Sorry for the lack of updates this past week, have been kinda busy, or should I say distracted somewhat? I know all of you LOVE my extremely detailed play by play updates, but this will be a quick and dirty annotated version of this past weeks events:

Sunday: First RA #32 Leadership meeting. We had the best time, got the theme picked, staff’s picked, fundraising things, everything but made the necessary posters to reveal them, definitely a Christ-led meeting.Had a really awesome experience through prayer with my mom who is 5 hrs away and with Kristen in church, it is amazing how God works through those around us. We had 3 intramural games, 2 softball and 1 soccer. Both softball games were wins and the soccer game was a loss.

Monday: Interview for a position at NTS went well, so that was good. Had Marcel’s evangelization forum at 7-9pm. That ran over a little bit and prevented me from attending my small faith group for the second week in a row. At 11pm we had a guy’s playoff flag football game which ended in a win. Then it was off to CTK for me and Kristen for our almost daily Rosary. After that we had an amazing few hours in the Adoration chapel with some praise and worship. Afterwards we had the most definitive DTR (Defining The Relationship) of just about anyone I know of recently *wink wink* So, yes, it is official, the lovely Kristen Raines and I are now dating/boyfriend-girlfriend/an item, all of that.

Tuesday: Much of Tuesday escapes me but I’m sure if it is important and someone reminds me, I’ll put some more here, oh, I found out that I didn’t get selected for the position at NTS which I had interviewed for on Monday.

Wednesday: Started the day off by taking Kristen to Daily Mass at CTK at 6:55am, I love goin’ when I’ve gotten enough sleep. Marcel’s Catholicism 101 class’s topic was communication and how vital it is to a healthy, Christ-centered relationship. I get so much from these classes, it was also the first one that Kristen had been to and she loved it, she plans to continue coming with me each week. After Marcel’s class was 4th Day numero dos! It had been a Staffer Sharing day in the past but was done a little differently since this retreat is about those retreating and not those staffing. We made it a “family reunion” night of ice cream and reminiscing. It was really cool. Afterwards I believe that Kristen and I went and said a Rosary at CTK if I’m not mistaken.

Thursday: Well, I took my girl out to lunch at BOTS (Buns Over Texas), apparently she has never been before, definitely something I had to remedy. We both got a hotdog, cuz their’s are sooo good! At 6pm we had guy’s flag football playoff game number 3. We played against a team that had Mr. Sean Gasser on it, lil’ bro of CSA Social co-chair Stacie Gasser. It was unfortunate for him that his team had to play ours, we handed them a decisive loss. I was lucky enough to snag two touchdown catches, two extra point catches, two interceptions, one of which was returned 80 yds for a two point conversion, so I was pretty tired afterwards. Then it was off to The Vatican, aka Pope’s, aka Sadie and Laura’s, to find inspiration for a Halloween costume to wear to The Rock and then the CSA Halloween Party. We came to a consensus that I should go as Garrett Higgins, this fine gentleman has a quite distinctive style of dress and from the reaction I received at The Rock and the party, I pulled it off quite well. The party was good times, afterward I brought Kristen home and we just chilled and hung out for a while. We also said a Rosary in her room and had one of her friends from down the hall join us, which I thought was really awesome!

Friday: Was woken at 8:04am to my cell phone ringing, it was Renee Vargas, the HR contact I have at NTS informing me that the person that had been selected ahead of me for the job I interviewed on Monday had decided to not accept the job offer after all and I GOT THE JOB!!! Then in celebration I went back to sleep until Melissa wakes me up with a call at 11:00 something to inform me of plans for lunch at Double Dave’s at 1pm. So at 1 I went and had a good lunch with my buddies, Natashia, Melissa, Kathry, Marcos, Brian, and Theo. Then the next item on the agenda was Abby’s last game as a Texas Tech Lady Raider soccer player. Mike, Andy, Adam, and I had the brilliant idea of painting up for the game. We show up to the game with shirts on and Abby sees us and we wait until they come outta the locker room at half-time for the full reveal. She sees us all up at the top of the stands with the letters A-B-B-Y painted on our chests in support of our favorite Lady Raider. She unfortunately didn’t get to play, but we love her anyways. I went and picked up Kristen and we all headed to Rosa’s for dinner. After Rosa’s we came back to my place and watched Super Troopers, definitely good times had by all. Well, I guess that wasn’t as quick and dirty as I had originally planned, well there ya have it folks, you have now been updated on my entire week. Today when I was talking to my mom and letting her know I got a job, she was like, “DANG Jared, you have been blessed two-fold this week and two out of the three prayers I say for you every night have been answered. You’ve got yourself a lovely and beautiful girlfriend PLUS a full-time job starting next week!” And with that I pray that God may Bless You all and Keep You, goodnight.