Happy anniversary to me!

How unique!  I'm wishing myself a happy anniversary....why not?  It makes me happy to think that on the 3rd I recalled 61 years ago I left my little town of Villanueva, NM...left home, friends, relatives, and my doggie, Waggie.

On the 5th, I recalled my seeing 6618 North Teutonia, Milwaukee for the first time.

Why was I celebrating these events.  Well, I recall the 3rd, my leaving home, as not being that jubilant.  There were lots of tears with those good-byes.  Never been away from home.  Going to an unknown land....and I was quite young!!!

Arriving at 6618, Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother motherhouse, a huge 4-story red brick building.  Strange.  Then to discover that the sisters were on retreat...8-days of silence.  Fortunately, the young ones in formation were NOT on retreat.

What were this leaving and arriving about?  I was coming to begin my preparation, my formation, to become a sister.

And that as 61 years ago....how time flies, really.  It does not seem that long ago.  I am grateful to the Lord, to my many companions in formation and to the many sisters who walked with me, supported me in good times and in sad times, these 61 years.  

"For all that has been GRACIAS.  For all that will be YES.

Move....

I think I shared that I moved back to the place from which I moved a year and a half ago.  Volley ball!  I think I also shared with you that I have been feeling like a volley ball since my assignment to the Dominican Republic a few years back.

The other day I was chatting with the Lord and I said:  I hope you are enjoying playing volley ball with me!!!"

Moves...a ministry, finally...position closed, so no ministry...search and search and search....a real possibility, please God....asked to move AGAIN!!!!  So you see why I feel like a volley ball.

The surprising thing is that I am really not all that on edge and upset about this.  In my "younger" days, I would have been worried, on edge, concerned, wanting it all to happen yesterday.  I think AGE has something to do with this attitude.  So it IS wonderful to be OLDER!  (I have a problem with all the hoooplaaa re staying young.)

 I am grateful to my Brother Companion for the calm hope I am experiencing.  I truly believe that God has something in the Divine Sleeve for me....where and what for me...and I will connect.  In this I trust.

So stay tuned....

SUMMER BLESSINGS.....

Mary and Martha

The story of the busy Martha and the relaxed Mary, which we had on Sunday, is one of my favorites.  Two sisters of opposite personalities and true to who they are.

Which one are you?  A Martha of a Mary?  Or are we a little of both?  I am more a Martha: an action  person.  However as I age, I note that I have much of a Mary...taking time for contemplation, for quiet, accepting life as the Lord plans it...difficult as it can be. 

I'd like to share from "The Word Among Us".  Be a Mary.  "Sit with him and let him speak to you: about his love for you.  Open your heart to him without fear of what will follow.  Whatever your shortcomings, failings and weaknesses, he loves, loves, loves you! He delights in giving himself to everyone who is ready tor receive it.  You can sit, as Mary did, unashamed and truthful about your life and soak up the Father's love for you."

"This story of Martha and Mary shows us that experiencing God's love is the most healing empowering, inspiring thing we an do.  Better than any good work, and more desirable to the Lord, is the flow of love and affection, of knowing and being known, between him and you..  YEs, he seesyour deepest sins, but he looks deeper still.  He knows your desires for holiness, purity, and innocence.  He knows the "real you" ...the you that is willing to swim out of the current anything that pulls you away from him....knowing God's love can help you overcome failure...build strength where you are weak..."

What encouraging words...I wish you peace and quiet at the Lord's feet.

Need prayers

Off to retreat....appreciate prayers so the Spirit finds me....and I am OPEN!

SUMMER BLESSINGS......

Priorities.........

What a beautiful day we are enjoying today.....what GIFT!  A rest from all the rainy, overcast days we had.  So gratitude is in order....GRACIAS, gracious God!

I have been wanting to share this for a bit, but somehow, just could not get through with this "blogging"....finally today I was able to get in.

A few weeks ago we had the Gospel asking what our priorities are.  What exactly is important to me?  What comes first?  To what do I give my prime time?  My efforts?

I'm sure we have looked at this issue more than once.  The homilist shared a quote from someone who had a way to determine just what was important in the dailyness of life. 

The tell-tale was in our calendars and in our checkbooks!

Sounds logical?  I believe so.  Check it out!

BLESSINGS......   

Trust....

Trust has not always been my strong virtue, but it has become a little stronger as I have aged.  That is good because I am being called to TRUST AGAIN!

Trust that the Lord knows BEST....trust that the Lord is in the driver's seat, and so knows WHERE we both are going.

As of last Tuesday at the parish Finance Committee my position was eliminated.  The parish is in dire financial status, so they looked at the figures and "Poof?" eliminate the Adult Faith Formation and RCIA ministries.  I am finding it very difficult to understand how this ministry, basic to the faith life of the parish can just be done away with.  But that is from my perspective...but I cannot but question PRIORITIES.

Yet, I am called to let go and let God!  I believe firmly that the Lord has something I am being called to do, which will be revealed in due time, God's time, not my time...which is last Wednesday!

I have always believed that NOTHING HAPPENS BY ACCIDENT, BUT BY GODCIDENT.  I need to be open, to be patient, and trust that "all things work together unto good"...I heard/read that somewhere!

I would appreciate a little prayer now and then that I connect with whatever it is God calls me to next.

BLESSINGS.......    

Spring?????

This is the 6th day of JUNE!  We should be enjoying beautiful sunny, WARM Spring weather.  Instead, I am sitting here with an electrtic heater trying to warm up....my poor fingers having difficulty getting from key to key from being chilled, and looking out to a dark and dreary day...NO SUN!

Our "weathers" have certainly been unkind to all of us....throughout our country and beyond....so it falls on all of us to replace the unkindness of the weather with our own kindness.

It falls upon us to be the warmth and the sun, bringing joy and hope to those who will pass through our day...TODAY!

I wish you the courage and grace to be that WARMTH, BRIGHTNESS, JOY AND HOPE we so need.

BLESSINGS........