Taking this Show on the Road

With the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia this next week comes a major vocation fair.  The Salesians are taking us aspirants along as part of their booth.  So for the next week we'll be hanging out at the World Meeting of Families encouraging other young women to discern their vocation.

Perks:  We get to go to some of the sessions and hear some really great speakers.

Downside: Pope Francis doesn't hit Philly until we're gone.  Guess the closest I'm getting is watching him on T.V.

A Very Special Day

Today I'm wishing a very happy birthday to several important people in my life. 

First wishing my Great-Grandma on BOTD's side a happy 96th birthday! 

Next to Madam Treasurer.  For the last 18 years you have been the Buzz to my Woody, the Dory to my Marlin, the Mike Wazowski to my Sully.  To have a friend willing to drive 2 hours to come to my convent send off party for a few hours only to turn around and drive back those 2 hours, drive to my house at 4:30 in the morning to wish me one last goodbye, then a week later to show up at my house with half of her closet so I (and Elizabeth Taylor) have something to wear, that is a very true friend and an absolute blessing to my life. I wish to you the happiest year yet as you begin your next decade of life!  Goodbye to the teen years!

Third to a little girl who kept us impatiently waiting for her arrival five years ago.  Then on this day I arrived home from Madam Treasurer's 15th birthday slumber party to have AL tell me she was going to the hospital and I needed to stay awake at least long enough for Grammy and Poppa to arrive at our house.  Ever since then you have kept us entertained with your spunk and sass and ability to state the obvious when no one else will.  It's been an honor to be able to watch you as you grow up into a big girl getting ready to take on the school world next year.  Happy birthday Star!  I hope you have an awesome 5th birthday, may it be filled with lots of celebrating!  I can't wait to Skype you later!

I'm Official

As of last night, I am officially an aspirant with the Salesian sisters. We got our uniforms, went to evening prayers and received our medals.

They weren't joking when they sad they like to party.  After the ceremony we had an awesome supper and then as you can see they got us a cake.  They even let us stay up let and watch a movie and by late I mean the movie got over at like 10:30....  Amazing the difference of the meaning of the word late between college and the convent.

She's Legen, Wait for it..... Dary

It's not everyone who gets to go to McDonald's with their great-grandma and explain to her how you order a plain burger because she doesn't understand why asking for no cheese still means they put onions, ketchup, and pickles on it.
It's not everyone who at seven years old spends the weekend at their great grandma's house and gets to rent The Wedding Planner. (AL didn't know that until yesterday.)
It's not everyone who can share in the confusion of trying to wrap their head around why someone who dislikes cheese so strongly she won't eat pizza enjoys chowing down on a bag of Cheetos.
It isn't everyone who's goal in life until they are 9 to pass up their great-grandma because it's a right of passage in the family.
Not everybody gets to go hang out with their great-grandma and watch Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies when they come home from college on Christmas break.

I remember one time when you babysat me and we were going to get McDonalds for lunch and you told me how much you disliked backing out of our driveway because you were sure you were going to hit the telephone pole.  I remember going to your house and having supper with you and we knew when you said we could have Pepsi if mother said it was alright that we were going to get to drink Pepsi because Mom wasn't going to say no to G.G.  I remember searching at grocery stores for the little cans of Pepsi because you just couldn't finish a whole can.  We didn't find them very often so I also remember frequently splitting a can of Pepsi with you at family functions. I remember watching I Love Lucy dvds at your house when we visited sometimes.  I remember when Dad Skyped in for somebody's birthday and you were absolutely amazed he could see and hear you from half way around the world.  I remember turning red in the face at Fourth of July while Mrs. MC and Munckin doubled over in laughter when you told AL my date was a pretty good looking guy and he was sitting three feet away from you. I remember when you kicked me out of your room at Evenglow twice in one week, because "I should go home and help Mother."  I could go on forever with my I remembers, but that would turn into a novel and not a blog post.

G.G. you are legendary and you left behind a legend that I'm sure will live on just as long as you lived with us because how can you spend almost a century on this earth and not leave behind a legacy that will live on for much longer.  I've spent some time trying to wrap around my head what it would be like to have a life that spans from major communication moving from the telegraph to text messaging, that spanned both world wars and the Great Depression, and to see the evolution of computers. You inspired us all to live life to the fullest, to take advantage of every moment in our lives and to above all place our trust in the Lord above to carry us through even the darkest of times.  You share so many things with us, your love of chocolate, movies, dancing, family, and learning.  Although I seem to have not inherited all of your enthusiasm for chocolate and shopping, I do believe you are probably part of the reason I enjoyed my Monday night swing dance at Newman so much last year.  I'm so grateful that I got to spend the last 19 years with you and witness you in action. You are so loved and you will be missed so much.

What I've Learned So Far in the Convent

No one here plays any card games.  At all and teaching them to play Euchre is a for real struggle.
After three consecutive days of getting up before 6, sleeping in until 6:45 this morning was a struggle.
Meeting little old sisters can be overwhelming because they swarm on you and next thing you know they're all hugging you and telling you how much you remind them of their great-niece so-and-so.