***Guest Blog from Beth ***

I knew I coulnd't do the "meeting Brady Quinn" story justice by myself, so I asked Beth to tell the story from her perspective...

"The greatest day ever" (all times are approximate)

6:53 Nicole and I are driving to "BASS New Members Night" at Corby's and we are listening to the radio.

7:00 At the corner of Ironwood and 23 the U93 Coach's show comes on. Nicole asks "what is this?" I explain that every week at JT's Charlie and a couple of players do interviews. Nicole asks who is there, and like magic we hear "Heisman hopeful Brady Quinn has entered the building" Nicole freaks out a little bit... "Can we go? Where is this place? Do you care? Can we go?!" I tell Nicole "Sure we can go if you want just tell me if you want to go." We debate for a couple more minutes and turn around at Linebacker.

7:05 Nicole also asks if we can run home real quick and get the camera and her jersey. I am getting worried...

7:20 With Jersey, camera and marker in hand we arrive at JTs.

7:22 We get inside. There are a few people there but most are not even paying attention to what is going on. There are no tables left so we sit at the bar.

7:23 Scary drunk guy talks to me (Nicole is focused on the show)

7:40 Nicole goes to inquire about autograph line, scary drunk guy grabs my belt

7:42 Scary drunk guy hugs me and Nicole says "Boy you make friends easily"

7:45 Show is over time to get autographs....

7:46 We walk right past the other ND players (who are they?!) and let the small child ahead of us in line. Everybody else, get behind us :)

7:48 Nicole makes a friend in line, and we practice taking pictures with her camera. Instructions are very specific.

7:50 Our turn with Brady here is how it goes....

Nicole: Hi Brady (hand extended) I'm Nicole, would you mind signing my jersey?
Brady: Sure
Nicole: I have really been studying football this year, blah blah blah slant pass to Carlson teach my friends blah blah
Brady: Oh really? (thinking she means well)
Nicole: Would you mind if we take a quick picture?
Brady: Real quick

Cue camera buddy. We take picture and are gone after we both shake his hand again... We walk away calmly and Nicole refrains from screaming until we get into the car, overall very well done :) and the rest is history!

I never would have had the guts to do it myself, Thanks Nicole love ya!!

"Proverbs 3:5-6"

My friend Beth and I went to the weekly ND football show tonight, which featured O-linemen Ryan Harris & Dan Santucci, and QB Brady Quinn.


We got to meet Brady afterwards, and he was really nice. (I think I embarrassed myself a little though by trying to talk about some of my new football knowledge. I said something about how I like when he picks up the blitz and audibles for a slant route to John Carlson across the middle, to which I'm pretty sure he said, "Oh really?") Beth said he was probably amused, but I'm not so sure! Anyway, he was sweet enough to take this picuture with us and also to sign my jersey, and I was thrilled.


I especially loved how he signed the jersey. I had heard that he has a strong faith, and the Bible verse he wrote has always been one of my favorites...


Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths."

A huge thanks to Beth for telling me about the show, and to Brady for being so nice to us. You both made my day!!

I was driving past Notre Dame about an hour ago, and luckily had my camera with me because the sky was beautiful. I took a few pictures from inside my car while I was waiting at the light at Angela & Notre Dame. Thankfully my windshield wasn't too dirty!

Last night a good friend of mine told me about some of the ND football team's pregame rituals. I knew that they went to mass together, but he told me that they also pray a litany to Mary that one of the captains leads. (I think this year he said it's always Brady Quinn who leads it.) He gave me a copy of the prayer, and I thought I'd share it in case anyone wants to pray it on gamedays too. (I especially thought Ryan O' might like this!)

God the Father of Heaven (R. Have mercy on us)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world
God the Holy Spirit

Holy Mary (R. Pray for us)
Mother of Christ
Mother most pure
Mother most friendly
Mother of good counsel
Mother of our Savior
Virgin most prudent
Virgin most powerful
Virgin more merciful
Virgin most faithful
Seat of Wisdom
Cause of our Joy
Health of the sick
Refuge of sinners
Help of Christians
Queen of angels
Queen of apostles
Queen of martyrs
Queen of all saints
Queen of Peace

Lamb of God, who takes away
the sins of the world (Have mercy on us)

Let us Pray:
Grant, we beseech You, O Lord God, that we may enjoy continual health of mind and body; and by the glorious intercession of Mary, Our Lady, may we accept the joys and trials of this life, and someday enter into Eternal happiness. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Chris Tomlin concert with Melissa~





I was able to take my friend's daughter Melissa to Chris Tomlin's concert this weekend, and it was amazing. (As Melissa said, it's not so much a concert as it is a chance to worship God.) Chris just released a new CD, and Melissa and I both loved the song "How Can I Keep from Singing?' It's a re-write of an old hymn, and an awesome song of hope and trust. I remember the lines from church~ "What though the tempest 'round me roar, I hear the music ringing. It sounds and echoes in my soul... how can I keep from singing?" I have always loved that song (especially the ND folk choir version), so it was awesome to hear him make it new. I am so thankful that I was able to be there, and I hope you'll all get to hear his music sometime soon. Thank you Chris Tomlin for sharing your music, and most of all your faith. (And for stopping to take a picture with us!) We are so grateful!

PS. It was so much fun spending time with Melissa. I've known her since Mary (her mom) and I worked together at ND four years ago, and Melissa was in 7th grade. Now she's a junior in high school! We had a lot of time in the car to chat, and I couldn't help but think how much alike we are. She wants to go to med school, and has a very real passion to become a pediatric oncologist. Melissa has the heart for it, and I know that she can do it. Mary, you must be so proud of her!

A few highlight pictures from last weekend...



The team takes the field...



One last chance--



The rest is history!

Bebo!!

Last night a group of us girls went to see Bebo Norman in concert. Wow. He is so talented, and such an amazing person. I highly recommend checking out his music if you can. Amy, Maureen and I got to talk to him for a few minutes after the concert, and he was so nice to take this picture with us. Hope you all can see him in concert sometime. He's amazing!

This past weekend was awesome! Ryan came in from Chicago, and we had a true 'Notre Dame' weekend... Rocco's for dinner on Friday, then the blue/gold baseball game, taligating, the game, and then CJ's for dinner on Saturday. It doesn't get much better than a day like that!!

Here are two of my favorite pics from the game. The catch by John Carlson was right in front of us. It was awesome--

On September 20th, a beautiful rainbow spanned the sky in South Bend. Who ever said that there isn't gold at the end of the rainbow??

Wow. Those of you who watched the game know exactly what I'm talking about. We needed this one-- what an amazing comeback!!!!!!!

Amy had reserved the mini-movie theater where we live for this game, and so we watched it on a huge screen, complete with surround-sound and stadium seats. It was amazing. My brother and Claire even came in from Chicago for the event. I am so glad they were able to make the trip, and hope that Claire wasn't too overwhelmed watching two Shirilla's cheer on the Irish. Let's just say that it was a little crazy at times! Claire is a great sport!

Here are some of my favorite picutres from the game...






(#28, Kyle McCarthy, went to my high school)







I know it's just a game, but I LOVE it!

Go Irish!!!!

For the past two weeks I've been filling in as a substitute teacher at my former high school, Cardinal Mooney HS in Youngstown, Ohio. An English teacher had to have a surgery right at the beginning of the school year, so I have been filling in and teaching his sophomore Honors English World Lit class, as well as 2 classes of seniors, who are learning Brit. Lit. Literally the day after the MCAT I drove to Ohio to start teaching, and since then have been lesson planning, grading and re-living my days both as a high school student and as a full time teacher! All of the sudden I am watching my grammar more closely, and trying to stay at least a day ahead of the students with their reading assignments. To tell the truth, when I was in high school I would have rather forgotten about the story "Beowulf", but all of last week I found new interest in it as I had to teach it to about 55 seniors!!

It's been a lot of fun being back at my high school, and a great chance to be back in the classroom. The first few days I was really tired, and remembered the early days of ACE (and the challenges) of teaching in Baton Rouge. But soon enough, I was also remembering all of the GOOD parts about teaching-- at the top of the list is getting to know the students. They are really a good group of people, and I am going to miss them when I return to South Bend!!

By the way, speaking of South Bend... way to go Irish! I can't wait to be there for the Michigan game and take in all the best parts of South Bend in the fall. Good luck vs. Penn State!!

GRATITUDE...

The night before the MCAT I got a call from Danielle, and the first things she said was that I would need to get a pencil and paper to take some notes. She then proceeded to tell me everyone who would be praying me literally hour by hour througout the day, and I was so overwhelmed with gratitude! And all I can say is that prayer works... I had the best day yesterday! Things started going my way right from the beginning. When I woke up it was raining, and I immediately thought of my arrival in Rwanda. It rained that day too, and the woman who met us at the airport told us that visitors who come with the rain come with blessings. I got to the test site with my good friend Shannon, and we got in line to register. There were three of four different rooms where they were testing, and she and I hoped to be in the same room because we have studied together all summer, and I knew it would just a huge blessing to be in the same room with her. She was told room 123, and so was I. The person behind me started the next room, so I was very grateful!! I knew that it was going to be a good day.

I started the test, and I can honestly say that I felt really good about it. I felt like I was able to do my best, and really concentrate, which I know is a fruit all of all of your prayers. I had hoped for interesting passages in the verbal reasoning section, and my hopes were far surpassed. The third or fourth passage I read was a passage about an island off of the coast of Ireland named after St. Michael the Archangel. I looked at my watch, and saw that it was 11:00. The same exact time that Michael Downs was starting to pray for me. I had to actaully stop for a moment and let it sink in.

A second passage in that section was about the art of videography. It told the story of a man who helped changed "home movies" into an art form when he turned on his camera to capture the images of the pope traveling through the streets of Rome. He saw it as a beautiful event, and his expression of the film was then considered a work of art, since his intent was to portray his personal experience to others.

The last passage that was significant to me was the ninth (and last!) passage. It was all about american sign language, and studies reagarding the aquisition of visual language. I immediately thought of the entire Tripi family who all speak in sign, and I remembered Nate Tripi's e-mail to Danielle saying "I have completed praying before I go work with my knees on rough cement floor to bless and believe in nicole and her spirit will be succeeed her goals!" The Tripi's are an absolutely AMAZING family, and they have been just showering me with their prayers. As I read that last section, instead of feeling tired, I thought of them and felt a lot of love and inspiration!!!

The science sections went well too. Kaplan had trained us at a very intense level, so when it came to test day I felt really comfortable with the test. Because of your prayers, I felt strong and my mind felt light and clear. I think the best thing I can say is that I honestly felt like I was able to do my very best. I am so grateful for that, and will be excited to see the results in October.

In the meantime I'll continue working on applications, and will be spending about three weeks at home in Ohio. And I will be remembering you all in my prayers each day. I've never had an experience like this before--- a day COMPLETELY covered in prayer. And I honestly felt it every step of the way.

What really lifted me up yesterday was thinking about each one of you. From Honduras, Guatamala, California, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, Oregon, DC, Chicago, Minnesota, Connecticut, Louisiana, Indiana, Virginia... my thoughts were with you, and I was just overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for your friendships. Thank you for being you, and for being in my life. Yesterday I found myself often wondering how I possibly came to be blessed with so many wonderful people in my life?? I am so, so grateful. I told my roomate Amy last night that if nothing else, this experience has convinced me of the power of prayer, and I feel a very strong desire to pray more for others. On that note, if you ever have an intention to share, I would love to be able to pray for you as you have prayed for me.


I hope you all have a wondrful day today, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love, support and prayers! To Danielle, thank you so much for contacting so many people to ask for prayers. I am beyond grateful, and it is truly the best gift that I have ever been given. Those of you who have been on an NDE at Notre Dame know of "palanca" letters. The word means "to lift up" and that is exactly what happened yesterday. My body was in the test room, but my spirit was united with all of you. What an awesome experience!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

All my love,
nicole

These are some picutres with Amy, Brett and Amy at the St. Joseph county fair. Gotta love the midwest!!