Our Weekend of 3 Monasteries, 1 Ordination and 1 Graduation of Students

Mr. Husband and I went on a lovely trip
to upstate New York this weekend.
We stayed at a Greek monastery dedicated
to St. Nektarios.
It was lovely.
I did not take pictures as I was new
and did not want to bother anyone in asking permission
to take pictures.
But you can see a few on their website.
It was cold and rainy when we were there.
The Greek monasteries have men and women houses
where they stay.
I had a room to myself and found this book in
the room and began to read it.
I was so taken by it!
And I immediately looked for it online and
was determined to order it...
when the next day I found it in their bookstore!
An older woman and a younger woman and
I talked in the morning after breakfast
and the older woman said that this book
on Abbess Thaisia was the first one she read there.
*
It was such a joy to have some time there.
I had many people on my heart to pray for
and lit lots of candles at the beginning of the
in-the-middle-of-the-night prayers and liturgy.
*
Then Mr. Husband,
after getting some wonderful things in the bookstore
and talking with my newly met monastery going friends,
we had lunch and then
were on our way further up north.
*
We stayed near to Jordanville, the Holy Trinity monastery and seminary
 and went to most of vigil at a nearby church.
The next morning we went up to liturgy at
Jordanville itself.
I had never been there before and was eager to see it,
since I have various friends who have been.
There were many people there for liturgy,
many there for the graduation and ordination of a young man
to the diaconate who we know.
I saw many warm and kind clergy,
the woman monastics were especially kind to me
and I felt this warm joy at seeing the ordination; it was a really special time.
And right in the middle of the liturgy I saw this icon of
St. Xenia of Petersburg:


It was the original of the icon of
this dear and holy Saint that I first got
years ago at my first church in BC:
I have a small reproduction of this icon of St. Xenia.
It was the first icon I ever bought, the first I ever had.
She kept coming to mind after I saw it,
so much so that I bought it with the birthday money I had
at the time.
So it was a very special experience to see the original icon!
*
Mr. Husband and I stayed for the graduation of the
students and celebrated the wonderful day with
some of our friends who had come
for the same events.
*
We also enjoyed browsing in the bookstore! :)
By the time I was at the first monastery I was already
feeling more 'myself' than I had in a long time.
It was a real blessing.

 

The next day it was sunny and warm!
We drove in the beautiful verdant hills of the
Catskill mountains and went to
a small monastery that Mr. Husband and I have
been to twice before.
I got two lovely icons there and some thick candles
which is a blessing as I have them in my kitchen.

The drive was so beautiful.
Mr. Husband and I both are drawn to the beauty
of the countryside.

We saw the octagon house that we had seen before.
You can see the baby blanket I was working on
reflecting through the car window in this picture.

 

We had dinner at an Italian restaurant in the countryside
a couple of hours after leaving the last of the three
monasteries we visited.
*
It was a really wonderful time.
Also very tiring.
My sleep schedule is a bit off and I am resting a lot
from the trip.
*
I am so grateful that God gave me the strength to go!

Late Saturday Night ... Sunday is coming!

When I was a teen I watched a video
I think it was an African American Pastor speaking...
about Sunday is a-coming,
the day of the Resurrection.

Life-Giving Spring and Guardian Angel.
*
Mr. Husband and I were talking about icons
and how I think it is so important for icons to be in
one's home and for kids to have some too,
for their room.
*
The first icon Mr. Husband and I bought together,
before we were married,
for my godson was the icon of the
Guardian Angel.

The Icon of Pascha,
Christ's Resurrection.
I love looking at this icon;
it has very rich colours
and speaks to us of the
hope beyond all hope,
the defeat of death,
the defeat of despair,
the defeat of hell itself. 

St. Nektarios.
This book
St. Nektarios - the Saint of our Century
is a wonderful read.
I knew one prayerful woman who once told me that
she re-reads this book all the time...
*
I just started the first chapter of 

St. Nectarios of Pentapolis and the Island of Aegina: 

The Monastic Ideal: 

Vol. 1 - The Later Life of the Saint 

and the Establishment of the Holy Trinity Convent, 

by Cleopas Strongylis - Translated by Christopher Tripoulas.

Found here.

*

I got Volume 1 and also Volume 2 at my church in Ottawa in January.

Volume 2 is

St. Nectarios of Pentapolis and the Island of Aegina: 

The Monastic Ideal: Volume 2 - The Catechetical Letters, 

Cleopas Strongylis - Translated by Christopher Tripoulas

 Found here.
*
It is wonderful that we have Saints like St. Nektarios to
intercede for us, for the ill especially.
*
I was recently counselled to not despair when things
seem discouraging or that we are mired down
in the things that are heavy and hard.
*
God is with us,
we must not give up hope;
God loves us,
sinners though we be.

A Friday of snow and quiet

We woke to snow this morning.

I am still having some insomnia
and in the middle of the night
I was standing,
looking at the window,
by this icon corner
wondering why I was so cold
but my face was so hot.
Then I remembered,
oh yeah,
I have mono.
Right...

I am so glad to be done with those meds
I was on for the allergic reaction.
I still feel very shaky.
But I get to eat yummy popsicles
mango is my favourite so far.
Apparently they are being renamed.

 

Today is more sleeping and napping so
far than anything else.
I thank God I can be at home
and do just that.

Knitting and a little place to rest (take 2, hopefully the pictures will stay this time)

I really wish the doctor had not told me
that she feels I have mono.
Sigh.
I've never had such a hard time resting!
This is where I sit, rest and knit.
New book of poetry
that I got from Mr. Husband
at the 8th Day Books book-stand
at the conference we went to last week.

The shelf with
many of Mr. Husband's books and a few of mine.
He's an Ortho-nerd like me and it
is so wonderful.
This small icon of the Mother of God was
given to Mr Husband.
It is from Rome.

A flower pot I got for my Mother
when I was a child
that used to be on a little kitchen window
shelf in my childhood
we-have-moved-since home
where my Mother would do dishes
with the window open to sunshine and
seeing us kids swing outside in the back yard.
*
The hair clip was a gift from a
beloved family member who
got it in Rome some years back.
*
The key is from my cousin and
says where
God closes one door another opens.

Also from my parent's home,
this has been with me for several years now.

St. Nectarios and St. Spyridon.
The flower in the frame
was a reminder that God has many gifts for us
and loves us... the flower was pressed in a book
over a summer years past and then
given to me as a reminder of God's mercy...

I don't remember where I got this one;
very possibly my Mother of the same cousin
who gave me that small key.

Holly Hobby.
Bought in Fort Langley BC
years ago at their antique mall.

For I know the plans for you plaque,
same cousin mentioned.
Rose water pot from my Aunt K. for my
Golden birthday years ago;
the man and women in glass was from my parent's house.
The wooden spoon still needs to be hung up
properly and is one of my very
treasured wedding gifts from Romania.

Swan from my Oma when I was a child.
Dutch dolls from a very special Ottawa friend;
little cookbook - maybe the same cousin...
small spoon and tea ball I've had for years.

Mr. Husband's spiritual father recommend this
book of icons for us.
It's very lovely.

Cleo.
and my ladybug pillow that my Oma made
years ago.

Icons all lit for house blessing!

This was Mr. Husband's basket
that he is letting me have for my knitting!
And above is my first dishcloth.
Bamboo needles and kitchen-cotton. 

Found this knitted bag that my Oma made
years ago. 

Quilt I use daily from a
friend I miss and love in Ottawa
whom made it for my wedding.

My beloved socks!
I wear them around the house as slippers daily...

 

Speaking of slippers
I found all my old slippers that I got over
many years from my Oma,
all of which need to be mended.
Anyone that would know,
what type of yarn would you use
for mending the bottoms of slippers?
Matching colours does not concern me for these...
*
I am loving knitting and the dreaming of all I want to make.
I found this blog through the
yarn along button that many of my blog friends use
and am really enjoying it.
*
Now I must sit and knit and rest...
*
But not before I leave with two prayer requests:

1. My friend Mara could really use continued prayers.
We've been exchanging phone calls and she is
really struggling.
All I can say is that it breaks my heart.
please pray for her, that God protect her
and save her.

2.  I have learned that an Romanian orphaned family
as in the parents died
and the oldest child takes care of the others
so 9 kids all together
had their home destroyed:
a fire took out the roof
and the house was spared but the water flooded everything.
It is winter there in Romania;
I know of them through my Ottawa church.
Please please pray for them.
If and how we may be able to help,
I will let you know as soon
as I know more.
*
I have a curable sickness that hopefully
will go away within 2-3 months,
with parents, husband and many who
love me and a nice house to live in and fun knitting projects.
*
These 9 are poor, orphaned and lost their home.
I know I am not supposed to compare
but please,
pray for these beloved ones
who have such heavy burdens and losses.
*
Okay,
I will rest now...
Please pray for me.
*
I am so thankful
yet my heart breaks for others
and I am sick but have a hard time resting.
If I did not have my
thanksgiving journal
to keep my perspective in balance;
it would be a lot harder to deal with...
*
Prayer,
it's all we have left and God is the One who
can save us out of so many troubles.

Mid-Week Already

Yesterday was St. John of Rila

and St. John of Kronstadt's days.

Liturgy was beautiful.

I hope to continue to get to know each of these

Saints better;

thankfully I have paper versions of Akathists to both of them...

We celebrated another birthday at church.

I made the cake :)

Lemon with lemon glaze.

I am clearing the decks for

my new job search.

How much I wish I did not have to look for work again.

But, as a close friend reminded me,

God will not abandon me in this search.

Progress: First Day of New Job Hunt

I applied for a temporary library job

in Ottawa.

That feels really great to do.

And I am going to my friends for dinner and prayer tonight.

Now to keep doing everything that needs doing...

I am so blessed.

Wednesday Evening Sunshine

Quick post and then interview prep.

Called my Grandma and told her that I know have

three interviews in the works.

She was so excited for me;

she had just prayed this morning that I would

be encouraged and get an interview;

three of them is quite something.

*

I am a bit hyped up due to the upcoming interview

and other factors;

would love to hear suggestions for a good evening

wind-down / relax/ bring calm

things...

*

Of course prayer is part of this.

*

Here's a picture of the chicken salad I made;

realized after the dinner that I did not add

enough noodles; it was too heavy on the stomach

though it tasted great!

Today I added more noodles to the leftovers...

Cooked and diced chicken breast

Sliced grapes

mayo

Dijon mustard

salt and pepper

cooked noodles

Anglican church sign.

Been thinking about Abundance and God.

How does it relate?

Obviously everything we have is from God;

but how are we to think about abundance?

What about our responsibility to others who have less?

Not easy questions.

And I think too easy to fall without realizing it in to a

health and wellness Gospel

which is not Christianity.

Christianity, one of my good friend said years ago,

is summarized in the Beatitudes.

Bit concerned that I may have insomnia again;

happened esp. the first time I took these

get-rid-face-rash-drugs.

This is why I asked for calm-down suggestions.

*

Got my hair cut today!

I had been bummed by my last hair cut and with

three interviews wanted to not be concerned

about what my hair would do that day.

*

Grocery shopped;

strawberries are on a really good sale right now;

savouring the summer fruit.

*

Please pray for my interview preparation; lots to do...

Half Way to the Next Interview

It was such a beautiful morning today here!

I have been working on my interview preparation

and had a great practice / mock interview today.

So grateful for this job support.

The prayers of many and of the church

are so strong.

They are holding me up through this time

of uncertainty.

*

There are a few jobs (part time but good work)

that I will be applying for

and am focusing the rest of this week on my

Friday 1 hour telephone interview.

*

I am still having significant insomnia;

it will get better;

a side effect of the medicine I am on for the rash I had.

Cleo is my little companion

and is way too cute for her own good!

*

Please pray for me tomorrow as I do my last preparations for this

one hour interview.

It is a very professional job and there is a lot of things to

be ready to talk about on Friday.

*

I am thanking God for the opportunity to interview

and that God cares so much for us.

My Mother reminded me again of the verses in Matthew,

God cares for the sparrow, how much more He cares for us.