Spem in alium Posted December 16, 2015 Author Posted December 16, 2015 Yes, it was so cute! She went straight from saying, "Oh, I'll have to talk to Dad and let you know", to "Oh yes we'll be there! We can't wait!" My sisters have really been looking after me this week after my surgery. I had all my wisdom teeth removed! I actually am really amazed at their kindness, particularly of our oldest sister - she dropped what she was doing and offered to cook me food, and actually took over my cooking responsibility for Wednesday so that I could rest. They are really supportive of me that I'm getting this time away with my family. I know I will really miss them, though. A month seems so long but I know it will just fly by and I'll probably be wishing for more time with the family.
Spem in alium Posted December 19, 2015 Author Posted December 19, 2015 It took us two days, but the convent is all decorated for Christmas! My favourite part is a small table display in our community area. We put a few glowing trees (one even revolves) around our statue of the Blessed Mother and our empty manger. I even have a little baby tree for my room. I'm going to be spending much of this week packing -- to go home, but also because I'm moving to another room in the convent. We have a sister being transferred to our house who needs disability access, and my room has that, so I'm getting shifted to our small guest room. I don't mind moving, but I definitely didn't realise how much stuff I had!
NadaTeTurbe Posted December 20, 2015 Posted December 20, 2015 Can we have a picture of your Christmas decorations, if the other sisters agree ?
Spem in alium Posted December 20, 2015 Author Posted December 20, 2015 55 minutes ago, NadaTeTurbe said: Can we have a picture of your Christmas decorations, if the other sisters agree ? I'll ask them Sister responsible for the decorations set up a beautiful table which has a scene of the Flight into Egypt. It's lovely. My parents visited today to drop off a very generous Christmas gift for us as well as a separate gift for me. They visited while my superior was away, and she joked that they came to try and steal me when she wasn't here I told my sisters that I had joked with my parents that I would be "gift-wrapped" when they visit on our feast day, as it's the day I begin my time with them. One of my sisters said that when she was transferred overseas, the sisters in her new convent decided to gift-wrap her as a present for the Provinicial, so they put her in a box.
Spem in alium Posted December 21, 2015 Author Posted December 21, 2015 Exciting news! I am being interviewed tomorrow about my vocation for a Catholic newsletter!
Spem in alium Posted December 22, 2015 Author Posted December 22, 2015 Oh, it happened I'll see what I can rustle up for ya. Interview today went really well! The lady running the interview asked me a few questions and then took some photos of me with our Mother Foundress's portrait and in the kitchen cooking as an "action shot". I was actually cooking today so it wasn't completely untrue...but was laughing to myself because Sisters are preparing for Christmas so there were a million pots on the stove, making me look like a real chef. I even put on an apron to make it look more real
Spem in alium Posted December 22, 2015 Author Posted December 22, 2015 Last day of cooking for my community (back in November, my superior recruited me to cook both Tuesdays and Wednesdays until the end of the year). Boy, it's been helpful! While I came to the convent having done some cooking at home, I really didn't know a lot.
Spem in alium Posted December 23, 2015 Author Posted December 23, 2015 And I spent almost all day in the kitchen! Cooked this morning, and then in the afternoon helped my superior and her sister (who is visiting us) prepare some food for our Christmas Eve celebrations tomorrow.
Feankie Posted December 23, 2015 Posted December 23, 2015 (edited) Spem, Can you send some food across the ocean to me? I've got SOOOO much to do before my children and grandchildren descend on our house at 10 am tomorrow We are roasting a pig, yes it's true, a 40 pounder we named Federico. My son does corporate events for a large catering company and is bringing the pig and the roasting truck tomorrow. He took a photo of the pig with the pig wearing a sombrero - how festive.....NOT! How can you eat what you've named?! The main course is taken care of, the side dishes not so much. Christmas Blessings to all! Edited December 23, 2015 by Francis Clare
Spem in alium Posted December 23, 2015 Author Posted December 23, 2015 4 hours ago, Francis Clare said: Spem, Can you send some food across the ocean to me? I've got SOOOO much to do before my children and grandchildren descend on our house at 10 am tomorrow We are roasting a pig, yes it's true, a 40 pounder we named Federico. My son does corporate events for a large catering company and is bringing the pig and the roasting truck tomorrow. He took a photo of the pig with the pig wearing a sombrero - how festive.....NOT! How can you eat what you've named?! The main course is taken care of, the side dishes not so much. Christmas Blessings to all! Haha, what would you like? We've got herrings, sauerkraut with peas, dried mushroom soup, borscht, fruit compote... Wowee! I hope you enjoy Federico What else are you preparing for the meal? I truly can't believe that Christmas is tomorrow and that it's almost my anniversary....and in three days I'll be leaving here...! Boy, time flies! God bless you all, and a joyful Christmas to you!
Spem in alium Posted December 24, 2015 Author Posted December 24, 2015 (edited) Christ is born! We had a tremendous night - prayer and meal. I was asked to lay the Baby Jesus in the manger in our chapel before we prayed Vespers. The meal was AMAZING. Although there were twelve dishes, it wasn't really a huge amount of food as you really took only a little of everything (but still ended up full). And then four of us - me, my superior, my formation director and another sister - spent about half an hour dancing to Christmas carols, much to the entertainment of other sisters...so we burned calories But I had a VERY interesting encounter at Mass. I went with another sister who knows many people from the parish. She introduced me to to one of them, and this lady straight away said, "You've got the face of a sister". Interesting, because I have what you may generally call a "facial disfigurement". I was a little stunned by it, to be honest (because I couldn't really guess her intention or motive or anything), but then before Mass she ended up discussing her personal concerns and issues with me, so I guess she couldn't have found me too alarming Edited December 24, 2015 by Spem in alium
Spem in alium Posted December 26, 2015 Author Posted December 26, 2015 Happy Feast of the Holy Family!!! Yesterday I went with three of my sisters (and one sister's blood sister...so many "sisters"!) on a road trip. We started off at a Benedictine monastery (with Lauds and Mass) and then went walking in a rainforest, did some shopping and sightseeing, etc. It was so fantastic. The best part of the whole day? Just simply BEING with them. Today I go on holiday...one month with my family. I've been really anticipating this and I know it will be emotional for me to leave. I'm soooo excited to be with my family, but I can't even begin to think how much I will miss my sisters (and my life here in the convent). It's really bittersweet. A month is not a huge amount of time, but it's enough time to be able to test yourself, discern, and make a decision, and this is, I believe, what is being offered to me by my sisters. I feel in my heart that I know what God is asking of me...now I guess I just need to prepare myself to say yes.
Spem in alium Posted December 31, 2015 Author Posted December 31, 2015 Happy New Year! I had a quiet night with my youngest sister - we ordered some food, watched movies, sang and played games until midnight. It was the best.
vee Posted December 31, 2015 Posted December 31, 2015 Ha! Happy new year to those living in the future!
Spem in alium Posted December 31, 2015 Author Posted December 31, 2015 1 hour ago, vee said: Ha! Happy new year to those living in the future! It's pretty good living in the future. You should try it sometime.
marigold Posted January 1, 2016 Posted January 1, 2016 20 hours ago, Spem in alium said: Happy New Year! I had a quiet night with my youngest sister - we ordered some food, watched movies, sang and played games until midnight. It was the best. Sounds perfect I stayed up with my dad, we listened to Big Ben on the radio, lit sparklers and then went to bed!
Spem in alium Posted January 2, 2016 Author Posted January 2, 2016 17 hours ago, marigold said: Sounds perfect I stayed up with my dad, we listened to Big Ben on the radio, lit sparklers and then went to bed! Sounds absolutely lovely Only a week in to my home visit, and already things are becoming clear for me. I'm working through the application for my formation...please pray that goes smoothly and as stress-free as possible for me and Sisters.
marigold Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 (edited) 2 hours ago, Spem in alium said: Only a week in to my home visit, and already things are becoming clear for me. Is this the most nunly and diplomatic thing I've ever heard? Yes, I think it is. eta: but yes I will pray for you! Edited January 2, 2016 by marigold
Spem in alium Posted January 2, 2016 Author Posted January 2, 2016 8 hours ago, marigold said: Is this the most nunly and diplomatic thing I've ever heard? Yes, I think it is. eta: but yes I will pray for you! Haha, I guess that was quite nunly! It's been such an interesting time for me. I've discovered a lot about myself and particularly about my siblings that I never really noticed before. Maybe you need to live away from family for a while to see more. My reactions and approaches to things are also different and I don't think they really expected that. Thank you!!!
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