1st Semester is over.. 15 more to go

                I can’t believe that it has been 14 days since my last journal. Oops. Well it’s been tough getting back into the swing of things. Thanksgiving took a lot out of me. I just wanted to be done but nevertheless, the show had to go on. Finals are almost over. I think I’ve escaped with 4 “A”s and 3 “B”s. Not bad for my first FULL semester back in school. Most guys have left and the internet is now fasterJ. As I study for my last final of the semester, I take a moment to see what God’s been up to in my life.

                 I sit here and look at how much I have changed in the last 6 months (counting the summer stint I did in NYC). One thing that I noticed was my passion for the Church is greater. We learn as much in the classroom that we do at the dinner table. I am still my crazy self and I am still learning my own boundaries but I know that it’s okay. The formation team has told me to keep this because there was a moment where I felt like I needed to change. Mature. Act more “professional” if you will. But they said that this is who God made me and that I should embrace it. Obviously certain things need to change, but in general, I need to keep being that Happy-Go-Lucky type of guy.

                I’m also learning patience. Many people might say that I am a very patient person but the truth of it is that I usually eat up my emotions. I’m learning how to let out what I have to say appropriately. Sometimes things need to be said because certain things should not be allowed to go unsaid. We at the seminary are responsible for each other’s formation. If we let each other get away with things then it’s doing them a disfavor.

                All in all, it’s been a great semester and I am very undeserving of this blessing. Only the good Lord knows why I am here after all that I’ve done in my life. It’s a true testament to his unending mercy.

Home Sweet Home!

                Man o man it felt so good to be home for Thanksgiving! It was so good that I literally forgot it was my birthday. I got home the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and after speaking to my mom for a few hours I did some facebooking and I had some birthday messages. I totally forgot about it. The next morning the same thing happened when I was taking my dad to work, he wished me a happy birthday and that’s when it dawned on me again. Seeing a lot of familiar faces felt good and I can tell that people missed me. Things were different. Everyone’s feelings were overwhelming and so were mine. The time I was home I felt a bit unproductive but it was good. I got to hang out with the nephew and niece and the rest of the family.  I was fortunate to see a lot of my good friends and I even went to The Boys & Girls Club that I used to work at a year ago. If I did not get to see you then I’m sorry but the time flew by so fast. I hope I get to see you when I come home for Christmas Break. It was a very busy 4 days and I’m just so blessed to have done all that I did in the little amount of time that I had.

Now that I am back and over my 1-day depression, it’s back to the books. Yes I was a bit depressed when I got back. But the next day when everyone else started coming home it was all good again. Two weeks from today I should be coming home for a couple of weeks. I can’t wait. I want Finals to be here already so I can get a move on. It’s been a great semester so far and I wouldn’t change my decision for anything else in the world.