Tuesday, February 16, 2016





Everything we do in life has meaning.


Most of the time we just don't realize it until it has already come and gone.

Every second of the day we are making decisions and this accumulation of decisions defines who we are and what we stand for.

While life happens, and plans change, I have realized how important it is to have set goals to keep our priorities in check.

So without further adieu,

                                                                   My 2016 Goals:

1. Graduate with my Bachelor's in Public Health: Health Promotion/ Health Behavior.

2. Meet my two nieces: Cecilia and Nadia

3. Visit a new Country (Australia?)

4. Strengthen my relationship with Jesus

5. Get a picture with Jason Evert -- check ;)

6. Journal more

7. Take lots of pictures and make a photo album of 2016

8. Invite friends to Church

9. Work on getting more sleep, eating more fruits and vegetables, and practicing more silence

10. Smile more often

11. Do small acts of kindness and generosity everyday

12. Stay positive and proactive

13. Spend less but do more

14. Make some new close friends

15. Learn how to play a few songs on the guitar and piano

16. Read more good books

17. Go skiing at Mt. Hood

18. Say the rosary more often and constantly renew my relationship with Mother Mary

19. Go to Confession frequently

20. Meet Matthew Kelly, Sarah Swafford, and Father Larry Richards

21. Be a patient and kind driver -- Don't text ant drive

22. Spend more time in adoration

23. Become more confident in the person God created me to be with my strengths and weaknesses

24. Find some cool spots in Oregon and go to them

25. Listen MORE











Tuesday, February 3, 2015


What a beautiful life it is... It's amazing how someone can completely change your life for the better. I cannot imagine my life without Fr. Federico. The most inspiring, kind-hearted, God-loving, people-caring, genuine person I have ever met. I will never forget his sly remarks of me [always] holding a Dutch Bro's coffee in my hand when I first started hanging out at the Newman Center. That, as well as fighting over whose turn it was to play a song on you-tube. I love his passion for music!
Most of all, I will not forget the time he took out of his days to listen to me vent about my faith and my relationships and struggles with boys ;P He saw a side of me that I had never seen myself, he encouraged me every day to fall in love with Jesus all over again, and share that love with everyone I meet. I can't thank you enough Father for everything. And I will miss you so much! 

Woke up to a text from my wonderful roommate that started my Tuesday off just right. It said: "I heard someone say yesterday don't follow your heart because your heart can be deceived, instead ask God to help lead your heart in the direction He wants you to go." I am so grateful to have someone who reminds me of what is important in life. <3 nbsp="">


How true is it that we mistake our heart's desires for God's desire for us. He wants nothing but the best for us each and every day. He wants every day to be perfect. So why should we not let a day be perfect? I feel as though it is the expectations and assumptions that shape our realities.




Why is it that responsibilities seem to be such a chore? Why does work or school have to have negative connotations to them. Both are such blessings. Ultimately we are meant to be blissful, yet the world tells us not to be conscious of bliss. As Osho says, "Ordinarily the mind is always conscious of pain, never conscious of bliss. If you have a headache you are conscious of it. When you don't have a headache you are not conscious of the well-being of your head...My own experience is that life consists of 99 percent bliss and one percent pain. But people's lives consist of 99 recent pain and one percent bliss; everything is upside-down. Become more and more conscious of pleasure, joy, the positive, the flowers, the silver linings in the black dark clouds." (Osho; Body Mind Balancing).

Today's challenge: To take note of all the positive things that you have become so accustomed to that you don't even recognize them. Then to write down 5 things you thank God for. "Imagine if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today."

I am grateful today especially for:

1.) Great friends and conversations over coffee! Sarah, Phil, Daniel; you three totally made my morning! What a blessing to spend a morning at Mass and then drinking delicious coffee while sharing personal thoughts and testimonies of God's love!
2.) My cozy home and fire-place. While I am completely missing my life in warm/sunny Hawaii, you can't appreciate sunshine without rainy days in Corvallis!
3.) The fact that I am FINALLY a Senior and taking 3 classes that actually allow me some spare in-between time to write a blog post. (Thinking back to my last 3 years of Biology, Chemistry, and Anatomy...no words to express the relief of having those classes over with ^-^).
4.) My {Cheaper By The Dozen} family- even though I don't see or talk to them enough, they are always on my mind and in my heart. Can't imagine life without them in it--- constant motivation for me.
5.) A new friend I get to spend the evening with! 2 year old Jackson who I will be babysitting tonight!    While searching for this new Mac, met an awesome guy (Who's birthday is just two days after mine!) who just so happened to need a babysitter! And they literally live right across from me. God is SO good. :)

I hope you have a BLESSED TUESDAY!


Monday, January 18, 2010

A quick update. :P


WOAH. So it's been over a year since my last blog post!
Isn't it crazy how time flies! I almost forgot I even had a blog. hehe.
Anyways I hope who ever is reading this is having a wonderful 2010 so far.
Can you believe it is almost February?!
Anyways. Real quickly I will give you an update of what is going on in my life.
As of this month I have less than 5 months till I am out of high-school! So crazy and exciting!
Right now my life has been consumed with job applications, high-homework, and college applications!
Here is a picture I thought I would share from the pro-life march we attended yesterday :)
God Bless you all!
-JoAnn Marie

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Thanksgiving Pictures!




























Thursday, September 4, 2008

SO! I passed my written test and drivers test!!! WOO HOO.
I missed 1 on the written and I got docked down 3 pts on the drivers (just little mistakes)....but I still passed! (and thats all that matters, according to Brian haha)
So yea, i will be driving to school 4 days a week starting this next Monday. YIKES!
It should be fun ;)

Monday, August 25, 2008


Soooooo....i can't believe how fast this summer has gone by! Its sad!

I thought i would from MI camp =]
Alsoooooooo...I will be taking my drivers test on the 2nd! So please pray for me, i really want to pass...considering i'll be the driver to school for a while :S lol share some pictures from it....including ones

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Summer (Finally!)

Soo we got out of school Thursday!!! After EIGHT finals that week and an essay lol.
I can;t tell you how great it felt though, i literally wanted to scream after finishing up my last (biology) final C=
I definetely had some great teachers this year, and will miss them!!








Heres a couple pictures we took Thursday after school and at pizza :)


YAY for PIZZA! lol














Haha...
























After we got home Thursday (last day of school!)
We packed up and headed to family camp....
There were sooo many little kids everywhere, i was constantly holding babies lol.
They where all sooo cute! (oh yeah, i missed my neices and nephews though while they where gone, glad you guys are back now!!)

This is pretty much one of thee cutest little girls ive ever seen! Shes such a sweetie! I'm gonna miss you! haha






























And this girl came right to me one day, and would not let me put her down haha.. (Same mom for both these girls :)





We also got some tanning in...(me, Jane, and Kristen :) lol



Maylise!

Analise! lol...I loved both (*ALL*) these little girls

There where a bunch of little kittens they found too!