Happy Halloween!!

Okay, So I admit I actually don't really appreciate this holiday very much... but It's still is Halloween so I thought I would wish everyone well on this eve of All Saints Day. : )

To begin. Today and this week have been wonderful, simply wonderful! Today when I walked outside I could smell burning leaves, see the tones of sunset on the trees, and feel the cool air and the warmth of the sun simultaneously. It was great.

Also, last night (even after ND's tragic football loss) was awesome. I was able to go see the folk choir concert! It was SOOO GOOD and I had great company AND Danielle Rose was there!! She is one of my favs for Sure! The joy that radiates from her being is really inspiring!






AND to make it EVEN BETTER they ended with one of my favorite songs EVER: Siyahamba!! All God's Children Choir, the choir I used to be in / interned with does this song and it reminds me of my choir family!!



 After the concert I had a great experience when I was headed back to SMC. I was going to wait for the safe "blinky" security bus that picks people up...but I'm too impatient for it so I started walking BUT this lovely older couple picked me up and drove me the rest of the way just to be nice!! It was so wonderful!! They had gone to the concert as well and were just the nicest people! God is Good all the time! : )

This morning I was able to go to mass, pray morning prayer and have coffee with a friend who I definitely don't see enough. GREAT GREAT GREAT!

Here is something good to know about me. I am so overjoyed by mass generally that I am high on the Lord most of Sunday. BUT, it is even more noticeable when I am able to go to a café directly after mass! AND that is where I am right now... I am high on God and Coffee. Now, if music is added to the mix I will probably die of ecstasy.

On an entirely different note. I just want to take a moment to remember (in Joyful Hope) Declan Sullivan. Declan was a Junior at Notre Dame and died this Wednesday in an accident. He was a great person and though I did not know him personally my heart goes out to his friends and family. Please pray for Declan and his family and friends.


http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/news/junior-declan-sullivan-dies-in-accident-1.1731506

There was a memorial mass at the Basillica for Declan and it was incredible to see the student body in prayer and solidarity for Declan Sullivan. This mass was an eye-opener for many students. It inspired joyful hope in me (for his soul) and pained me greatly to realize how many people had lost someone very dear to them. It also caused me to rededicate myself to the Lord (which I must do frequently) by reminding me of the the fragility of life and that life is not in success as so many view it but it lies in doing "small things with great love" (mother Theresa). It seems that Declan lived a life with great love and though he never reached the point of traditional success of Graduation or a career his life was a beautiful treasure to the Lord and to all of those who knew him.

When my uncle passed away a while ago my great-grandfather (who has since passed away) said that it was hard to see his grandson die because he knew that it meant that after such a short life my uncle Matthew was ready to be called home by the Lord and he (my great-grandfather) had lived a long life and was still not ready to return to the Lord. To him it was a sign of true success to die young because it meant you had fulfilled your purpose. I can't help but think of my great grandfather when I think of Delcan's Story. Lord Bless him and keep him!



~ Carpe Diem ~

Make the most of you life; do small things with great LOVE; and THANK THE LORD for EVERY DAY you HAVE!!!

Happy Sunday!!!
†
M

ALSO, THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!! 23 DAYS till I am LEGAL!!

For Gina Garavalia (my little sister's bff)

By Guest Blogger Gina Garavalia

Hello! Katherine was gracious enough to let me hijack her blog for a moment so that I could tell you about one of my favorite authors, Bryan Davis.

Bryan Davis’ books have become bestsellers in the field of young adult Christian fantasy. He has written many series, including Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Echoes From the Edge, and the new Dragons of Starlight. His books for adults include I Know Why the Angels Dance and the Tales of Starlight series. All are filled with enchanting characters, colorful writing, and riveting storytelling that had my eyes glued to the page until the very end.

A list of all Bryan Davis’s books can be found here: http://www.daviscrossing.com/shopping.htm

Let me quickly highlight some of his books.

Raising Dragons

A boy learns of his dragon past; a girl has known of hers for years. They combine their faith, courage, and love to overcome evil, a slayer who seeks to bring an end to dragon heritage, forever.

I picked up Raising Dragons because I am a fan of the fantasy genre. As a frequent reader of fantasy books, I have noticed that characters in this genre can sometimes be unrealistic. It’s hard to connect with giant scaly lizards or teen heroes with extraordinary powers – which is why this book took me by surprise. Author Bryan Davis has managed to intertwine a captivating fantasy world with protagonists that I can relate to. Billy Bannister, Bonnie Silver, and Walter Foley are three characters who now reside among my all-time favorites. From page one, Raising Dragons is a roller coaster ride chocked full of action, twists and turns, humor, and spiritual truths. So sit down, buckle up, and prepare yourself for an amazing to beginning to a fantastic series.

Eye of the Oracle

From the era just before Noah’s ark, through the battles between dragons and mankind in the time of King Arthur, and to the haunting presence of dragons in our day, this stunning prequel reveals the mysteries that led to the bestselling fantasy adventure that began with Raising Dragons.

Packed full of action, touching moments, and spiritual truths, Eye of the Oracle kept me up at night, reading under the covers. I found myself unable to put it down! Although it is the prequel to the best-selling Dragons In Our Midst series, it is able to stand on its own. From Noah, to the Round Table, to the present day, Eye of the Oracle takes readers on a journey through time. Discover the history of the dragons, the origin of the evil slayers who pursue them, and the truth behind the Oracles of Fire. Imaginative and well-written, this story is sure to please! Join Makaidos, Sapphira, Gabriel, and many other memorable characters in this tale of mystery, conflict, and inspiration.

The Bones of Makaidos

As the fiery wall of Abraham dies away, the people of Second Eden wait for the coming war. Giants and dragons will soon break through the barrier and attack, powered by the hatred they have stored up for four years. 

The Bones of Makaidos won the 2010 Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction, and it definitely deserves the hype! This fast-paced conclusion to the Oracles of Fire series is quite honestly my favorite of Bryan Davis’s books. It’s masterfully written, and the pages flew by at a breakneck pace! I couldn’t wait to find out what happens! It’s been amazing to journey with these characters through their trials and adventures, and this book brings those adventures to a stunning, exciting, and inspiring conclusion. I’m not ashamed to say that the ending brought me to tears! This book alone makes reading the Dragons In Our Midst and Oracles of Fire series well worthwhile.

Starlighter

There have long been rumors of dragons stealing people to another realm and enslaving them, but Jason did not believe the myths. Now, both his brothers are missing, and it turns out that dragons really exist. Jason journeys to find the portal to this mysterious realm in order to rescue his brothers and free the slaves.

Starlighter is the first of the Dragons of Starlight series, and I couldn’t read it fast enough! Like all of Bryan Davis’s books, it features a unique storyline, wonderful world-building, and fascinating characters. I found myself rooting for Jason as he and his companions strive to locate the portal and rescue the Lost Ones, and for Koren, whose extraordinary gift puts her in danger. Packed full of action, excitement, and inspiration, this is one book you’ll want to read again and again. The sequel just can’t come fast enough!

Masters and Slayers

Expert swordsman Adrian Masters attempts a dangerous journey to another world to rescue human captives who have been enslaved there by dragons. He is accompanied by Marcelle, a sword maiden of amazing skill whose ideas about how the operation should be carried out conflict with his own.

Masters and Slayers, the first of the Tales of Starlight series, has earned a prominent place on my “favorite books” shelf, right next to Starlighter. While Starlighter follows the adventures of teenaged Jason Masters, Masters and Slayers is about his older brother Adrian as he sets out to locate a legendary portal and bring the Lost Ones home. Bryan Davis’s take on this story is truly unique. Flawlessly, he weaves these two series into one tale of excitement and inspiration. While both Starlighter and Masters and Slayers can stand on their own, reading both has offered me a deeper understanding for the story world. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!

More information about Masters and Slayers, Bryan Davis’s newest book, can be found here: http://www.mastersandslayers.com

I Know Why the Angels Dance

When atheist psychology professor Phil Grayson loses his only child to disease, he's furious at John Hanson's attempt to console him based on his daughter's deathbed conversion to Christ. While Phil seems blind to the truth, John struggles to grasp the concept of "weeping with those who weep." Can another remarkable child bring them together?

I Know Why the Angels Dance is a truly moving story about how good can come out of even the most horrible tragedy. An atheistic family is stricken with grief, and it seems that no one will be able to breach their hearts and allow God’s love to flow. Can a little girl named Tabitha be the key? And when the unspeakable happens, can her father make the angels dance again? Bryan Davis’s beautiful writing brings this story to life. If you can read it without shedding a tear, you have a have a heart of stone.

I’d like to thank you for allowing me the chance to discuss these fantastic books. I hope you’ll consider looking into them.

Please enjoy this video featuring “Cassabrie’s Song” from Masters and Slayers.

I simply Remember my Favorite Things!!

Today. Today I realized something about myself. I don't want all of the things I think I want.
I just want to be happy. If this means that I don't get the things that I think I want...then I think that is what I want!


These are some photos of things that make me happy!!!
 They will help you get to know me a little better...

Favorite coffee Shop in Sevilla!

Blue Skies... and cups of coffee make me happy!

I really like playing music!

In light of the fast approaching holiday... Thanksgiving NOT HALLOWEEN (I'm not particularly fond of Halloween)   I thought I would share just a few things that I am thankful for.

A wonderful God!
PIE
My Family
Silence
Art - Music - WORDS
FALL
Children
COFFEE
Smiles
Music
Coffee
Conversation
ICE CREAM
Friends
Solitude
BOOKS!!
SONGS!! (music)
Language
Sight
The ability to be able to think and create
Hopes
Dreams
And not having to WORRY!
Earth
WORDS
Prayer
Intellect
Warmth when it's chilly and good warm smells when the air is cold on my nose!
Possibility
NPR internet Radio
Jazz in the morning... Regina in the Car, and Classical at Night (MUSIC)
My parents.
My punishments when I was a child... they were certainly clever and I totally appreciate them now
BAGELS @ Broadstreet Café
Blankets
SLeep
The Sun (rising and setting)
History, Philosophy, Literature.WAR & PEACE!!
Water
CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS
FOOD... especially from SPAIN and ITALY!

easter
†
M

DIVERSITY
Humanity
People in general

BOOKS.
books.
BOOKS.

Being assigned a powerpoint presentation on St. Teresa of Avila for my Medieval Spanish Class
The ability to speak
The ability to choose
The ability to wake up in a comfortable bed, eat three meals a day, and learn... and the fact that it is possible to  take those things for granted
My MOTHER.
Our Lady of Guadalupe/ Kibeho/ Lourdes/ Fatima/ Sorrows/ Perpetual Help...ect.
the ability explore and TRAVEL

The ability to LOVE and be LOVED
COLLEGE (even though I complain)
NOVEMBER!!! (it's my favorite month!)
Español
The colors Pink and Green
 Children's Books! Especially Despereaux, The Penderwicks, and Guess How much I love you?

Have a Wonderful Day!!

Pooh, the Winnie of Course!

" If there is a tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter thank you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you."  ~ Christopher Robin

Pooh provokes many feelings in me these days: nostalgia, hope, and aggravation.


Pooh has recently caused numerous feelings within my soul: nostalgia, hope, and aggravation.
Nostalgia for my childhood and all of the joy it contained, hope for the future; of being able to raise my own children on a good wholesome foundation of Pooh... and aggravation that there is a NEW POOH and Christopher Robin has been replaced by an annoying little girl with an American accent. I'm not a fan. Not. a. fan. I'm prefer Classic Pooh... I guess I'm a bit of a Pooh Traditionalist.






Pues, he decidido ( I've decided)  THAT my children will NEVER be corrupted by this NEW and DIMINISHED Pooh... but will watch the same Pooh that provokes such great Nostalgia in me.



This is one of my favorite Pooh Moments, Enjoy!



So, I wish everyone a HAPPY SUNDAY and highly suggest that everyone take a moment to enjoy something from your childhood!  : )

TTFN (ta ta for now!)

Buenos Días y Los Santos Españoles

Before anything I just wanted to say that I LOVE MORNING! I love the sunrise so much! I especially love a fall Sunrise! I love listening to good Jazz music and drinking a cup of coffee and watching the light creep into the room. I know that it is going to be a good day when I can take time in the morning to welcome the sun!



Confession: I AM SO HAPPY MY ROOM FACES EAST!! I like to listen to hippie music in the morning too! Like Good Morning Starshine & Peace Train... ect. It's a great way to start the day... and when I was in Spain I listened to Viva la Vida almost every morning! good times.



~ San Pedro de Alcántara ~
   
I love Spain and Saints... thus... DUH, I LOVE Spanish Saints!
One good reason to learn about St. Peter de Alcántara is that he was St. Teresa of Avila's Spiritual Advisor... I mean, come on if he influenced such a great saint then he was obviously GREAT!


He also experienced God's Love in a physically real and painful manner similar to St. Phillip Neri. But, probably the most remarkable of Peter's graces were his gift of contemplation and the virtue of penance.


Regular Facts: Born at Alcántara, Spain, 1499; died 18 Oct., 1562 and was a Franciscan. He was beatified by Gregory XV in 1622, and canonized by Clement IX in 1669.

Sunrise on train in Rural Spain

 

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11770c.htm

~ Favorite poems ~

 (I used to desperately want to be a poet- recluse like Emily)

I'm nobody! Who are you?

Are you nobody, too?

Then there's a pair of us--don't tell!

They'd banish us, you know. How dreary to be somebody!

How public, like a frog

To tell your name the livelong day

To an admiring bog!

~ Emily Dickinson

The Highwayman 

(I used to have this memorized)

The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,

The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,

The road was a ribbon of moonlight, over the purple moor,

And the highwayman came riding- riding-riding-

The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.

He'd a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,

A coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin;

They fitted with never a wrinkle: his boots were up to the thigh!

And he rode with a jewelled twinkle,

His pistol butts a-twinkle,

His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky.

Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,

And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;

He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there

But the landlord's black-eyed daughter, Bess, the landlord's daughter,

Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

And dark in the old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked

Where Tim the ostler listened; his face was white and peaked;

His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,

But he loved the landlord's daughter, The landlord's red-lipped daughter,

Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say-

"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night,

But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;

Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,

Then look for me by moonlight, Watch for me by moonlight,

I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way."

He rose upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand,

But she loosened her hair i' the casement! His face burnt like a brand

As the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast;

And he kissed its waves in the moonlight,

(Oh, sweet black waves in the moonlight!)

Then he tugged at his rein in the moonlight, and galloped away to the West.

He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon;

And out o' the tawny sunset, before the rise o' the moon,

When the road was a gipsy's ribbon, looping the purple moor,

A red-coat troop came marching- Marching-marching-

King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door.

They said no word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead,

But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed;

Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets at their side!

There was death at every window; And hell at one dark window;

For Bess could see, through the casement, the road that he would ride.

They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest;

They bound a musket beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!

"Now keep good watch!" and they kissed her. She heard the dead man say-

Look for me by moonlight; Watch for me by moonlight;

I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way!

She twisted her hands behind her; but all the knots held good!

She writhed her hands till here fingers were wet with sweat or blood!

They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years,

Till, now, on the stroke of midnight, Cold, on the stroke of midnight,

The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers!

The tip of one finger touched it; she strove no more for the rest!

Up, she stood up to attention, with the barrel beneath her breast,

She would not risk their hearing; she would not strive again;

For the road lay bare in the moonlight; Blank and bare in the moonlight;

And the blood of her veins in the moonlight throbbed to her love's refrain.

Trot-trot; trot-trot! Had they heard it? The horse-hoofs ringing clear;

Trot-trot, trot-trot, in the distance? Were they deaf that they did not hear?

Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,

The highwayman came riding, riding, riding!

The red-coats looked to their priming! She stood up strait and still!

Trot-trot, in the frosty silence! Trot-trot, in the echoing night!

Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!

Her eyes grew wide for a moment; she drew one last deep breath,

Then her finger moved in the moonlight, Her musket shattered the moonlight,

Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him-with her death.

He turned; he spurred to the West; he did not know who stood Bowed,

With her head o'er the musket, drenched with her own red blood!

Not till the dawn he heard it, his face grew grey to hear

How Bess, the landlord's daughter, The landlord's black-eyed daughter,

Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,

With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!

Blood-red were his spurs i' the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat,

When they shot him down on the highway, Down like a dog on the highway,

And he lay in his blood on the highway, with a bunch of lace at his throat.

And still of a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,

When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,

When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,

A highwayman comes riding- riding-riding-

A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.

Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard,

And he taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred;

He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there

But the landlord's black-eyed daughter, Bess, the landlord's daughter,

Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

~ Alfred Noyes

Two Dead Boys

One bright morning
In the middle of the night.
Two dead boys
Got up to fight.
Back to back
They faced eachother,
Pulled their knives
And shot each other.
A deaf policeman
Heard the noise,
And came and killed
The two dead boys.

~ Melvin Hergenroter

Prayer For A Child

Bless this milk and bless this bread.

Bless this soft and waiting bed

Where I presently shall be

Wrapped in sweet security.

Through the darkness, through the night

Let no danger come to fright

My sleep till morning once again

Beckons at the window pane.

Bless the toys whose shapes I know,

The shoes that take me to and fro

Up and down and everywhere.

Bless my little painted chair.

Bless the lamplight, bless the fire,

Bless the hands that never tire

In their loving care of me.

Bless my friends and family.

Bless my Father and my Mother

And keep us close to one another.

Bless other children, far and near,

And keep them safe and free from fear.

So let me sleep and let me wake

In peace and health, for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

 (St. Thérèse Pray for us!)

DEAR CARLY,

Dear Carly,

I would like to pretend that the reinstaliation of blogging was my idea but... alas it is all for you!
Now you have something TO STALK! : )
I really enjoy procrastinating (obviously) so this is what I am doing instead of finishing writing about how to solve racism manifested in children. NOW THE WORLD IS gonna go to POT because of you!
; )

Okay, so this is going to be a weird compilation of
as many things I can think of that are pertinent to understanding me!
You (Carly) probably already know them... but this was kind of fun so my other followers (ha!) can see how I perceive myself.. ish. 


These are my parents. Adam and Tina. Please note that Star Wars poster in the background. Explanation: This is a family friend's quiceañera (and being 15) she really wanted THAT poster to be in the ballroom. Anyway, my parents. They are awesome. They have given me so many opportunities in life I am so glad they are mine and I also really enjoy that they are still in love and show my siblings and I what the sacrament of marriage actually means. I think they only people I am cool about bragging about is my family and so I have to say something else. THEY LOVE EVERYONE!!! Ask any of my friends! They are just really loving people and they show me how to be loving to ALL people.

 Okay, so this is Pal and I. I love him very much (as much as you can love an animal) HOWEVER, sadly, I realize that I do not get to spend a lot of time with him because of my academic life and that whole growing up thing. So, recently I have decided that I need to find a place for him where he will get the attention he needs. This is really sad for me because I've had him since he was 4 months old. I will keep you posted on this.

 These are not all of my instruments, they are my friend Eric's. He plays tons of string instruments. I'm super jealous. This photo represents my lust for all things musical. It could potentially be unhealthy.
I like ALL music except well, heavy metal, most rap... and then there is always Country music. If you want to know how I feel about country music you will probably have to ask me because it is a very complex relationship... not hate... not love. But there is something; something that I appreciate and something that I abhor about country music.

 SISTER CAMP!!! The Dominican Sisters in Ann Arbor come to our Parish every summer for a week of super fun SISTER CAMP! In this photo I am singing with the kids during a sever weather alert... that's why we are all in the hallway. I was trying to keep them from getting too scared. It worked for the most part. SO... I love kids! A LOT!! Especially if they are young, difficult, or the underdog! But I love them all! I also LOVE sisters... although I really don't feel called to the religious life (at the moment_though I'm open) and I LOVE  MUSIC.  

 This is a photo of the choir I have participated in since I was a kid. It's called ALL GOD's CHILDREN CHOIR. It was created to promote tolerance and bring diverse groups of people together using MUSIC! My favorite things combined. This photo was taken at my house... my super awesome parents host a picnic for the choir every summer. Okay, so, I've tried to break away from this choir since I graduated. But, it's been hard. I wrote the very first song I ever wrote for this choir. It was for a performance for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I wrote it when I was 15 and they sang it for three years after that. I also interned with the choir to establish a youth branch two summers ago. This choir is my family! :  ) I love them all! I met my first social worker in this choir... Sandy Feldman. She is the person who inspired me to pursue social work as a profession (it has always been a passion).

 
CHICAGO. I love Chicago. I ALSO LOVE FALL. Fall is my FAVORITE SEASON!!!
I love the colors, smells, cool weather and the anticipation of CHRISTMAS! I also really like Thanksgiving (for secular holidays).

My friend Jaimie and I are officers for SMEAC Saint Mary's Environmental Action Coalition), we painted this last week for EARTH WEEK. I LOVE THE EARTH. I am on the verge of being a tree hugging, peace loving, hippie. On the verge. I do love the earth but I love PEOPLE FIRST.

 Does this even need an explanation. She is my favorite. I also love GHANDI.... and well India in general... I really really want to go there. We have had two priests from India. Great things come from that country... I will go there someday.

 SINCE IT IS OCTOBER I thought I would share this photo. This is from back in the day when all the kids lived at home. We each did a pumpkin. Good times. Honestly though, Holoween is my least favorite holiday... it's not aesthetically pleasing at all and it is loud and involves unhealthy food and whatever spiritual aspect it used to contain is totally lost in the hoopla. But I'm not passionatly against it ... I just don't like it.

St. Joe in the summer. Beautiful. Note: this new water fountain to play in. It is weird to me because the lake is right behind it... why do we have a fountain right next to the beach? I kind of hate the fountain because it is just to draw in tourists... I'm not particularly fond of tourists but I know they are a necessary evil. 

 I take photos of everything... and lots of random things. I really ENJOY photography but It has kind of always been my older sister's thing. I have about 50 photos of Starbucks from all around the world. I will find them one day and put them together on here BUT THE POINT IS. I am a coffee addict. There is no getting around it. It is who I am and I have learned to embrace it.

Um, okay. SO... these are my old honorary roommates.  Mary is the only one left but this is to say that I am so PROUD of all of them... specially you CARLY Miss. Valedictorian. I like having smart friends it makes me feel important. 

 Okay, this is actually my sister BUT it is to show that I am a swimmer... or rather, used to be a swimmer. ALSO it shows that I hate being photographed especially in a swimsuit. My sister was always a GREAT SWIMMER and I was okay.. but I enjoyed it. We were both lifeguards all through high school... I actually kind of hated being a lifeguard but It definitely beat being a waitress or working at a grocery store!

 This is the 5 of us with my DAD. He is awesome. I think I was like 12 or 13 in this photo? We are all definitely daddy's girls... can't help it.

 My mother made this pie! I LOVE PIE!!! So does my sister JESSICA! : )
I would like to take a moment to say that there is no way in hell that I could make this pie right now... I am not the best cook or baker. My mother was a professional baker when I was younger. She made beautiful things including WEDDING CAKES. She also cooks very well. So does my dad. I never wanted to but NOW I REALIZE I have to step up my game. My goal is to learn to cook ALMOST as good as my mom. : )

 My puppy (220lb Mastif) Sr. Dartagneon Kohler. BEST DOG EVER. RIP. 
Note: All of our animals have crazy names such as: Frida Kahlo, Faustina, Benedict, Isabella, Gustav...ect.

 This is a photo of my dad after he grew a beard for two months when I was in Guatemala.
The story: So, I LOVE WHEN MY DAD HAS A BEARD. He doesn't like it so much. So when I was a Jr. in High School I went away to Guatemala for 2 months... when I came back my dad had a BEARD! He grew it for me and the second that I saw it I started to cry. My dad really loves me enough to wear a beard he hates for 2 months! He shaved the next day.

 I LOVE FALL. THIS IS FALL AT MY HOUSE!!! : )

I love art. I love all forms of art but I am only good at Music and Drawing / Painting. Oh! I also like poetry A LOT... and have a knack for it but my poems are always songs now... I rarely write a poem just to sit on a page to be read... I force them on people by singing them!!

Our town does this thing called chalk the block... trying to emulate European countries that do street drawing. I LOVE IT. I did it for three years in high school. SUPER FUN!

 My house. My house is small. BUT IT IS FULL OF LOVE. I love my house a lot especially when there is good food cooking or coffee brewing : ) and especially now that the CATS HAVE TO LIVE OUTSIDE. I HATE CATS!

 This is a photo I took at a squaters house in SEVILLA (for a project).
I like it because... well, it's true. We need to STOP RACISM.

 THIS IS MY FAVORITE PROFESSOR AT SMC. Why? because he has dreads. I LOVE DREADS!!
I (thanks to my friend Hannah Beth) had a short stint with dreads but I am too lazy and incompetent to keep them up. So... that's why I have them no longer.

 I LOVE LOURDES!!!!! Bernadette was my patron of choice form a very young age and naturally was my chosen name at Confirmation. It was so SO awesome to go to Lourdes with my mom at the beginning of Holy Week when I was studying abroad.

 Sevilla. If you want to know how I feel about Sevilla... look at my blog called SEVILLA!!

 I am learning to like football... I never went to a single game before this year (my last year) and I am realizing that it is actually fun. I am learning to like football.

 GUATEMALA. My first experience living en el extranjero. This was totally different from Spain becasue well... I was younger, we lived in a poor community and my Spanish was atrocious. I am so thankful for the opportunity though because it was after this trip that I decided that I was going to Study Spanish and Social Work at Saint Mary's College and that I was going to study abroad for the year. I think I grew leaps and bounds during those two months... metaphysically of course.

 I LOVE WATER. Besides coffee and ... WINE it is the only beverage I prefer. THUS, I have always loved my water bottle. This water bottle died last spring. It took me about 3 months to find a sufficient (aesthetically pleasing and functional) replacement.

 My church. I love my church. If you live in south bend you should go there (St. Joseph Parish in St. Joseph MI) sometime... it's worth the drive. WE HAVE A PERPETUAL ADORATION CHAPEL. I love my church because when I come home I am surrounded by my community. It's great. It is a little annoying that it butts right up to the road though... It would make a wedding procession difficult.  Speaking of which... I hope to someday be married in this church. Unless of course my future (hypothetical) fiance has a REALLY GREAT REASON to be married somewhere else.

Also, FACTS: I am a pretty healthy eater except when it comes to ice cream, I like the idea of working out, I love people but I'm an introvert, I like thinking about things and daydreaming, I don't eat meat but I'm definitely going to feed my children meat one day, I am super complex and generally contradictory in my beliefs... I like to laugh, I like to visit with people, I hate to study, I like writing papers though, I hate deadlines, I talk too much ... I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC but am trying to wait until Thanksgiving this year... I like to argue a little too much... I'm a little sarcastic (sassy) I LOVE TO TRAVEL... and I really would like to be a mom someday and have a big family of biologicall and adopted children... that was the first job I ever wanted and now I'm back to where I was when I was 5. : )

And for now I think that is as much as I can stand to say about myself. THIS IS FUN!! 

Carly, I hope you enjoyed this. 

Un fuerte abrazo,

Katherine Kohler : )