Becoming You

Be fearless of rejection.

Be fearless of failure.

Be fearless of who does this kid think he is?

Art is risk!



Doing what others are too scared to do.

Love your body, but glorify God with your body.

Life isn't about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself.

The pressure is off of you! Because it's not about you! It's about Jesus.







Great message...Understanding other's perspectives, especially from a young mind's point of view. That makes sense for kids, that's how I teach them. That's what I figured out for myself being a minor and raised in California, and it WORKS for me. If only the rest of the world, including Texas understood that also, then we will move forward and not backwards. One thing we all can agree: be the hardest worker in the room and have faith.

Become You! Nobody else is good at being you, except you. You are especial. I love you. I really do.

Different animal, same beast! All glory to God!

Where are You?

I fall in love everyday with a girl I probably haven't met yet.

It’s beautiful, the way it all plays out. God knew the importance of creating Eve and the impact she would have on Adam. “Eve, God’s finishing touch. And all Adam can say is ‘Wow’ (Eldredge 37).”

The time appears closer than what it seems. Ready or not
here she comes. I’ve fought for her. I’ve gone into the wilderness without her
because God created men for adventure, battle and beauty.

She is all the motivation I need to continue to live a prosperous and wholesome life. She makes me become a better man and challenges me to jump hurdles just to get to her. We all deserve someone who makes us look forward to tomorrow.

Preparation time. She’s coming! Quick grab my clothes from the cleaners, clear my schedule, make the reservations, light the candles, and get ready.

Battle to Fight and Beauty to Rescue

"The world will give you that once in a while, a brief time out; the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where somebody dabs mercy on your life." -Ukad

It is time. It is time to get back in the ring. After all the studying, training, and rest it is time to answer this call. It has been a while, but the world thirsts for it. During this rejuvenation process savages were taking over lands and people were destroying people. It is time. New battles, new beginnings, new friendships, new life, renewed strength. It's time to rebuild. It's Rehab Time!

Time to purify the waters. Time for war. This is the battle I enjoy fighting. As the undefeated knight I must step out into to the front lines. Some will be intimidated and some won’t even budge, but I’m properly trained for both scenarios.

Time to take back what belongs to God and protect His people. One by one these lost sheep will return to their shepherd. There’s millions needing to be rescued. How are we going to rescue all of them? One by one and day by day. What if they don’t want to be rescued? Love them anyway. We’re the only bible they may ever read.

 

The army has grown is less than a year. We come in great numbers to love and serve. Like superheroes in broad daylight, people notice our presence. It is no longer me anymore, it is we. Thanks be to God. We are the new Adventures ready to save the world.

 

Nothing is more practical than finding God, than falling in Love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in Love, stay in love, and it will decide everything. - Fr. Pedro Arrupe

Inspirational video of the summer:

 

 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. -Philippians 4:8 

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on Us!

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for Us!

St. Joseph, Pray for Us!

St. Michael the Archangel, Pray for Us!

Mother's Day

Written on 5/12/2013: There's this void. Emptiness feeling. The most frustrating part is not having her here with me. We would be living it up with no more worries. We would be motivating each other and enjoying one another's presence. Traveling the world. Doing whatever, whenever. Let’s go to church, let’s pray for our families, our enemies and for the bear. Everyone else has their mom or a spouse or someone there. I just feel alone in this world. This is just what I have to do. God blessed me with the most wonderful mother in the world and that led to me today. I wouldn't trade her for anyone else. Even though I feel lonely not having her around. If they were to tell me you can have a mother for 50 years or you can have your mother for 19 years. I would chose my mother over and over again.

Oh-oh-oh I, I hope your dancing in the sky

and I hope your singing in the angels choir

I hope the angels, know what they have

I bet it's so nice up in heaven since you've arrived

We already know how beautiful a mother’s love is. This year, marks year number eleven and twelve without her physically present. The only day that I dread going to mass on Sunday is on Mother’s Day. Everyone, young and old, is accompanied by their mother, grandmother, or maybe even the mother of their children. I’m just sitting there like, #turnup. I reflected last year on this. I only had her for nineteen years, but if God would have asked me: you can have another woman to be your mother for fifty or eighty years or Maria De Jesus Dominguez for nineteen, I would chose my “Chiquita” 100 of 100 times without hesitation.

Your mother is always with you...

She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street.

She's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks.

She's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well.

Your mother lives inside your laughter.

She's crystallized in every tear drop...

She's the place you came from, your first home...

She's the map you follow with every step that you take.

She's your first love and your first heart break....

and nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, Not space...

Not even death.... will ever separate you from your mother....

You carry her inside of you....

-Anonymous

 

Mass wasn’t so bad this year. God made me feel comfortable. I even dressed up more than usual. It was a special day. After all, I met everyone’s mother on Instagram today, so they had to meet mine, the women who gave birth to a star. All jokes aside, I have mentioned time and time again how special my mom is to me. I miss her more every day, but I know she is watching over us. Momma’s prayers are the reason a lot of us are still here.

San Jacinto 2014...

175 days per year. It’s not a race, it’s a marathon. 175 days of glory and failure. It is filled with wins and losses, joy and disappointment. 175 days of starting over. Back to square one moments, yesterday doesn’t matter anymore and tomorrow is too far away. 175 days of love and hate. Your name is either followed by lovely compliments or ugly misperceptions. 175 days of persevering and enduring. Delivering hits while receiving them in front of eye witnesses. 175 days of laughter and tears. Despite the setbacks or the judgment, I can proudly say that there are far more achievements and praise that make it all worth it and keep me alive.

The question that I always ask myself is: do I have what it takes? My answer is always, absolutely. I have to figure this out. God opens the doors for me. Why not include Him in my everyday battles. After all, He is always there because these are His children. For some reason I’m the cool, hip, and rich uncle of these youngsters. Also, my approach is more philosophical rather than political, and that’s where I run into a brick wall. In spite of this, I’m either going to run around it, over it, or through it. I’m running, and this is where the chapter continues. No pauses, no breaks, no switching books because when the next page is turned, I’m still here at San Jacinto. There is no ending! The covers change, book gets edited, but it’s the same underdog story of a 13 year old kid from California, who once step foot in these once foreign hallways, wearing Kobe Bryant sneakers, with one mission.

In 1997, I was in that library and walked away with all of those awards: Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance, Student of the Six Weeks, Math Student of the Month, Social Studies Student of the Month, English Student of the Month, Most Improved, etc. Can one person get this much recognition? Afterwards, I was receiving my mother’s blessing right before I kissed her on the cheek and said thank you because as a reward, she handed me the Nick Van Exel Lakers jersey that I wanted. My godfather was there. He witnessed it 17 years ago and is witnessing it right now, since he is living in my house. It is funny how this story goes. I was in English class first period paying attention to every word Mrs. Dunn said. In Mrs. Morren’s Algebra class getting the highest grade in the class, and in advisory doing my homework.  I was in Mrs. Terrazas’ Science class working with the smartest kid in the school. I was in Computer class, typing with my eyes closed. I was in lunch, next to my twin brother, isolated from everyone, standing against the walls of the patio, answering questions, and observing everybody else. In P.E. I was scoring buckets and defending all the best players, Coach picked me first one day, I was never the last pick ever again. I was in Art with my brother, impressing people with yet another hidden talent. At the end of the day, I was in Social Studies class with Coach Alvarez receiving all the attention in the world. I had to finish the day on a positive note. I had to impress them. I had to do everything in my power. I had to do my very best. No one else was doing it. Can a student of such caliber exist in today’s world? Is this what chasing perfection looks like? I was willing to set a name for myself. That’s what I was born to do. I was willing to give San Jacinto a try. They saw it! They witnessed it! These people will also. History will repeat itself. This is my school!

Frog Story

Two frogs fell into a deep hole. A crowd of frogs gathered around the opening looking down without hope. The two frogs tried jumping out, but they were not strong enough. The crowd started yelling to give up their efforts because it was a waste of their time and they were doomed. One of the frogs listened, gave up and died shortly after. The other frog kept trying to hop over to the surface. The shouts continued, but the frog kept attempting his escape. They told the frog to quit because there was no way he was going to get out. More and more gathered around yelling at the helpless frog. The frog made huge leap and jumped out of the hole. Afterwards, they asked him why he wouldn’t listen to their cries and what gave him to confidence to keep trying despite the negative remarks. The frog told them that he was deaf and that he actually thought that they were encouraging him or cheering him on the entire time. He was determined to get out because he felt supported. Words can be powerful. Good or bad, they can have an effect on people. The message here is to encourage one another and together we can accomplish amazing feats. Seek influential people in your life to help you reach the top and ignore the naysayers. Jump! Jump! You can do it! You got this!

I also heard another story about a frog who received a kiss from a princess and turned into a prince...To be continued...