| Brush Strokes of a Painting: A Chronicle of My Vacation [03/11/09] |
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Thursday, October 22nd, 2009.
10:45 p.m.
Earlier this evening, while preparing to go on vacation to my grandparents’ home, I decided that I would chronicle the events that occurred during my vacation. I shall begin with the events leading up to actually going on vacation.
The day had arrived. It was Thursday, October 22nd, 2009—the day before we would go on vacation. After going to morning Mass, I packed clothes for the weekend. Following the occurrence of several other events, which included going to a TM YLP session, doing random chores around the house, and going to the Schoenstatt Christmas choir practice, I finally got around to loading my bags into the car. My cargo consisted of a small suitcase with clothing items and another small suitcase containing about a dozen books. These books included: The Bible, The Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Schoenstatt Spirituality Series, New Vision and Life, and A Movement in Chains. I don’t know if you caught this, but, I am planning on doing a lot of reading this weekend. After brushing my teeth and saying my night prayers, I started writing this chronicle. Now I just have to say my rosary then I will hit the sack.
It is 11:07 p.m.
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Friday, October 23rd, 2009.
9:17 a.m.
We have finally left our house and we are on our way up north to visit our grandparents. This morning’s activities included going to Mass, taking the fish tank over to our other grandparents’ house, and putting the last few pieces of luggage in the car. After detouring to the Post Office to mail a letter and to “McDonald’s” so that my dad could get some breakfast, we finally hit the freeway.
My dad has promised to call out all the major mile markers and landmarks on the way. This should make for an interesting drive. Well, my dad has his breakfast and we have just passed through the “Zoo” Interchange and we are currently traveling on highway “I-94” towards the “Marquette” Interchange and highway “I-43.” Now I am going to start reading a book to pass the time till we get to our grandparents house.
It is 9:35 a.m.
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11:57 a.m.
It is always the last leg of the journey that seems to take the longest time to complete. We are now only 20 minutes from our grandparents’ house. The last 15 minutes of driving have seemed to take forever.
Since my last entry, I have occupied my time by reading “Nuts and Bolts,” looking at photos, listening for another announcement from dad, and listening to Peter read some pretty interesting excerpts from a “Landmark” book. It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful, complete, ornate, and true, our Catholic faith is. After reading Tim Staples’ Biblical proof for the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and his biblical proof for the Sacrament of Reconciliation—in the book “Nuts and Bolts”—I find myself still all the more amazed at how beautiful, correct, true and complete our catholic faith is. If only I could share these ‘truths’ with everybody in the world!
Well, this bit o’ chronicling has helped to make the time go faster. We have now passed the town of “Beaver,” just a few more miles to go till we arrive at our grandparents’ house. I cannot wait to see my grandparents and enjoy a “Country Meal.”
It it 12:17 p.m.
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9:53 p.m.
The first day of vacation is coming to a close. Sadly, I did not get in as much reading as I wanted today. On the flip side, the time I could have used for reading I used talking with my parents, grandparents and siblings. After arriving at my grandparents’ house, the day’s activities included talking with family, reading excerpts from “An Introduction to Schoenstatt,” watching a few “Road Runner” cartoons, enjoying two “Country Meals,” participating in an Amateur Radio Youth Net and listening to Mary tell me about CPR.
I have forgotten to say my rosary again today. This makes it two days in a row I have forgotten to do that. Now I will say my night prayers, my rosary, and then I will hit the sack.
It is 10:06 p.m.
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Saturday, October 24th, 2009.
11:00 p.m.
The second to last day of vacation is rapidly coming to an end. Nowadays, time always seems to pass faster than I expect it to. Take this weekend, I figured since it was not a school day and since we are on vacation, that time would not pass so fast. I was mistaken.
Since this is my only entry today, I shall now recap the day’s events. The day began with me not waking up to the sound of an alarm clock. It was really refreshing to be able to catch up on some of the sleep I lost this school year. After a country style breakfast, I got to do all the dishes by my myself. My grandparents had to go take care of some financial business so I decided to step up to the plate. It was actually not that bad having to do all the dishes by myself. I actually enjoyed it. Following the dishes, I talked with family, did some reading, and watched a real interesting television show on tunneling machines. We ate lunch. Following lunch, I did more reading, I had fun with my siblings, I lost my wallet, I spent 30 minutes looking for my wallet, I found my wallet and I went to a local park to play with Michael and Therese. We came home from the park, ate supper, and then I played cards with my siblings and Grandpa before retiring to do some reading.
I decided to read some of the Bible. I read from the book of Proverbs, Wisdom, and Sirach. Then I started writing this entry for my chronicle. Now I am going to say my night prayers and go to bed. I shall close with a very beautiful quote from the book of Sirach on friendship.
"One who jabs the eye brings tears: he who pierces the heart bares its feelings. He who throws stones at birds drives them away, and he who insults a friend breaks up the friendship. Should you draw a sword against a friend, despair not, it can be undone. Should you speak sharply to a friend, fear not, you can be reconciled. But a contemptuous insult, a confidence broken, or a treacherous attack will drive away any friend. Make fast friends with a man while he is poor; thus will you enjoy his prosperity with him. In time of trouble remain true to him, so as to share in his inheritance when it comes. Before flames burst forth, an oven smokes; so does abuse come before bloodshed. From a friend in need of support, no one need hide in shame; but from him who brings harm to his friend all will stand aloof who hear of it."
It is 11:17 p.m.
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Sunday, October 25th, 2009.
9:49 p.m.
Well, my vacation is now over and I am getting back into my normal daily routine. I would not say that the last day of vacation is sad, but there is the wish that the vacation could last one day longer.
Here are the events that occurred today. We went to Mass at St. Mary’s Parish. The Pastor gave a short but good homily on total abandonment to God’s Divine Providence. After Mass, we went back to my grandparents’ house and then left for the local “Piggly Wiggly” grocery store. At “The Pig,” we purchased doughnuts to round off the breakfast of bacon, waffles and strawberries that grandma was preparing at the house. We ate a hearty breakfast and then watched a few “Flintstones” cartoons before leaving for home. We said our goodbyes, there were lots of hugs and handshakes, and then we headed for home.
While driving home I spent part of the time in silent prayer. I don’t know, but I always find it very easy to pray on long drives. It is probably because there are no distractions. Following the prayers, I caught a nap and then did some mental preparation for my TM Speakers’ Showcase. Upon arriving home, we did all the normal chores associated with coming back from a vacation and started doing the normal Sunday stuff again.
On a whole, I enjoyed my vacation this weekend immensely. It was very refreshing to be able to step out of my normal everyday life and be able to spend a whole weekend visiting with family, reading, playing games, and doing fun stuff. Though being on vacation was fun, I would never trade the life I live now for a life of vacations. Taking a break from the normal routine of life is nice, but it is the work and routine and the living of the normal everyday life that leads us closer to God and makes me happy. I know this to be a fact because I have seen it happen to me, in my life, numerous times. Well now this chronicle is coming to an end. May God bless all His children everywhere!
It is 10:10 p.m. |
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