I Chose Marriage

June 14, 2018 marks 15 years of marriage for Justin and I.

Many emotions swirl around this heart of mine as I reflect on the last 15 years of marriage, 18 years together. The tears that well up in my eyes when looking over pictures from the last years are heavy with joy, love, hardship, blessing, fear, accomplishment, celebration. 

I chose marriage. No, not really. It chose me. And I fought it with my whole being. I was terrified. Some days I still am. Marriage is a crazy adventure. Marriage is hard hard work. Marriage is an act of faith in the Holy Trinity (more than one Holy Trinity if you get my drift.)

At some point about half way through these 15 years, I stopped fighting it. I can't put my finger on when that was. It was gradual but I began to revel in the plan that God has for Justin and I.  Trusting in God's plan has proved to be way better than I could have ever imagined.

***

When I was in grad school, my sacraments professor was clear as a bell: in the Sacrament of Marriage spouses draw each other closer to Christ. You must regularly partake of the Eucharist to nourish the bonds of marriage.

Just Do It

***

Justin is the best adventurer partner for me. When I reflect on the man that God chose for me, I am struck with wonder and awe. Justin is an example of how God's plans for us are so much bigger and better than we could ever imagine. Justin, putting it pure and simple, is a man of deep faith. All that he is as husband and father are drawn from the well of faith. 

Thank you, Jesus!

Flag Day, 2003.

The beginning of the Parenting Adventure! 11 years ago!

August 1, 2017.

Our first Camping Trip!

***

Year 14 has been a great year!

Starved Rock for Gracie's 10th Birthday

Smokey Mountain National Park

Happy 40th Justin!

Christmas at the Art Institute

Ah! Roma!

Atop St. Peters Basilica

Happy 40th Birthday to Me!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Space Center Houston

Graue Mill for Mothers Day

To the Roots

Happy Ash Wednesday!
This is the first Lent in many years that I have not been planning my Lenten devotion for weeks on end before Lent is even in sight. That is how much of this year has been quite honestly - lacking intention. There, I said it. Put words on it.

Then over the last two weeks 2 things happened. 

1. I attended the Dorothy Day Symposium at Loyola in Chicago (read about it here)
2. I went home to Houston for a visit

Not so mind blowing. But they were. With both of these recent experiences the words, back to the roots,  kept coming to mind. 

So here we are, the first day of Lent. What is the devotion? To get back to the roots of who I am - focusing on my relationship with God, Jesus, Holy Spirit - and because of that Trinitarian image and likeness focusing on my relationships with others (family, friends, the saints) - with intention.

What are the foundational relationships in your life? Who are your role models? Who do you look to for support? Who looks to you for support?

***

This last weekend in Houston, I realized that it had been 2 years since I traveled home. Yikes! I savored the time with my loved ones. Time is precious. These people are my roots, they are where I come from. I carry them with me whether I am intentional about it or not. Intentional relationships.

At the heart of your love story

"I now wish to turn my gaze to the living Christ, who is as the heart of so many love stories, and to invoke the fire of the Spirit upon all the world's families."

Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia #59

We are all living a love story.

My adolescent-romance-novel-loving self from another time in history is jumping for joy at hearing this. 

We are all living a love story. 

Granted, there are many times that it doesn't feel like it. But it's true. The season of life marks the chapter:  Estrangement, In the Throes of Passion, The Bad Breakup, A Budding Romance. The funny thing about it too is that the chronology of it usually doesn't make sense. 

Pope Francis invokes the fire of the Spirit upon all the world's families, that Christ might be at the center of our love story.

Entrenched in the depths of Advent, I immediately think of the Holy Family. It was a rocky start. Out of wedlock pregnancy. Young woman Mary. Old Man Joseph. Visions of Angels. Where they real?  Doubt. Lack of trust. But what saved it all was that Christ was at the center of the love story.

Not only are we called to be Holy Families ourselves. We are Holy Families. We just have to work a bit harder at keeping Christ at the center of our love story.

Insert an image of your family here. Let's pray with Papa Francesco that the fire of the Spirit be with us. That at the center of our love story is Christ.

Sustainability, Part 2 - Nativity House

Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin observed the effects of industrialization on humanity. While there were some definite benefits there were also many pitfalls. The main one being that humans had become a means to an end - humans became a cog in the profit wheel. With the Great Depression of the 1930s Day and Maurin were eager to share the hope that the

Church had to offer:

For those who are sitting on the park benches in the warm spring sunlight.  For those who are huddling in shelters trying to escape the rain.  For those who are walking the street in the all but futile search to find work.  For those who think that there is no hope for the future, no recognition of their plight, — this little paper is addressed.  It is printed to call their attention to the fact that the Catholic Church has a social program — to let them know that there are men of God who are working not only for their spiritual, but for their material welfare. (The Catholic Worker; May 1, 1933)

***

It's been over 16 years now since Justin and I were introduced to Dorothy Day, Peter Maurin and The Catholic Worker Movement. It is true that this introduction by the Jesuit Volunteer Corp launched us into new life together. Over these last years we have spent much time studying the works of Day, Maurin and The Catholic Worker Movement, praying, discerning what it meant for our life. 

As I mentioned in my previous post, the word sustainability has been coming to mind lately. In our world today, if we are paying attention, we observe that it is a cruel place. It is easy to become hopeless in the face of all that is bleak surrounding us - a culture of death: abortion, endless war, human trafficking, dehumanization of immigrants and refugees, a suffering Earth. And then there is the host of politicians too wrapped up in bullying and greed to even take notice. It becomes easiest for us to take solace in our possessions and our busy lifestyles.  

I have observed - in the life of others and in my own life - this is not sustainable. In my own life, I struggle with the accumulation of things. In the moment I am confident I will feel better when I have it. But time and time again, I have come up wanting. And time and time again, I turn to Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin for what they deemed as a sustainable society - a new society in the shell of the old. 

There are three characteristics of the Catholic Worker that we try to follow here at Nativity House that has helped up reach sustainability. Typically when we are feeling a bit off kilter, its because one of the three is not being paid proper attention.

• Intentional Community - We are committed to living in community. This means that we invite others to live in community: interns, guest moms. We share life, food and prayers. We have nightly dinners, evening prayer, community nights. We are made for relationship. Intentional community answers to the way in which we were created. 

• House of Hospitality - We offer hospitality to expectant mothers in need. This is not all. Hospitality also means that we welcome whoever comes to the door. This means always being welcoming - even when a guest arrives unannounced. This has also translated to having monthly open houses, round table discussions, potlucks, bonfires. Hospitality opens us up to others allowing us to enter into relationships that otherwise we would not be privy to. These relationships forever change us.

 Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. (Hebrews 13:2)

• 
  The Farm - The CSA (community supported agriculture) project roots us more deeply to the Earth and our Creator. Those who participate (8-12 families per growing season) repeatedly explain how working in the garden brings peace, healing, and joy. Not only are we growing our own "mostly organic" produce, we are experiencing the intense powers of community and creation. 

Relationships, sharing life, hospitality, connectedness to community and to creation - draw us more deeply into relationship with Jesus. Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin tapped into something amazing - it's about bringing about the Kingdom of Heaven -NOW. Jesus did mention, once or twice that His kingdom is at hand. Day and Maurin captured that with this formula of Intentional Community, Houses of Hospitality and The Catholic Worker Farm Model.  

Sustainability. It is a good life. Join us.

Nativity House Blog Thread

Nativity House - A Full House

Funny thing as I stare at this picture of these strawberries. A few days ago Justin sent me this picture of the strawberries he harvested for dinner. It was a pleasant surprise - so full of color.

A few days earlier, out in the early morning for my animal chores and I came across a half eaten strawberry in yard. I was giddy! I had been out of town for a week and when I left the strawberries were not ripe.  Our first harvest of the season! So beautiful, so perfect!

Beautiful surprises fresh from the Earth, reminders of God's love for us through His Creation. This is what the last two months have been for us at Nativity House.

*** 

An update is long overdue. As I reflect on the last two months of community life at Nativity House, honestly, I am speechless.  I suppose that is why there hasn't been an update. 

There is a word for it.

Overwhelmed. 

Overwhelmed by the Grace that comes with this work.

Offering Hospitality

On April 11, Easter Week, Nativity House welcomed it's first guest mom. Sophiya has been with us two months now.  She is 28. She is pregnant with a baby girl that is due to arrive late September. Sophiya is currently in school at Joliet Junior College with hopes of transferring and obtaining a degree in Early Childhood Education.

It has been remarkable watching our intentional community gather around Sophiya with tremendous love.  We are daily reminded of the honor and privilege it is that we are able to share life together. 

A Benefit Concert

A few weeks ago Julie Carrick contacted me. We had her come out to St. Dennis twice for concerts/mini retreats. She has been watching our ministry via Facebook and The Visitation  for a few years now. Julie and her husband will be coming through town for ground tour and offered to do a benefit event for Nativity House!

What a tremendous blessing! The concert is entitled Sipping on Grace. How fitting! Since we welcomed Margaret our First intern back in January to now with welcoming our first guest mom and Theresa, our second intern,  this is precisely what we have been doing. Julie & Kurt Carrick will offer a night of reflection and music on the Glories of God's Grace through the Sacraments. Join us!

Cars of Hope

Sophiya needs a car. We had a conversation about how stressful it is to not have transportation. I told her that I had no idea how, but that God would provide a car for her. We would say some prayers and wait.

The next day she came to me, she had looked up car donation websites and she needed me to call the head of an organization Cars of Hope, since we are her sponsoring organization. I called and we set up a meeting. Nativity House is working through the process to become a partner agency with Cars or Hope. When this process is complete, moms who come through Nativity House will have a tremendous chance at receiving a car. Sophiya has already given back to the community.

If you know of anyone who has a car to donate to Cars of Hope, they will be sure that the car is either gifted to a "deserving" individual or will resale it to pay for fixing up a gift car. Check out Cars of Hope

Garden Community

Last night we had our first garden work day in over a month. The month of May had many rainy Saturdays. 

What joyful noise the garden is! 8 families working the land, Gracie and her friends cleaning out the chicken coop, friendly conversation over kicking out the weeds. "Is this a weed or a pepper plant?", fence building, potato mounding. This week we harvested strawberries, green onions, baby beet greens and spinach! 

If you are ever interested in coming out on a Saturday from 9-11am to enjoy the joyful noise of gardening contact me!

Nativity House Blog Thread

*if you enjoyed reading our update please leave a message in the comments section*

Mother Daughter Retreat - Year 2

Over the last few months something was nagging at me. It was this time last year that you and Gracie went on retreat - you should do that again. (You can read about last year's Retreat here) On November 11 - a Tuesday - there was no work or school. I seized the opportunity.  I picked Gracie up from school on Monday, we packed our bags and were on our way to The Eco-Justice Center.

When we woke up Tuesday morning it was raining. Regardless of the weather Gracie was eager to get out and find those alpacas. Remember, there is no bad weather; just  bad choices in clothing. 

Our first discovery was a  perfectly polka-dotted feather. Wow! 

The weather this time around made our treks much shorter. We came in after a quick jaunt to the Alapaca barn. Because of the rain they were inside. So we came back, had some tea and got started on Gracie's Scrapbook of all her First Eucharist momentos.  

This was one of my favorite times of the day. We looked at pictures, read all of the prayers and cards sent to her. There were many spontaneous choruses Give thanks, with a joyful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because he's given Jesus Christ, his son...

By mid-morning the rain stopped and we were able to enjoy the outside a bit more. However, much to our dismay the rain brought cold (brrrr.) But that didn't stop us from building a Fairy Teepee!

We also spent some time with some zentangle art.

We discovered a Treehouse!

Inside the Treehouse - looks like an awesome space for teaching, learning, observing, meditating...

Or swinging...

Some of our new friends.

We discovered the source of the polka-dotted feather - Guinea Hens!

A perfectly polka-dotted stick to match!

This is my favorite spot in the little Hermitage we stay in. It is on the screened in porch. I love wrapping up in blankets first thing in the morning with my cup of coffee just being in the woods. 

At one point during the day, I said to Gracie, "We are going to make our Carriage House into a Hermitage like this one!" Gracie's response was, "It will be so great! Will we let people come and be in nature, do art and pray too?"   "Yes, that is what a hermitage is for!" 

Yes, that is what a hermitage is for.  

Thank you, Jesus, for this time together - to be in nature, create art, and pray.

Thankful for Vocation

November 17 was the 13th anniversary of Justin's and my first kiss. What silly, sweet memories. Roughly three short years later we were married.  

A few weeks ago when Justin and I were divvying up articles and work for the Advent Issue of The Visitation, Justin agreed to do the update on the house - you know, we actually have one now.

Last week in the midst of working to get the paper done, working to get more walls painted, working lots of late nights at St Dennis (working working working) I came to a dead halt. I was proofing the newspaper. I was deeply touched by Justin's article on the update of Nativity House.

The next day at our staff meeting we were asked what we are thankful for this year. Tears of gratitude welled up in my eyes as Justin came to mind along with the word vocation.  I am thankful for our shared vocation - not just our vocation of marriage  -  the vocation to serve and to live the Gospel to the best of our ability. There is no one I would rather be on this journey with. 

Our First Mother-Daughter Retreat

Last May Gracie and her other kindergarten cohorts celebrated with a very simple moving up ceremony. As part of the celebration of her moving up to elementary, I promised her an art retreat. That was back in May. I figured, I have all summer to make the arrangements. 

Summer has come and gone. Last week, I realized that this very well may be the last nice weekend before we venture into winter months. So, I gave Sr. Janet  at Eco-Justice a call to see if  The Hermitage was available and it was.  Gracie was tickled when I told her that the time had finally come. 

It was truly a beautiful time together - art, prayer, nature, alpacas...

We woke to a crisp, colorful morning. Gracie and I sipped our hot cocoa and coffee on the screened-in-porch. We watched the chick-a-dees and squirrels play. We may have said a few Hail Marys too...

It took a bit of coaxing, since it was a bit chilly. But once we ventured out of the Hermitage, she gave way to the excitement of exploring.

Our first trip out we found a few notable things.

And a few new friends.

Gracie was intent on getting back to The Hermitage to document all that we had seen.

Our day went on like this. Explore then come back to The Hermitage and document our findings.  With each exploration we always went back to visit the alpacas.  Somewhere along the way, the notion of building a Fairy House came up. Much of the day was taken up with this endeavor.

The hunt was on for perfect building materials.

A Fairy Feast - A Black Walnut Husk for a Caldron, Bark for a Table -

 a feast of wild berries, seed pods and petals...

Resting time - We spent some down time finishing up Roald Dahl's The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

 And it would not be a proper rest without a cup of coffee.

It was time to finish up the Fairy House, which eventually became a Fairy Village.

Then back out for one last visit to the Alpacas.

A group photo before we go.

Aren't No Trespassing signs much more prevalent? No doubt, hospitality is high on the Racine Dominicans' list. And Thank God for that! 

Over the last two years Justin and I have used the Eco-justice Center as a place to pray and be together in a place where we can just be in the Presence. And now Gracie is learning the art of what it is to be in the Presence. She has already informed Justin that the two of them will be going together for a Hiking/Nature Retreat.

Thank God for this time to relish in His Presence together.