For Life

I got a phone call yesterday from Sr. Rita Marie.  She told me that she had news, finally.  Mother Mary Gabriel has finished reviewing my application and has decided to accept me into the community.

SHOCK!!!!  or no? is what people are asking me.  Yes, a shock, no, not a surprise. 

Excited or nervous? they also ask.  I'd say both.

In this particular instant, I find myself short in words, probably because the news was greatly anticipated and the moment is passed.  Now's just the waiting period.  For a reason I cannot really explain, I am somehow humbled by the process.  Thanks, everyone, for understanding!

TTT, finally.

In case you think that I have fallen off the face of the earth, I have.  Not literally, thankfully, but theoretically.  I'm in the heat again.  sure, it's not bad - but for one that likes Winter more than anything, going from 50 to 80 again does not make me happy. 

Big Bro was denied a flight school position - :( - but he gets to be an NFO - :) - which is a back-seater.  NFOs usually handle the aircraft weapons, navigation, radio, and intelligence factors in an airplane.  He won't be "flying" but he will the pilot's right-hand-man and the most qualified member of the crew.
So, I've missed TTT for, what, 2 weeks?  So, this one is a little weak, but its all I've got for now:

1.  I spent the morning watching Curious George with my nephew.

2. I have heard from the sisters: they say that they'll contact me "soon"...

3.  Captain America comes out today!!!

This Weekend

Now an agonizing 14 days to wait, pray, and wait some more, I submitted my application with grand reception.  I await only one phone call that will discern my destiny.  I highly doubt that I will be refused, but one should not set their hopes too high.  A line from a profound novel that I have since forgotten even the name, said thus: "Expect the worst and hope for the best and you will never be disappointed."  (If any of you know from whence this line came, I would be much desirous to know.)

Here are some pictures for your amusement.  In case you are thinking that Sr. Clare Marie and I look cold as we feed the swans - you would be right! 


Left to Right Back: Sr. Joseph Marie, Sr. Louise Marie, and Sr. Clare Marie.
 Front: Sr. Mary Anthony, me, and Sr. Marie Therese.

  

Feeding the Swans


 

From Afar



 

Private Audience with JPII (mi fav'rit) and Signed



Donations, anyone?

  

Very soon I will be visiting this place to submit my application.  This drawing is a little out of date.  Since this was taken, the sisters' and retreatants' bedrooms have been completed.  Only the chapel and dining area are yet to be completed.  Consider making your charitable donation to the Sister Servants.  Here's where you can contribute.  God Bless!

Ranger

Here are the promised pictures of Ranger and his horse.  Ranger got his name because Dad thinks he looks like Strider.  However, the poor horse doesn't have a name.  Please comment if you have any suggestions for "horse's" name!  (Later we'll hold a poll...) 



Horse gets a drink from a spring.

 

Ranger scouts for a good camp site.



Ranger climbs a tree for a better look.

 

Ranger gets a better look.



Can you see him?  (Hint: refer to above picture.)



Horse gets a drink from the Great Lake.



Ranger takes a break on an island.

Ranger looks across from the dock.

Ranger watches the sunrise.

The Sun is coming!  As opposed to "A Storm is Coming."






Ranger gets wood for his shelter.




Ranger is proud of his shelter.





Ranger hikes down the gorge.



He looks across the lake from the high cliff.



Ranger crosses the desert...?



 Behind the Scenes:



Ranger prepares to leave.





He takes a silly pose for the camera.  (He wanted to show off his tree-climbing skills.)



 



Big Bro and Me - and we look nothing alike.



Two Truths and Rangers

Haus Frau is correct!  I did not go to Ruby falls that weekend and I do not like being underground for a long period of time and I do not like it when they turn the lights out.  Grandpa did catch a skunk and not a cat.  I actually never heard that he did catch a cat.  We need to ask him, sister of mine.

Inspired by Lego a Day, I created a character whom papa named "Ranger" (You will soon know why if you are a LOTR fan...) who came with me on our camping trip.  we took lots of pics, but unfortunately I don't have time now to post them.  A post to follow very shortly as well as a poll to vote on a name for his horse.

Piano

Look closely.  They are not attached. 

I dropped a paper clip down the piano all the way to the sound board.  *oops* 

Mr. Piano Guy fixed it as well as the sticking key. 

I'm back! / TTT

Before we go into TT and T, I have some updates not included.

• As I alluded to in last week's post, Big Bro Received an appointment to OCS Aviation.  For you civilians, that means he'll be going to officer "boot camp" to learn to fly airplanes.  The only thing that could stand in the way is a physical, which he is having today.  He'll probably fly C-130s (cargo) or F-18s (fighter).  I'm leaning toward the plastic bug myself (F-18 hornet).  Here is a picture of both.
• Big Bro has also exhausted his reasources in his youth coordinator job and had to apply (and he received) a job at TVA.  He now works a job just above slave labor as he does tests on boilers 1000s of degrees hot.
• Fidelio may be moving which will require me... 
• I got new glasses!  look at the next pic.  I think we look like each other in this picture - our eyes look like they're about to pop out.  My face is also distorted.  Actually it looks like a picture of Benny and my face was cropped in.  Or its one of those cardboard things with the faces cut out.  etc...  I hate pictures of myself.
• I went on a boat trip and saw views like this.  I love being a tourist in my own city. 

• I also went to Rock City so I could say "I've SEEN Rock City!"  There was one tunnel/cave that was very dark except for a red light and it had a decorative archway as you enter.  In a manly  voice I chanted "It is the Mines of Moriah."  It looked kind of like the last picture. 

Now to TTT:

1.  my neighbor told us that deer cross through our backyard every Spring almost every other night.  Deer in a highly cultivated neighborhood?

2.  I also went to see Ruby Falls.  It really is as gorgeous as people say!  I love being underground like that, especially when they turn the lights out.

3.  Grandpa sets traps for raccoons.  He lives on a big piece of forest land.  The last one he caught was a skunk.  Pepe La Pu!