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!

Wedding Anniversary: the Decade Prior

I dusted off an old album and it was so much fun remembering the decade before we got married. That summer romance 42 years ago has blossomed and borne much fruit after our marriage of 32 years.  It's still unbelievable to me that I fell in love with a punk. My mother did not approve, and with good reason. I was very innocent. But Michael won her over by coming over for many meals at home that my mother prepared--he'd never before had food with such interesting flavors and he loved it. And she enjoyed the musical evenings. 

When Michael left for California, I was sure our romance would end, but somehow, despite our selfishness, over the years, our letters and quarterly visits kept us close, and our love grew. Michael introduced me to rock music (he serenaded me too), taught me how to camp (I always thought it funny that Americans wanted to try poverty for fun), and ski (I thought hurtling down a snowy mountain insane, yet I loved it), and fish (what a practical thing to know, except on some of our trips, we failed to catch fish and had to eat canned beans and potatoes). I loved all the adventures we had together.

Getting married and having children has been the grandest adventure. Thank you, Michael, for making me your wife and the mother of your children.

But the most magnificent adventure is the one we're on--following Jesus! So grateful we get to do this together. Deo gratias! 

Memories of My Father--from India to Chicago

My father died Dec. 10, the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto. I was hearing Mass, offering it for him, at the time of his passing. The Gospel reading from Matthew was so perfect: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." I have prayed and cried many tears for him to receive all the graces necessary to repent and choose our Lord. For I truly desire to meet my father in heaven and know him in his perfection. God-willing. 

On my way home I sang Mendelssohn's O Rest in the Lord (this is a most beautiful recording) and upon arrival home immediately sought out my copy to play on the piano. It brought me such peace to know that I can rest in the Lord and be at peace and continue to pray for the repose of his soul, trusting in God's unfathomable mercy and perfect justice.

O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him,

And He shall give thee thy heart's desires.

Commit thy way unto Him, and trust in Him,

And fret not thyself because of evil doers.

O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him.

Wait patiently for Him. 

It being the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, whose little house in Nazareth was transported to Italy by Angels, I couldn't help but think of Bouguereau's Soul Brought to Heaven and the last movement of the Requiem Mass: in Paradisum. May the angels lead him to paradise... Music, music--what a balm it is to my soul.
 

I don't have a lot of pictures of us together because we were apart most of our lives. But I am grateful for what he has done--bringing me to baptism in our Lord, bringing our family to the US, and introducing me to folk-dance. He witnessed my marriage and I'm glad he got to meet my children a few times while they were growing up.

These are some of the oldest pictures I have of my father. He's here with his first-born. While I was visiting he spoke about him, how he was a great little man. He died shortly before his fifth birthday so I never got to meet him. But my mom always told stories about him, so I feel very close to him. The family picture was taken after the funeral of my maternal grandfather. My mom is carrying her second son...

This family photo was taken when my father returned from Germany. I have no memory of this, but my sister remembers being sad because she wanted to stand next to my mom. I was clueless. Only my brother was excited!

At my sister's place in Nebraska--her kids are all grown up now. And the day before my wedding at my in-law's place. I've always loved that I look both like my mom and dad and also my stepmother :) 

We lived in Belgium for a couple of years right after we got married. Michael worked for a Belgian machine tool company and I was at the Max Planck Institute in Cologne. My parents came to visit and we had a wonderful couple of weeks together sightseeing. My dad had done a Masters in Germany and has always loved all things German. He was so proud of me for doing my post-doctoral studies at the MPIZ. He was recounting my accomplishments when I came to visit. But the best thing I've ever done is to stay at home with my children--and my biggest achievement was getting them to take a nap at the same time!

We

We made a trip to Chicago to celebrate my dad's birthday (July 4th) with the kids and I just love this picture of Dagny with her stuffed cats. We had a great time swimming in the pool, taking walks, lighting fireworks, and opening presents. 

The summer before we moved to SC, my parents visited us in WA. It would be the last visit they could manage. Since then, we've made a couple of trips to Chicago.  

This is the last picture I have of my father, when my sister and her husband went to visit. Please pray for the repose of the soul of my father, and for his dear, devoted wife, who loved him best. They had 45 happy years together, but now she will face the future without him. However, in marrying my father, she gained a family. I look forward to the time when she can visit us in SC. Today is Gaudete Sunday: Rejoice in the Lord always!