youth catholic conference.

Hello everyone, So i attended a youth catholic conference this past weekend that was put up by the Dioceses of Fresno ca. the conference was giving in the visalia ca convention center. The theme of the conference was Mother Mary image of Truth! Here goes to show that God works in his own ways. i was not supposed to go to the conference, as i said it was for the youth, however my 3 teenage kids were attending and so i went to drop them off at church, to make long story short. My parish was in need of a driver so i filled in and drove a van to the conference. its about a 2hr drive from my parish to visalia ca. when i arrived i was amazed to see so many young teens there and see that they were actually excited to be there. Of course there were some teens that did not wanted to be there and some that went because their parents made them too. But overall there were many teens that were truly happy to be there. We ( my parish group of adult catechist teachers and chaperone's, along with our youth ) attended 4 works shops and mass and i got to say i got a lot from this experience. As i said i had no intentions on going in the 1st place but once there i left the door open in my heart and i ask Jesus to help thruout the day so i could learn something from the conference and so that i could use whatever i learn in my daily life. Now let me explain something really quick i was tired i had about 4 hrs of sleep, i drove a van full of hyper active students that made the ride interesting to say the least. so when we arrived to the conference i was beat, i was not in the best moods ever i was not angry but i was not full of joy either. But none the less i had to shake it off and ask for the Holy S. to work on me and like i said it did. There were some works shops related to teens dating, teens self respect, love, attitude, Responsibilities, how to live life the way God would wanted us to etc. I must say i picked up a lot from that talk. Even though it was supposed to be for teens i could see how i fail to do some of those things in life and with my family. There was a work shop about the Blessed Mother and St Juan Diego and the apparitions and i must say i was ashamed not to know some of the basics regarding that. After all i grew up in Mexico till i was a teen but there is so much to know about the Blessed Mother and St Juan Diego that talk inspired me to know more. According to the Religious Brother that gave the talk if one wants to have a more deeper and meaningful relationship with the blessed mother, a good place to start is in the gospel of Luke. Also by talking to her, asking her to take our prayers to her Son. To look upon us during the good and bad seasons in our life and to do what mother do Best. Be there for us to encourage us to do better for our self's and to show us that she loves us. So i have started to apply some of the things i learn during this past weekend and i definitely have opened up my bible to the Gospel of Luke. From here on it its up to me to continue to encourage my self to get closer to God and i know that God has the door open waiting for me to come in. All i have to do is make that decision to once and for all give my life to Christ and he will take care of me and my Family. The hardest part is to do just that to surrender my self, but its definitely a journey that i want to continue to walk on. WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! God Bless.