I am an ice cream lover…not sherbet, not frozen yogurt, not snow cones, not Italian Ice….. ICE CREAM!  I’ve loved ice cream from the day it first touched my lips!  My entire childhood, I gave up ice cream for Lent.  This truly put me to the test!
 
As a young adult, I switched it up and gave up drinking for Lent.  Then when I wanted to start having a family, I gave up drinking for life!  Growing up in an Irish Catholic family, my relatives gathered in my basement every weekend, smoked cigarettes, drank beer and had sing-a-longs.  As a kid, that’s what adults did.  It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized that drinking too much was very prevalent on my Dad’s side of the family.  Life was challenging for my family growing up with an alcoholic father.  We were never sure what atmosphere we’d come home to.  I loved my Dad but despised his drinking.  I never wanted my own children to have to go through what I went through, being embarrassed to bring friends to my house.  My husband’s Dad was also an alcoholic; perhaps we were drawn together because of our difficulties growing up with a drinker.
 
Like Jesus in the desert, I’ve had my share of temptations when trying to weed out my life.  Some terrible events happened in my life where my faith was put to the test, like gold tested in fire.  My weaknesses have become my strengths.  When I stumble and fall to my knees, I always rise again with a new-found hope.  I pray all of the time…before I get out of bed, when I’m anxious, before I confront someone, while I am exercising, lying in bed at night, in the shower, driving…… so many prayers for you and for me.
 
My faith is my strength.  Sharing my faith is my gift.   God handpicked me to work with Catholic teens.  My scars made me who I am.  My brokenness brought me to Him.  All of my stumbling stones, were life lessons needed to truly minister to youth with compassion.