I've been keeping busy for sure. Working in the yard, and doing things around the house. I have also been working at the Thrift shop at the Parish and I have met a wonderful group of new friends at one of the senior living places in New Braunfels. We are doing a Bible study on the Gospel of John!
Went to a few ball games and Cora has been enjoying her walks in the park!
God is so good!
March was a very busy month. Lent and then Easter.
Soft Ball for Claire and track for Max!
Sometimes I start to feel a little anxious. I know that we are supposed to be here and I know that He has provided everything that this situation is made of. The thing that I start to feel nervous about is that Tim is still not able to join me here. He is still in Maryland, and while that seems to be a good situation, for lots of reasons, it is lasting a lot longer than I thought it would, and there is still no end date. Lord, what is this?
But then I was reading through the end of my Bible study this morning and the reflection was about trusting God's plan, when you can't see how it's going to play out.
Like Joseph, who was told in a dream to take Mary and Jesus and head to Egypt. He was told to go live in a new place, and he knew that the messenger was trustworthy, so he went. Did he get there, and wonder, "Is this really what you want Lord?" Well, obviously it was, and he was given many signs and indications, how long to stay and when to go back.
We know that we heard right. There have been just too many things that only the Lord could have done, and so much affirmation in prayer.
The "big three" things for me, that are coalescing somehow, are my journey through Theology of the Body, my walk with God as a Spiritual Director, and this move to a new place, and a new parish and archdiocese. All works of God in my life, all a calling to a particular mission, and all pointing to my place in the vineyard.
I was an enthusiastic homeschooling mom. I loved it, and it was a call that I answered as long as He kept pointing that way. The kids grew up and moved on in life and as that was happening, unbeknownst to me, there was already a new passion taking up space in my heart.
It started with that invitation by Fr Dale to go to the first course at the Theology of the Body Institute. I can't even describe the way that has changed my life, and my heart. My entire understanding of what it means to be a human being in relationship with God and other people. I am so humbled every day by the grace that has poured out of that teaching. I am so, so grateful, and I want to introduce it to anyone that is ready to hear it.
After a few years of study in that teaching, I was invited to look at becoming a Spiritual Director. Oh my goodness. What a gift. Every meeting with a directee is an encounter with the heart of a person and the Heart of God. It is an inexpressible privilege. I am still constantly amazed that He has given me this gift of seeing His love for His daughters. Every one of them loves Him so much, and they are seeking to be closer, and that just delights Him! Making Him happy is my greatest joy.
A couple of years ago I thought I knew what I would be doing, and where. I knew that I would eventually be certified in TOB, after a long time.... and I would finish the Spiritual Direction course and be certified there too. It seemed like the two were/are a perfect fit.
OK, so then He started giving us this idea that we should sell that home where we had been so happy for so long. Where I thought that I would be hosting Bible Studies and small group meetings well into old age. No, He gently put it onto our hearts that we needed to sell. And we did. And we needed to move to a place that He would show us. And that is just exactly what has happened, for me. Knowing that we have the home that He had prepared for us, in the new Archdiocese and parish, in the great state of Texas, I have absolute confidence that the three things that have been His desire for me will bear fruit, because we have been put here by Him. I just want Tim to be here too. And he is sure that it is God's will that it will happen. We just have to wait for that miracle of "Now". I have no doubt that it will be very clear that it was the work of God. That's how it has been all the way through this.
So I will keep learning, and doing my best to walk in the way that He has set for me. And Tim will do the same, and one of these days, we'll be doing it here, together. And it will be wonderful.
Wow. I guess this is the cold snap that we needed to kill all those mosquitos and flies...
Over the weekend the talk was all about the temperatures that would be in the teens, wind chill and ice buildup.
Saturday evening the wind picked up, and it seemed like this wasn't going to pass by, so I pulling in the hose, and the grill, and covered up the aloe plants. I don't know if even that will save them.
Yesterday was pretty cold, in the 20s, and today the high will be 30 and the low 16. Tomorrow is more of the same. If they make it I will be very surprised.
Today I am just staying in. I did my prayers, and then I had a Spiritual Direction session online. I am sad that I didn't get to mass, but there seemed to be the potential for ice. Tomorrow should be better so I will definitely get to mass in the morning.
I have some projects to work on, and more football this afternoon. I am really hoping that there will be warmer temps coming for the weekend.
December was a whirlwind, but such a blessed time.
Dad was staying with the Cookes and so we saw a lot of him and he seems to be doing so well! He is 83 and shooting for a hundred, which certainly seems doable!
The boys, on the other end of the spectrum, turned 11. They got a Foosball table, and I gave them a gift of paint for their room. They are doing an F1 theme in there. Part of their Christmas from me was to go up to a Kart track in Austin to race. They had a blast.
Madi had the idea and gave a Karting gift card to Paul, and I got one for Brendan and Tim. They all went up and had a great time.
Tim brought Paul and Madi and Brendan down from the north. It was so good to have all of them under this roof!! I am so glad that we have plenty of room in the house. We had wonderful meals, we played lots of games, and Madi and I shared some recipes. What a great way to bring this house into the family.
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| Masterpiece |
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| Making their cookie tree "Carl" |
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| Hide and Seek....winning.... |
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| Gatherin' |
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| Patio Lights for nights outside |
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| Dusk in New Braunfels |
We also spent time up in Kyle. That is also a home that is so familiar and warm. I love being there and spending time with the kids, dogs, and all the great things that everyone is doing. Madi and I baked a ton of cookies with Laura and we were able to share many of them. Dad bought steaks for everyone. We went out to dinner with the Cookes on Christmas eve. It is a special tradition and I hope we are part of it for many years to come.
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| Nertz, of course. |
Laura finished the stockings that she had been Cross-stitching for Paul and Madi's first Christmas together. They came out so nice! She worked so hard on them.
I made bowl cozies for some people, and I am going to make some more, but I have to get back t o my machine.
Also, Tim got me a Cricut for Christmas!! Was I ever surprised!! I am thinking of all the things that I can do around here, and the gifts that I can make! I want to make hand made gifts for each person for next year. I need to make a list of what and for who, and get started now. I just feel like something hand made is a nice thing to remember someone by.
Cora had a great Christmas. I was in the kitchen preparing something, and I heard something going on over by the tree. She was pulling her stocking out from behind all the presents, and she flipped it over and over until all the stuff came out. Her nose is so amazing. She could smell the tennis balls in their package and wouldn't be satisfied until she had peeled and destroyed all three of them. She likes that even better than treats.
And we were so glad to host Christmas dinner here. The table was full, and THAT is a good feeling!
Of course, we missed the ones we love who couldn't be with us, but they are in our thoughts and prayers, and maybe next year we can add a few chairs and I'll have even more people in the pictures!!
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| Valor Kyle Winter Concert |
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| Ancient Tree at Landa Park |
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| Beautiful Sunday! Thank you God! |
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| Hiking at Lockhart State Park |
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| At Community First |
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| The New Tree |
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Thanksgiving Day
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This week!! Oh my goodness!!
So many blessings and so much really amazing food for my mind and soul.
I am back at Black Rock Retreat Center on another Theology of the Body Adventure! This one is pure gift. I mean, they have all been amazing, but this one is so close to my heart. It is all based around the writings of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, Poets for the Kingdom. It is better than I could have imagined.
There is the content that we learn in the classroom. The minds of these two men have impacted not just people all over the world, but also the mind of society. I need time to unpack all of this.
This morning I walked out into the fields to watch the Sunrise.
Tonight we had Adoration and I was able to see the Son in The Blessed Sacrament.
It's been a week of unveiling. So much is revealed between the heart and Heaven.
I love it here, but like the Apostles on Mt Tabor, I can't stay on the mountain. There is work to do and only so much time.
Like Bilbo and Frodo, I am a little uncertain of what will happen when I step out onto the road, but I know that my Lord will show me the way to go.
