I'm not valid. Turns out my lovely home state doesn't issue IDs up to federal standards and you can't get on federal grounds at places like West Point.
Today as culmination of our Don Bosco class, Sr. D took us on a field trip to visit West Point and our Marian Shrine where there is a replica of Don Bosco's childhood home. The first stop of the day was West Point. On arriving at the security check, point my companion and I were informed we couldn't go in because our licenses' didn't meet federal requirements, and we didn't have any other form of identification on us. Divine Intervention saved the day as we had just met an officer from West Point when we were getting breakfast and he had graciously arranged to meet us and give us a tour. Thank goodness he was able to come and get us in so we could join the tour.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Things I'm Not Ready for
Sunday morning we had our final CCD class. It was my week to be with the 2nd graders as a teacher's aide. When the teacher walked in I wished her a Happy Mother's Day, without skipping a beat she said Happy Mother's Day to me. In the moment I said nothing, but at lunch later I was relating the story and how in my mind I was caught off guard by it. Sr. B then pointed out, "Um spiritual motherhood." Oh yeah. Well, still not ready to be wished Happy Mother's Day by people.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
The Alarm Clock Strikes Again
Some of you may or may not remember on my first morning in the convent, I had a bit of a struggle with the alarm clock and slept right through Mass, this morning the alarm clock struggle reappeared. Part of the problem I think may have stemmed from falling asleep while reading last night and walking up a half hour/45 minutes later to shut off the lights and actually go to bed. This morning I rolled over to look at the clock thinking it was the middle of the night and I could sleep longer, only to realize it was 5:41 and I was officially a minute late to meditation. Whoops. As I scurried about my room getting ready I awaited the inevitable knock on the door. 5:46 Sr. TK was knocking on my door to make sure I was awake. She was concerned I was ill. I reassured her I'd be in chapel in a moment and she departed. As Guardian Angel Grandma would say, I must have needed the extra sleep which I think was absolutely true because when I got in chapel I actually stayed awake for meditation.
#1 on to do list before bedtime tonight: Check the alarm clock.
#1 on to do list before bedtime tonight: Check the alarm clock.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Spring Break Convent Style
First off when you live in the convent spring break becomes Easter break and it starts Holy Thursday and lasts the whole week after Easter. At least that's what I've been told, I'm not sure if it's the same in all of the Salesian houses.
Before break even began Sr. TK sat the six of us down and informed us in the Salesian world a break from school means a new job description for the break. To be honest it really could have been much worse if you think of all the new job descriptions the six of us could have gotten.
Monday: This was a half free day. The morning was spent doing a spring cleaning in the dorms. In the afternoon five us loaded up and headed to a mega mall 30 minutes away. I'm pretty sure it was quite obvious as we wandered through Target we don't get out much. Oh well. We celebrated with some TGI Fridays and finished the evening off with some Coldstone.
Tuesday: Morning was spent washing all the chairs in the cafeteria. Afternoon was spent helping Sr. M reorganize and clean the development office after they got new carpet the week before. They had some very interesting things in there that had been donated for use at fundraising parties.
Wednesday: Back to cleaning the school in the AM. I got to wash windows with Sr. R. As I've been declared a tall person here and I'm about five inches taller than Sr. R I was put in charge of all the windows that were higher up. In the afternoon, I accompanied one of the development office employees to check out all the Easter sales at CVS, Walgreens, Dollar Tree, etc. to get Easter/Spring things for the upcoming raffle basket party. On returning from the shopping excursion, one of my companions and I were in charge of supper.
Thursday: Field trip day with Sr. TK. After loading up the cargo van with things food to be used at the retreat center where the novices live we headed to their house for the day. I got to drive the cargo van. It wasn't too bad. I'm thankful for the Red Bus driving experiences I get asked to drive the larger vans around here.
Friday: Just like when I was in school, all the homework due Monday had not been touched so the morning was spent doing homework. In the afternoon, we headed down to the Provincial House to entertain the elderly Srs. with a skit we had put together based on what we've learned in our classes about Mother Mazzarello.
Saturday: Chores and then we got to go with Sr. B and Sr. G to NYC for Catholic Underground. It was a super cool experience. Catholic Underground is run by the Franciscan Friars and it consists of Confession and Adoration with praise and worship music being performed. There were people of all ages there which was neat because most of those types of events I've been to are mostly for high school/college age people. After the Holy hour they have some form of entertainment in the basement of the church with refreshments and stuff, hence the Underground part of the title.
Sunday: Back to CCD and enjoying the last few hours of break before going back to the regular schedule.
And so concludes my first convent spring break.
Before break even began Sr. TK sat the six of us down and informed us in the Salesian world a break from school means a new job description for the break. To be honest it really could have been much worse if you think of all the new job descriptions the six of us could have gotten.
Monday: This was a half free day. The morning was spent doing a spring cleaning in the dorms. In the afternoon five us loaded up and headed to a mega mall 30 minutes away. I'm pretty sure it was quite obvious as we wandered through Target we don't get out much. Oh well. We celebrated with some TGI Fridays and finished the evening off with some Coldstone.
Tuesday: Morning was spent washing all the chairs in the cafeteria. Afternoon was spent helping Sr. M reorganize and clean the development office after they got new carpet the week before. They had some very interesting things in there that had been donated for use at fundraising parties.
Wednesday: Back to cleaning the school in the AM. I got to wash windows with Sr. R. As I've been declared a tall person here and I'm about five inches taller than Sr. R I was put in charge of all the windows that were higher up. In the afternoon, I accompanied one of the development office employees to check out all the Easter sales at CVS, Walgreens, Dollar Tree, etc. to get Easter/Spring things for the upcoming raffle basket party. On returning from the shopping excursion, one of my companions and I were in charge of supper.
Thursday: Field trip day with Sr. TK. After loading up the cargo van with things food to be used at the retreat center where the novices live we headed to their house for the day. I got to drive the cargo van. It wasn't too bad. I'm thankful for the Red Bus driving experiences I get asked to drive the larger vans around here.
Friday: Just like when I was in school, all the homework due Monday had not been touched so the morning was spent doing homework. In the afternoon, we headed down to the Provincial House to entertain the elderly Srs. with a skit we had put together based on what we've learned in our classes about Mother Mazzarello.
Saturday: Chores and then we got to go with Sr. B and Sr. G to NYC for Catholic Underground. It was a super cool experience. Catholic Underground is run by the Franciscan Friars and it consists of Confession and Adoration with praise and worship music being performed. There were people of all ages there which was neat because most of those types of events I've been to are mostly for high school/college age people. After the Holy hour they have some form of entertainment in the basement of the church with refreshments and stuff, hence the Underground part of the title.
Sunday: Back to CCD and enjoying the last few hours of break before going back to the regular schedule.
And so concludes my first convent spring break.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
We Survived
Or at least externally everyone seems to have survived 7th Heaven's visit to the convent. When they arrived the Charmer played his shy card, but he quickly recovered and turned on his normal charm with all of the Sisters. Before their arrival I had warned one of the younger Sisters of his charming characteristics. I don't think she believed me but within 2 hours of his arrival she was aware of his charm.
Sunday we went to Philly to check out some of the historic sites. Star wanted to go see the Liberty Bell. I'm fairly certain she has no idea what exactly the Liberty Bell is and we didn't actually get a chance to get up close it because of the long line. We saw it from a second story window of Independence Hall instead.
Monday I took them around the school. Liz Taylor came along with me to help in the cafeteria. All the girls freaked out because we look so much a like and they thought it was cool that I had family visiting. Then we went to the Provincial House to have snack time with the elderly Sisters. Liz Taylor was in heaven or at least she might have been until the Sisters started talking about her following in my footsteps.
Tuesday we headed to the Crayola Factory. It was a pretty cool place. They had a lot of really neat interactive stuff. I spent a lot of time coloring while watching the kids on the massive playground they had inside.
So anyway all I heard about all day Wednesday and Thursday was how cute my siblings are and what a joy it was to have them visit.
On a totally different note of survival. The Easter Triduum in the convent is a bit more intense than out of the convent even when you follow the Peggy days of obligation. Good Friday was an all day silent retreat. It was intense. The parish I went to for all the services has a strong Spanish population and at one point I guess there were a lot of Italians there too, so all of the services were tri-lingual. Definitely not something you ever found at my home parish.
The whole community pitches in to help prepare the Easter dinner. I signed up for beverages because I thought how hard can that be? Just set out the trays of pop (or soda as they say on the East coast) and beer. Turns out that also includes making a punch. Again not too hard and it actually turned out pretty well. Some of the Sisters enjoy a glass of wine so I figured since it was kind of an important dinner I should make sure there was wine out. I tracked down one of the Sisters and she helped me get out the right wine and then she was like here go open them. When I told her I had no idea how to open a wine bottle she quickly told me I was going to learn right now. So on Easter I learned how to open wine.
Sunday we went to Philly to check out some of the historic sites. Star wanted to go see the Liberty Bell. I'm fairly certain she has no idea what exactly the Liberty Bell is and we didn't actually get a chance to get up close it because of the long line. We saw it from a second story window of Independence Hall instead.
Monday I took them around the school. Liz Taylor came along with me to help in the cafeteria. All the girls freaked out because we look so much a like and they thought it was cool that I had family visiting. Then we went to the Provincial House to have snack time with the elderly Sisters. Liz Taylor was in heaven or at least she might have been until the Sisters started talking about her following in my footsteps.
Tuesday we headed to the Crayola Factory. It was a pretty cool place. They had a lot of really neat interactive stuff. I spent a lot of time coloring while watching the kids on the massive playground they had inside.
So anyway all I heard about all day Wednesday and Thursday was how cute my siblings are and what a joy it was to have them visit.
On a totally different note of survival. The Easter Triduum in the convent is a bit more intense than out of the convent even when you follow the Peggy days of obligation. Good Friday was an all day silent retreat. It was intense. The parish I went to for all the services has a strong Spanish population and at one point I guess there were a lot of Italians there too, so all of the services were tri-lingual. Definitely not something you ever found at my home parish.
The whole community pitches in to help prepare the Easter dinner. I signed up for beverages because I thought how hard can that be? Just set out the trays of pop (or soda as they say on the East coast) and beer. Turns out that also includes making a punch. Again not too hard and it actually turned out pretty well. Some of the Sisters enjoy a glass of wine so I figured since it was kind of an important dinner I should make sure there was wine out. I tracked down one of the Sisters and she helped me get out the right wine and then she was like here go open them. When I told her I had no idea how to open a wine bottle she quickly told me I was going to learn right now. So on Easter I learned how to open wine.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
"I'm so excited..
and I just can't hide it." Because in 48 hours AL and some of the Seventh Heaven Crew are making their way to visit the convent. The Srs. tell me they are excited too, but I'm not sure if they realize what is about ready to descend upon our house...
It's really a big moment if you think about it convent meet the fam, fam meet the convent.
Stayed tuned for more updates as the adventure unfolds.
It's really a big moment if you think about it convent meet the fam, fam meet the convent.
Stayed tuned for more updates as the adventure unfolds.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Supporting Roles
Tuesday the news segment on the Srs. aired on the local news station. The news anchor did a really nice job on portraying the Salesians as well as the other community she interviewed for the clip.
http://pix11.com/2016/03/01/young-women-become-nuns-to-pursue-their-passions-with-god/
God decided to answer my prayers of avoiding saying anything embarrassing or ridiculous by having my role in the clip be just watching the other Srs. answer questions.
http://pix11.com/2016/03/01/young-women-become-nuns-to-pursue-their-passions-with-god/
God decided to answer my prayers of avoiding saying anything embarrassing or ridiculous by having my role in the clip be just watching the other Srs. answer questions.
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