Thanksgiving Round 2

Just before Thanksgiving break I found out that Ami and Lori were going to be in town with their families! It was a pleasant surprise. We celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday and then spent a few more days together...We even had the opportunity to go to Chuck E. Cheese!

Nathan, Ashley, and I had some good laughs...let me tell you...they have some jokes...that crack them up!

Catching up with friends...

Girly Wine and Cheese Party

Some of my girlfriends and I decided to celebrate the feast of St. Gertrude by honoring her iwth a dinner/slumber/wine party. We began the festivities on Friday evening. The following afternoon we traveled to Weston, MO to enjoy some wine testing at a local winery. There we experienced the art of mulled wine! Here's a few pics from the weekend.....

Morgan Rechtein

My second cousin Morgan suffered a severe football injury a few weeks back. He broke his neck, but fortunately did not sever his spinal cord. Right now he is suffering from paralysis from the legs down. I ask you to keep him and his family in your prayers.

A man of good spirit and unshakeable faith.

If you want to be inspired, please click on the link below and watch the news coverage on his case. He is a remarkable young man of God and has inspired me in more ways than he will ever know.

http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx?aid=62421&bw=

For more information, please visit: http://www.morganrechtien.com/

A Tribute to Veterans and Soldiers

Our high school honored the country's veterans today in an assembly. One of the social studies teachers made this tribute video. It is well done. Thanks to all those who have fought for our country and dreams, especially Grandpa and Andrew! God Bless the USA!

Some YouTube Classics

Here are some of my new favorites...

If someone sings to you like this....does it matter what they say?


Thanks mom!


What a life!


Here are some of my ultimate favorites....

I think this is my fav....it just brightens my day everytime!


Just some quality entertainment...


Thanks to those that have shared these with me....

incredible...

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to go skydiving!

It was incredible and virtually unfathomable.

Some friends and I arrived at the airport around 9:30am and I did not jump until about 4:30pm. Although I had all day to watch others jump and visualize my own experience, some how, some way I was never nervous...well until the door opened!

Here's my attempt to share every moment of the adventure!

As you may guess, the reality of this adventure did not come until I was in this small plane with 4 others. It took about 15 minutes for the plane to circle the skies to reach the desired 10,000 feet. The plane ride was enjoyable but somewhat overlooked by the expectations of the actual jump. Since I was jumping near the end of the daylight, it was a bit chilly as we elevated, but I forgot how cold I was becoming as we were prepping to take the leap of faith. As we elevated, my guide continuously showed me the altitudes we were reaching and giving me instructions. Once we reached 9,000 feet, it was time to get ready. That is when the Hail Mary began, the adrenaline set in, and the exit happened before I knew it!

We all received a quick training before we jumped. I was mostly concerned with making sure that I would have my body positioned correctly as we exited the plane. Although it took some concentration, most of the work was done naturally by the force of the wind and gravity.

Once we reached the 10,000 feet, the two individual jumpers exited the plane. That was the moment of truth...seeing, hearing, and feeling the door open and watching them exit with a glimpse of the ground below and a gust of wind. Immediately after they exited, it was our time to move. I had to swing my legs around the wall of the plane (as I am attached tandem to the guide) and hang my legs outside of the plane between the door and the wing. Immediately, the guide rocked us forward (READY) then back (SET) then forward again (GO). Go this time meant rolling out of the plane. Supposedly we somersaulted 2.5 times before being parallel with the ground....and so the free fall began...but I do not recall flipping!

From here on out I have no true concept of what took place, but I will try to share what went through my mind, and what I have reflected upon since.

I believe that the free fall is supposed to last for about 30 seconds, though it felt like about 1o. I believe they said that we fell at 120 mph. All I know is that I did not feel like I was falling, but I felt the pressure of the wind, went nearly deaf due to the quick change of elevation, the sound was loud, felt the skin of my face flying backwards and shaking, much like a cartoon would express, and enjoyed every second of it. All I really remember going through my mind was that "this is incredible"!

Shortly the parachute would fly out and change the experience immediately. During the free fall my body was in a somewhat arched position with my arms out like chicken wings, my neck back, and my legs arched behind me. As soon as the parachute was released, the entire experience changed. My legs flung forward nearly hitting my face (or though it seemed), the pressure lightened, the sound shut off, and we were floating. I just remember thinking that what I had just experienced was incredible and I already could not fathom what had just happened during the free fall.



As we floated down, the guide let me help him pull some of the chords to allow us to spin 360s while descending ...that was enjoyable.
The trip down, once we had the chute felt like five minutes...I wish we could have coasted more in the air on the descent.

As we prepared for landing, I was told to pike my legs up in order to allow the guide to land us.

We were trained to land on our butts, but a few that day were able to land on their feet. I definitely came in with the butt technique!

Here I am just after landing...all I can say is that it was incredible!

I could not fathom what I had just done, and the experience was so quick that it was almost as though I never did it. But now, when I look back, more of the experience comes back to me. But as my friends and I agreed, this was a sensation that you can never fully explain or remember until you are in that same situation once again. With that said you may ask, would I do it again? Today I would say yes, however, it's not necessary.

As I said before, the day I jumped I was never really nervous...but the day I said yes to do it, I was a little nervous because only one other time in my life had I signed a contract to acknowledge that I was putting my life on the line. [Note to those who are considering jumping: just as there is danger in any extreme activity such as skydiving, there are several methods to make a parachute release, so that should never be a worry!] Anyways, if you are at all considering, I'd say go for it! You will never experience an adventure quite like skydiving. Then again, if you never go, that's okay too, because it happens so fast, you almost don't even remember it!

Just today, I was looking in the sky and saw many traces of planes. It was then that I realized that when I watched my friends jump, it was not until the small flap came out, just before the parachute that I was even able to pick them out of the sky. I just can't fathom that we were free falling so high in the sky that no one could see us! Crazy!

Say Cheese!

Well here you go, another standard school photo...sit straight, tilt your head slightly, smile and don't blink!....

also if you are interested to see the work of a PHS student here is my school website...I don't actually use it at this point and time....but it is pretty flashy!

http://phs.parkhill.k12.mo.us/personnel/teachers/dirnberger_lauren/

Seeing the family...

I just found out today that I will get to see my nieces and nephew and of course sisters and brothers Thanksgiving weekend! I am excited to see them all that I had to share a few of the recent pics they sent. As you can guess, I am a proud aunt!

Here's the Bryant Family: Ami, Scott, Ashley, and Nathan

The Jone's Family: Lori, Mike, and Rylie

See yall soon!

Thanksgiving!

I am looking forward to heading to the Lou to see all of my family and friends that I have not seen in awhile! I love you and miss you all!

Miss D, You Trippin'

I haven't given a school update in awhile...Things are going relatively well. I am not sure why but this past week I felt a bit overwhelmed I think just due to being tired and maybe doing too much during the week. I overslept two days in a row. I woke up at the time I was supposed to be at school. I guess at least I had the grace to make it there before the first bell rang! Anyways, though busy, no complaints.

My students are great, with the exception of talking too much and being apathetic at times. I am really enjoying getting to know my students and their personalities better. But this is also a challenge. I feel horrible for my students who are always doing the right thing, always respectful, and quiet because they do not receive any of my attention. My attention goes to the outspoken ones, who are usually off task! I have to admit though that I am going to be sad to lose this bunch of students at the semester. I will have a new crew after Christmas. It is strange to think that my first class of students will already be out of my care by December.

There is not a lot to report here, but I thought I would leave you with some one-liners from my students:

After assigning a tedious homework assignment, one student responds:
Miss D, you must be trippin'

After confiscating a hair straightener from one of my students, she asked:
Miss D we gotta get you a new do, can we straighten your hair? This is now a recurring question...daily....

One time I was helping a student at their desk, so I was half bent over helping her, placing my buttocks in the proximity of another girl. She said, Miss D get your butt out of my face (jokingly of course) and so I responded by shaking my butt at her....She then goes, No you didn't...I then proceeded to do it again and said, Oh yes I did! Now I may have crossed the line here...but that's what took place!

I have had several students who have asked me if I was married, dating someone, or had children...when the answer is no, I have had several 15 year old girls offer to set me up with their Chicano or African American friends or even to set me up on e-harmony. It's quite humorous, but it also gives me a great opportunity to teach them some valuable life lessons such as patience and virtue. One girl was convinced that I had a child at the local childcare because the little three year old had blue eyes, brown hair, and my last name!

I am sure there are several more but I will leave you with two of the funniest...

I have one little freshman boy who I think just likes to get a reaction out of me. I have him during the class period where lunch is in the middle. So upon his return one day, I was trying to usher the kids back into the classroom to get started. I told him he needed to step into the room. He responded that he could not. I said you must. He said, Miss D, I gotta let one. I replied, What? He again said, I gotta let one. You don't want me in there. I responded, hurry up and get back in! (I am laughing as I write this down). Then about a day or two later, he comes up to me in front of the class and whispers, ah Miss D...I gotta let one. All that crossed my mind was that he did not just come up to me to tell me this. I lost it, I started laughing. The class then wanted to know what he said. I told them not to worry about it...Then to top it all off, about a week later, I was helping another student near this boy. He says out of the blue, I am sorry for what I am about to do. I then said, Then don't do it. He responded, but I have to. I then said, What are you going to do? He said, I am going to stink up the room.

The final one...One of my students had this putty that makes farting noises as you push it back into the container. After several episodes of him "farting" I confiscated the putty. He then said to me, charming as he tries to be, Okay Miss D, I'll let you have this, but promise me this. You will give this to someone you love, and whenever you see it, you'll think of me!

As my favorite show was once titled, Kids Say the darnedest things!

I'm Only Human!

Well Jenni B and I have a fond liking to Michael Jackson song, Will You Be There. We often tend to dance and sing to it. So on her birthday, we had an evening of enjoying the first fire of the year, eating a hearty meal of meatloaf, then dancing and singing to Will You Be There for our friend Sasha. The night concluding with the birthday song and blowing out of candles. Last time we performed, our outfits were much more professional, so please excuse our make shift attempt of looking like MJ!

Collaborator Meditation

I know I have mentioned the Collaborators several times, but have not really explained it. The Collaborators is a laity movement associated with a religious order based out of Italy. The religous order, known as the Apostles of the Interior life, consists of men and women who have consecrated their lives to Christ. Their apostolate/charism is evangelization and spiritual direction. The Apostles serve several priests, laity, and college students. The order now has a couple houses in the US, Kansas being one of them. These sisters have influenced my life, particularly in regards to my faith and spirituality. I receive spiritual direction from one of them and I have always felt a call to serve others in some form of direction.

Just recently the order decided to form a group of laity that want to carry out the same apostolate. So I decided to join in. I am currently on the path to take promises with this group. This means I will make a life commitment to daily prayer and to apostolate of caring for souls. Currently I carry out this apostolate through spiritual mentorship with a handful of college students and women. I can share more on this later.

This past month at our meeting, I gave a meditation on Meditation. I have posted it below. I wanted to recognize that it is difficult to make time for God in our hectic and worldly lives, but stressing its necessity. This is a prayer asking for an increased desire to better my daily devotion. If you are interested please read!

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A Prayer for an Increased Dedication to Meditation

“Spirit of Light, imprint upon [our] minds, in characters that can never be erased, this truth: that [our] apostolate will be successful only in the measure that [we, ourselves] live that supernatural inner life of which Thou art the sovereign Principle and Jesus Christ the SOURCE.”[1] You have called us each here to grow in your love, particularly through the means of meditation. Though you have intimately called us each to form an interior life, we struggle as a result of the Fall and the world of which we live. Father, please help us to recognize your presence in each moment of our lives. Grant us the courage to be intimate with you so that we may place our trust and entire lives into your hands; and furthermore so that we may care for the souls that you have entrusted to us.

Father many of us struggle to set time aside for you each day. We live busy and hectic lifestyles and though we may think we are doing good as Martha did, you would rather us follow the docility of Mary. Help us to see how we can change our daily routines, just in small measures, so that we can always rest in your presence.

Lord, we recognize that our ultimate goal is happiness and we can only seek this through a personal relationship with you. We also know that the foundation of this relationship must be built upon a rock of prayer...a time of meditation. Help us to change our ways, ultimately striving for a half hour a day. Help us heed the advice of a French bishop who said, “To all [our] occupations,…add a half hour of meditation every morning. Not only will you get through all of your business, but you will find time for still more.”[2] We know your desire for us to have time of meditative prayer, but please grant us the grace to truly deem it necessary. For if we do not have meditation, we shall ask little or nothing of You. Therefore, each day and several times in the day, we must ask You to give us the grace to love You with our whole heart.[3]

Help us to make small progressions towards constant awareness of your presence by helping us open our day with a morning offering, blessing our food, praying for our families and friends, offering sacrifices through the undesirable duties of the day, participating in the Sacraments, and closing our day with an examination of conscience. Lord, help us to make our meditation fruitful by inspiring us with resolutions that will help us grow in virtue. Help us to recognize You in the people we meet in our careers, vocations, and current states of life. Help us each to see that we are striving to set aside a time in our day where we will give you our undivided attention. Help us to remember, that if we are determined “to acquire an interior life, we must take for an ideal, unremitting domination of self and complete control over [our] environment, in order to act in all things solely for the glory of [You].[4]

Jesus, we are constantly reminded by your cross, just how much you love us. May we reciprocate this love through time of meditation. The Catechism teaches us that "Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the converstion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow [You]. [5]Thus, our Love for you is increased and we will more willingly permit ourselves to be loved by you.

Father, we come before you, each with a unique and personal spirituality. “No matter what [our] condition[s] may be, if [we are] only willing to pray and become faithful to grace, [You] offer [us] every means of returning to an inner life that will restore to [us our] intimacy with [You], and will enable [us] to develop [Your] life in [ourselves].”[6] My we set aside our spiritual wretchedness as we draw closer to you through a renewed dedication to meditation. For we only begin to thoroughly know and feel our own spiritual wretchedness, once we start to leave it behind.[7]

Lord you have granted us a simple means to holiness--simply the means of reflecting on scripture and spiritual writings. As we attempt to better our meditative prayer, may we bear in mind that “Prayer is not another part for us to act, another skill for us to master, another subject to study for an examination: [rather] it is a relationship with [You][8]. Increase our desire to converse with you through scripture and meditation. Help us to push through the dry droughts of prayer in order to always acknowledge your presence.

As we close this prayer this evening, may we call upon the intercession of the Holy Spirit and the saints who have inspired us to experience the fruit of daily and persistent meditation:

Come Holy Spirit, teach us to pray well.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us!
St. Teresa of Avila, pray for us!
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
St. Alphonsus Ligouri, pray for us!

Finally, may we learn by heart the words of St. Margaret Mary: “I ever possess, and take with me everywhere, the God of my heart and the Heart of my God.”

Amen.

[1] Soul of the Apostolate, p.3
[2] Soul of the Apostolate, p.33
[3] St. Alphonsus Ligouri
[4] Soul of the Apostolate, p.28
[5] CCC 2708
[6] Soul of the Apostolate, p. 19
[7] Magnificat, September ’07, p. 134, Fr. Jean-Pierre Caussade
[8] Magnificat, November ’07, p.251, Fr. Simon Tugwell

Michelle's Birthday

Last Saturday night we had another Collaborator meeting. My friends Michelle and Maria hosted us. Following the evening some of the girls stayed overnight at Michelle's to celebrate her birthday. The next morning we all went to Mass together and then went to First Watch for her birthday brunch. Yet another great birthday celebration!