A Conversation with Roxane Salonen

I had the great pleasure of talking with Roxane Salonen on her Matters of Soul Importance podcast to speak about the Prodigal Journey (click on the big green arrow). No two conversations on the spiritual journey are ever the same; each host focuses on a different aspect. And Roxane is a wonderful host--her intro and outro are gold. We had a lot of technical difficulties getting started but once that was resolved, we were able to dive into my childhood, my loss of faith (oh, it still grieves me), living a Godless life, and my return to the Father's Heart. We discuss our spiritual struggles because conversion is continual. At the end we talk a bit about my writing and the new novel that I'm working on, a sequel of Bound. It is the story of my heart that poured out of me as a neophyte. What a gift it was for me, and now it can be a gift for others. When I wrote it, the seeds of this new story were already planted, but I had to do a lot of research so that I could have a viable story. Pray for me that I may write it true and well.

Today is the Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alaqoque to whom Jesus revealed His Sacred Heart. May the Heart of Jesus draw each and every one ever closer to Himself. Enjoy!

October is Respect Life Month and so we are praying fervently for life to be respected from the moment of conception to natural death.

Retreat in WA

I'm always amazed at the Providence of God. Since it'd been over a decade since I'd been in WA, I made plans to spend a few days with my friend Colleen after the family reunion. We'd been neighbors for many years, our horse-acre adjoining her twenty. My kids loved going over to her property and playing on the swing she'd hung beneath the walnut tree, making leaf boats and sending them down the creek, feeding her horses, playing with the big toys her husband had, and enjoying all the treats she prepared for them.  

She sewed colorful and unique clothes for the kids--they were absolute favorites. I only kept a couple once they grew out of them but I wish I'd kept them all for the grandkids. There's no one quite like Auntie Colleen--I tried to capture her spirit in BOUND (Rebecca's best friend). 

Colleen's like my big sister. How grateful I am to have a friend like her when my own family wasn't nearby.   

God knew I'd need time to recover from my fall--I ended up with multiple fractures but within the limits of not needing surgery--so how fortuitous that I'd get to be with Colleen. The vase with the yellow rose is a reminder to slow down. Colleen took marvelous care of me, preparing delicious meals while I read book or wrote in my journal. We enjoyed catching up so much and it was truly a retreat from the daily responsibilities. We walked a bit as I admired her new home, her quilting projects, garden, fishpond, and she-shed :) Truly, she has made her home and life a work of art. May God bless you with a long life, my friend, and bring you to heaven.

We are entering our golden years and they have their own beauty like this beautiful walnut tree. Deo gratias!