23 teenage girls in close quarters hardly seem like a part of recipe for a divine experience. Indeed, a lot of time when we get together, for group activities or breakfast in the morning, we seem a lot less like spiritual beings searching for a higher meaning to our lives and a lot more like catty twelve-year olds, fighting over who took whose mascara and who may or may not have copied them by buying the same pair of shoes on a visit.

Our immersion in material things and unkind words to our sisters and friends were just some of the warning signs that things were less than perfect among the girls at the school. So Lake House family leader, Roxi Losicco, took the initiative to help us examine our petty ways. On July 16^th, a beautiful sunny Monday afternoon, we all loaded up the bus and took a trip to Father Steven’s retreat house.

We began the day with some discussion in the chapel and each lit a candle to represent a prayer petition that we would focus on that day. The tiny lovely chapel was filled to the brim, but I noticed girls making an effort to sit near people they didn’t always talk to, one of the goals we had in beginning spending more time. Everybody seemed just a little more focused on Father Steven’s enlightened teachings than we are on a normal day. With so many distractions at the school and everywhere else in our lives, sometimes it’s hard to see our greater goals as beings on this earth, but Father helped us focus in on what really matters in our lives, like the many blessings we have each day.

After spending time in the chapel, we went out for a walk around the area. It was beautiful and green, and we got our feet wet in the running stream, and admired the waterfalls. Other than a couple of girls slipping in the creek and getting a bit more than their feet wet, it was a peaceful and picturesque time to spend in nature.

After our walk, we returned to the chapel and spent more time learning about how we could use novenas, nine days of certain prayers, to improve our lives. He also taught us a very eloquent prayer, which he said we could use to work on our resentments.

At the end of the prayer time, we ate a home-cooked meal of hot dogs, potato salad and cupcakes for dessert! All the girls were smiling and laughing, and the atmosphere was one of love and openness, as it should be between sisters. It was so nice to have some of the tension and pettiness relieved from us. We played some games and laughed together, and then it was time to return home.

By Ali G.

This morning in chapel, we offered up intercessory prayers, prayers for others. The usual prayers were said quietly, prayers for those we love, our best friends, our families, those who have left the school under less than ideal conditions and those who have recently graduated. But this morning, there was something new: Deacon Barbara concluded with “And pray for those for whom nobody prays, and for those for whom you have promised to pray for, but have forgotten.”

Those two requests were really powerful for me. I thought of all the people who had written me off as a lost cause before coming to the school, the friends who, after a while, didn’t bother trying to get me to stop my reckless behaviors. Had somebody been praying for me when I had cast everybody in my life aside? I guess I’ll never know, but I know God heard something. Perhaps it was not to the prayers of others, and certainly not any prayer of mine, for no pious words had crossed my lips for years before coming to this school, but perhaps to the silent longing of my heart, to be with him and to be safe.

There’s nothing more I wish than for every person I love, and even those I may not, to find their own Higher Power and be one with him. I commit, day by day, to say a prayer for each person I hurt, and for those who hurt me. To say a prayer for those whom I miss and those who miss me, to find a God that means something to them in their soul. And night-by-night, my head hits the pillow and frankly, I forget. Sometimes I say to myself, Well, it’s God, he’s omnipotent, he knew that I meant to pray for them.

But then I really start to wonder, who prays for those people, who I promise to pray for and promptly write off? Nobody? The power of prayer is indisputable, and God deserves my best.

Yes, the words Deacon Barbara spoke this morning really got me thinking, on a crazy track that I’m not even sure I’ve resolved yet in my head, but tonight I know I’ll pray for the forgotten, for the love of my God who has never even once forgotten me.

By Roderick O.

Earth Day

Last Wednesday, April 25, 2012, morning chapel service with Pam Allen focused on Earth Day. With documentaries and special prayers for our planet the students left the chapel with a different view on the world.

The documentary presented how much waste and garbage humans use every years and every day. It showed where our garbage goes after we throw it away and how we can prevent our world from becoming a giant dump. They had clips exhibiting that scraps of trash that don’t get thrown away end up in oceans, woods, beaches and endangering animals. There was a certain clip that hit me the hardest and this clip showed a young bird tangled up in a piece of trash not able to get loose.

Pam asked, “How does this relate to our spiritual lives and God?”

From listening to her preach about the question I believe that this has everything to do with God and our spiritual lives. God made this earth for us and we are not doing our jobs as followers of Christ if we don’t try and keep it clean and sanitary.

We then finished with specified prayers for our earth and for our lives.

By Roderick O.

Jewish Service for the Week

This weeks’ Tuesday morning Jewish service explained that you can find peace and happiness wherever you go. Rabbi Michelle asked the students a couple questions to help them wake up.

Describe your past month in one word.

Some students answered with negative words and positive words. Rabbi continued to explain that we all go through positive and negative moments throughout our whole lives and if you answered with a negative, how can you change it into a positive if I ask this question again in a month?

What is something that makes you smile?

No matter how angry you are or how bad of a situation you are in, you will always have something to smile at. Some students responded by saying that their families or puppies make them smile. Rabbi than told us that one physical action of smiling can brighten our whole mood. It’s weird to think that such a small action can have a huge impact on your day.

What is something that you hope for?

What I noticed about this question is that all the students answered in a positive way. No one hopes for bad things to happen. We all hope have peace in the world or to get along better with our families.

By Roderick O.

Easter Sunday at The Family Foundation School

With over a thousand hidden eggs, a scrumptious ham and pie supper, and a game of Bunny Bingo, Paul G. and his crew transformed The Family Foundation School into an Easter filled campus. God granted the grace of gratitude during this day. You couldn’t walk by someone without receiving a bright smile and a warm “Happy Easter” greeting. All staff and students were in a cheerful mood not only because of the Holiday, but due to the fact that it was a beautiful day outside. Paul provided the activities and Bill C. provided the food but God provided us with a warm relaxed atmosphere.

Easter chapel service is one that I am familiar with; considering my family is Catholic and I go every year, but this one was different. Father Chris blessed the chapel at the beginning of the service with sage. Then he continued his blessings by spreading oil among the students. “I was in constant prayer throughout the whole service and I had an overwhelming sense of inner peace due to the presence of Christ,” said Cameron S. a practicing Presbyterian. Similar to Cameron, the tranquil service allowed me to practice my search for Christ and express my gratitude for God.

The serene service was followed by an Easter Supper hosted by Bill C. in the families. There was Ham, corn pudding, potatoes, vegetables and Apple Pie; no one left the meal hungry. Once the supper ended, all the families joined Paul G. in the gym to start the Egg Hunt outside. With students enjoying the beautiful weather, the Hunt was a success. Mann House retrieved the most eggs and received a prize, but everyone won in the end because no one was left without candy. After the Hunt was over the student returned to the gym for several rounds of Bunny Bingo. Every winner received a candy box of their choice.

This was my second year of Easter at the school and both times have been memorable. I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss my family on this day because I did, but the school provided an Easter than wouldn’t have been possible if I was home. Bunny bingo and an Egg Hunt with over a thousand eggs is a pretty special day. The entire Holiday reminded me of how much I love my family and how grateful I am for my journey at The Family School.

By Roderick O.

With Easter approaching Pam A’s Wednesday morning chapel service was based off some of Jesus’ words at the last supper. Before he passed out the bread and wine he told his disciples to love each other as he loved them. Why is this so difficult for us? I know that I allow my own character defects dictate how I act towards other people. In reality my actions can either have a positive effect or a negative effect.

Pam strongly expressed during the scripture reading how God gave up his only son to save us. She then stated that she has a son of her own and that she wouldn’t give up her son for the world.

God loves us so much that he sacrificed his only son for us. Even when Jesus was suffering a horrible death his last words were “forgive them father for they know not what they do.”

So know I go back to my question, why is it so difficult for us to love on another? There is already enough hatred in the world as it is, so why add more? One act of kindness and love can make a person more prone to passing that act of love and kindness onto another person. If I wanted to be loved and respected than I must treat others the same way. Despite the movie Semi-Pro’s idiocy, there was a clear message in it; everybody love everybody.

By Roderick O.

Every year The Passover Seder is celebrated at The Family Foundation School and is hosted by Rabbi Michelle. The dinner lasts a couple hours because of the traditional blessings that were said before the meal started. In between the blessings songs of praise were sung, as well as played by the Jewish band that was hired for the event. Each family in the school was given two tables and they were all set up in the gym. Also, in respect for the Jewish religion all males that attended this event all wore Yamakas.

Once the blessings were said, Rabbi announced the food to be served. Head chef Bill Cortz and his kitchen staff whipped up some special food for the celebration. We were served a small chicken with potatoes and vegetables by the catering crew. In the middle of the food being served, students joined Rabbi in a festive dance around the gymnasium. I danced as much as I could, but after I had consumed the delicious food and a large amount of it, moving around was the last thing I wanted to do. The celebration allowed family’s to reunite and savor the celebration to love one another.

By Roderick O.

This week’s Jewish service was led by three Jewish students in the absence of the Rabbi. By taking on a leadership role and hosting a chapel service these students took a step in the right direction of doing Gods will. They removed themselves from their comfort zones and lent a helping hand. This was only made possible through faith in God.

During the service Adam B. shared about his experience with faith and gratitude. He explained that it is our choice in what we put our faith into. We can put our faith in God, our parents or friends, or in our jobs. This is something I struggle with a day-to-day basis. I allow my fear to get into the way of making smart decisions. If I had some faith that everything would work out for the better, I’m sure I would find myself making better decisions sometimes.

Have some faith that things will work out the way they are supposed to.

Adam also talked about gratitude. He shared that there are many things to be grateful for at the school and in life. If you are reading this right now than you clearly have access to a computer and this is something to be grateful for because some people don’t even have clean clothes to wear or a warm bed to sleep in at night. I know that I take things for granted most of the time. I don’t consider the fact that I am more fortunate than other people and I should be grateful for what I have.

Be grateful for what you have.