Week Two!

Welcome Back!

Thumbs Up: Y’all, it’s still the goats. They’re just THE BEST. On Tuesday I actually had four of the kids climbing into my lap at one time. That’s right – four baby goats. IN MY LAP.

This is Eloise and her triplets: Charlotte, Elizabeth and Diana

This was taken right before the last triplet and one of their friends joined them in climbing on me! 

#squad 

Thumbs Down: My heart hurts. For lots of people and lots of reasons, some of which are very close to home and others which really aren’t related to me at all, but hurt just the same. This week I have been made even more aware of the brokenness in our world, which is making it harder for me to see the beauty right now. I also have quite a few big decisions on my plate, so Prayers are appreciated!

God-Sighting: I took a walk with one of the sisters the other day. I think we went maybe 100 yards across the parking lot and then turned around and came back. It took 30 minutes. I am not the most patient person, so this was a growing experience. But, she said to me as we walked, “I’m glad to be able to walk. My body doesn’t work as well or as fast as it used to, but it still works. And I still have my mind, so I’m grateful.” It made me pause and consider how many blessings we have, and really reminded me of the preciousness of life and health. I am starting to understand the sentiment in Gilead, that “Existence seems to me now the most remarkable thing that could ever be imagined.”

Other notes: I am thinking a lot this week about the intentionality of language. What we choose to say and how we choose to say it. The seeming flexibility or inflexibility of this phenomenon called English. I am surrounded by words here: in the daily office, in my daily journaling, in the books I’m reading, in these blog posts. I have become acutely aware of not only what I am saying, but the intention behind those words. Some people might think that prayers written down in a book aren’t as meaningful as those original to you, but this week I have been blown away at these words that were chosen for us to pray. The words in the prayers are intentional and the prayers are intentional and when you say those words intentionally as prayer, more than just reading along with the office – well, I am floored. The repetitive nature of the monastic life has also pushed me to consider the value of words so often repeated. I haven't taken an actual count, but I think we say the Gloria 40 times a day. At first I was a little bored with it, and it felt overdone and meaningless, but the longer I stay here, the more I come to appreciate the choice to say these words of praise with intention. Alongside this, the general quietness of the convent has drawn my attention to what conversations I am having, and why. Our days are not filled with conversation, but the conversations we do have are not idle, but intentional. This week, I am trying to speak, read, write and pray with intentionality as I ponder the power of chosen words.

Other than that, I am still doing 86416515 dishes a day. I also gardened and weeded this week! I don’t know what I gardened or weeded, but I did it! I am also able to read quite a bit, and for that I am very grateful! I also registered for my classes at UT Austin this morning! 

Duffy, the goat dog!

When the nuns are away, the interns will...take a nap. 

We had a quiet weekend at the convent (just five of us) while the rest of the crowd was at the Diocesan Convention. We read. And cooked. And rested. And laughed. It was good.

My prayer this week:

"Spirit Lead Me Where My Trust Is Without Borders / Let Me Walk Upon The Waters / Wherever You Would Call Me / Take Me Deeper Than My Feet Could Ever Wander / And My Faith Will Be Made Stronger / In The Presence Of My Savior"