17 years & Counting

Happy New Year everyone! Wow, how amazing this past year has been. Some pains, some struggles, some amazing nights, some great memories, some broken friendships, some new friendships, some trials, some blessings. I look back at 2015 like a scrapbook, even though I didn't capture everything I would have liked.

This past year was so awesome. I am going to sum up some events that have happened that were highlights for me instead of putting them in those Facebook videos. I got CONFIRMED and it was amazing!! I am now officially apart of God's family and I chose to take that vow for myself. I am saying yes to God. Yes I am your daughter. I was always his daughter but its so great that I could proclaim it. I am Catholic, I am a daughter of God.

I interviewed Jeremy and Ryan, the Catholic rock band I am always talking about. It was so cool. I always imagined interviewing famous people and Jeremy and Ryan are sure getting up there. Me and my friend Lucas did everything. I came up with the questions and the game and Lucas did all the hard work. He rented equipment, cleaned up the slides, edited the whole video, and made it the 15 minute video you can see right here: 

I went to my first Taylor Swift concert: The 1989 World Tour with two of my favorite people in the whole wide world. It was a great night and what made it even better was going with people who inspired me to be the best person I can be. It wasn't only in the arena when we had fun but we had fun in the car on the way there and on the way home blasting 1989 and singing (and screaming) every word. You can read about the whole experience right here on this blog under the August archive of the site.

I self published my very own book titled BLOGGED. It's about becoming Fearlessly Catholic in today's world knowing other people are beside you, and most of all God. He is always there for you. If you would like to purchase this (non-profit) book you can buy it here: BLOGGED

God has truly blessed me this year. He has set on my heart to be more active at both parishes I go to. Helping out with EDGE, starting a Bible Study, participating in Bible Study, singing in Choir, and going to Lifeteen more and more. I've met the most amazing EDGE kids and friends through church and if you aren't active in your parish I encourage you to do so. I was such a stubborn kid when it came to making friends at my church but when God wants to do make a change in your life, he does.

There were struggles this year. Some major struggles but I believe that not a year passes without struggle. I've learned to thank God for the battles I have fought and those I have won. I know God sometimes calms the storm but sometimes He lets the storm rage on, and calms His child. I found this quote, pray when it is hardest to pray two years ago. I always wanted to put it in to words but whenever those times came when it was difficult to pray through a situation I never would. This year I am more than happy to say that I have followed through with what the quote has said. It's such a lesson to learn but when  you do learn it, it will make you stronger.

Almost nothing can sum up this fantastic year, I've had. Thank you to all those at Sacred Heart and St. Marys for making my year truly a blessing. Thank you to my wonderful family that has encouraged me, loved me, and has done more than I can imagine for me this year. Thank you to my friends who are the most amazing bunch of people ever.

Even though I said I probably couldn't sum this year up. I found a song that I can relate to my year perfectly. God bless Fearless Catholics, lets make 2016 awesome!

You are blessed. You are loved. You are Enough.
Living Fearlessly through another year,
Sammy

Song stars at 1:43 part

How Adele's (song) When We Were Young taught me about the Year Of Mercy

Adele's newest album 25 has been on the top of billboards best selling albums for three weeks since it has come out. This has been such an anticipated album since she let out her CD 21. I am not that big of an Adele fan but she does have a fantastic voice and has such a talent to write her own music. 

I got the CD as a present to my sister for Christmas this year and to be honest I have been listening to it a lot. Adele has such raw emotion in her songs and in her voice. It's like free therapy with Adele, and who doesn't want that?

There's a particular song I want to point out, It's called When We Were Young. In the beginning the lyrics are, "Everybody loves the things you do, from the way you talk to the way you move, everybody here is watching you." When hearing this song after the twentieth time, I realized this can help me within my own Faith.

Like I've said in many blog posts before. We were put on earth to proclaim God's gospel and to help other people get to Heaven no matter who it may be. I don't know about you, but I strive to be friendly to everyone I meet, I strive to help people, I want people to look at me and see Christ. I want people to know I am Catholic by the way I speak. I won't lie maybe sometimes by the way I dress or the way I talk. I wouldn't be surprised if people who didn't know me knew I believed in Christ and tried to live it out. I don't think they would guess I wrote a book on how to become Fearlessly Catholic, they wouldn't know I choose to use my gift of singing for God, they wouldn't know I have this blog where I exclaim the gospel and God's love.

Like in Adele's song I want people to love the way I speak because I speak of kindness, care, love, and joy. Not profanity, hatred, or nastiness. I don't want people to know of me as someone who would rather put on a Taylor Swift shirt than wear a scapular. If you have ever thought of me this way, I am trying to change. If you maybe even have some things you would like to change of your outer appearance please join me in doing this.

Not only should we take care and respect of our outer appearance but we have something indescribable inside of us that we should be taking care of. We have the Holy Spirit living in us. Do we ever care about whats going inside of our bodies? Our minds, our mouths, our eyes. We, as Catholics have to watch what see, look at, and read. We have to pay attention and ask ourselves would Jesus look at this? Would Jesus turn his head and look the other way?  I know, I know I am using the old  WWJD but as maybe silly as it is, it does help. We have to cleanse our mouths of the language we might use. Instead of cussing when we stub our toe or get cut off while driving, how about saying a Hail Mary? We need not to only take care of our eyes and mouths but our minds. Its almost impossible not to see some nasty things in our world. It's all over T.V., in the music industry, on magazines when we're checking out at the grocery store, and on billboards. I mean I would really rather be looking at a McDonalds ad than a trashy promotion for a wine or perfume.

Pope Francis said this is the Year Of Mercy. We are supposed to be showing compassion to others, love to others, mercy to others. The best way to do that sometimes is using our tongues to teach about God's teachings. We weren't put here to roll our eyes at those inappropriate things, we were put here to change those things. Instead of saying oh yeah it's the year of Mercy I am going to totally change myself and surprise others but I'll do it tomorrow because today I am going to probably watch this show I know is kind of trashy but it's ok because compared to the other stuff it's not that bad. Especially when it comes to our faith I hear a lot of people, including myself say I am going to read the Summa, learn more about my Faith, show compassion to the person who hurt me, show forgiveness. We don't do it and then it's already next year and slowly if we stop going to Confession, don't forgive, push people out of our lives, stop going to mass, or stop being nice and smiling we could become bitter and another person that has strayed away from God.

How hard is a smile? It's not hard. Be nice to one another and slowly but surley we can change our world and be the light of God. (Oh and listen to Adele, not only does she have a rockin voice but her messages are good too.)

Fearlessly Living Catholic and Merciful,
Sammy

P.S. YOU ARE LOVED. YOU ARE BLESSED. YOU ARE ENOUGH. praying for you my fearless Catholics.

"There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives - the pain, the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them."
-Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Limitless

Happy Friday Everybody! 

In our lives we will deal with anger, sadness, failed relationships, doubt, and anxiety. We deal with these horrible, but beautiful emotions. As humans, we are as fragile as glass and sometimes the world is very harsh to us. We wonder why our creator God would let these disappointments come to our hearts and why he would let us battle with depression and unhappiness?

Sometimes, we tend to get mad at God for these things. We yell, shake our firsts in the air, and turn our backs on Him. If God is goodness why would he let us feel like a mess? Why would he let terrible thing after terrible thing knock us down? I go to mass on Sundays, I go to Lifeteen, I pray, I try and follow him, and day after day he never once lets things let up. Why would I want to serve a God like that? Why would anyone?

 

 I’ve been where you are before. I sometimes do feel these feelings time again too because I’m still a teen and a human, but I’ve learned something. I’ve learned that God doesn’t give us these things. My explanation goes all the way back to Genesis in the bible, the beginning of this world. When God created Adam and Eve he told them they could eat from every bush, plant, and tree in the garden except one. And I know, you know, what they did. They ate from that one tree because they were tempted and that’s when our parents brought sin into the world.

Sin is evil and evil leads to sin. Since there is evil in the world that’s when we have these heart wrenching doubts. Where are you God? Why aren’t you here for me? Some Father you are letting this happen to me? God doesn’t let this happen to you. God absolutely does not let bad things happen to you. He does not create these things to happen to you. Our world is broken. You see all these shootings on the news, all the suicides taking place within your hometown or globally like when Robin Williams took his life. 

When the horrible shootings happened in Paris leaving people dead and injured, where was God? He was there. When the terrifying shooting happened in San Bernadino on Wednesday leaving 14 dead and some injured, where was God? He was there. Where is God who took our place on the cross so we wouldn’t have to deal with the pain when people are being martyred for believing in him? He is there. He is with them. Being nailed and nailed to that cross again and again. 

Our country is not perfect. Our president is not perfect and does not have Catholic morals. But us as Catholics, can change that. But why would we help others when I can’t help myself? I am praying for all these things. Peace, Comfort, Health, Protection, and none of these prayers are being answered.

Those nights when you can’t sleep. There is always a reason for everything and those sleepless nights, even though they are irritating and hated, they are something much bigger. Maybe that’s when God wants to talk to us but we push him away because we’d rather sleep and I won’t lie. Yes, I want to sleep because I’m tired and I can’t go to bed. But maybe the blessings we have been asking for us come to us in disguise. Maybe our hearts breaking our something much bigger, because God is here. He is here and we can’t believe it sometimes. It’s hard and God knows that, we’re human and he made us. He knows our doubts  in this life when we’re suffering but we need to remember God is here and the only thing he wants is to heal us. When we cry maybe that’s God. When we feel empty maybe that’s when God says He will make us full. Everything that happens in this life, God promises he will use it for His goodness.

Our world is broken, torn, and dark and God knew all this would happen. He knew we wouldn't know where to go, who to go to, what to do but behold our life instructions...... The Bible. Matthew 5:14-16 says, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. I don't know about you but sometimes it can be terrifying and scary to be a light of God. We see on the news people being killed for saying they believe in the one true God. Jesus never said it would be easy to follow Him, but He said it would be worth it. 

I don't really have reasons or answers for the cause of the terrorist attack in Paris or the one that happened in San Bernadino taking lives of 14 people. The only answer and reason I have is God. Not everyone will take this answer but it is truth. God is doing something so much bigger right now. It's hard to understand when a father of 6 was killed, the principal's husband of Sacred Heart school getting killed, and loved ones getting shot on a day when we thought it was a regular day and we didn't tell them how much we loved them or appreciated them. 

We need to pray, do charity, do good works, go to mass, appreciate people, and be nice to everyone we meet, go to confession often, and participate in the gift of the mass. This glorious Advent season we learn about the second coming of our Lord and we prepare our hearts for when He comes. I don't know about you but when He comes, don't you want to be ready and don't you want to know you did everything you could on earth to get to Heaven? I do. 

We're human and we're not perfect. We are far from perfect and sometimes we are far from great. I just feel like I am blessed to be surrounded by people whose goal is to get to heaven. My family, my church family, and my friends. Tell those who you love, you love them. It is absolutely heart wrenching when shootings aren't a big deal anymore on the news, let us be the light of God so we can stop these shootings and make this world a better place until Christ comes again to bring us home.

Don't limit God because he is Limitless. 

Live Fearlessly and Be God's light.

Sammy

The confirmation minister at my church whom is a shining light of God posted this song on Facebook today and it inspired me to right this post. Please take a listen. 

Even when my strength is lost, I'll praise You Even when I have no song, I'll praise You, Even when it's hard to find the words, Louder then I'll sing Your praise Even when the fight seems lost I'll praise You
Even when it hurts like hell I'll praise You Even when it makes no sense to sing Louder then I'll sing Your praise- Hillsong United 

Keep Calm And Carry Your Cross

It's been awhile since I have posted. I've been very busy these past couple of weeks as I am sure you have been busy too. I would like to say a few things before I start this month's blogs.

Thank you for all the immense compliments and support you have given me with the release of BLOGGED. It all means so much to me. I could have never imagined all of these amazing comments from you guys. You're the best! Although we all need compliments from time to time I cannot take credit for these writings because I truly believe that God put these writings on my heart and that the words that are in the book are not mine, but His.

My blog will be a little different from now on. I will still being doing blogs but it will now be two blogs every other month. My blogs will also be shorter so you don't get too bored. The last thing I want you guys to do is zone out and stop reading because the only reason I started this blog is to keep you guys entertained and to see what God has put on my heart to say.

Let's start, shall we?

I bet we all know Simon of Cyrene from the Bible. We don't know a whole lot about him but we know he is the man that helped Jesus, carry His cross. Although he was forced by the Romans to help Jesus carry the cross we believe that the further he helped Jesus carry His cross he actually wanted to help Jesus.

It's such an amazing story as I'm sure all Christians would agree. How many of us would want to help this man bloody, tired, and weak carry his cross to the hill after being demanded to help him? Simon was probably tired, he was probably hungry and could go for a delicious Deli sandwich right about that time. All kidding aside though, if we knew who Jesus was but didn't know he was the Son of God would we have found in our hearts they we would want to help him?   

We have the bible and tradition to tell us about Jesus. We know that this is the truth and we know that Jesus was not a hypocrite or lunatic. But those people that lived in Jesus's time didn't know that. All they had was immense faith. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

In today's world religious people use the phrase, "I'm carrying a cross" when they are struggling with something. We can never imagine what a burden the cross was to Jesus but we have such a small portion of it here, on Earth, when we go through hard trials.

Every person on this world deals and struggles. There isn't one person who hasn't struggled or will not struggle. That's just life and it is how we earn our rewards in Heaven. But do we ever want to help people carry their crosses while still carrying ours?

Would we really do that? Be honest with yourself. I have my own struggles why would I want to help someone with their struggles? I have enough on my back right now.

For me, I don't think I would help someone with their cross and when I say this I almost feel guilty. Jesus wants us to help each other get to Heaven. That is why we were put here. Because we are helping each other get to Heaven. This is our task.

We have our fun busy lives. We have midterms, we have our jobs, we have our family life, we want to hang out with our friends, we have to help out at Church so how can I help out someone when I can barley help myself?

It's hard. Like I've said a million times before, Jesus never said following Him was going to be easy, but he did say it would be worth it. Don't go around putting people's problems on your shoulders. That isn't what I am implying.

How many times do we smile at total strangers during the day? We just go on with our lives not caring about what the people at the grocery store or mall think. They have their own lives why would we care? Because those are our brothers and sisters in Christ. How many times do we help our siblings with homework without grumbling or wanting something in return? How many times do we say we'll pray for people and not do it? How many times do we send a nice to text to our friends saying, 'hey how are you? I miss seeing you.'

This isn't no where near as much as the cross Jesus had to carry. But we need to help people carry their cross and be like Simon. Fr. Christopher once wrote, "Whether Simon marched the whole way in bitter inner protest or received the grace of joy and understanding as he went along is a matter of surmise. He and his family were fully rewarded in due time by the gift of the Christian faith."

My friends our goal is to get ourselves and others to Heaven. That is why we are on earth.  Help your family members, friends, or even classmates carry their cross. No matter if it's a subject they are struggling with in school or something that may be much bigger. God knows what he is doing, my friends and all God will ever do is good.

Living Fearlessly,
Sammy 


We're all dry bones longing for a Savior waiting for the God of life to put us back together -Ike Ndolo, Memorial 

Do you dare to be fearlessly Catholic? (BLOGGED)

 The reason I haven't been blogging lately is because I am working on writing and publishing a book that I've written. A lot of you know this and the book is titled, BLOGGED and I'm super excited about it. I know I haven't given you any information either on how to purchase this book or to read it online.

First of all my friend Lucas Hamilton is photographing the book for me. I am so blessed he is agreeing to share his gifts and talents with you and me for the Glory of God and to be so kind as to not charge me anything for this non-profit book.

Secondly, I am not writing this book for me. I am not writing it trying to get compliments on the book or my writings. It is all for my readers and for God. I know my readers struggle with different kinds of battles in their lives and so do I so I figured I could help others within my writings. When I say MY writings I do mean God's writings. He has put this amazing opportunity in front of me to share with all of you his love, forgiveness, mercy, and greatness.

If you would like to order one of these books or read it online for free (because it is nonprofit) please DM me or comment on this post and I will send you the link. As for any Sacred Heart parishioners you can read a copy over at the Lifeteen library very soon.

Book prices will be listed as soon as possible 

Thank you for supporting me.

 Live Fearlessly,
Sammy

Welcome to the 1989 World Tour!

It was magical, it was something I'll remember forever. The words, "Hello I'm Taylor, and welcome to the 1989 world tour!" stick in my head. Taylor Swift is a global pop star who took the world by storm. She is known for singing about real life experiences the trials, tribulations, and hardships of love and what a breathtaking, beautiful thing love can be when you find the one.

It is still so unreal I saw Taylor Swift up on stage with two of my favorite people who really made me have such a fun experience. The whole concert situation doesn't matter who you're going to see I truly believe it's with the people that you go with. You have to go with people who are going to jump up and down, who will scream the lyrics back to the singer as they scream to you. You have to go with friends who will enjoy the experience as much as you will, who will smile so much you think you'll never frown again.

This is my story of how I experienced Taylor Swift the first time and hopefully not the last. I took lots of pictures! I'll try and make this post short but it's hard to write something short when what you lived through was something truly extraordinary. 

Setlist:

Welcome To New York
New Romantics
Blank Space (Written with Max Martin & Shellback.)
I Knew You Were Trouble
I Wish You Would
How You Get The Girl
I Know Places (Written with Ryan Tedder Of One Republic)
All You Had To Do Was Stay
Mean
Clean (Taylor flies around the arena for this song. And no not with fairy wings, she's on a balcony.)
Love Story
Style
Bad Blood (my favorite song!)
We Are Never Ever Getting back Together (Electric Guitar version.)
Enchanted & Wildest Dreams Mash up
 Out Of The Woods (Written with Jack Antonoff from the band Fun.
 .........and then we got to Shake It Off (Which was the encore.)

In between songs we got to see Selena Gomez sing 'Good For You,' Lisa Kudrow from friends sing, 'Smelly Cat.' and Justin Timberlake, 'Mirrors.'

I was immensely blessed to meet Taylor's brother, Austin Swift. He was so sweet and told me that Taylor works so hard to make sure every show is special for her fans whom she calls family and he let me know his family including himself hope I enjoy the show.

(Swift Tip: If you are going to an upcoming show I would encourage you to pre-order your Merchandise online before you go to the arena if you have the opportunity to do so. The merchandise lines were extremely long and sometimes they run out of items.)

Taylor's opening acts were Vance Joy who sang, 'Georgia,' 'Mess Is Mine,' 'Fire In The Flood,' and, 'Riptides.' Next Taylor's best friends HAIM opened for her. Three sisters who are such a great act. They really got the crowd hyped up for Taylor. The genre of their music falls into R&B/Soft rock and roll. I was also super blessed to meet bassist of the band, Este. She was sitting in one of the seats next to me after playing and she graciously stopped for a picture.
Taylor came up out of the stage after her back up dancers for the first song, 'Welcome To New York,' the crowd was taken to the streets of New York. The stage was set up with benches, signs, and light poles. As always Taylor is very enthusiastic and has such a girly fashion sense. She wore a black sparkly crop top and a sparkly purple skirt with black pumps which as well were sparkly.

My favorite performance would have to be her number one hit song from the album, Blank Space. We all know this song as Taylor speaking of herself as a crazy, psycho girlfriend who is enthralled with her boyfriend one minute and wants to kill him the next. At the end of Blank Space Taylor takes a golf club and runs two of her dancers off stage screaming at them as the crowd cheers her on.



Taylor has this amazing song called Clean. One of my favorite songs on 1989. It's about becoming (finally.) clean after you were in a bad relationship or free of a breakup or free of an addiction. Before Taylor sung she reminded us we are not damaged goods. We are human and we make mistakes because what human being doesn't? A mistake is called a mistake to learn from it. In Taylor's words, "It's horrible because no one can see your face when they comment hateful things or why do you bother? No one can see how much it hurts you, you just have to live with it and I just wanted to let you know that I think that's unfair and I don't know how to fix it but can I just tell you I love you and I'm sorry if that's ever happened to you."  

Taylor Swift concerts are the best concerts. It's where you go for the music, to see a girl that truly believes in your dreams because you believed in hers. It's where you go to be surrounded by the nicest people, it's where you go to jump up and down. It's where you go to treat everyone like what they are worth and that's a lot. It's where you go though to feel better to cheer up because Taylor is such a comfort to so many people. If your mad just know you can let all your anger out with Bad Blood, If someone has hurt you sing to Mean, and if you have a broken heart Taylor has it covered ;)

I hope all of you get a chance to see Miss Taylor live because not only was she named most charitable person of 2014, not only was she named entertainer of the year three times in a row, but she is a friend, she's your friend.

If you would have any questions about this show please feel free to ask in the comments below. I'd love to answer even if it is just to rate the show over all or ask questions about the set.

May God bless you!

-Sammy

Sugar (Analyzation of Maroon 5's hit song.)

Hello you, fearless Catholics! What a week it's been! I feel like it's been non-stop there has always been some kind of errand or commitment that has kept me on my feet and busy. I've been so thankful when I can just go to sleep and rest for a couple hours.

Since I've been running around all this week I've spent a lot of time in the car listening to the radio. The top three songs that I couldn't get away from have been Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran, Bad Blood by Taylor Swift and Sugar by Maroon 5.

It was cool at first. Okay these are songs I like. Good job, radio! But after the fifth time they played I was really getting pretty irritated. There is only so many times I can hear, 'cuz baby now we got bad blood HEY.' in one day.

Anyways, so like I said Sugar plays on the radio about half the day on one radio station or another and there is no way you have not heard it by now. When you listen to this song the first or even thirtieth time it comes off as sort of a sexual lustful song and there's this trigger in my heart that say's, 'You probably shouldn't be listening to this song.' What if I told you this is a sweet innocent song that talks about true love? You'd be surprised. I took time analyzing this song to come up with this blog post and it wasn't hard to listen to it because Maroon 5 is a talented (and handsome) band.

I'm hurting baby I'm broken down,
I need your lovin, lovin' I need it now
When I'm without ya I'm something
weak you got me beggin beggin I'm
on my knees.

Meaning: Whenever this man is away from his soul mate he feels like 
his strength is gone. He loves this girl with his heart, mind, and soul and could not or would not move onto another women. He shows commitment in these lyrics. Commitment, Honesty, and Loyalty. 

I don't wanna be needing your love, I just wanna be deep in your love
It's killin me when you're away oh baby because I really don't
care where you are I just wanna be there where you are and I
gotta get one little taste.

Meaning: Many people see this as lustful lyric, because it is. If you look at it deeper though he is saying He wants to be with her all the time so he can give her unconditional love. It can also be seen as protection so he wants to protect her to be by her side because he will not risk her getting hurt. 

Sugar, yes please won't you come and pour it down on me?
I'm right here, cause I need little love and little sympathy
yeah you show me good lovin' make it alright
need a little sweetness in my life Sugar, yes please
won't you come and put it down on me?

Meaning: The chorus is hard to see past. You hear it as a sexual innuendo but it is all in the way you view it and look at it. Sugar is used as care, love, happiness etc... Their happiness is full of joy and if the relationship you are in is built on sex and lust you won't be happy, overall you will not be happy or you will not have joy. In his relationship with the girl he is fully happy because the relationship is built on loyalty, care, trust, and real love. 

My broken peices, you pick them up
don't leave me hangin, hanging come give me some
when I'm without ya, so insecure you are the one thing
one thing I'm living for

Meaning: Whenever he falls down and gets low she is always there to pick him up. She never leaves him suffering. When you are in a relationship you suffer together not apart. You are in a union with God and will not leave that union. He loves this women so much he is living for her and doing anything he can to have her be happy because he is happy with her. 

REPEAT OF THE CHORUS.  

I want that red velvet, I want that sugar sweet
don't let nobody touch it, unless that somebody is me
I gotta be your man there is no other way cause girl
you're hotter than the southern California bay

Meaning: He compares her to the sweetness of red velvet cake. He also tells her that she may not be lustful with any other guy unless it is him, her husband. Notice he also compares her to the beach where it is always beautiful and warm.

I don't play no games, I don't gotta be afraid
no makeup on that's my sugar

Meaning: This is the last verse of the song before going back to the chorus and the song ending. He isn't playing games with her, this relationship isn't a joke. He wants her to know he takes the relationship seriously and seriously enough to work through the hardchips. It is also a point that he says she looks better without makeup on, he loves her without makeup on, he loves her through the bad days, bad moods, and hardships. 

I hope you guys liked this post. It is easy to see the lustful and sexual things on the surface but once you dig deeper into the lyrics and dig deeper into your faith is where you'll find the real meanings. You can think what you want about this song but you need to find God everywhere and any situation.

God Bless,

Fearlessly Living Catholic.

Sammy 

Jeremy and Ryan

Hey all! Hoping that your summer is going great. I had the incredible opportunity to interview Jeremy & Ryan last month. It was amazing and they are so funny!

I'd like to thank Lucas who recorded the whole interview. Thank you so much Lucas! Please go and look at his website LH Photography http://lucas-hamilton.smugmug.com He takes the best photos and is super talented.

I would also like to thank Mary Arkfeld who photographed the interview. Capturing awesome pictures and who is always so sweet!

Last but not least it's my pleasure to thank Jeremy & Ryan who are such talented guys. God has blessed them with many gifts! It was such a major blessing to interview you guys and thank you for being so genuine and kind.

Jeremy & Ryan's website: http://www.jeremyandryan.com Tell your youth ministers about them and get them for your church, festivals, and retreats! You won't regret it they put on an amazing show

Enjoy the interview :)

Stand Up And Follow Me

Oh don't you dare look back just keep your eyes on me, I said I'm holding back he said, 'stand up and follow me,' my savior is my destiny he said, 'ooo stand up and follow me.'

Hey everyone! it's already July and if you're like me you can't believe it Summer is flying bye. I hope your summer has started off well with plenty of blessings and adventures. I'll start by saying the start of my official summer at the end of June was incredible and I wouldn't think of starting it off any other way.

Every year in Costa Mesa, California our Catholic Homeschooling group puts on a conference with talks, vendors, and you can also buy books for your upcoming semester of school. It's always been something I look forward too since we've had Teen Track which is simply what my parents have put together to keep us teens busy all day while the parents are listening to awesome speakers.

For the past two years we have had the Christian rock band Jeremy & Ryan who you have heard me talk about many times before. God has abundantly blessed us with them for the last two years because every year it's obvious that us teens have taken something from the day.

This year Jeremy and Ryan made a parody of the famous pop song Shut Up And Dance With Me by Walk The Moon. There version is called Stand Up and Follow Me and if you haven't heard it, you need too.

There have been a lot of things going on in our country lately. As Catholics we have to try and fight back on some of the things that have become legal. Gay Marriage has become one of the things our country has legalized and on my facebook I've seen so many mixed feelings. I wanted to post something on it the day it was legalized but then I realized that someone may not agree with my views on it and would start an argument over our different beliefs so I didn't post. A few days passed and our country was put to the test again by voting on Assisted Suicide which made me so mad and so sad so I decided to take action on it and the power of the Holy Spirit burned inside of me.

I was thinking of things I could do to help this country from legalizing Assisted Suicide and nothing came to mind. It was by the Grace Of God that I was listening to my Ipod when Stand Up And Follow Me came on. I then knew what I needed to do. That night I sat on my bed with my rosary and prayed. I prayed so hard on that rosary and told God to use me to help this country and to tell other people who may have different views on this subject about my opinion and may it enlighten them.

I knew that the only person who could stop Assisted Suicide from becoming legal was God. I also knew I could put my trust in God that he would use me. I prayed one of the most strongest prayers The Hail Mary over and over again. I ended up saying the rosary.

I woke up the next morning and I was filled with so much joy finding out Assisted Suicide had been taken down from the agenda was was not legalized in California. God was working so hard in congress that day. St. Michael I felt was fighting for us.

As Catholics in this time and era our faith is being attacked in  the worst way possible. What are we doing about it? We can't just say prayers and hope for the best. Prayers are amazing, don't think prayer isn't helping because it is but what else can we do to save the weak ones and  fight with our brothers and sisters?

The Devil is not dead in today's world he is so very active and it's such a scary thing to think about but what's even scarier is we aren't doing anything to fight him back. We need to put our God armor on, grab our swords, do the sign of the cross and fight.

I'm not implying that you should physically/verbally fight people who have different views and who don't understand but we need to start acting and not just saying we are going to take action because usually when we say we  will, we don't.

Take one step at a time because we weren't put here to do nothing. We were put here to spread the good news of God and to teach the lost people about Him. In Matthew 5:14-15 it says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Do not be afraid of going out though. Psalm 91:11 says, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." God wants you to fight, he wants you to put on your armor. Your guardian angel is equipped with everything they will need to protect you either while you are preaching God's word or helping the homeless.

It takes time and it takes effort and strength so tonight before you fall asleep instead of thinking about the next day ahead of you, school, or work, unwind by asking God to give you strength to do his will tomorrow, the next day, and this year. You'll not be disappointed in how God uses you.

People very close to me are out doing God's will. One of my great youth ministers is out in Georgia helping kids find their calling in the Catholic church. A very close family friend of our family is in Thailand right now helping kids. It doesn't matter if you are in Georgia, Thailand, or your hometown. There are people who need to hear about God everywhere in this world.

Be the salt and light of the world! Take a deep breath, do the sign of the cross, ask God to use you today because I asked God to use me one day and he did but I was too afraid to share about God's glory to this person who wanted to talk about church. It did happen though that God used me and of all places at the mall with one of the sales clerks. I didn't even expect it to happen. It just goes to show you the power of God is nothing to overlook.

A couple words from me about the choices our country is making right now: I don't hate gay people, I don't hate people who are homosexual, I don't hate those who try and fight my beliefs. I simply pray for them because they don't know how gracious our God is. People get confused. They think God will not judge them any less then God will judge us on judgment day. They don't think they are any different. God still loves them, yes. After all they are his children but what they fail to understand is God made marriage for men and women. I saw a post on Facebook that said God made marriage for Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve. God made a person for you, and they are coming but it may take time. Men and men should be kept as being friends (Same with women and women) because God did not make gay marriage, people did and that should scream louder than anything I can write. I know tons of people will find some way to fight this because I've seen so many but hear me out before you state your opinion just because you put a rainbow filter on your profile picture of facebook think for a second. The rainbow was made by God. It was the sign of his promise not a statement to represent equality. Catholics needs to understand we don't need to hate these people who are gay we just need to stand by our Faith because a lot of people think, 'oh yes lets get married because we are so happy.' Happiness doesn't mean to get married. God's plan will make you much more happier than any marriage. Gay marriage is such an argument right now and please hear me out just because Catholics aren't screaming doesn't mean your argument is any more right just because your louder.

May the peace of God be with you and may you have strength to stand up for these things as I need strength too. Pray for people who are getting married to the same sex. It's not marriage, it is not even a celebration it is pleasure of the evil of the world.

Fearlessly,
Sammy

100 Days Of Fear

If anyone of you saw the video I posted on Facebook and Instagram the other day then you know what the fabulous news I've been waiting to tell you is. I'll be interviewing rock/pop/christian band Jeremy and Ryan and posting the interview on  here! If there are specific questions you would like me to ask please comment them or text me and I'll ask them in the interview.(If there are any questions please send them to me before Tuesday the twenty fifth of this month.)

So lets start on this blog, shall we? Have any of you heard of the 100 days of Fear challenge this lady is doing? If ya'll haven't heard of it I'll tell you a little bit about it. This lady named Michelle Poler has been scared of so many things since she was a little girl. Big dogs, doctor appointments, even dancing in public. Growing up was hard for her because she let Anxiety rule her life now she is taking a stand and doing 100 days of fear. All the stuff she was so scared to do she is now punching in the face and getting over the fear of it.

This is some of the stuff she has done: Balls coming at you fast so she went to the batting cages, roller coasters, falling down in heels so she walked around New York all day long in heels, bugs so she ate crickets, and dancing around in public so she did it in Time Square.

If you would like to see Michelle's Story and the videos to go along with her conquering her fears click the link http://www.100dayswithoutfear.com/

We all deal with some kind of fear and anxiety. While other people may think what someone else's fear is silly to the other person it's something they struggle with constantly. I have a lot of fears myself, and by a lot I mean a lot and while I may not have 100 days worth of fear that I could do but I still struggle with them.

Some of us have mental fears or physical fears. For those of you that deal with spiritual/mental fears, YOU have a solution.  It is God. God is the solution to all problems you know. It may seem like God is a million miles away during your darkest moment in the middle of the night while fear keeps you up but that s when he is closest. I love listening to songs that talk about anxiety, fear, and being helpless because it reminds me I'm not alone in what I do and like I've said before we love to know we're not alone because we're human.

But to help you with your fears and to have a little fun I am going to do the 100 days of fear challenge and before you get too excited. No, I am not going to do the things that scare me to death for 100 days because as that could be dangerous it could get costly. I invite you to do this challenge with me but before I tell you what this challenge is and how you can get started I am going to talk about emotions for like two paragraphs. It'll be quick, I promise.

Emotions. Those big, scary, intimidating voices inside your head. Some of these emotions are fear, happiness, sadness, anger, and self doubt. I bet a lot of you have seen the trailer for the new Pixar/Disney movie coming out called, 'Inside Out,'  it looks adorable and it talks about those voices inside your head. Did you know emotions don't define you? Did you also know emotions are one of the biggest reasons why we don't do things and what causes Anxiety is the emotion of Fear? It's all true.

Emotions are nothing to be scared of though. A book once described emotions as this: 'Emotions are not good, they aren't bad they just are.' It can be confusing but emotions are just emotions. They just are something that everyone deals with. It's just a feeling in your stomach. It's not a fashion statement, it's not a person, it's not a medical problem, and it's not a bad thing, but it's not a good thing either. It's just A THING.

It's not wrong to feel a certain way-It just means your human like our wonderful Mama, Mother Mary. St. Rose of Lima has said, 'Without the burden of affliction it is impossible to reach the height of grace. The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases.' So struggling with emotions is kind of a good thing you are just getting more of a blessing every time you feel like you are going to pop.

So let's start on 100 Days Of Fear challenge! And what a perfect time to start. School is out and we have nothing to keep our minds busy from day to day until school starts up again. (To those of you who have graduated and to those of you who will CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2015!)

How To Participate In 100 Days Of Fear- Prayer version

1.) Make a list of things that scare you, arise worry in you, or maybe what makes you feel very anxious. Write a list of 100 things down and if there aren't 100 things that scare you you can write down a list of 50 things that scare you and 50 things you wish would end in the world. (Ex. Abortion, Poverty, Abuse....)

2.) For the next 100 days say the rosary everyday for something on the list and ask God to end that fear, ask your guardian angel to stand beside you when anxiety, worry, or sadness arises inside you.

3.) Start Living Your Life Without Fear. Within the 100 days or after do something you wouldn't normally do. ( For me one of my gross factors is to not eat Sushi ever, ever, ever! I would say a Hail Mary and go out and do it no matter how much I am scared to eat it.) Go on a roller coaster, go eat something you wouldn't normally eat, dance to Shake It Off in public, or go travel. God is on your side and he will never leave you in any situation.


I will be starting 100 Days Of Fear today, on June 22nd 2015. Please join me and if you can't say a rosary due to a busy schedule. Don't fret, say five Hail Marys and a prayer to St. Michael The Archangel. It doesn't matter if you say a rosary or a Hail Mary because we all need to pray more in today's world and believe it or not 100 days of fear does work. Try it out.

Fearlessly Living 100 Days Of Fear,
Sammy

FEARLESS' is not the absense of fear.
It's not being completely unafraid.
FEARLESS is having fears.
FEARLESS is having doubts. Lots of them.
FEARLESS is living in spite of those things that scare you to death.

-Taylor Swift 

Hollywood To Holy Vows (From Elvis To Jesus.)

Hello Everyone! I posted a picture a few days ago of a book I was reading called, 'Ear To The Heart.' Subtitled 'Hollywood To Holy Vows' written by Richard DeNeut. I just started it, finished the first four chapters and I am in love with it. 

It's about this little girl who was named Dolores Hart and her name may sound familiar. Her early life as a little girl was full of suffering, pain, and little joy. Her family was broken and she lived with her abusive father and mother for some years. Hart grew up in the city of blinding lights, fast speed life, and movie premiers, the beautiful city of L.A. where her father was a hand model.  Hart converted to Catholicism when she was a young girl without anyone telling her too. She had made that decision around age six when she was put in a Catholic school where nuns surrounded her and she would be able to go and visit Jesus in the morning for morning mass. Too make a long, inspiring story short follow Dolores's journey from being called the most envied women in Hollywood giving Elvis Presley his first onscreen kiss to hearing God calling her heart and to become a nun. The true story of Mother Dolores Hart will change everything you've ever thought about nuns, forever.

  

Still focusing on Sister Mother Dolores Hart we will be expanding on the secondary topic of

 'Likes' and Yes, meaning the likes you get on Facebook, Instagram, and the retweets and favorites you get on Twitter. A lot of us are on all kinds of Social Media. I'm on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. I'm a very obsessive pinner and you can ask my family and they will say the exact same thing.

When we post something whether it be something funny another family member said or did, or post a picture of what we're eating, or post about what we did that day we want Likes on the post because if we didn't want them we really wouldn't post it on Facebook. I know every time I post something I'm always just waiting for likes. It's really stupid but it's just what society has put in our heads. If we don't get likes then we're not cool, or no one likes me. I'm here to tell you once again that society is WRONG. 

Likes on social media don't define who you are or your personality. Honestly if I'm friends with you or following you it means that I like what you post even if I don't actually like the picture. 

Back when they didn't have Facebook though when Mother Dolores was just around the age of sixteen and in the movie, 'Loving You,' with Elvis can you imagine Dolores wanting all her friends to see her with Elvis and wanting to post the pictures and the trailer of the movie. In fact she would have to wait so long to tell her friends because she was on set day and night filming and now by the click of a button we can share things instantly. 

When Hart heard the calling in her heart to become a nun and enter the vocation she was scared that some of the people who had followed her and been of fan of her since Loving You came out would stop liking her because she was now going to become a nun and proclaim God's love for her by following him and exclaiming his love he has for His sons and daughters. 

I think we can all learn something from this story. We can all learn a few things but so we don't go off topic of Dolores I think what we can grasp from this is that we can use social media for all kinds of things but what we should be using it for proclaiming God's love and bringing people back to their faith or if they are going through a struggle to be there with them. Mother Dolores did all sorts of things in the midst of struggling for other people and even though we struggle we could help other people. 

Share a Lifeteen post, post something you found inspiring from the homily or readings at church, and even post your favorite bible verse. Still, post pictures of you, your family, and friends and your crazy socks you found for a great deal but as you have a hundred some followers teach them about God, too.

God never said following him would be easy or you would have a number of followers but he did say in the bible if you follow him it will be worth it. 

God is Good all the time and all the time God is Good,

Sincerely and Fearlessly, Sammy. 

If you would like to learn more about Sister, Mother Dolores click here:http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0366247/

If you would like to purchase her story please click here, you will not regret it: http://www.ignatius.com/promotions/ear-of-the-heart/#sthash.zRNEjOe8.dpbs

It's Just An Expression: Fashion

Hello all my fellow Fearless Catholics! I'm so excited to announce I have a guest blogger for ya'll today. She is a beautiful, outgoing, funny fashion-ista and is one of my best friends in the entire world! This blog post is all about Fashion and we both hope you enjoy it. Please follow her fashion-gram on Instagram down below and tell us what you think in the comments! Enjoy :)

 

 Hello, my name is Bethany, and I was honored to be asked by Sammy to write a fashion post for her blog.  What is fashion,  What is it like to be fashionable?  Fashion is the demand society has placed on us to dress the way they think is fashionable.  So to be fashionable is to go along with all the demands society places on your appearance.   

 

Fashion makes it hard for people like me, to fit in.  A few months ago I found out that I have loose ligament in my ankles. This means I don’t have enough support in my ankles, and I am really prone to sprains.  To help my stability I got orthotics.  The only bad thing about this is my orthotics don’t fit in all my shoes, and when I am going to be on my feet for a prolonged time, I need to wear my orthotics.   

 

Well I am a dancer, and they do not fit in my dancing shoes, so I have to wear black ankle braces when I dance.  It’s hard to wear the braces, as much as they help, because I know my outfit looks so much better without them.  It’s taken a while for me to be able to put my braces on and not care, and I still struggle with caring about how I look with them.  

 

 It’s made me very aware of all the other people who are struggling with this.  There are so many people who have to wear knee braces, wrist braces, and other things that don’t even involve braces; like, not feeling like you have the right body, all the things that make you feel like you don’t fit in with the fashion world. Well this goes for all of you, if you are in a brace of any kind every time you put your braces on look at yourself in the mirror and know that those braces show strength. They show that you have to live with pain, they show that you have the strength to go through that, and to put them on every time knowing that you wont fit in with what society has said is fashionable.   

 

For all of you who struggle with feeling like you don’t have the perfect body I want to share a Marilyn Monroe quote with you, “To all the girls that think you’re fat because you’re not a size zero you’re the beautiful one it’s society who’s ugly.”  Fashion has placed such a high demand for looking just right.  Whether that is not wearing braces, or having a body that is just right.  That is not right. 

 

 What’s not right is that we have a pressure not to wear our braces, and to physically injure ourselves, so that we are not emotionally injured. Maybe we feel the need to body bash ourselves because we don’t look like the people we see in magazines.   

 

This is where style comes in. Style is what is unique to each of us. Style is you deciding to wear your favorite shirt because you love it!  It is you deciding to wear a dress when you know everyone else will be in jeans.  Style is how you present who you are on the inside, on the outside.  When people on the street see you they are going to get a feel for the type of person you are by what you wear.   

 

So I suggest that the next time you don’t know what to wear, wear YOU so that even the people you don’t know, can get to know you.  You are beautiful, you are unique, and you are very very stylish.  As for me, what’s my style?  Well, black ankle braces of course J!

 

That’s all for me!  I would just like to thank Sammy again for letting me post and share with all of you on her blog!  I hope you all enjoyed this and got something out of it!  I have an Instagram account exclusively for my outfits, I would love if you followed it, @1998styles! J

 

“ Style is very personal.  It has nothing to do with fashion.  Fashion is over quickly.  Style is forever.” – Ralph Lauren 

 

Bethany is an amazing friend and has helped me know my fashion sense is me and that if I feel good in it and if I like it then that's what should matter not what other people think. 

"Unique and different is the new generation and beautiful. Style is what makes you individual. Different is a good thing, never think it's bad." - Taylor Swift

 

Like A Country Song (Is It Just The Twang In The Music?)

 All my friends are music lovers! They either love to sing, play instruments, or just listen to music. My siblings are very talented, my sister has played guitar, piano, trumpet, and has had voice lessons. My brother has played drums and bass. I haven't taken up any instrument yet but I would love to learn how to play the banjo which is like one of my favorite instrument.
Whether we sing in the car, dance while washing the dishes, or even listen to songs in the most crucial points in our lives music is really important to us. Is it because the guitar is just right, is it because this is our best friends favorite song, or maybe this was someones favorite song who is no longer with us? Whatever is the answer to why we listen to music there is a story behind it.

Anybody who knows me knows I'm a HUGE country music junkie but I wasn't always. I didn't ever really have a genre I loved until I was ten. I just watched Disney Channel I listened to the songs on High School Musical or Camp Rock or something. (Yeah I was one of those kids....) When I was just about to turn ten my sister told me I needed better taste in music because now that I look back I realized how did I ever think that stuff was good? She introduced me to Country music which was the music she loved and listened to at the time.

Not long after that I bought my first country album, Play On by Carrie Underwood and never turned back to listening to Disney tunes. Carrie Underwood has a crazy strong voice and I loved her. I then researched more into the country scene and got into Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, and Blake Shelton whom I still enjoy till' this day. (These names may or may not sound familiar to you.)

When I was 10 1/2 I was shopping for CDS and there on the shelf was a golden CD, no literally it was the color gold. There was this really pretty girl on the cover and she had long curly hair. I wasn't going to get this CD because it was more expensive than the other CDS I was looking at. My sister persuaded me into getting it.

On the way home from the store the lyrics, "Can't you see that I'm the one who understands you been here all along so why can't you see? You Belong With Me."blared through the speakers of the car and that was the beginning of my love for Swift.

Flash forward into life, I'm now 16 and still listen to Country Music. I still love Taylor, (In fact I'm going to the 1989 concert with two amazing girls.) It's really funny how your music taste change. If it weren't for change and my sister begging me to listen to better music I would probably still be in my bedroom listening to Hannah Montana.

There was a point and time though when I was fifteen and my friends begged me to expand my taste in music. I was very persistent because I had tried one time and I'm not fond of Nicki Minaj or One Direction. I just stuck with my country music but the again due to change I did find some other bands I liked.

One of my friends really likes Maroon 5 and she lent me there most recent CD at the time, Overexposed and Adam Levine is just so handsome and how can you not like, 'Sugar?' I then started to go more and more to different genres and found that I like Lorde, Ed Sheeran, Meghan Trainor, and Fall Out Boy. I still find different songs I like from different genres than Country that I like.

While some of you like pop, or some of you like Christian music, (I do too, who doesn't?) or maybe some of you are trying to find some different music to listen too. I've put together a song playlist of songs that aren't very popular but they are from all kinds of genres. I've posted it below but before we move on I would like to share a short story with you and a poem I've written. I promise this will be short.

Not a lot of people I know like Country Music. There are very very few people I know that like it. I'm really into Country Music I love everything from Hunter Hayes and Raelynn to George Strait and Reba McEntire. I think some of the best songwriters are Country musicians because if someone can transport you to a certain place or time and feel the same thing they are feeling that's pretty amazing! I never understood why people didn't like Country Music like I liked it. It's not all beer bottles, broken hearts, and farms. It's Happiness fishing with your friends on the dock of the lake, Sadness loosing your old huntin' dog, it's every emotion put into words. It reminds us that we aren't alone and it reminds us about God once in awhile. I wrote this poem to tell people why I like Country Music and it wasn't to change their opinion on genres they like but to simply change their views on Country Music.

 

      Stetson’s Under Broadway Lights

                              I am very fond of this particular subject and many aren’t

                                          Every time I hear it I think of beautiful art

                       Imagine the strokes of this painter’s hand and the creative piece

                    in his mind this kind of beautiful art may just save someone’s life

In each of our lives sadness arises in sorrowing ways but maybe it wouldn’t be hard if we knew someone else is feeling this way. The burdens we carry are like His cross and the loss of my son the soldier doesn’t mean he is really gone.

                                      I will take you back in time to the 1920’s

      where strings of guitars were getting  pretty costly.

     where cowboy hats were the thing, and cowboy boots

    were the so called ‘bling.’ it seems Nashville was the home

   too so many stars it’s where Presley died and Parton got her start.

            You may think you know this music of beer bottles, broken hearts, and trucks but do you really know what’s in the music that I love? It’s so much more than the twang we here it’s about trusting God when you feel he’s not here. It’s a little boy who lost his dad but they meet again in Heaven alas. It’s the place you grew up but your parents sold, it’s about remembering the soldiers who have died souls. It’s the breeze of trees on a hot summer day and the cold ice tea in the old oak tree shade, it’s the good times, and bad times which we all go through it’s something we can’t let go of or the things we let go of too soon.

                                    I understand your reasoning with genres you like

                                        I am not asking you to simply pick a side

                                       I am stating some facts that are true Country

                                           Music are the stories of me and you. 

Playlist

Kiss Me- Lucy Hale - Country
I Got The boy- Jana Kramer - Country
Yellow Flicker Beat- Lorde - Pop
Bad Blood- Taylor Swift- Pop
I Can Just Be Me- Laura Story - Christian
Careless- Raelynn- Country
Both Of Us- B.o.B (Feat. Taylor Swift.) - Rap
Misery - Maroon 5- Pop Rock
Everybody Loves Me- One Republic - Pop Rock
Each Coming Night-Iron & Wine - Indie Rock
Something In The Water- Carrie Underwood- Country Christian
We Fall Apart - We As Human- Rock Christian
Photograph- Ed Sheeran- Indie Pop
Hotel Ceiling- Rixton- Pop/ Rock/ R&B/Country
A Guy Walks Into A Bar- Tyler Farr- Country
Dear Future Husband- Meghan Trainor-Pop
Carry On My Wayward Son- Kansas- Rock
Falling- Iration-Reggae
Everybody Drives Drunk- Love & Theft- Country & Folk

I hope you all enjoyed this post! Please comment your favorite songs so I have some new music to listen too, as well. God Bless ya'll and look out for VERY special news coming out soon.

Fearlessly,
Sammy