Powder Puff Football

One of my duties at the high school where I teach is to plan the yearly After-Prom party. As a major fundraiser for this, each fall for the past few years, I've coordinated the junior-senior girls' Powder Puff Football Game. I never had the experience of a Powder Puff game when I was in high school, but what a flurry of drama! For one night of fun and entertainment, the girls design and order their own T-shirts and sometimes sweatpants, favorite football players are recruited as coaches, a guys' cheer squad has a cheerleader teach them a routine, and multiple semi-secret practices are arranged. On top of this we have a bake sale at the concession stand. This year, right before the game, as both teams were warming up and getting ready on the field, the seniors called me over and asked me to pray with them before they played. We circled up and prayed for a safe and fun game, and then they were good to go. I love my juniors dearly (I teach them during the day), but after a rather hard-fought battle the seniors won. Never underestimate the power of prayer?

Little Kids

I am spending my fall break at the Monastery. I had a relaxing day visiting with Sisters that I don't always get to spend much time with. Then came the Employee Picnic. This is a time when all the Monastery empolyees are invited to come and have supper, and play bingo or euchre. While the grown ups are doing this, Sister Alex and I kept the the children occupied. We played many games of hide and seek, follow the leader, Mrs. Macgoo, and games with balls. We ended the evening with playing the card game Spoons. I love doing this and getting to know the employee's children. I also like that they get to see that we like to have fun too. It was a great time had by all but I am now exhausted.

Powerful Weekend

Last weekend we held a Come & See Weekend for young women who think they might be interested in religious life and in our community. Seven women came from Oklahoma, Indiana, and Kentucky. The theme for the weekend was Discernment: Listening to God's Call. Sister Jane Will provided the input and great discussion followed. It was a fun weekend and hopefully the women left a little more enlightened and with a little more knowledge and lived experience of our community. The next Come & See Weekend is scheduled for January 7-9, 2011. Catholic Women ages 18-40 who are interested in learning about us and religious life are welcome to come.

Sunday (I) Sweets

**AUTHOR'S NOTE: In the liturgical world (ergo, in the monastic world) Sunday actually begins on Saturday evening. Therefore, despite the fact that it is currently late on a Saturday night, I have decided to go ahead and title my entry as "Sunday" or "Sunday I" as in our prayer books**

One of my favorite websites when I'm trolling the Internet is a blog called "Cake Wrecks", a site dedicated to showing off professionally produced baking flops. However, every Sunday, in a bold stride to detract from the usual negativity, the site holds space for "Sunday Sweets", pictures of the most exquisite cakes the world has to offer. I love to check this site on Sundays to see what beautifully creative things bakers have recreated using cake, some icing and a little modeling chocolate.

As I reflect over my long weekend here at the monastery, I can't help but to call forth many of my own "Sweets" from my time spent here. So here's my list of all those things that I might have overlooked had I only been paying attention to the flops. And now onto Sr. Kathy's Sunday Sweets!

*** My first great kindness of the weekend came in the form of a hand-delivered note via the "Monastic Mail system." In simpler terms, when our sisters travel to other monasteries, they often offer to carry mail to and from. One of our sisters just returned from a trip and brought home a lovely letter from someone I haven't seen in quite some time.

*** I was struck this evening by a sister, hurrying into prayer at the last minute. As she rushed to her spot, her eye caught on a pair of roses that someone placed in the Blessed Virgin Room, and in a display of acute mindfulness, she took a moment to stop for a sniff and a brief smile before settling into her place in line.

*** Today was a full one for me - practice time at the piano, helping host the seven (yes, seven!) young women who are visiting us, Temporary Professed class, and bell choir rehearsal. However, in between all the craziness, a good friend and I found a few moments to get outside for a lovely October walk and an even lovelier chat.

*** At the end of the aforementioned Temporary Professed class, we held a short prayer service and blessing for Sr. Jeana who made her Perpetual Monastic Profession just two weeks ago. It was a beautiful time to celebrate with her as she continues to deepen her monastic journey

*** Tonight was community recreation night and we invited all the women who are visiting with us to come join in. I love to see the joy in our community room when it is filled with so many people having fun.

Race for the Cure

This past Saturday, I volunteered at the Louisville Race for the Cure. It is a 5K walk/ run to raise money and awareness about breast cancer. I helped stuff bags with goodies, and then passed out the bags to participants as they went past the booth. Survivors were given bright hot pink shirts and baseball caps to signify who they were. As the survivors walked past the booth in a parade to celebrate their lives, I was so touched by the sheer number of them. I was inspired by their strength and courage. I prayed for them and was so grateful that God has blessed them with healing, support, and the gifts they needed to overcome cancer. It was a graced moment for me and I was so glad to be a part of it!