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!

Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy

What a wonderful Easter! I only just learned about the Via Lucis--the Way of Light--and it is so wonderful meditating on the Resurrection and all that He promises. From Mary Magdalene mistaking the Risen Christ for the gardener to recognizing Him (Noli me tangere by Fra Bartolomeo) to telling the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" Peter and John running to the empty tomb (Disciples Running by Eugene Burnard) and discovering the folded napkin (it means He's coming back) to the Apostles receiving the power to forgive sins and Thomas believing because he can see and touch our Lord (Incredulity of Thomas by Caravaggio). I am so grateful for Confession, where our Lord's Divine Mercy is poured out on us, making us as new as the day of our baptism. 

Some pictures from our Easter Octave: a visit with my friend from CA, practice with my quartet, Adoration, singing at a wedding, enjoying a meal out, meeting the kids at a brewery (very important for Michael's research), and with my barbershop sisters, dancing on the pier! Every day I am grateful to God for bringing us to beautiful Charleston, where we've grown so much in our faith, thanks to our good and holy priests and our friends.

Meeting Online Friends in Person

What a joy it is when you've shared letters and your heart over the years with a dear friend and you finally get to meet her and her beautiful family. Last year Faith and her family stopped by our place on their way to Florida and again on their return trip. We stayed up half the night talking. This time, they planned it so that the four older girls could come to barbershop practice with me. They dove right in. We all had a lovely time. 

It was so great to see how the children have grown over a year. The most apparent changes are in the youngest but in reality it's the older ones who have the greatest changes in store as they prepare to fly the nest. Such a beautiful family. Faith, from the time I knew her (she had two little girls and expecting her third), has taught me so much about living in trustful surrender to God and His plans. She's my Charlotte: "It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer."

A Shower of Blessings

Within Max and Dagny's circle of friends, there've been ten weddings this year. Dagny's will be the last, but after the longest engagement. They can hardly wait to be married, but I'm grateful for this time they've had to grow and mature. It is so beautiful to see young men and women making this lifelong commitment in Holy Matrimony. And we are so blessed to have a beautiful community of faithful women, young and old, who support one another. We have a lot of fun together too! 

Prayers Answered--Hallelujah!

Last night, I very much felt as I did in 2016, that we were at the edge of a precipice, that our country wouldn't be the same if the democrats stayed in power. I remember going to bed that night, praying that Trump would win, but didn't really think he had a chance. Imagine my joy when Michael woke me up to tell me he'd won. I only heard lamentations from some of my liberal friends--many stopped speaking to me. Yet, their fears were unfounded. President Trump governed well. The world was more stable. And we moved in the proper direction towards defending and protecting life. 

These past four years, we've seen a terrible deterioration in our nation and instability in the world. Public policy regarding Covid was tyranny. So many people's livelihoods were destroyed due to the lockdowns, especially the small businesses. So many were coerced to take the shots that have done more harm than good. And the lies!!! Suppression of valuable information. Persecuting anybody who questions the narrative. And the relentless persecution of President Trump. And yet, I believe that God allowed us to have leaders who were incompetent at best and evil at worst as a punishment for our sins as a nation. I am thankful because these past four years exposed the corruption and collusion within the govt. along with the media and big tech. Trump didn't have to run given all the grief he's been given for the past ten years, including two assassination attempts; he could've retired in his palatial home in Florida. But he fought for the American people. We the people came to support him.

I predicted to my friends that he'd win in a landslide, mostly because I couldn't imagine anyone so blind that they'd want to vote for such a weak candidate as Harris. She has no accomplishments to show, only a great desire to have abortion on demand. It is so bizarre that so many people still supported her for something so horrible. I wanted Trump to win the popular vote too, so there'd be no question. We the people have spoken.  

We the people have been praying and fasting for our nation. I am so thankful to God that finally we can return to some sanity. It's going to take some time to clean up the various departments; he is surrounding himself with knowledgeable people who can help him and I am hopeful. As are so many of our young friends. We oldies were invited to a mega MAGA party and it was such a consolation to see the red wave across the country. Last night, when I went to bed, I knew we'd pulled back from the precipice. Thank you, Lord. With Your help, we can make America great again. This is my prayer from America the Beautiful:

America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.