs you.