Reflections on 1 year of Hospitality

Our logo colorized by Graphic Artist Extraordinaire Kelley Hvizdos

Anniversary
It was one year ago, April 10 that our first guest mom moved to Nativity House. That account can be found here: Resurrection Joy.  Anniversaries are great times to reflect on the past year. I find that it is a stance of humble awe and wonder at God's wondrous works in our lives. 

Sophiya our first guest mom has transitioned to life in Michigan where she is closer to family. She is working and was accepted to a four year university for fall. Our second guest mom moved in on December 5. We have had over 60 volunteers come to learn about Nativity House and work in the gardens and woods. The CSA continues to be a thriving community - 8 families in 2015 and 10 families in 2016. We continue to get the word out through parishes, our newspaper The Visitation, and our friends. In the last year we have been touched by two tremendous women - Margaret Motto and Theresa Marten -  who served and continue to serve as interns. And the work continues. 

Our lives continue to be touched by the work that God has called us to. God has a plan and he continues to show us His glory through our guests, interns, volunteers and you - our friends in the work. 

Below I chronicled a typical day in the life of Nativity House - this particular day (April 6, 2016) was flurried with activity around a visiting university group and the homecoming of Baby Nii. Our days are full and blessed and we wouldn't trade it for the world!

Our Community circa Easter Sunday 2016

A Day in the Life of Nativity House

Wednesday morning, I tiptoed into Gracie's room, trying not to wake her. My goal was to get in, measure her temp and sneak out before she even noticed I was there. Mission one of the promise of a full day accomplished. Check. (and she was fever free!)

I shuffled downstairs to start the water for coffee, take the dogs out and check on the cats. In the back yard, I met Theresa. She was tending to her morning chore of feeding and watering the chickens. She let me know that she would spend the morning in the apartment working on a grant that was due in a few days. We made plans to meet in the house at noon to prepare for a group from Benedictine that would arrive at 1:30.

By the time I got back into the house the water was boiling. I poured it into our ancient drip coffee pot and putzed around the kitchen til the coffee drip drip dripped for me. Justin came down and headed out for work. I poured my coffee and headed back upstairs to settle into my St. Dennis work for the morning. 

Gracie had woken up and was snuggling next to me with her electronic device. The only time she has free reign with electronic entertainment is when she is sick. I set to the task of answering emails and planning the upcoming Confirmation Liturgy. 

At 11am I headed back downstairs to collect all of random clutter so that Nativity House appeared lived-in but not wrecked. At noon Theresa came over to help with the last minute tidying, baking of banana muffins, setting out drinks, chairs for 17 guests...

Marty Tomszak, professor at Benedictine, arrived at 1pm to help set up for his class that would be visiting. We had some time to catch up as we waited for his students to arrive. The first of his students knocked, I opened the door to two hesitant young women, "is this Nativity House?"  "Yes! You are in the right place! Come in!" As the students trickled in we showed them to the warm muffins, coffee, tea, water. 

Around 1:30 we settled into the living room and began what they came for. All semester they have been studying the the roots of the Catholic Worker, Peter Maurin, Dorothy Day and here they have come to see what Catholic Worker looks like in action. I told the story of how Justin and I came to this work; Theresa tells how she came to Nativity House as an intern and the crux of the work. After the presentation, they have time for quiet journalling.

Slowly the class cleared out and our driveway was empty. I saw a clearing in the day and headed to the grocery store to find something to prepare for the special dinner of Baby Nii's homecoming which will be in a few short hours. By the time Gracie and I got back to the house Funmi, Grandma Bola, and the Guest of Honor Baby Nii Laryea (nee - laye - aye) had arrived! Such tremendous joy filled the house. He was finally home after 3 months in the NICU at Rush!

Theresa donning a traditional Nigerian smock, welcomes Baby Nii home!

While I prepared dinner, Theresa helped to unload the car. It is full to the brim of all the things that had accumulated both at the hospital and their room at Ronald McDonald House. Finally around 6:30 pm we all sat down at the table. The community totally reunited after three long months of running between Rush, Ronald McDonald and Nativity House. There were many tired smiles around the table that night!