Ottawa...a few more pictures from my visit

Saturday night vespers.

Visiting a dear friend's place who

will soon DV have baby # 3.

A beautiful peaceful visit...

My Ottawa parish, 

baskets of fruit to be blessed.

The one with the blueberries in the middle is

the woman who with her husband are like the

grandparents of the parish.

After the liturgy I was given a strawberry from her basket,

she asked me if "I'd found a job yet" and when she heard

that I was doing a lot of volunteering for church she understood:

you're too busy to have a job, that's good! 

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It was a beautiful moment...

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I went to a dear friend's home in downtown Ottawa...

I loved her kitchen and am hoping in time to 

have a shelf over my 

kitchen sink like she does..

Her beloved cat :)

Dump truck at the monastery playground

where I spent time with my godson.

Such special needed times,

my visit to Ottawa...

Back from Ottawa ~ a last minute wonderful trip!

I got back from my beloved Ottawa late last night/

early this past morning.

Delayed flights, etc etc. 

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Last minute for Mr. Husband and I usually means

planned only 1 month or less in advance. 

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So I scrambled a few weeks back to email people

of my coming.

I was able to be at my Ottawa home parish for

the Feast of Transfiguration.

It was wonderful.

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I find that every time I return I process a little

more that I am not living in Ottawa or Canada anymore.

I had some tears and grief, after a long bit of not feeling this

part of things. But it also was processed and

I can honestly say I feel refreshed and ready

to begin my life here in New Jersey again.

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So some highlights...

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Stocking up on fair trade Camino chocolate and drinking chocolate.

The company is located in Ottawa; I am so excited to try the

hot chocolate! :)

My dear sister-friend and I went to the

Greek Monastery.

There were very cute kittens.

Future mousers.

And a dream come true for me was to hold

my almost 3 year old godson in church and

have him light candles with me and 

venerate the icons.

He kept asking me if the Mother of God was crying.

Quite touching.

Cleo on the other hand thought she should of been with me,

even though a dear friend and neighbour spent ample time with

her while I was gone! 

On my return I came home to flowers

I think from this dear friend's garden...

And wonderful soup and bread!

Mr. Husband was away for work and 

I got in just a bit before him and 

was able to rest, do laundry and get the house 

in order from the mess that unpacking always makes.

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I am so thankful for the time I had,

all the people I was able to see and visit

and for being able to go back to the Greek Monastery

that Mr. Husband and I have so many memories of together! 

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I hope to post more about my time in Ottawa next week

as well as more on our time we had recently in PEI!

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Now the last days of summer are coming near and 

even the outdoor pool that I love in our new town will be 

closing soon for the year.

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Thoughts of apple pies, apple cakes and baked bread are

nearby and I am already planning things for

the next months...

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Of course all we have is now and I must

remember to be in all things with God now, today,

which is the only time we know we have.

Early Morning

 

Picture of old icon from my Ottawa-home Parish's church hall.
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I woke up early this Saturday morning.
Mr. Husband and I have a lot to do today.
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I am so glad I have cooking and baking to keep me busy.
I can't tell you what a blessing it was to be in Ottawa.
I really miss my home Parish.
My new church home with Mr. Husband is wonderful
but it cannot replace the home of my heart;
I do not and cannot write much about either Parish;
just like I do not have pictures of people
on my blog.
It's one of my few guidelines for this blog.
*
But I can say I miss it and it's ethos
and the Ukrainian, Bulgarian, many types of converts
and other ethnic groups that make up
my Ottawa-home Parish.
*
I find the simple spiritual principle to be true:
find people to care for and love
even if by great distance.
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My new church is a long ways away
and I think and care about many of them
throughout the week
and this helps.
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I miss my old friends though;
how we would talk theology and about
father's sermons or
about some other idea...
I miss praying with my dear Romanian friend
or my sister-friend.
*
I stayed at my sister-friend's place
watching my beautiful godson and his lovely
thin but plentiful hair
going many directions and one of my favourite
moments was when I read the Psalms
in the thirties
while my sister-friend washed dishes;
somehow standing there in that kitchen
reading from my little Psalter
was like standing in my Ottawa-home Parish
singing
God is with us.