Spring Break...and Bingo

Greetings,

Happy feast of Saints Perpetua and Felicity! Women who bravely claimed the name Christian when threatened with death. The noblewoman and her serving girl were both mothers, or soon to be so, and knew they would be leaving behind their children to the care of others in the love of the Lord. They are a reminder for me of the blessing I have had in my family and especially in how my parents have shared their faith over the years.

The one of the surprise blessings I have discovered at my new ministry is the gift of spring break. This is the first high school I've served at that plans for a week of time off during early March. This is how I find myself at home with my parents for a few days at the end of my 3rd quarter of school!

Sunday was time for Church, Brunch, grocery shopping, and bingo! The parent association at our elementary school was holding a fundraiser and social gathering, and Dad and I dragged Mom off to play some bingo. Six dollars bought you one card for twenty games of bingo. The space was filled with old and young, alumns and parents, as well as friends old and new. I caught up with parents of classmates, met a few of my Dad's students, and greeted a few of the Church elders who were more than happy to see me home for break. Mom patiently waited through our twenty games while Dad played, silently bid on a few prizes, and considered buying raffle tickets...such a social butterfly. In the end, we won nothing but had a great time.

This time at home is wonderful. Time set aside to visit family and friends has long been a part of our community's tradition. Once, sisters could visit home every FIVE years! Now, we are allowed two weeks each year for vacation time. I usually break this up to a week during the summer, a few days over Christmas break, and now a few days over spring break. This helps me in the balance between my Community of Sisters and my family. Well, I'm off...Mom has tidbits to share from all the extended family news!

Blessings,

A Ladies Weekend!

Greetings,

It's final, they are on their way...in about 50 days! My Mom and two younger sisters are coming to visit at the end of April! I'm so excited to have the ladies of my family come to visit me at school! It will be wonderful to get the chance to show them all around the city and university. Well...better go, I want to keep ahead of myself and homework!

Blessings,

ps...The Icon of the Visitation has always been a strong symbol of Sisterly Support for me. Mary goes to Elizabeth not only to serve her elderly cousin, but also to celebrate with her. Elizabeth greets Mary with joy as she realizes the presence of the Christ and recognizes that here is a woman whose life had also been touched by God's Spirit. The icon is an expression of how important it is to share our deep love and care for each other, and how God too celebrates with us during these moments.

"I lie awake..."

Greetings,

There is a Psalm that shares the struggle of the wondering soul..."On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63

The Psalm sings the the conerns of the psalmist and God's loving response. Well, I have been awake the last few nights with concerns and wonderings about where the future is going to lead and hoping that it brings me closer to Community, family, and friends. There is so much unknown right now that my mind sort of swims in it when I settle into my bed for the night. In my prayer, I ask for God's Will and pray for Christ's guidance as I send out resumes and contact various schools about teaching positions. I get good advice from Sisters and professors, family and friends. Then I lie awake again...

I know my heart and soul will settle down and I will sleep again.

Blessings,

Nieces & Nephews

Greetings,

There are moments that the nieces and nephews are sweet, and there are moments they are funny, but they are priceless all of the time. My favorite moments are the quiet ones.

Lisa's little Hope (1) decided she liked me after we played 'peek' for a while...her laughter is enough to make any heart melt. James (almost 5) was too busy to sit most of the time, but he did plop next to me in a chair at brunch and we chatted about his favorite cars. Lisa's other two girls, Rita (9) and Grace (almost 8), were quite taken with Grandpa and Nana, but I did offer a comfy shoulder to snuggle into after a long day of play.

Shyla is her mother's daughter when it comes to diplomatic gift reception. She may not have wanted a book (auntie is an English teacher) but she thanked me. After she realized it was all about her favorite ghostly stories, Shyla (almost 9) tucked in next to me on the couch to read a bit of the book together. Tate (5.5) colored me an Elmo picture of my very own to decorate my bedroom. Cade (also 5.5) was content to snuggle up in the evenings so I could scratch his back while told me about all he did that day.

I keep my sisters, their husbands, and all those kiddos in prayer. I love and miss you all already!
Blessings,

PS... Ahem, I am also reinforced in my celibate vocation as a Benedictine nun. I'm happy to return to my schdule and times of work and quiet. They are beautiful children of God, but they are energetic and filled with vim and vigor. Whew, I just pray my sisters, and their husbands, can keep up.

Another Life Lesson

Greetings,

2009 was a year of lessons learned. Being away at University has been a chance to learn not only about academics of education, but also about living as a Benedictine away from the Monastery. However, the lessons did not end with the ball dropping on 2009.

After spending the last of Advent and the Octave of Christmas at the Monastery, I joined my parents in the city of the Corn Palace. The weather cooperated and allowed us to visit my sister Lisa and her family for a weekend. It was wonderful to talk with her and my brother-in-law and play with the nieces and nephews. The weather even allowed us to travel home in safety again...however, the wind blew and snow drifted in the sub-zero air all throughout the travel.

We made it home to the "Town with the Beautiful Lake" and settled in to enjoy a few days of quiet. While enjoying the quiet mornings and sleeping in at home, I started planning to visit my sister Joy and her family in the northern corner of South Dakota. Now the weather has reasserted its control. It is supposed to begin snowing again tonight and blowing below zero tomorrow through Friday or so. So...no trip north just yet, but hopefully next week the sun will shine and the air will warm.

The Life Lesson?...no matter how much I plan or prepare, I am not in control. The weather might be a beginning lesson in letting God alter my plans as well. As I begin writing my resumes and applying to teaching positions, I need to remember that I do not need to be in control; God has a plan for me as well. This was the theme for my final Monastic Profession and hopefully I can continue to seek it in Life.

Jeremiah 29: 11 ~ For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

Blessings,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Greetings,

I wish all a happy and holy day of Thanksgiving! This morning the two sister parishes (St. Eugene's & St. Monica's) held Mass together at St. Monica's. The church is beautiful and large enough to house all those gathered to say thanks this morning. Fr. Jerry's homily began by roaming up and down the church to ask parishioners to share that for which they were thankful. My favorite was this little girl's voice chirping over the mic system, "Mommies and Daddies".

I believe our Benedictine background helps us celebrate this day of national Thanksgiving. He reminds us that all we have is gift, all our goods are to be treated as vessels of the altar, and to be grateful for what we have but to not seek for more than what we need. The sense of gratefulness that is all throughout the Rule can hopefully keep my heart open to living out a thankful life every day and not just this commemoration in November. So today, I've been trying to challenge myself to think out ways to share my gratitude with others to make my thanksgiving more visible.

I have much to be Thankful for today. I have the opportunity of education at a wonderful Catholic university. Our community has given the chance to go back to school to improve my education about education; hopefully, I will have a chance to share this will a new classroom next fall. I've been blessed with a family; a loud, crazy, overwhelming crowd--but I love them. They are gathering at Mom and Dad's tonight and tomorrow. One great aunt (Aunt Marcine is going shopping with the girls tomorrow), three boys between 4 & 5, three girls between 7 & 8, one little girl who turns 1-year-old today, and four parents, plus Nana and Grampa! Maybe it's not so bad that I'm out in Milwaukee? I'm grateful for our Benedictine Community. They have helped me develop strengths and shore up weakness that I never would have been able to do alone. In vocation talks, I tell the kiddos that Community is the greatest blessing as well as the only sacrifice Benedict asked his monks to perform. Still--I couldn't imagine living any other way. I've been blessed with friends in my life who have been supportive and challenging. They have picked me up, dusted me off, and pushed me back on track...and they know I'd do it for them...God has blessed me.

Thanksgiving Blessings!

The Family Monster Mash

Greetings,

I remember halloween being a great time growing up in small town South Dakota. Older kids dressed up in costume or if it was cold painted up faces and met friends to start walking through town in search of treats. Little ones dressed up too and walked with parents around a few blocks. If you were lucky, you caught a ride with a friend who lived out of town and rode around in the back of a pickup to stop in at a few farmhouses...they gave regular size candybars not just those 'fun' size things or wonderful homemade popcorn balls.

In high school toilet papering was the sport of the night. Even geeks like me joined in occassionaly, but it was an interactive sport and you needed to see well in the dark and move fast if the teacher or principal came out their door. However, I always found the pumpkin smashing that accompanied the toilet papering very sad. Not only do I love the color and festiveness of the pumpkins and the designs the kiddos would carve into their faces, but there is also a horrible mess when you smash them.

Still, I loved halloween as a kiddo. My family still celebrates halloween as a night to dress up and have some fun. Both my sisters help their kids either make or find costumes, go trick-or-treating, and maybe even to a school or town halloween party or two. Me? I have kept a few items that are not technically 'costumes' to wear to school on my favorite secular holiday :) tiara, star trek communicator pin, headband with cat ears, and a few clothing items such as orange/black stripped tights and an orange scarf...I loved to play dress up as a kid and I always will.

I've also embedded a Halloween video from my sister Joy and her family to all her family and friends. It was just too good to not share with my sisters, family, and friends too!

Mad Scientist=Shyla
Frankenstien Monster=Dad
Wife of Frankenstien=Mom
Wolfman=Cade (Twin 2)
Vampire=Tate (Twin 1)

Blessings,

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Grandma's Apron Strings

Greetings,

I was a last minute addition to my Mom's group of friends at the Dakotafest Women's Brunch in Mitchell, South Dakota. The theme for the brunch and the speaker was Grandma's Apron Strings. All of the committee coordinators and ushers were wearing gorgeous vintage and home-made aprons in an array of bright colors.

The invocation for the brunch was given by our very own Sr. Valerie! She started with a great story about the first lady's struggles as homemaker...Eve as the first lady by the way. The story was a great ice breaker and soon she had all the wives, mothers, and grandmothers in the audience on her side! After the crowd stopped chuckling at her story's conclusion, she led us seamlessly through a simple prayer of blessings.

The speaker was also a South Dakota girl...she too was dressed in an apron! Jane Green shared her wonderful sense of humor and lessons she has learned through stories from key points in her life. Her hope was that the women would be refreshed in Laughter, Love, and Living Life. She encouraged all of us to write the stories of our own lives that our lessons and wisdom could be passed on.

The following 'poem' was at each woman's place at the table. A few lyrical lines about the depth that the simple apron can share in our lives. Hmm...it makes me want to find a trusty pattern of my own to wear.

Blessings,

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The Principal use of Grandma's Apron was to protect the dress underneath, becuase she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought inot the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walking out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time-apron' that served so many purposes.

Summer Fun

Greetings,

This week has been wild! My parents camped out at the lake and my sister Joy and her family had a cabin right next to them. The grandkids (my niece and nephews) were all systems go with energy to spare...the grownups had a hard time keeping up. We went to the beach, toured the monastery, checked out the visitor center, fished, built campfires, went to the beach again, and even played at the area arts festival for kids. Whew...I'm tired.

Today, I had my oncology check up. Vinod looked at the numbers, looked at me, and told me to get out since I was too healthy to be there. The nurses and docs at our cancer institute are able to laugh with those who are joyful just as they cry with those in sorrow. Ah, I have another year clear and free of doc visits!

The next two days are set aside for the Community's Spring Chapter meeting. I will be in discussion with our sisters over a variety of issues...keep us in prayer.

Blessings,

An Author In The Family

Greetings,

My sister entered a contest at "The Week" with a pithy (well alittle snarky) new slogan for Canada! The following lists the First through Honorable Mention...Joy is one of the honorable!

FIRST PRIZE: Canada: It’s Almost Like a Foreign Country! Lera
SECOND PRIZE: Canada: Just Like the United States, Only Cooler. Marc
THIRD PRIZE: One part England, one part France.It’s cold up here, so wear warm pants.Dave
Honorable mentions:
We’re Not The United States but We’re Darn Close. Ross
Canada: Where Your Cold Front Begins. Mark
The Other Mexico. Gordon
Canada: Where Winter Spends the Summer. John and Susan
Come Catch Our Cold! Jeremy
Come For the Bacon, Stay for the Healthcare! Joy Larson, Groton, SD
World’s Longest Undefended Border—What’s Stopping You? Joseph
Canada: Where Socialism Doesn’t Mean You Have to be Social. Betty
We’re Not Called “Can’tada,” Are We? Derek
Canada: It’s Not Just for Draft-Dodgers Anymore. Daren
http://www.theweek.com/article/index/95253/What_Next_Contest_Canada__Apr_17_2009

Blessings,

Easter with Familly!

Greetings,

Happy Easter to Sisters, Family, and Friends! The Triduum was hosted by wonderful weather out here by the lake! I was grateful for the sunshine since my parents joined me Thursday afternoon and just left this morning. I didn't want them to see the city and campus in the dreary gray of springtime rain.

Thursday we attended Mass and it was packed! Since two parishes share a priest and an assistant, they combined the two for Holy Thursday. It was full to the choir loft! There was a full choir with bells and other instruments. The service was wonderful, but just not quite the same. I missed some of the music the Community uses on that night. Our Ubi Caritas chant is just much more where my heart is rather than the Ubi Caritas arrangement the parish used.

Friday, I drove my parents about the city. Dad took pictures as
I drove through the several level interchange system where the two expressways meet. We shopped at a local Catholic goods store and I discovered that not only are my purchases tax exempt there, I also get a religious discount! Then we drove along the lake to the sisters Motherhouse. There we met up with one of the sisters I live with and she gave us a wonderful tour of the chapel and old wood work in the motherhouse.

Good Friday Services were held at the other parish. The building itself is a large space with hard tile floors and a high open ceiling...it was freezing. My parents and I stayed in our jackets as did most of the parishoners with us. The lady next to my mother even left her driving gloves on! The services were good. One of the readers took his role in the Passion very seriously. His Pilot voice was harsh and gravely, mean and demanding...I had to chuckle just a little bit at the theatrics. The whole congregation processed down the middle aisle to reverence the cross. Even with restricting the people to a solemn bow before the cross, it took 7 songs before all had processed before the cross! This is a day for my favorite songs of old...and we didn't get to sing them! Instead there were things like "Jesus walked this lonesome valley, He had to walk it by himself..." Ah well...one more year!

We ended Good Friday by inviting the sisters out for "fish fry" with the family. My parents enjoyed the fish fry and getting to visit more with the Franciscans who have taken their daughter in. Mom 'thanked' them by bringing her travel massage table with her and each of the sisters got a full massage that night. All slept well! And the sisters are more than willing to invite my parents or at least my mom back.

Touring started early on Saturday. We drove down the lake side road so my parents could see the homes aka mansions that were built there. Then Dad and I stopped a local haunt for coffee while Mom choose a homemade blueberry scone. We took our breakfast to the lake side and let the wind blow, took a few pictures, and gathered some rocks for the grandchildren. They loved seeing the old buildings there. Next, I took them out of the city to Holy Hill Basillica (Discaled Carmelite Monks). The Basillica is gorgeous! The Church is dedicated to Mary and all the windows tell her story in lovely pastels and lighter colors. The Rose window is the only one that uses the deeper tones and more vibrant colors. There was a side chapel to light candles and leave notes for prayer; Mom and Dad each filled out a slip for our family and friends who had been asking for prayer. Leaving the chapel, we looked at some of the Stations of the Cross the monks had built as large grottos. You can walk up the hill (over a half mile on a 50 plus degree grade) and pray the stations of the cross while winding your way up the hill to the chapel. Finally, we did a little shopping and headed back to the city.

Holy Saturday, I herded my parents into the car early so we could be to church a half-an-hour early. This service is usually packed at any parish I've attended. All the "easter bunnies" come out for the smells and bells as my Grandpa used to say. When Mass began, the was only about 2/3 of the parish filled...sad for such an active parish. This night there was a full choir, bells, horns, stringed instruments, and soloist cantors for each psalm response. The cantor for the Exodus "Horse and Chariot" really got into her music and it felt like we were watching the opera. Father had a wonderful homily about the women who went to attend to Jesus body. He said they allowed their heart to overcome their common sense. Their common sense kept asking who will roll away the stone? How will we get in to Jesus? But they kept walking to the grave to seek and serve him. It allowed for a very nice time of person reflection...do we allow our desire to seek God to direct our lives or do we rely on our common sense and let it overcome love?

Mom decided we needed to celebrate their last night in the city after Mass.
So, we went to Kopps and ordered some of their awsome cheeseburgers complete with home cured bacon! It was a great way to end a good weekend of visiting, touring, and celebrating together. Hope you liked this little peak into my Triduum! Now I need to catch up on the school work I didn't do!

Blessings,

Holy Thursday

Greetings,

I am very unsuccessfully reading and rereading the same article about teacher induction. It is the beginning of Triduum, my parents are driving out to spend Easter weekend with me, and I'm missing our Community celebrations of Holy Week.

Last night I attended a Tenebrae service at the parish. I had always enjoyed Fr. Mike Griffin's Tenebrae...he chanted part of the Lamentations, we joined for part of the "Jerusalem...", there was also a good balance of Isaiah's Suffering Servant and the Passion accounts as well as responses from the Psalms. It all combined to create a very solemn beginning of the Triduum. I was a bit disappointed with the service here. I've been liturgically spoiled at home and I now realize it. The reading were all from the Passion accounts with a kind of self reflection response from an unidentified author (not so bad) but all the responses were from very general chorus parts from the music missal. Not bad for a parish, actually probably enriching for the parish, but not much substance in all.

I am guessing that right now at the Monastery there is a quiet flurry of preparation. The Chapter room is being prepared for the foot washing prayer service, the dinning room is all set for our Agape Supper, the Chapel has been newly cleaned and the Peace Chapel is being reorganized for the Reservation until Holy Saturday. There have been choir practices, lector practices, and maybe even practice for the candle carrier. I have to admit; I miss it. I miss our smells and bells of Holy Week and Triduum. I also miss our quiet reflection during these days. The house is so full of prayerful expectation and joy held in check for the Easter Alleluias. I never noticed it until now...

My homesickness is balanced out with joy at my parents' arrival this afternoon! I am excited to show them around the University and my own little corner of the city. The sisters are so generous in welcoming any guests I might bring home. They are even more interested to meet my mom...she is bringing her travel massage bed per request of her daughter. I have a few sight seeing trips planned to share part of my experience with them. We'll see the Holy Hill Chapel, drive down along the lake to get a superior cup of coffee, and stop in at the Motherhouse. I may even show them where I was also considering to live; it'll make them appreciate the suburbs more.

Well, I need to return to my paper littered desk and reapply my efforts at finishing up some reading before my parents arrive.

Blessings,

Gaudete Snow

Greetings,

Gaudate or the third Sunday of Advent is usually a pretty festive affair, even at the church in my hometown. However, when you combine a few inches of powder light snow and 30-40 mile an hour winds you get an old fashioned South Dakota blizzard. Fifty-two faithful souls made it to church last Sunday...one of the ladies in the back counted just in case. We shared a full Mass with quite the intimate little crowd. We even sang without any organ and took up a collection without an church envelopes. Most of the folk had spent the morning digging out of snowbanks and scrapping ice from windshields, making it to church itself was a miracle.

After Mass the celebration continued, the cafe was open! Half the attendees plowed on over for coffee, carmel rolls, and a hearty breakfast. It was wonderful to hear such a hearty din of laughter, teasing, and winter stories. That is a part of small town life that I do miss...you walk into the cafe and everyone knows you, your parents, your siblings and their families, and they know what you or your family has done even before you do it! I myself discovered I was doing wonderfully at school!

I stayed with my family for a couple days and then came home to the monastery through Christmas. It has been a while since I've garnered so many hugs in one evening! It is good to be home...the 6:30 AM prayer is a bit of a shocker after a semester of a slightly later schedule...but it is good to be home.

Blessings,

Happy Thanksgiving (careful...I wax eloquent)

Greetings,

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone has a day filled with family, friends, and fun. Wherever you are, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers today. Thanksgiving has always been about the celebration of hearth and home for me. It is a time to get together with Community whether it be Sisters or Family and share life together.

I will be joining the sisters in a trip to Sr. Marica's family gathering for dinner. It is very kind of them to invite me along to the family celebration, but I'll admit my heart is with you. I am taking time today to remember some of my favorite things about thanksgiving...

• Mom cooks the dressing with the turkey and there is this wonderful dark crunchy bit around the edges of the pan. We all vie for it at home.
• The Thanksgiving meal at the Monastery is served family style and we seem so much more aware of each other and willing to jump up to refill platters and cups. Time seems to slow down a bit over the meal as well, no one is in a hurry for a change.
• The VanDenHemels sit back and relax after the dishes are done. We tell tall tales about family stories while 'picking the bird' for turkey soup that night. Well, all but Dad, who is 'watching' either a western or a football game with his eyes closed.
• Prayer at the Monastery Chapel...I love the way our chant sounds in the open space of our upper chapel. There is a beauty in the simplicity of our space and sound together.
• Either Wednesday or Thursday night often becomes a 'game night' for the 'young' sisters. I love playing Scattagories, Taboo, and Cranium with the patio crowd while we laugh at each other's stories.

To counteract this bout of wishfulness, I've been remembering what I have to be thankful for no matter how far I am from Home and Hearth.

• There is a great deal of beauty in the snow on the trees by the lake.
• A beautiful new niece: Hope Jean.
• Franciscan support in my learning endeavors here at the house.
• "Life is Good."
• A Community of prayerful support to welcome me home at Christmas break.
• A Family of loving care to welocme me home at Christmas break.
• The gift of a warm meal and bed with a shelter over my head.
• The realization that there is a wisdom that comes with age
  (compared to the 'young' college folk).
• A comfort in the prayer and pattern of our life together.
• A joy in the notes, letters, and packages from home.

Now, I must return to Larabee, Anyon, and Kliebard as I tear apart my former curriculum in light of the damage social mobility has done to the democratic ideal of equal access to education. Yes, I'll have some fun today as well, but I started the day with Ora at Mass and now I need to complete a bit of Labora before the fun begins.

Blessings,

A New Niece!

Welcome to Hope Jean!

Hope was born on evening of Wednesday, November 26th to Lisa Ann and Michael W. The fluffy little snowflake is 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and 20 inches long!

I cannot wait to visit the newest niece over Christmas break! She had given Lisa Ann and Michael quite a bit of trouble with bed rest and trips to Sioux Falls. So, it sounds like she might be taking after her aunties already. In the end, she was able to arrive in their hometown in Nebraska and all is well!

Blessings,