It’s good to have goals and dreams. This month is actually a very popular time
for renewal and change. I have yet, to
spend some time reflecting on what I want to accomplish this 2018. I ended the year quite busy and started the
new one with this migraine that I think might be the beginning of the flu. Thus, the periods that I’ve had of downtime have
been spent resting and not yet looking at the future and the possibilities of beginning
a brand new year. In order to look
ahead, it’s always nice to look back, so today here I am looking back.
January- I began my year with a visit from
my buddy Lud, he’s a friend that even though we are separated by great distance
we manage to keep in touch and help each other out. He and I both have mental disabilities and
really lean on one another during periods of difficulty managing our symptoms. This year he stopped by my hometown and I got
to give him a quick tour of my county.
February- For Galantines Day a few of my
friends and I had the pleasure of attending Father Leo’s cooking class. Who knew that you could mix Catholic
teaching with superb culinary skills! It
was such a fun night with a fresh delicious pasta dinner- cooked by our very
own Priest Chef.
Evangelization took a
whole new meaning for me that night.
March- “Beauty and the Beast” movie premiere. All girls love a good fairy tale, especially
about a princess in a gorgeous gown!
This month I got many of my beauties to come and watch the movie with
me- it was such a treat.
April- Another year and another class of
souls for Jesus. This month concluded my
fourth year coordinating the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults at my
parish along my close friends. As usual
coming to the end of our period of instruction and watching my students receive
their Sacraments fortified my faith. It’s
so awesome to journey with new Christians!
May- Took my yearly trip, this time to
Poland and surrounding countries. I had
the best spiritual experience inside the home of Saint John Paul II. He holds a very special place in my heart and
through learning about his life and walking in his footsteps I found God in the
most beautiful way. I highly recommend
visiting his childhood home (now a museum), truly one of the best experiences
of my life.
June - Dollar turned fourteen, one more and
we are having a Quince! This year he
went ninety-percent deaf, had a health scare and I found myself needing to make
quite a few changes for my aging dog. He
can no longer jump on our bed and didn’t like doggy stairs so now he stares at
me when he wants to be lifted onto the bed.
This means that I get to hold him more (smile). Yes, our time together is getting shorter,
but I don’t like to think of that and rather enjoy each moment just the two of
us.
July- After many years of wanting to join
the Secular Franciscan Order, I finally made the effort and time to pursue my
dream. It’s been such a great step in my
religious life! I have met many men and
women that encourage me to walk with the Lord and peeling layers of Saint
Francis has been such a gift! I feel
like I belong to a community, to a religious family and that is such a blessing.
August- Continued my green shopping by making
ninety percent of my shopping from second hand sources. I also began purse flipping. That is finding leather (quality) purses at
thrift stores and fixing them up to sale in my eBay store. My way of encouraging reusing items that were
destined for the landfill.
September- Took a road trip with my mom, sister
and nephew down to Ensenada to visit my aunt.
I hadn’t seen any of my Ensenada relatives in many years so it was such
a treat to spend a few days together. We
toured the area and had some of the best ceviche ever, yum!
October- My mom turned seventy this year- such
a milestone and while you might think she’s getting mature in age, she happens
to have the biggest kid heart. Yep, she
is one funny lady that makes every day a celebration! And Halloween saint edition happened with I, as Saint Rita and Dollar could have passed as doggy Juan Diego.
November- This month was full of blessings! I
went on my annual weekend retreat which fortified me to bear the loss of my
job. I closed celebrating my birthday –skating
edition. It was quite a fun experience,
but I am no longer as agile nor as good on skates as I remember (smile). My friends amaze me with the dedication to my
wacky birthday celebrations, the kids were super on wheels too!
December- Came with the traditional Advent
activities and Christmas festivities. On
the vigil Mass on Christmas Eve Father gave a great homily and then had us
singing songs to baby Jesus after the service.
Many had brought their baby Jesus statues to get blessed and Father had
them all go up to the front as we had an impromptu concert for the babe that
changed history and our lives. It was a
moment so beautiful and intimate as we worshipped God in community… I also got
a permanent position with my previous company after only a month of forced vacation.
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