Life's path is invisible
Destiny's blueprint, inscrutable
Navigating it is a miracle
I count on you to do
Walking with a blindfold,
Your hand warms my own
You'll show me where to go
If, with trust, I hold
The hand that guides my own
When I can't see,
Your breath fires courage in my veins
When I can't see,
Your calm voice keeps me sane
When I can't see,
My ears sharpen to your voice
When I can't see,
Your touch reassures my choice that
When I can't see,
You guide me
You guide me
Walking with a blindfold,
Your hand warms my own
You'll show me where to go
If, with trust, I hold
The hand that guides my own
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
My Apologies
My apologies to those who post comments on my blog, my dumb computer won't let me reply to comments. So either I will ignore your comments entirely, or respond with a post.
Nathan, I am indeed driving this roller coaster. It's different :) But maybe you're right, and I should get out of the driver's seat and let God take the reins. :)
Nathan, I am indeed driving this roller coaster. It's different :) But maybe you're right, and I should get out of the driver's seat and let God take the reins. :)
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Reving up and out of summer
Summer is just as hot as it ever was, but even in the middle of July things are starting to rev up for the school year. I have an appointment later today at Sinclair to sign up for classes and take a Spanish placement test. Teaching Choralleers at Co-op will take a lot of planning, because I'm working with a different age group and need a different approach from last year. I'm also thinking about scholarships, scrutinizing every college in Ohio on the web for full ride or any other scholarships that might apply to me. The writing and re-writing of scholarship essays will be considered as one of my classes this fall. In addition to all this planning and looking forward, I have only one or two more small things left before I'm done with senior year. Pursuing music this year will consist of joining adult choir at Emmanuel, continuing organ lessons, practicing piano at home, and starting voice lessons. Oh, and I'm looking for a job.
The only thing left to do is spend time with my family, get in to the swing of things, and then immediately start worrying about next year. Seriously though, all this planning and figuring out my life can get me stressed out. That's why really, the biggest thing I have to do this year and next, is pray. It's hard to really admit that God knows better than I do in these little things like choosing courses at Sinclair, but in the end He really does. So I'll just be trying to trust Him and I hold onto my cap while driving this roller coaster. :)
Thursday, June 28, 2012
A Woman's Question (Excerpt) - by Lena Lathop
Do you know you asked for the costliest thing
Ever made by the Hand above?
A woman's heart, a woman's life -
And a wonderful woman's love.
Do you know you have asked for this priceless thing
As a child might ask for a toy?
Demanding what others have died to win
Win the reckless dash of a boy.
You have written my lesson of duty out,
Manlike, you have questioned me.
Now stand at the bars of my woman's heart,
Until I shall question thee.
You require your mutton shall always be hot,
Your socks and your shirt be whole;
I require your heart be true as God's stars
And as pure as heaven your soul.
A king for the beautiful realm called home,
And a man that his Maker, God,
Shall look upon as he did on the first
And say: "It is very good."
I am fair and young, but the rose may fade
From this soft young cheek one day;
Will you love me then 'mid the falling leaves,
As you did among the blossoms of May?
Is your heart an ocean so strong and true,
I may launch my all on its tide?
A loving woman finds heaven or hell
The day she is made a bride.
I require all things that are grand and true,
All things that a man should be;
If you give all this, I would stake my life
To be all you demand of me.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
What Poets Taught Me
Poets from years and ages ago
Combined with melody peaceful and low
Speak to me through ink a page
A page that will speak to yet another age
Of stars in the heavens, and all beauty behold
By eyes who take time to seek out the old.
See uplifted arms of tree's wind-swept dance
Straining skyward in praise as their leaves prance
See for the first time eternal growth
With childlike wonder and unquenchable hope.
It reveals the one Breath that created good earth
Breathing forever into its blessed birth
Still firing awe in my heart to this day
Restless, searching, yearning for the Name.
Hold on to the message unwritten,
Hold on to the unspoken rhyme,
The truth is often hidden,
The wise find it only through time.
Combined with melody peaceful and low
Speak to me through ink a page
A page that will speak to yet another age
Of stars in the heavens, and all beauty behold
By eyes who take time to seek out the old.
See uplifted arms of tree's wind-swept dance
Straining skyward in praise as their leaves prance
See for the first time eternal growth
With childlike wonder and unquenchable hope.
It reveals the one Breath that created good earth
Breathing forever into its blessed birth
Still firing awe in my heart to this day
Restless, searching, yearning for the Name.
Hold on to the message unwritten,
Hold on to the unspoken rhyme,
The truth is often hidden,
The wise find it only through time.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
A Dental Extravaganza
I had cavities filled for the first time last week, three of them to be precise. Being my first time, I was rather scared about having to have novacane being shot into my mouth. After swabbing the one side of my mouth with gel, I closed my eyes while the dentist fiddled away in there. I opened my eyes to see the back end of a ginormous, 10 inch long syringe slowly injecting novacane into my head. It looked like a skyscraper from my perspective.
After shooting up the right side of my mouth, the dentist declared that it was unnecessary to numb the other side. Until he started drilling, that is. With the tooth on the unnumbed side being attacked first, I wondered if the other two would hurt as much. The dentist's comment at that point was, "That's deeper than I expected." You don't say. :P After several eyebrow grimaces, the dentist saw I was in pain and switched to a laser instead of a drill.
The other two went much more smoothly, and I was out of that chair in less than an hour. Being unable to smile, I sent a half-faced grimacing smile to the lady at the front desk as I left. As Mark would know, I sounded odd talking on the phone later that day, and laughing hurt my cheek, so I attempted to laugh without smiling. It was quite an experience. :)
After shooting up the right side of my mouth, the dentist declared that it was unnecessary to numb the other side. Until he started drilling, that is. With the tooth on the unnumbed side being attacked first, I wondered if the other two would hurt as much. The dentist's comment at that point was, "That's deeper than I expected." You don't say. :P After several eyebrow grimaces, the dentist saw I was in pain and switched to a laser instead of a drill.
The other two went much more smoothly, and I was out of that chair in less than an hour. Being unable to smile, I sent a half-faced grimacing smile to the lady at the front desk as I left. As Mark would know, I sounded odd talking on the phone later that day, and laughing hurt my cheek, so I attempted to laugh without smiling. It was quite an experience. :)
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Let It Be Forgotten - A poem by Sara Teasdale
Let it be forgotten as a flower is forgotten,
Forgotten as a fire that once was singing gold,
Let it be forgotten forever and forever;
Time is a kind friend; he will make us old.
If anyone asks, say it was forgotten,
Long and long ago,
As a flower, as a fire, as a hushed footfall
In a long forgotten snow.
-Sara Teasdale
Forgotten as a fire that once was singing gold,
Let it be forgotten forever and forever;
Time is a kind friend; he will make us old.
If anyone asks, say it was forgotten,
Long and long ago,
As a flower, as a fire, as a hushed footfall
In a long forgotten snow.
-Sara Teasdale
Friday, June 8, 2012
DONE WITH SOMETHING
I just finished a paper. Actually, it was a character essay that broke
just over four pages. It's a loathsome thing to do school in the summer,
and I am rejoicing as I type that I am FINALLY, at least ONE step
closer to freedom. :P When school ends, which will be soon, but not soon
enough, you will know if you're the type that is amused by taking
walks at night, because you'll see me walking on the moon.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Hold on to your cap!
High school graduation has been one of the most exciting, exhausting, and exhilarating times of my life. Between finishing school and cleaning everything for the party, to the party and receiving my diploma, it has been quite and adventure. However, the best part of the graduation ceremony happened immediately after.
All five of us had stepped outside the church, asking what now? because we had not practiced that far, when we decided to throw up our caps, just like they do on the front of grad cards. The perfectly elegant arch of the flying cap and model smiling faces that are portrayed on the cards are obviously not the product of a random, catch as catch can experience, as I soon found out. So, laughing, we count "1,2,3!" and throw two blue and three white caps into the air. Only four hit the ground, and only two of those landed unscathed. As I watched, my cap fell perfectly flat the the roof of the (flat) patio-like covering above the exit. While I was pondering how to get the cap down from up there, I see Emily laughing, holding a cap without a tassel, and Alex gluing her eyes to the ground and asking if anyone had seen her metal 2012 piece.
Thankfully, we called the Cap Retrieval Assistance Squad, and they were able to quickly and safely locate and return the lost items for a great price. Some kid found the metal 2012, and Mr. Miller had Frankie climb on his shoulders to grab both cap and tassel from the roof, for which I am eternally grateful. That funny spectacle of practical help made my day. :)
Moral of the story - don't throw your graduation cap unless you are hired by a licensed greeting card company to do so under restricted conditions. Or just throw it in an empty field. But not during a hurricane or with lightening.
All five of us had stepped outside the church, asking what now? because we had not practiced that far, when we decided to throw up our caps, just like they do on the front of grad cards. The perfectly elegant arch of the flying cap and model smiling faces that are portrayed on the cards are obviously not the product of a random, catch as catch can experience, as I soon found out. So, laughing, we count "1,2,3!" and throw two blue and three white caps into the air. Only four hit the ground, and only two of those landed unscathed. As I watched, my cap fell perfectly flat the the roof of the (flat) patio-like covering above the exit. While I was pondering how to get the cap down from up there, I see Emily laughing, holding a cap without a tassel, and Alex gluing her eyes to the ground and asking if anyone had seen her metal 2012 piece.
Thankfully, we called the Cap Retrieval Assistance Squad, and they were able to quickly and safely locate and return the lost items for a great price. Some kid found the metal 2012, and Mr. Miller had Frankie climb on his shoulders to grab both cap and tassel from the roof, for which I am eternally grateful. That funny spectacle of practical help made my day. :)
Moral of the story - don't throw your graduation cap unless you are hired by a licensed greeting card company to do so under restricted conditions. Or just throw it in an empty field. But not during a hurricane or with lightening.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
A chance to suffer, a chance to fly
Not everybody gets the chance to suffer, and hence to grow, in the obvious physical ways such as experiencing hunger, famine, and war, especially if you live in the richest country in the world like America. Any inconvenience can be eliminated by dish washers, spell check, diet soda, and other handy appliances, and most annoyances can be blocked out by ipods, cell phones, TV, laptops, or goofy videos on YouTube. Our society, myself included, regularly use these things to escape nagging doubts or secret pains, losing yourself for a day, an hour, a minute in pleasure. The chance to suffer is given to everyone, everywhere, at some point (several points) in their life. As Adam Young said, "Reality is a lovely place, but I wouldn't want to live there." Although he seems to have done an excellent job at creating his own little utopia, that's not life. And when the hard times come, and you don't want to go on, or you really just can't go on, these pain killers are not strong enough to block out the problems. That's when you are graced with an opportunity to suffer, a chance that I was blind to for too long a time, but eventually turned to to accept weakness, gain peace, and live joyfully.
I have an issue of living a double standard. The attitude I take towards my life can be different from my actual application in the split-second decision making. I've always told others, myself, and God that sure, I'm trusting God, so eventually He's going to work this all out for me. In the hard minutes, the decision making, I simply forced myself to deal with the issues at hand, closing up, becoming logical and taking action. All good things, but not enough. I didn't really know what "giving up" and "letting go" meant, those vague, churchy words that you always hear in songs on K-Love. I don't really like those phrases, first of all because they have become cliche, and secondly because they are too nice-sounding and short to accurately describe what really goes on. The explosive impact that the spiritual act of allowing another Power into the deepest part of your very being to surgically intervene in every homework page, meal, and tooth-brushing you do, in aspects of life on the psychological, spiritual, mental, even neurological level; that's what it's all about. (Yes God will mess with your brain, he can because He made it anyway;) The allowing part is what I did not consciously agree to in the moment, the part of my very good life that I was lacking. It's not that I didn't agree to let God in, it's just that I never did agree to in the moment where it counted. :P
When things got really hard, the music didn't drown out the gnawing doubts and pains anymore. I was pretty frantic for an emotional pain-killer. The only thing I could think about was, how can I get through this? A friend told me the most important thing in my life -
"...this might sound terrible right now...but use this opportunity."
Really??
"...Not everyone gets the chance to suffer like you and your family are right now. Even if you would rather die than face your life right now...just say that "yes!, one day this will pass so right now I'm just going to do my best so that when I am looking back on this moment down the road I can say that I used it to the best of my ability and strength..no matter how crappy it felt."
That's what I was missing. I was thinking "How can I survive this?" instead of "How can I thrive in this?" In rough situations, this is well-nigh impossible. As the song from Group 1 Crew asks, "As light is hard to find in a storm, how can I give love if my soul's been torn?" Getting through each day is way easier than improving each day, but it is what we're called to do. Other wise, it stunts our growth. Knights show their valor on the field of battle, and don't gain strength and honor from passively "getting through" a fight. If we stay where we're comfortable, we take longer getting out of the pain. We just wade through it, concentrating on how much we need to get through, instead of looking up and out to the edge where it ends. But most importantly, we miss an irreplaceable opportunity. We're not given such opportunities for heroism and inner strength much in ordinary life, so when the challenge comes, embrace the pain and do something with it. Be courageous, show them what you've got, and give it your very best.
How can you do that, when everything seems to be crashing down around you and you can barely stand, let alone help other up? The first thing you have to come to terms with is this truth - you are weak. Yes, you are, and unless you're desperate enough to come to terms with this, you're not desperate enough. Your life won't improve unless you accept that. So let it sink in, even though it's scary, shameful, and disappointment. Then, cry for help - ask God to be your strength. Get what help you need, first from God, and second from the people who love you most. They may not be the most comfortable people, because if they truly love you, they may sometimes tell you things that you don't want to hear for your own good. Sit in quiet, empty yourself with the fact you are weak, to make room for God's strength. He will come, I promise you, He said himself "I will never forsake you." Search for the two signs that you're on the right track - Peace, and Joy. Both are gifts, and cannot be produced by regular human emotion. Remember, you can have Peace mixed with pain, just happiness can come with inner discontent. It is silent, and you will only hear it in the silence. But it is a green light that says, yes, you are on the right track. Joy is the same, but less common. When you feel it, you will have no doubt of it; the difference between Joy and Happiness is astounding, it will fill you with wonder and awe, and ask where this amazing thing, Joy, came from. Happiness does not spark that question.
Then, continue with your life, fulfilling your duties of each moment. Not each hour, or each day, and don't even start to think about the rest of the week; just focus on doing your best for God in each moment. Use plans/planners as a necessary evil, because when they become more than a way to serve God in a future, they can be obsessive, taking your mind off God. (I'm not dissing plans, I need to be more organized myself - but I do know how stressed out they can make you.) God will take of all your needs down to the socks you wear today, so you're covered. By focusing on God's will, you will fulfill what only you can do, and slowly you will change lives, do amazing, maybe little things, and prepare yourself for greatness, by embracing the challenge right here.
If you're going through a hard time, I am so sorry. Please hear this though, although it might sound harsh right now - use this opportunity to suffer, and turn it into a chance to fly.
I have an issue of living a double standard. The attitude I take towards my life can be different from my actual application in the split-second decision making. I've always told others, myself, and God that sure, I'm trusting God, so eventually He's going to work this all out for me. In the hard minutes, the decision making, I simply forced myself to deal with the issues at hand, closing up, becoming logical and taking action. All good things, but not enough. I didn't really know what "giving up" and "letting go" meant, those vague, churchy words that you always hear in songs on K-Love. I don't really like those phrases, first of all because they have become cliche, and secondly because they are too nice-sounding and short to accurately describe what really goes on. The explosive impact that the spiritual act of allowing another Power into the deepest part of your very being to surgically intervene in every homework page, meal, and tooth-brushing you do, in aspects of life on the psychological, spiritual, mental, even neurological level; that's what it's all about. (Yes God will mess with your brain, he can because He made it anyway;) The allowing part is what I did not consciously agree to in the moment, the part of my very good life that I was lacking. It's not that I didn't agree to let God in, it's just that I never did agree to in the moment where it counted. :P
When things got really hard, the music didn't drown out the gnawing doubts and pains anymore. I was pretty frantic for an emotional pain-killer. The only thing I could think about was, how can I get through this? A friend told me the most important thing in my life -
"...this might sound terrible right now...but use this opportunity."
Really??
"...Not everyone gets the chance to suffer like you and your family are right now. Even if you would rather die than face your life right now...just say that "yes!, one day this will pass so right now I'm just going to do my best so that when I am looking back on this moment down the road I can say that I used it to the best of my ability and strength..no matter how crappy it felt."
That's what I was missing. I was thinking "How can I survive this?" instead of "How can I thrive in this?" In rough situations, this is well-nigh impossible. As the song from Group 1 Crew asks, "As light is hard to find in a storm, how can I give love if my soul's been torn?" Getting through each day is way easier than improving each day, but it is what we're called to do. Other wise, it stunts our growth. Knights show their valor on the field of battle, and don't gain strength and honor from passively "getting through" a fight. If we stay where we're comfortable, we take longer getting out of the pain. We just wade through it, concentrating on how much we need to get through, instead of looking up and out to the edge where it ends. But most importantly, we miss an irreplaceable opportunity. We're not given such opportunities for heroism and inner strength much in ordinary life, so when the challenge comes, embrace the pain and do something with it. Be courageous, show them what you've got, and give it your very best.
How can you do that, when everything seems to be crashing down around you and you can barely stand, let alone help other up? The first thing you have to come to terms with is this truth - you are weak. Yes, you are, and unless you're desperate enough to come to terms with this, you're not desperate enough. Your life won't improve unless you accept that. So let it sink in, even though it's scary, shameful, and disappointment. Then, cry for help - ask God to be your strength. Get what help you need, first from God, and second from the people who love you most. They may not be the most comfortable people, because if they truly love you, they may sometimes tell you things that you don't want to hear for your own good. Sit in quiet, empty yourself with the fact you are weak, to make room for God's strength. He will come, I promise you, He said himself "I will never forsake you." Search for the two signs that you're on the right track - Peace, and Joy. Both are gifts, and cannot be produced by regular human emotion. Remember, you can have Peace mixed with pain, just happiness can come with inner discontent. It is silent, and you will only hear it in the silence. But it is a green light that says, yes, you are on the right track. Joy is the same, but less common. When you feel it, you will have no doubt of it; the difference between Joy and Happiness is astounding, it will fill you with wonder and awe, and ask where this amazing thing, Joy, came from. Happiness does not spark that question.
Then, continue with your life, fulfilling your duties of each moment. Not each hour, or each day, and don't even start to think about the rest of the week; just focus on doing your best for God in each moment. Use plans/planners as a necessary evil, because when they become more than a way to serve God in a future, they can be obsessive, taking your mind off God. (I'm not dissing plans, I need to be more organized myself - but I do know how stressed out they can make you.) God will take of all your needs down to the socks you wear today, so you're covered. By focusing on God's will, you will fulfill what only you can do, and slowly you will change lives, do amazing, maybe little things, and prepare yourself for greatness, by embracing the challenge right here.
If you're going through a hard time, I am so sorry. Please hear this though, although it might sound harsh right now - use this opportunity to suffer, and turn it into a chance to fly.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Like Abraham, Jacob, Peter and Paul
As you all know, my family recently changed our name. Now we're the McGraths. It's been quite an adventure - paperwork, decisions, getting used to the new name. It's been taking some getting used to, but I wouldn't change it for anything. ;) (Seriously - we could only do all that paperwork once! ;) If you all are interested, here is the story of the turn of events leading up to the name change.
Although we had been seriously thinking about it for the past few months, actually, my parents considered it before they got married, simply because Wisniewski was such a hard name to say and spell. Unlike many people who came over Ellis Island who Americanized their last names, this one had stayed intact for over 4 generations. However, because they couldn't come up with anything, my parents decided to keep it for the time being. Later on, after we all were born, I remember them joking about mixing "Wisniewski" and "Moloney," my mom's maiden name. Eva said, "How about McNiewski?" That was the running joke for quite awhile in our house. Sadly, it too was laden with spelling issues. :)
Last summer, my mom started seriously thinking and praying about it again. She told me, and I thought a lot about it myself. Because it was a huge family decision, each of us had the freedom to affirm or nix-nay it. However, after several months of thought, we had a unanimous yes. There were several reasons.
The most obvious reason is the difficulty of speaking and spelling it. Any time a business transaction over the phone happened, or anything else where you were required to verbally spell out your last name, things got really old really fast. Imagine trying to give your last name to an old lady at Lowe's with hearing issues over the phone - "That's W-I-S-N... N as in Nick... AS IN NICK.... yes that's right... N-I-E.... yes those are the right letters... I know it sounds like new... NO, there are not TWO N's, only ONE..." You get the picture.
Next, the fact that I knew my dad wouldn't mind. Since my parents had openly thought about it before they got married, and even tossed the idea around once or twice in my childhood, I knew he would be ok with it.
The final reason is a more religious reason. In the Bible, when any character had a major life change, and turned their heart and life to God in a more fully devoted way, God gave them a new name. When God called Abram to know Him, he gave him the name Abraham. After Jacob wrestled with the angel, the angel blessed him and gave him the name Israel. Jesus himself, calling Simon to be the rock of his Church, called him Kephas (Peter, Rock). After Saul was thrown from his horse and became the most devoted missionary of all time, he took the name Paul. The list goes on and on. Our family went through a huge change with the death of my dad two years ago, and we thought it fitting to take on a new name in this new phase in our lives. We are still the same people, with the same background; but we hope that this new name will help remind us of God and our duty to Him in this new stage of our lives.
Still, I needed some sort of affirmation, so I prayed that God would show me what He wanted me to do. I figured, IF I'm going to change it, it should be a family name that works for everyone, something that has some history and meaning attached. As for a middle name, I liked Evelyn, but it didn't have any real significance for me, but my confirmation name did. So, IF I did change it, I would take my confirmation name. The only issue with that is it is St. Maximillian Kolbe. I wasn't taking Maximillian, you couldn't pay me to take Maxine, so Kolbe was all that was left. But the IF's still bugged me a bit, so, I laid the whole thing out to Fr. Amberger, knowing that he would give me some good insight. He suggested that for the last name, it be something in the family, with some family history (funny, I had already be thinking of that). For the middle name, he said I should probably take a saint name, or maybe your confirmation name? Funny, i had already been thinking about that too! That was the green light that told me to run with this whole wonderfully, beautifully crazy thing. :)
So, with me assured and my family decided, we had to pick a name. Because of the plethora of ancestors we have, we had a pool of family names to pick from. Rooney was in the running, but I absolutely forbade it when I heard "Rose Rooney." No. Not happening. :) Mom didn't want to go back to her maiden name, and nobody knows how to spell Meehan. We even considered taking my dad's name, Wayne, as our last name, until we tried it with Jack's name and it became "John Wayne." All he needed then was a pair of six-shooters, haha.
So we decided on McGrath. My great-grandmother was a McGrath, just as my great-grandfather on the other side was a Wisniewski. We were equal amounts of both, only the McGraths had come through a line of girls, while Wisniewski had come through a line of boys, therefore remaining the same. It took several months, but finally we went to the county courthouse on March 22nd. We stood before a judge, and each individually went up and gave our old name, new name, and consent for the change. It was over in a few minutes, yet I surprised myself how happy I was walking out with an official paper with my new name on it.
I am so happy with my new name. It seems like the start of happy new chapter of my life. I am not leaving my past behind, or somehow morphing into a different person, I couldn't do that if I wanted too. But I'm not being afraid of the future, or not moving on. This is a part of this moving on, and a very exciting, happy part for me.
Thank you for reading!
God bless you,
Rose Kolbe McGrath :)
Although we had been seriously thinking about it for the past few months, actually, my parents considered it before they got married, simply because Wisniewski was such a hard name to say and spell. Unlike many people who came over Ellis Island who Americanized their last names, this one had stayed intact for over 4 generations. However, because they couldn't come up with anything, my parents decided to keep it for the time being. Later on, after we all were born, I remember them joking about mixing "Wisniewski" and "Moloney," my mom's maiden name. Eva said, "How about McNiewski?" That was the running joke for quite awhile in our house. Sadly, it too was laden with spelling issues. :)
Last summer, my mom started seriously thinking and praying about it again. She told me, and I thought a lot about it myself. Because it was a huge family decision, each of us had the freedom to affirm or nix-nay it. However, after several months of thought, we had a unanimous yes. There were several reasons.
The most obvious reason is the difficulty of speaking and spelling it. Any time a business transaction over the phone happened, or anything else where you were required to verbally spell out your last name, things got really old really fast. Imagine trying to give your last name to an old lady at Lowe's with hearing issues over the phone - "That's W-I-S-N... N as in Nick... AS IN NICK.... yes that's right... N-I-E.... yes those are the right letters... I know it sounds like new... NO, there are not TWO N's, only ONE..." You get the picture.
Next, the fact that I knew my dad wouldn't mind. Since my parents had openly thought about it before they got married, and even tossed the idea around once or twice in my childhood, I knew he would be ok with it.
The final reason is a more religious reason. In the Bible, when any character had a major life change, and turned their heart and life to God in a more fully devoted way, God gave them a new name. When God called Abram to know Him, he gave him the name Abraham. After Jacob wrestled with the angel, the angel blessed him and gave him the name Israel. Jesus himself, calling Simon to be the rock of his Church, called him Kephas (Peter, Rock). After Saul was thrown from his horse and became the most devoted missionary of all time, he took the name Paul. The list goes on and on. Our family went through a huge change with the death of my dad two years ago, and we thought it fitting to take on a new name in this new phase in our lives. We are still the same people, with the same background; but we hope that this new name will help remind us of God and our duty to Him in this new stage of our lives.
Still, I needed some sort of affirmation, so I prayed that God would show me what He wanted me to do. I figured, IF I'm going to change it, it should be a family name that works for everyone, something that has some history and meaning attached. As for a middle name, I liked Evelyn, but it didn't have any real significance for me, but my confirmation name did. So, IF I did change it, I would take my confirmation name. The only issue with that is it is St. Maximillian Kolbe. I wasn't taking Maximillian, you couldn't pay me to take Maxine, so Kolbe was all that was left. But the IF's still bugged me a bit, so, I laid the whole thing out to Fr. Amberger, knowing that he would give me some good insight. He suggested that for the last name, it be something in the family, with some family history (funny, I had already be thinking of that). For the middle name, he said I should probably take a saint name, or maybe your confirmation name? Funny, i had already been thinking about that too! That was the green light that told me to run with this whole wonderfully, beautifully crazy thing. :)
So, with me assured and my family decided, we had to pick a name. Because of the plethora of ancestors we have, we had a pool of family names to pick from. Rooney was in the running, but I absolutely forbade it when I heard "Rose Rooney." No. Not happening. :) Mom didn't want to go back to her maiden name, and nobody knows how to spell Meehan. We even considered taking my dad's name, Wayne, as our last name, until we tried it with Jack's name and it became "John Wayne." All he needed then was a pair of six-shooters, haha.
So we decided on McGrath. My great-grandmother was a McGrath, just as my great-grandfather on the other side was a Wisniewski. We were equal amounts of both, only the McGraths had come through a line of girls, while Wisniewski had come through a line of boys, therefore remaining the same. It took several months, but finally we went to the county courthouse on March 22nd. We stood before a judge, and each individually went up and gave our old name, new name, and consent for the change. It was over in a few minutes, yet I surprised myself how happy I was walking out with an official paper with my new name on it.
I am so happy with my new name. It seems like the start of happy new chapter of my life. I am not leaving my past behind, or somehow morphing into a different person, I couldn't do that if I wanted too. But I'm not being afraid of the future, or not moving on. This is a part of this moving on, and a very exciting, happy part for me.
Thank you for reading!
God bless you,
Rose Kolbe McGrath :)
Inflation...
I knew prices were rising, but I didn't realize how bad things were getting until I saw this -
You would think the store would catch the typo. No one is gonna pay that much, no matter how good that Sunkist is!
;) Signing out
Rose :)
You would think the store would catch the typo. No one is gonna pay that much, no matter how good that Sunkist is!
;) Signing out
Rose :)
Friday, February 24, 2012
Matt Maher made me think
Two Saturdays ago (February 18th) I went with a bunch of other people up to a birthday party, followed by a very long car ride down to the Underground and a Matt Maher Concert. I thought I was tired after waiting an hour and a half for Matt Maher to show up, until he finally did, and told how he had to fly from Maryland to Arizona, missed his flight, then went up to Vancouver, to Chicago, and then here. It had been a very long 36 hours for the poor man. I didn't feel so tired anymore.
So he started out, as usual, with the peaceful yet exhilarating song Alive Again, and the concert get underway. In the middle he talked a bit before playing another one of his songs- I forget what it was called but it was pertinent to his talk beforehand. He told about how his little boy, 6 months old, would cry persistently at night whenever he was hungry, as most little kids do. So one night, Matt got up to feed him a bottle, and by the time he got over the poor kid almost had a meltdown. But when he finally held him and gave him that bottle, he stopped crying. Not only that, the little boy's eyes were locked on his dad's, and he grabbed one of his fingers with his little hand and wouldn't let go.
Matt asked, why can't we be like that with God? We are supposed to be children of God, we need to let Him know when we need Him. Instead of crying out in the night, why do we wait and go to him last? And when we finally get to Him, why do simply dump all our problems and wants on Him like we would crab about to a friend, instead of running ecstatically up to give Him a hug like a little child? Why don't we let Him hold us, feed us His grace in silence, and lock our eyes into His? In conclusion he said a very profound thing, that I had heard but didn't really understand before - that it is better to need God than to want Him. If all do feel is to want Him, it is the equivalent of wanting some kind of sweet, but if we need Him, it is like we are starving and will do anything to get to Him because we need God.
I always love how the little kids come up to me after Church or at co-op and yell "ROSE!!!" and then nearly knock me over because they grab my legs so hard. After they hug me hard, they always look up to see if I will smile, give my approval, or hug them back. They don't even talk to me, but just be there. Why don't I run up to God, hug him, and just rest in his gaze? I would think God would really appreciate such innocent enthusiasm too.
So now I can finally put to word that we need God as much as we need oxygen, that we literally can't do anything by ourselves. All our talents that we think are ours are like money given to kids from their parents - it's their parent's money, not theirs. You were born with whatever talents you have, no more, no less. Did you influence the way or place where you were born? If you did I would be very interested in how you did it. Why then to I take pride in having a good voice? Or getting good grades? Or being a kind, outgoing person? It's actually ridiculous if you think about it. Anything we do, anything, you name it, is only done through God and because of Him. That is why we need God. I had definitely known that fact before, but could never quite describe it. But that's ok, because Matt Maher described it for me. :)
So he started out, as usual, with the peaceful yet exhilarating song Alive Again, and the concert get underway. In the middle he talked a bit before playing another one of his songs- I forget what it was called but it was pertinent to his talk beforehand. He told about how his little boy, 6 months old, would cry persistently at night whenever he was hungry, as most little kids do. So one night, Matt got up to feed him a bottle, and by the time he got over the poor kid almost had a meltdown. But when he finally held him and gave him that bottle, he stopped crying. Not only that, the little boy's eyes were locked on his dad's, and he grabbed one of his fingers with his little hand and wouldn't let go.
Matt asked, why can't we be like that with God? We are supposed to be children of God, we need to let Him know when we need Him. Instead of crying out in the night, why do we wait and go to him last? And when we finally get to Him, why do simply dump all our problems and wants on Him like we would crab about to a friend, instead of running ecstatically up to give Him a hug like a little child? Why don't we let Him hold us, feed us His grace in silence, and lock our eyes into His? In conclusion he said a very profound thing, that I had heard but didn't really understand before - that it is better to need God than to want Him. If all do feel is to want Him, it is the equivalent of wanting some kind of sweet, but if we need Him, it is like we are starving and will do anything to get to Him because we need God.
I always love how the little kids come up to me after Church or at co-op and yell "ROSE!!!" and then nearly knock me over because they grab my legs so hard. After they hug me hard, they always look up to see if I will smile, give my approval, or hug them back. They don't even talk to me, but just be there. Why don't I run up to God, hug him, and just rest in his gaze? I would think God would really appreciate such innocent enthusiasm too.
So now I can finally put to word that we need God as much as we need oxygen, that we literally can't do anything by ourselves. All our talents that we think are ours are like money given to kids from their parents - it's their parent's money, not theirs. You were born with whatever talents you have, no more, no less. Did you influence the way or place where you were born? If you did I would be very interested in how you did it. Why then to I take pride in having a good voice? Or getting good grades? Or being a kind, outgoing person? It's actually ridiculous if you think about it. Anything we do, anything, you name it, is only done through God and because of Him. That is why we need God. I had definitely known that fact before, but could never quite describe it. But that's ok, because Matt Maher described it for me. :)
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Senior Formal
Since this is my senior formal, I'm going all out with my hair. :) Here' s a similar picture of what it will look like.
I hope to have a great time dancing, talking, and taking pictures around the beautiful facility. I will put up pictures of it all after Friday.
I hope to have a great time dancing, talking, and taking pictures around the beautiful facility. I will put up pictures of it all after Friday.
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