In less than a week it'll all be over...

That's how I thought I would feel about this week...My last week of undergrad coursework...

Even going into this week...SWEET BEANS LAST WEEK OF STUDENT TEACHING...

Even arriving at the school  on Monday...ok self just one more week here

but...and there is always a but...it is different...

Now, I know what you are saying...it is only Tuesday, how did you already change your mind?

Well ...

in less than a week student teaching is over.

In less than a week there is no need for me to be on this campus anymore (ok, well I mean I still have my job for the rest of the semester and household...but still my education will be over)

In less than a week I will finish what I have been investing literally more money than I have into

What I have invested four and a half years of my life to...scratch that seventeen and a half (can't forget kindergarten...well and preschool so make that eighteen and a half years)

EIGHTEEN AND A HALF YEARS of my life have been leading up to this Friday, the day I complete the coursework for my Bachelors Degree

In less than a week I will be done working with these students. I will no longer be considered a part of this school.

And in less than a week I will no longer have the opportunity to make impacts on the lives of these particular children...I can only hope that in some way I did. That in some way they are better off because of something, some tiny thing I have done. I can only hope that they know I love them, and I expect great things from them.

In less than a week I won't see their little faces every morning, and receive their little hugs, or hearts drawn on the back of their assignments for me. I won't be able to dry their little tears when they fall, or give them a high five for being good.

In less than a week I will leave this school that I have been a part of for three and a half years. I could not be more grateful for the experiences I've had here, and the faculty and the students who have changed my life. I hope to hear great things about them in the future!

Catholics! Come out of your bubble!

So I have noticed something...

As Catholics, we just love to talk about evangelizing. We love it; talking all about how great it is to reach out to others and share the Good News (aka the Gospel)...well that's great and all, but how many of us actually do that? and how?

Ok, mission trips...they are great. Love them, really I do and I know that we need them. It is great to reach out to the hurting, and the hungry, and the lonely, and the poor. Mission trips are necessary for us to help those who need it!

Are there other ways to evangelize though?

I know what you're thinking...oh heck no I am not going door to door to try and sell my religion...and I am not asking you to.

I am just saying that I have noticed something about Catholics...we tend to stick together. We form little Catholic bubbles...sure we break out of them some times like when we go on mission trips...but what about in our day to day lives?

Helping those who are faithful to grow in their faith...ok a good place to start...

what about just being friends with other people.

Being friendly with someone who does not follow the Catholic faith is not a bad thing. You do not have to push your religion on them, you don't even have to talk about religion if you don't want to. Just to be a good friend can be exactly what they need.

But we are scared sometimes I think, to make friends outside of our Catholic bubbles. We are scared that they may pop our little bubble. We are scared that they may reject us.

It takes someone strong in their faith to be able to enter into the rest of the world, no doubts about that, but some people learn from example. Some people need that warm loving friendship...that unconditional love just in order to be open to the idea of following a religion.

Sometimes just being nice to someone is enough to get them to start questioning...why? Why are they being so nice to me? How can they find good in all this bad?

and then that starts the ball rolling...