Hi Phamily:

This will probably not become a countdown ... I don't think I have the extra time for it.

I will be leaving on Jan 6 to do a 1 month live in, immediately followed by (if things go well) postulancy with the Discipulas.

(see the pinnned thread for the full name alas I'm avoiding coming up on a google search!).

I arrive in Salta Argentina on Jan 7.

What I can say is that this second time around -- it was way harder than the first to get to this point. But its been worth the wait.

-- Carmen

this is good news indeed. ok; no countdown. thats fair enough. But I am very happy to hear your news

I promise to post a couple of times before leaving ....

-- Carmen

good girl

Sweetness!! God Bless and lots of prayers

Congratulations! I hope you find everything you're looking for as you follow Our Lord (halfway around the world!)!
Keep us posted!

In Jesus and Mary,
Lauren

you have my prayers, carmen!

What a Blessing! You have my prayers as well!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well..

Prayers from me, Carmen!

One month, two days and counting

update #1 ..... Staretz hopefully this will be to your liking

Sunday -- Mass of thanksgiving at my parish ... the parish priest (who is my spiritual director) asked the whole community to keep me in prayer as I continue to discern my vocation. It was beautiful. I had a couple of older women in their 70's come up and say that they'd pray for me for sure; I was so touched.

Sunday evening -- going away party #1. Approximately 35 people in a house. Could have invited at least a hundred more (hehehe) but was limited due to space. It was wonderful, however I am now having to appologize to a few people who didn't get invited ... but we all had a blast. Party #2 scheduled for end of december (for a 2nd group of people, that lived about 50 miles from the 1st party; that one will be small though [15-20 max]). There's at least one family that wants me to come over for dinner ... so hopefully a few other people who won't be at either party will be there.

Monday -- shopping trip #1!!!!! Accompanied by (!) 3 priests-friends (we had an awesome time together). Got a coat, sneakers, shoes for special occasions. Nice styles too -- again due to the good taste of those who were with me ; I sure couldn't decide and got frustrated very easily. Did I tell you all that I hate shopping?

Tuesday -- got info on how to order my high school transcript just in case I need that along with the diploma. The high school one will be unofficial; oh well if I do need an official one (or official diplomas -- my college one is framed quite nicely and permanently; and a new college one is $100 dollars!!!) then I'll deal with it then.

Also today -- picked up a new pair of glasses, that weren't quite right. Peripheral vision was completely blurred (and I don't have progressive bifocals, at least I wasn't supposed to; nor any bifocals yet!). Another trip to the optometrist next Tuesday ... hopefully they can rush the glasses so that if there's something wrong again it can be fixed in time.

Pending trip to Massachusetts to visit my God-children again ... have NO CLUE as to how I'm going to do it but I've got to. I finally saw them for the first time since Aug 2003 -- right before I entered the 1st convent. I was too embarrassed to let the family know what happened. Thank God I got bold enough to see them during Thanksgiving -- we all cried when we got together it was wonderfull, and they were so understanding. They're excited for me for my new adventure, and I've promised them that regardless of the outcome this time I will keep them informed of my whereabouts.

Car needs to get sold. Ugh. Please pray.

Finally may have my last music gig this Friday (don't know yet). If not -- I'm done with the music ministry (I've got to pack up my music and equipment and get it to my sister's for now). Another closed chapter (for now)!

How wonderful to hear of all your preparations. God be with you as your make preparations to enter. Please do keep in touch with us. Our prayers go with you.

Praying! God bless you!

Thanks for the wonderful update. Oh and you are a brat

Thanks ... I do try (hehehe; or as we say in spanish jajaja)

Congratulations

25 days and counting

update #2 (Staretz sorry this one is short)

Got more shopping done (fleece jackets, turtlenecks). Glasses will come early next week ... vision problem solved. Decided not to order the High School Transcript (college should be enough).

Got the two recommendation letters. The one from my spiritual director really opened my eyes to the gifts he sees in me but I don't see.

Car -- maybe sold?

I think I'll be visiting my God-children the weekend of the 22nd?

Haven't decided what to do with the guitar (take with? keep here?). Music ministry is done -- although I've got to laugh; I was asked if I could play a retreat Jan 26-27-28. I said nope, I'll be out of town. (I'm kidding I told the person what was up).

Today we had a holiday party at work. Got my 10 year pin (2 years late). And everyone now knows that I'm leaving.

And on the spiritual end -- this advent really has been a (almost lent type of) period of conversion. I guess I've become more aware of who I am and what my weaknesses are; and that God accepts me with "all of my warts" (aka sin). He's also been quite clear as far as what does need to change -- and that He isn't expecting a complete and sudden change now, just the openness and willingness to change gradually.

-- Carmen

update #2a

Just submitted my leave of absence form ... I thought about not doing so but since there are unresolved visa issues a LOA may be perfect (although I'm praying that I won't have to return to work until the visa issues resolve and that God takes care of it in due time).

Carmen Carmen Carmen

I am glad to read your update no mater how long or short it is!

6 DAYS and counting ....

Ok its been a bit since the last update. Time has flown. So here's a quick one:

a) got the leave from work :-)
b) sold the car (on the 24th of December ... am in Boston actually right now finalizing the sale and the transfer)
c) brought most of my clothes (a few items are left, and whatever I don't get I will just get there. Everyone pray the suitcase(s) through to the convent. Its a homework assignment from the 6th to the 7th (when I arrive).
d) 3 days left at work!!!!
e) haircut (and dye ... to at least for the last time cover the gray! hehehe) on Friday night
f) said my good bye at the parish
g) renting car tomorrow.
h) moving stuff from storage and my room on 1st jan
i) saw my cuz, uncle, sis and niece on 24th and 25 dec. That was fun. Said goodbyes to cuz and uncle; and hopefully I can work out getting my sis and niece to the airport to say our goodbyes there
j) got my glasses (what a horror story ... they scratched up the frame and messed up the screws, and I think the glasses are still wrong [too thick for what I ordered]; but I give up)

k) saw my Godchildren :-) ... visiting them right now

l) spent 2 (!) hours on the phone talking to the sisters from the last community I was with. It was awesome; and we're all praying that whenever God wills it I will be able to visit them again (and maybe, just maybe I'll arrive in a habit!)

Hopefully before I leave work on Friday I'll post the last hoorah! Maybe (just maybe) I'll have the address where I can receive letters .... pray that I can speak with the formator in Argentina (we keep missing each other).

Blessings to all!

-- Carmen

That's wonderful. Congratulations Carmen! You will be in our prayers!

Many congratulations and continued prayers, Carmen

Ok everyone -- this is my last post I think on the thread. I leave in 2 days ... just finished off at work and am trying to get everything packed and moved. Its a bit daunting really.

I pray that those on vocation station still searching for where God wants them, that they will be able to follow His will and settle in the vocation that He wants (be it religious, married, priest, single, lay consecrated, etc).

I pray that those who have settled but are waiting for things to work out in order to pursue the state in life that they feel called to -- that they have the patience to wait until God works out the timing and not work ahead of Him.

Finally for all those who have supported us on Vocation Station a sincere thanks for the prayers and encouragement. Vocation Station has been a wonderful place to hop into for me -- and the grand majority of the time it was more than worth the time.

DUST -- thanks for your hard work on Phatmass; that goes as well to all the moderators.

Blessings and as I would say in spanish:

"Que Dios te bendiga, y que la Virgencita te cubra con su manto de proteccion y amor" (May God bless you and may Our Lady cover you with her mantle of protection and love"

-- Carmencita


PS -- you can try to send an email through the phatmass interface vs. a PM. Note though that I will most likely not have any email access. I will however get someone (my sister) to pull the emails off and mail them to me once I'm given the info on how mail will be handled (they won't give me the address until then -- but unluckily I'll be in Argentina by then).

Prayers for a safae journey. Vaya con Dios. (The only Spanish I know other than the Hail Mary! )

God bless you and grant you, through our Lady's loving hands, every grace you need to persevere and be HOLY AND HAPPY!

Let us pray for one another!

In Jesus,
Sr. Mary Catharine

God bless and keep you!

Many prayers for you, Carmen! May the Lord protect you always.

Prayers for you Carmen .

God bless you

Praying for you Carmen, have a great and blessed time and a safe journey,

Adele.

Fare well You will be much missed!

God bless and many prayers from my corner of the world.

Vaya, siento no haber podido despedirme, espero que cuando leas esto estes feliz alli.
Rezo por ti Carmen.