Mood:  energetic

I went to the provincial house for their New Year's Eve (eve) party tonight.  We had a light supper and then went for prayer.  After prayer we came back downstairs and played hand bells.  I really enjoyed playing the "A" note on the bell, though mine was so big, I had to be careful not to hit the table with it (or anyone else for that matter).  The music was really nice.

Then we had more food and an auction with play money.  There was a bobble head doll on the table that was made for one of the nuns.  It was made to look like her in habit.  It was the last thing that was bid on, and I saved my money until last.  One other sister was trying to out-bid me, and when I got to my limit of money, many of the other sisters chipped in and gave me enough to out-bid Sister!  I was soooo excited!!!

Mood:  bright

This week is our Provincial Chapter.  Pray that everything goes well for our Province and for the Sisters who are a part of the chapter planning.

I will be going to the New Years Eve (eve) party tonight with the Sisters.  Right now I'm dog-sitting at the convent where I lived from 2007-mid 2009.  Since the Sisters are all at the province house, I'm bouncing back and forth between where I currently live and where I used to live in order to keep the dog company...or maybe it's the other way around.

I'm really excited to be going to the New Years Eve (eve) party because I will get to see all of the Sisters again... You know, it really starts to get a little lonely when you're used to seeing at least 6 other Sisters during the day.  The Sisters are going to have an auction among themselves and our associates that will be present.  We are all supposed to bring some prize for the auction if we want to participate.  It sounds exciting!

I wanted to share this story with you about a Christmas miracle:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/christmas-miracle-mom-and-baby-die-then-revive-17357728

Isn't God good?

For actual New Year's Eve, I'll be up visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Columbus.  We'll be going to a near-by science museum.  Sounds exciting!  I haven't been there since I was really little.  

Mood:  happy

Last night is the first time in a long time that I have actually had a dream that I can remember.

I dreamed that I was with my friend Kelly at the motherhouse of her religious community and there were lots of younger people there who were preparing to enter or become novices in their own religious communities.  In the dream, there was one big ceremony for everyone.

All of the women were in line and they were receiving the medals/crosses of their communities.  I was going to be receiving the cross that I'd wear as a novice.  When it came my turn, something interrupted the ceremony.

When whatever it was that interrupted was taken care of, they came back to me and gave me the cross.  I was SOOOOOOOOOO happy.

Then I woke up.  Wonder what the meaning of this dream is? 

Mood:  chillin'

Hello everyone,

 Again, it's been some time since I've posted.  Time just keeps slipping away from me.  I can't believe that in a month, it will be a whole year since I became a postulant.  I'll have one more year to go because they're trying to work it so that all people who are heading towards novitiate will be in the canonical novitiate in California together.

I've been talking to the Sisters about chat rooms and Facebook because that appears to be where alot of the younger women are...and that may be where the newer vocations will be found.  I hope that they can use it as a way to reach out to young women and possibly form some sort of relationship.  We'll see how that goes.

I'm taking two classes this month.  One's a Christian Morality class, and the other is on the Bible.  One's with the Sisters of Notre Dame, my community, and the other is with some people from the diocese.

I only have 4 children in my classroom now.  I feel less stressed now at work.  I am so glad that it's all worked out.  They're trying to hire someone to replace my assistant who quit because she didn't have enough education.  That left me over ratio by 2 children and it was really hectic for awhile.  Things have seemed to calm down for me.  I just hope that they've calmed down for everyone else too.  Moving my kids over has put the other class over ratio.  That's not good.

Well, take care for now. 

Mood:  don't ask

It's absolutely crazy at work.  We don't have enough teachers (three were fired, one quit, and one's out on disability).  And the rest of us are being worked like slaves...  I come home so worn out...

This weekend, I get to play taxi for the Sisters who are working the booth at Oktoberfest.  Someone volunteered me for the job...  Brownie points, I guess...

Remembering the tragic events of 9/11/2001 today.

Someone at work wanted everyone to dress up in the local football team's colors... I'm like, hey, if I dress up, I'm wearing red, white, and blue... 

Mood:  energetic

I just moved into a new house.  There are seven other Sisters living here at the moment, but one of them will be leaving pretty soon to go downtown where the Sisters of Notre Dame are opening an Urban Education Center.

Living with so many people is going to be interesting,but I'll get used to it, hopefully.  The house where I came from there were only three of us and a dog.  I'll miss those Sisters and that place, but this new place seems to be an adventure so far.  Lots of new personalities to get used to.  The recreation of choice seems to be dominoes around here.  Some of the Sisters also like to go on walks.  I even was able to get a game of Apples to Apples in there too!

A few weeks ago, I got to travel with my director to Detroit to witness the entrance ceremony of my friend Renee (into the Sisters of Mercy).  She had some really symbolic things in her ceremony.  I really liked when she stood outside of the chapel and knocked on the door to be let in.   She also had the symbol of a dance in there too. (One of the readings was one of Catherine McAuley's letters that talked compared religious life to a dance). 

Mood:  energetic

I get to hang out with some of the younger members of our province today!!!  I'm so excited!  I have no idea what we're going to do, but the thought of just spending time with them will energize me through my day.

Guess what???  I just found out recently where I'll be moving to.  I'll be going to live in a house where there are six other Sisters living.  I've never lived with a group this big and I'm really looking forward to it.  I think I'll be moving sometime within the next month.  Please pray that the move goes smoothly.

I think that I'm going to start wearing mostly jumpers.  It'll really cut down on my clothing choices...which is good because I'll not have to worry if things match or not.  I'm glad.

Mood:  don't ask

I'd like to ask all of you to pray for the family of some of the kids that go to the childcare center where I work.  The other day, the mother was shot and killed by the father of the children and then the father turned the gun on and killed himself. 

The couple had 7 children with an 8th on the way.

The mother was the breadwinner of the family and had just completed college and started her own catering business.  She was doing the right thing for her children.  It's so tragic that this had to happen to her.

The youngest child was in the house for the whole event, the older children were able to flee to safety at a neighbor's house.

Please pray for these children who now have no father or mother.

How do you explain to a child that their mother and father are no longer going to be here for them???

You can read the news coverage of this tragedy here:

http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Murder-Suicide-in-East-Price-Hill/8xdECM0Fq0SeC5f6CVd5sg.cspx?rss=30

Mood:  amorous

"Then he said, "I tell you with certainty, unless you change and become like little children, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:3

 God comes to us in mysterious ways.  Today at mass, He showed me His love for me through a little child.

Today during mass there was a little girl who sat with her mother a few pews down in front of me. Someone in her family was making their First Communion that mass and there was no room in the pew for her father.  Her father sat my pew next to me.  The girl kept pointing and grunting at her father and would every once in awhile come close to our pew.

My own dad sat in his wheelchair in the empty space in front of me, and I think that the little girl was afraid of the wheelchair or of my dad...(he's not a scary guy) but she wouldn't come close enough to join her father in the pew. 

One time she came up and reached her hand out to grasp her father's hand and he reached back.    This was all she needed to feel comfortable in the church and she spent the rest of the time wandering around.  The father kept chuckling to himself about the antics of his daughter which were quite amusing.  I could tell that he was beaming with love for his daughter.

Isn't God like that father???  He reaches out his hand to us to comfort and encourage us and he is ALWAYS there when we come wandering back up to see Him.  He probably is up in Heaven chuckling at some of our antics too.  AND He LOVES us!!!!  What more can we ask for???

Aren't we called to be like that child???  Isn't it encouraging to be able to reach for Our Father and know that He is there for us???  Doesn't He ask us to be like that little child?  To trust in His promises that he will be with us always.  That little girl had so much love for her father that she sought him out of the crowd.  Aren't we called to search for God above everything else that competes for our time?

Lord, help me to become more and more like a little child so that I can behold you in your glory in Heaven.  Amen

Mood:  chillin'

Wow!  I know it's been awhile since my last post here.  I promise to try not to let this much time pass again.

 So, here's what's new in my life:

I've been a postulant for a half a year now, and I am  loving it still!  Today was the feast of St Julie and also my week to pray, so I included alot of things that were sun-flower-y and also prayers to and about St Julie...she's my favorite Saint, and my patron ('cause I got to pick my own...I'm not named after a Saint...though I go by Anne on occasion...especially on the 'net).

I've been reading the autobiography of St Therese the Little Flower, I've read it before and I really like it.  I want to strive to live as she did...and follow her little way.  I'm really a child spiritually who loves to just sit on her Father's lap and to wrap herself playfully in Our Mother's mantle.

There's a museum exhibit about Catholic Nuns in the United States that's touring the USA.  It's going to start off where I live and I am going to volunteer to man the exhibit.  It sounds very interesting and I can't wait to see it and represent my community there!!!!  Here's the website for it, check to see if it's coming anywhere near you:  

http://www.womenandspirit.org/specs.html

I'll be moving sometime within the next couple of months.  I am soooo looking forward to getting to live with some of the other Sisters, but I'm eternally grateful for these particular Sisters who opened their home to me for the past 2 1/2 years... I can't believe it's been that long!!!

I have a full day this coming Saturday.  I'll be attending a prayer gathering at the Heights (our province house), then off to a work training, and then I get to see my director.

My director is an awesome person.  I feel very comfortable around her.  She even helps me with things outside of direction...unless it's all a part of diretion.