As it was put yesterday at lunch: "So...you survived your first major holiday at the Mount. Congratulations."
It was really a great week and weekend, spent with my family and my Sisters. My grandparents from Tennessee came up to visit, as did my Mom, her fiance and my brother and sister. I was so excited to see everyone, and to have them here with me. I love sharing this place with people.
It was nice just to see my family, especially my grandparents who I only get to see a couple of times a year. We had a great Thanksgiving dinner (and I'm sure my mom was just happy she didn't have to cook or do dishes after!) and had fun just hanging out with each other. We also got into a ridiculous game of Mad Gab Thursday night that I wish could have been filmed, because it was priceless.
I've had a few days to think about what I'm most thankful for. My family and all their support and love. The Sisters and all they're doing for me. Both of the above for challenging me and supporting me. The refugees and kids I work with everyday who've helped me look at my life in a new light. I'm thankful for everything my Mom has done to get me where I am. I'm thankful for my best friend who is with me every step of the way. I'm thankful for my mentor and our program director, both for keeping me laughing, thinking, questioning and humble. I'm thankful for this opportunity to learn and grow.
I'm thankful, above all else, to be so blessed.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sneaky Sneaky
I'm beginning to believe (at least half jokingly) that this place is magic. Things just appear outside of my bedroom door pretty regularly. Granted, I know where most of these things are coming from, but that is entirely beside the point.
Alyssa was actually hit first, when a bag of Tootsie Pops just showed up, balancing on her doorknob. The first time anything materialized outside of my door was on Halloween. Again this included some Tootsie Pops (....I sense a theme here.) Now, we know where both of these little gifts came from.
A couple of weeks ago, I went upstairs for lunch on my reflection day, and when I came back downstairs there was a CD rack/holder/organizer/thing sitting outside of my door. Now, this one is a complete mystery, I have zero idea where it came from. If the phantom gift giver happens to read this-- I appreciate the thought, but I have no use for it, please don't be offended if you happen to see it on the freebie table in the community room. Also- who are you? :)
Slightly related to all of this, it appears that we have secret prayer partners who are especially praying for us everyday while we're here. My prayer partner has left me a couple of cards in my mailbox. I love it, it's been a great surprise every time I check my mailbox and find one, it lifts up my day. So to this secret person, and to all of my Sisters who I know are praying for me everyday- your prayers are working wonders, and I'm praying for you too.
In other news: my family is coming Wednesday to spend Thanksgiving with me here. I'm so excited, I could burst!!
Alyssa was actually hit first, when a bag of Tootsie Pops just showed up, balancing on her doorknob. The first time anything materialized outside of my door was on Halloween. Again this included some Tootsie Pops (....I sense a theme here.) Now, we know where both of these little gifts came from.
A couple of weeks ago, I went upstairs for lunch on my reflection day, and when I came back downstairs there was a CD rack/holder/organizer/thing sitting outside of my door. Now, this one is a complete mystery, I have zero idea where it came from. If the phantom gift giver happens to read this-- I appreciate the thought, but I have no use for it, please don't be offended if you happen to see it on the freebie table in the community room. Also- who are you? :)
Slightly related to all of this, it appears that we have secret prayer partners who are especially praying for us everyday while we're here. My prayer partner has left me a couple of cards in my mailbox. I love it, it's been a great surprise every time I check my mailbox and find one, it lifts up my day. So to this secret person, and to all of my Sisters who I know are praying for me everyday- your prayers are working wonders, and I'm praying for you too.
In other news: my family is coming Wednesday to spend Thanksgiving with me here. I'm so excited, I could burst!!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Manic Monday
I realize it's Friday, but we had the most out-of-the-ordinary kind of Monday this week, it was too good not to post about.
We started with a crazy storm Monday evening that hit soon after I got home from work. It looked ominous the whole drive home, the sky was about to fall. It started with some heavy rain, and then the thunder and lighting made their way in. I hadn't heard until I was back in my room that there was a tornado warning for our area. At 5:00 almost on the dot, there was this HUGE crack of thunder that sounded like it was right on top of us. Within a minute the announcement was made that everyone needed to make their way to the basement, which is where mine and Alyssa's rooms are located. The one side of our hallway has multiple rooms without windows, so we left our own windowed rooms and stood in the hallway, waiting for the Sisters to start making their way in. Everyone gathered in the rooms and in the halls. It was pretty cool having everyone down here, our hall is usually so empty and quiet. Needless to say, it was quite the experience and I had fun sitting and chatting for awhile.
Now, in the midst of all of this, there was already a planned dinner being held here at the Mount for the local fire house that responds whenever there is an alarm or emergency here or at Benetwood. Everyone was wondering if it was still on due to the weather. Roads were flooding, power had to be going out places, we weren't sure if the firemen would be able to make it. Just before 6 we were told everything was still on as planned, and we would be able to go back upstairs.
It was great getting to meet everyone from the firehouse, and I think it's wonderful that the Sisters hold a dinner for them to show their appreciation for all they do. After dinner was done, the Chief got up to say a few words, which included "I need a couple of able bodied volunteers." Every head in the dining room, including everyone from the fire house, turned to stare at Alyssa and I. Clearly, we were being volunteered.
We both got up and stood behind two full sets of fire suits. The deal was that we, with the assistance of a firefighter, were going to race each other into the suit, complete with face mask and oxygen. We were told they have to complete this task, unassisted, in something like a minute and a half. So the race was on, the winner would be the one who got their oxygen mask on and flowing first. Alyssa was fully dressed first, but couldn't get the oxygen to flow because her mask didn't fit properly. After much arguing with the zipper on my jacket, I quickly got everything else on and managed to get the oxygen on. But that wasn't it, we then had to parade around the entire dining room with our 80 pounds of gear on, in boots and pants that didn't fit in any capacity. The Sisters were absolutely in hysterics during this whole thing, it was priceless.
It was honestly an absolute blast, and something I'd kind of always wanted to try. The things they manage to get us to do in this Monastery, it's crazy haha! If it made everyone smile, it was totally worth it to me. I wish their was a video of this whole thing, but the pictures are pretty sweet too.
We started with a crazy storm Monday evening that hit soon after I got home from work. It looked ominous the whole drive home, the sky was about to fall. It started with some heavy rain, and then the thunder and lighting made their way in. I hadn't heard until I was back in my room that there was a tornado warning for our area. At 5:00 almost on the dot, there was this HUGE crack of thunder that sounded like it was right on top of us. Within a minute the announcement was made that everyone needed to make their way to the basement, which is where mine and Alyssa's rooms are located. The one side of our hallway has multiple rooms without windows, so we left our own windowed rooms and stood in the hallway, waiting for the Sisters to start making their way in. Everyone gathered in the rooms and in the halls. It was pretty cool having everyone down here, our hall is usually so empty and quiet. Needless to say, it was quite the experience and I had fun sitting and chatting for awhile.
Now, in the midst of all of this, there was already a planned dinner being held here at the Mount for the local fire house that responds whenever there is an alarm or emergency here or at Benetwood. Everyone was wondering if it was still on due to the weather. Roads were flooding, power had to be going out places, we weren't sure if the firemen would be able to make it. Just before 6 we were told everything was still on as planned, and we would be able to go back upstairs.
It was great getting to meet everyone from the firehouse, and I think it's wonderful that the Sisters hold a dinner for them to show their appreciation for all they do. After dinner was done, the Chief got up to say a few words, which included "I need a couple of able bodied volunteers." Every head in the dining room, including everyone from the fire house, turned to stare at Alyssa and I. Clearly, we were being volunteered.
We both got up and stood behind two full sets of fire suits. The deal was that we, with the assistance of a firefighter, were going to race each other into the suit, complete with face mask and oxygen. We were told they have to complete this task, unassisted, in something like a minute and a half. So the race was on, the winner would be the one who got their oxygen mask on and flowing first. Alyssa was fully dressed first, but couldn't get the oxygen to flow because her mask didn't fit properly. After much arguing with the zipper on my jacket, I quickly got everything else on and managed to get the oxygen on. But that wasn't it, we then had to parade around the entire dining room with our 80 pounds of gear on, in boots and pants that didn't fit in any capacity. The Sisters were absolutely in hysterics during this whole thing, it was priceless.
It was honestly an absolute blast, and something I'd kind of always wanted to try. The things they manage to get us to do in this Monastery, it's crazy haha! If it made everyone smile, it was totally worth it to me. I wish their was a video of this whole thing, but the pictures are pretty sweet too.
 |
| The race begins. |
 |
| Getting the oxygen on |
 |
| The winning team |
 |
| That would be the Chief jumping in on our photo :) |
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Jumping In
In some not-so-exciting news: I've been sick again. This time with a sinus infection. So, at least if I'm going to be sick every couple of weeks, my body is changing it up and keeping me guessing. I learned (while at Urgent Care Saturday morning) that Erie is notorious for allergies and asthma, and this sinus infection is probably the result of high amounts of allergens in the air that I'm not used to. I tend to get one or two of these bad boys every year, so I'm sure I'll be going for a record this year considering the air around here.
Alyssa and I are learning very quickly that 1- we are slowly but surely working through the list of everything we can possibly participate in regarding prayer and liturgy and 2- the better we do these things, the more we'll be asked :) Alyssa did incense at the vigil Saturday night. I don't think anyone can get enough of how she walks when she's in dance-mode.
The two of us also made our "debut" at Liturgy this morning by participating as two of the three servants in The Parable of the Talents. We had a few lines to memorize, 1 in Alyssa's case, and a small paragraph for me (which, by the way, go figure that the lazy servant has the most lines in the whole thing). During the Gospel reading, we had to step out and forward to say our parts. Now, I don't do well memorizing things, I don't do well acting out things, I get so nervous doing stuff like this that I usually just start fumbling and/or stuttering. So despite sweating nearly to death and having a heart racing a mile a minute, I got up and did my part really well (so I was told) and really enjoyed doing it (once it was over with). It was fun, but nothing I'll be jumping up and down to repeat anytime too terribly soon.
But really, I love participating in prayer and liturgy, even as nervous as I tend to get. As one Sister put it to Alyssa and I- the moment you stop getting a little nervous about getting up there, is when you're just not in it the right way. It's a huge part of being here, being a part of their community for this year means fully participating in everything we can. It means a lot to be asked to do these things.
And hey, it's probably good for me to be getting up in front of all these people doing all these things. Granted, I appreciate that fact more after I've gotten through the reading/light rite/recitation, not so much while I'm sitting in my seat waiting to get it over with :)
Alyssa and I are learning very quickly that 1- we are slowly but surely working through the list of everything we can possibly participate in regarding prayer and liturgy and 2- the better we do these things, the more we'll be asked :) Alyssa did incense at the vigil Saturday night. I don't think anyone can get enough of how she walks when she's in dance-mode.
The two of us also made our "debut" at Liturgy this morning by participating as two of the three servants in The Parable of the Talents. We had a few lines to memorize, 1 in Alyssa's case, and a small paragraph for me (which, by the way, go figure that the lazy servant has the most lines in the whole thing). During the Gospel reading, we had to step out and forward to say our parts. Now, I don't do well memorizing things, I don't do well acting out things, I get so nervous doing stuff like this that I usually just start fumbling and/or stuttering. So despite sweating nearly to death and having a heart racing a mile a minute, I got up and did my part really well (so I was told) and really enjoyed doing it (once it was over with). It was fun, but nothing I'll be jumping up and down to repeat anytime too terribly soon.
But really, I love participating in prayer and liturgy, even as nervous as I tend to get. As one Sister put it to Alyssa and I- the moment you stop getting a little nervous about getting up there, is when you're just not in it the right way. It's a huge part of being here, being a part of their community for this year means fully participating in everything we can. It means a lot to be asked to do these things.
And hey, it's probably good for me to be getting up in front of all these people doing all these things. Granted, I appreciate that fact more after I've gotten through the reading/light rite/recitation, not so much while I'm sitting in my seat waiting to get it over with :)
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Road Trip
So this past weekend was our road trip to Ohio Wesleyan to attend the Radical Gospel Living: Monasticism Today
conference. It was quite the experience, to say the least. Alyssa and I
tagged along to sell Sister Joan Chittister's books at a table at the
event.
It was a great treat to see Sister Joan speak on Friday night. She talked about monasticism and how it is changing to meet the needs of our world today. The only monastic experience out there isn't just the traditional way. There are intentional communities of lay people out there who live out monastic values just the same as this community does. The Monasteries of the Heart movement is about this idea that everyone of us may have a monastic vocation, but desire to live it out in a new way, in a world that is ever changing. Her talk was intense, funny, and eye-opening. After Sister Joan's talk, Alyssa and I had to run back to our table to get ready for the wave of people that wanted to buy books and have them signed. We rounded out our long day of travel and made it back to our hotel well after 10pm.
Saturday was yet another busy day. The conference started with a prayer service at 8:30, followed by several break-out sessions. Alyssa and I manned the table, all morning and into the afternoon. We were able to talk with Sisters from a handful of other Benedictine communities, and with many people attending the conference who had a lot of questions for the two young girls working at Sister Joan's book table.
The second keynote speaker was Shane Claiborne from The Simple Way community in Philadelphia. He and Joan were delivering the same message, but in different styles, and with slightly different slants on the same topic. Again, his talk was very thought provoking, and very entertaining and inspiring. It's all about the simple things each of us can do, especially my generation, to change the world and keep monastic values alive and thriving.
We traveled there and back with a couple of Sisters who were absolutely wonderful to spend time with. We carried on all weekend and had a blast. Nothing like a long car ride to bring out the crazy stories, and endless laughs.
So it was a very good, but extremely tiring weekend. Sunday was much needed to relax and rest up before work began again yesterday. I was happy to see everyone at SBEC and the Kid's Cafe yesterday. One of my girls at the Cafe evidently missed me a lot last week, she asked first thing when she walked in yesterday if I was back yet. It was wonderful to see her smile and to get a huge hug when I snuck up behind her, she made my day :)
It was a great treat to see Sister Joan speak on Friday night. She talked about monasticism and how it is changing to meet the needs of our world today. The only monastic experience out there isn't just the traditional way. There are intentional communities of lay people out there who live out monastic values just the same as this community does. The Monasteries of the Heart movement is about this idea that everyone of us may have a monastic vocation, but desire to live it out in a new way, in a world that is ever changing. Her talk was intense, funny, and eye-opening. After Sister Joan's talk, Alyssa and I had to run back to our table to get ready for the wave of people that wanted to buy books and have them signed. We rounded out our long day of travel and made it back to our hotel well after 10pm.
Saturday was yet another busy day. The conference started with a prayer service at 8:30, followed by several break-out sessions. Alyssa and I manned the table, all morning and into the afternoon. We were able to talk with Sisters from a handful of other Benedictine communities, and with many people attending the conference who had a lot of questions for the two young girls working at Sister Joan's book table.
The second keynote speaker was Shane Claiborne from The Simple Way community in Philadelphia. He and Joan were delivering the same message, but in different styles, and with slightly different slants on the same topic. Again, his talk was very thought provoking, and very entertaining and inspiring. It's all about the simple things each of us can do, especially my generation, to change the world and keep monastic values alive and thriving.
We traveled there and back with a couple of Sisters who were absolutely wonderful to spend time with. We carried on all weekend and had a blast. Nothing like a long car ride to bring out the crazy stories, and endless laughs.
So it was a very good, but extremely tiring weekend. Sunday was much needed to relax and rest up before work began again yesterday. I was happy to see everyone at SBEC and the Kid's Cafe yesterday. One of my girls at the Cafe evidently missed me a lot last week, she asked first thing when she walked in yesterday if I was back yet. It was wonderful to see her smile and to get a huge hug when I snuck up behind her, she made my day :)
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Fall Beauty
Today was my reflection day, and I had another chance to spend the day in a hermitage out in the woods. It was much nicer weather today than it was a couple of weeks ago. The sun was out, it was warm, and the leaves are just spectacular right now.
So after my usual time spent reading and taking a nap first thing this morning after I got up to the herm, I decided I absolutely had to take a walk down to the lake. I'm a huge fan of crunchy leaves, I love the way they feel under my feet, and there was an abundance of them everywhere. It was probably the loudest walk of my life. Good luck trying to sneak up on someone out there, it's not possible this time of year.
I started out intending just to walk on the driveway that leads down to the lake at Glinodo, but once I got near the stream, and saw how absolutely beautiful everything looked with the leaves and the trees, I decided to walk along the water. I spent lots of time taking pictures on my phone since I forgot my camera, so they're not as good as I would have liked, but they captured the beauty of it nonetheless (check 'em out below).
I say all the time that I love all the seasons pretty equally, more specifically I like the seasons in their own time. I wish they each lasted 3 months, that would be pretty sufficient- especially for winter which likes to cling for almost 5 months some years.
But there's something so perfect about fall when the leaves are all turning, and falling. I sat in the herm with all the blinds open this afternoon, and I couldn't get enough of the view of the trees and all the color. The leaves were falling so fast when the wind would pick up. I stood out on the porch in the quiet for a little bit and listened the rustle as they fell from the trees and to the ground.
Today was the most peaceful day I think I've ever had. Maybe it was the leaves. Maybe it was being alone out in the woods. Maybe it was the hour long tape of birds chirping that I listened to while I was reading and sewing (no...I'm not kidding.) Whatever it was, it was much needed.
So after my usual time spent reading and taking a nap first thing this morning after I got up to the herm, I decided I absolutely had to take a walk down to the lake. I'm a huge fan of crunchy leaves, I love the way they feel under my feet, and there was an abundance of them everywhere. It was probably the loudest walk of my life. Good luck trying to sneak up on someone out there, it's not possible this time of year.
I started out intending just to walk on the driveway that leads down to the lake at Glinodo, but once I got near the stream, and saw how absolutely beautiful everything looked with the leaves and the trees, I decided to walk along the water. I spent lots of time taking pictures on my phone since I forgot my camera, so they're not as good as I would have liked, but they captured the beauty of it nonetheless (check 'em out below).
I say all the time that I love all the seasons pretty equally, more specifically I like the seasons in their own time. I wish they each lasted 3 months, that would be pretty sufficient- especially for winter which likes to cling for almost 5 months some years.
But there's something so perfect about fall when the leaves are all turning, and falling. I sat in the herm with all the blinds open this afternoon, and I couldn't get enough of the view of the trees and all the color. The leaves were falling so fast when the wind would pick up. I stood out on the porch in the quiet for a little bit and listened the rustle as they fell from the trees and to the ground.
Today was the most peaceful day I think I've ever had. Maybe it was the leaves. Maybe it was being alone out in the woods. Maybe it was the hour long tape of birds chirping that I listened to while I was reading and sewing (no...I'm not kidding.) Whatever it was, it was much needed.
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