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.

Mood:  chillin'

Ok, I'm slowly learning what I am responsible for as a postulant.  I have to take some theology classes, and I'm looking forward to that.  I also get to take a week-long retreat as well.  I've never taken one that long before...it should be neat...  It will be in July.

 The classes I will take start in June and I'd be taking one or so in the summer and a few each of the other times they are offered.

Sr N's back home now, but not teaching full time yet.  I'm just glad she's here!

Mood:  don't ask

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!

 And that's just putting it mildly.

 One of the Sisters that I live with was taken to the hospital this past Tuesday, and she's still there.  They had to do surgery on her.  Miss her alot.  Can't even begin to explain how much.  Feeling kinda down about that.  She says not to worry, but that's like telling a bee not to buzz...

My monthly gift from mother nature just came...  I'm not a nice person when that happens.  Though I try to be... I need to stay away from people when that happens...or else they might lose their heads...  One of the grandparents who hold the babies at work was talking too loudly during naptime and the babies were waking up.  I told her so...and she turned around and told my other coworkers that I told her...and that I need to respect my elders... DANG WOMAN... wanted to bite her head off at that point, but refrained.  Proud of myself, but don't really care for her at the moment.  How does anyone expect these babies to sleep if everyone's being so LOUD...

Came home to bad smell...the dog had peed somewhere.  Sister doubted it and told me she didn't smell anything...it was driving me crazy it was sooooooo strong a smell.  Nearly bit her head off...  I need to learn not to do that...guess it's one of those things that comes with experience... Just not sure when I'll get this so-called experience...

Saw a good movie today.  It was called "Speak" and was about a girl who was raped and didn't tell anyone...she finally couldn't take it anymore after being abandoned by everyone...and told her story.  I read it as a book when I was in college, good book, good movie!

I'm giving up chocolate and chat rooms for Lent.  Not sure if that will last very long.  Sister told me to give up chocolate.  Might be able to do that longer than giving up chat.  Perhaps I should give up biting people's heads off...

The SNDs redesigned their website, and my picture is on it!  www.sndky.org   I'm in the vocations section.

I miss Sr N sooo much and wish she was out of the hospital.

Mood:  a-ok

Well, Wednesday will be my last day with my little sister from the children's home.  She's going to be put into foster care.  I do pray that they will keep her because she's been bounced around too many times already.  I'll probably take a few months off of volunteering at the children's home, but I don't think I can stay away forever.  Those kids need adults in their lives to show them that they are worth something...they've already had so many bad experiences with other adults in their lives who have abused, molested, or neglected them...they need good role-models.

Well, I'm off work again today, I got in a few hours though, so that's not too bad.  I wonder if work will be open tomorrow....  You see, the sewer backed up and flooded the floors, so it's really stinky there and it's not good for the children.  We'll see if I'm working tomorrow or not...hopefully they can get things fixed and the carpets replaced.

On a brighter note, I've started running Vocations Chat on ECatholic2000.  I open the vocations room whenever I can because I like to talk with people who are in various stages of their discernment.  Perhaps I'll see you there sometime?  www.ecatholic2000.com

Peace!