Well, I think it's beginning to sink in - this is for REAL! I am going to be working and living here in Washington for the next nine months, and it is going to be an amazingly rich and life-changing period of my life. I don't know if I ever really thought this would happen, but I'm more thankful every day that I am here, doing what I have been sent into the world to do.
Some highlights of the weekend: I played Bananagrams with four of the sisters last night. I won three times, and then S. Redempta insisted that we play in Swahili so she would have a fair chance! The only words of Swahili I know are from the Lion King, and half of them aren't even real words...needless to say, I lost. It was so fun, though! I also walked on the Sacred Path of Enchantment yesterday ("Oh dear God," as Ann Marie would say - I still have to chuckle a little bit at this fairy-tale name. I thought about calling myself Aurora and talking to the birds and squirrels. I'm trying to be open and embrace new things...). This path goes through the woods behind the priory, and it is absolutely beautiful untouched rainforest. The trees are about three times as tall as those in MN, and the ferns and 6-inch-long draping mosses look like they should be in Jurassic Park. I love it.
On Saturday, I went to Harbor Days, a celebration in downtown Olympia. I got to tour a tug-boat, touch the ocean water in Puget Sound (better known here as "the bay"), eat an elephant ear, and admire lots of local artisans' work. I also got to pet some dogs, which made me miss my dear Stormita at home. Then I helped S. Anamaria make African doughnuts...actually, I just watched and talked with her while she very capably made them. And I helped (actually helped) Camille, one of the women who is planning to become a sister soon, make caramel rolls - or as they call them here, sticky buns. I felt like a real woman, kneading bread dough with an apron on and flour all over my face. It was great.
On Friday night, I walked around the priory with Sherry, another nun-hopeful, and S. Sharon. We watered flowers and the garden, enjoyed the first stars, and quoted some poetry. It was fun to just be - I feel like I can do that so much here, just BE and not have to DO all the time. It made me nervous at first because I always felt like I should be doing something, but I'm getting used to embracing the time to just think and sit. And actually, today I started really working! S. Anamaria's classes have started, so we went through her assignments this afternoon and evening. I thought to myself as we finished: "If this is what I'm going to be doing for the next nine months, I am going to have a wonderful time." Anamaria and Redempta are so smart and so willing to learn, and my skills and knowledge help them so much - it's a perfect match for all. I really feel like I'm doing something worthwhile and fulfilling. I am so blessed.
It rained for the first time today - now I can say I have really experienced Washington! S. Mary keeps telling me it will rain a lot in the winter, but we won't get much snow. She, S. Damaris, and I finished the puzzle we were working on and we've started a new one. I never realized how much I like to do puzzles! I also learned how to do the dishes after lunch. I'm learning what "normal" is here, and it's a good feeling.
I forgot my camera cord at home, so I won't be uploading pictures anytime soon...but maybe I'll figure out how to get them off my phone one of these days.
And my lesson: I have learned that I always get sick when I'm finally at peace or when I've relaxed after being stressed for a long time. I'm trying to take it as a good sign that I have a cold now, because it means I'm settling in and my cortisol levels are going down. That wasn't a very deep lesson, but it's almost my bedtime...better next time, I promise.
Peace and love!
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