Look what I did:

Yes, its all my voice!  I've had fun with a few 3-4 four part harmony pieces so that Mom's choir could hear how the music is supposed to sound a few weeks before we get a chance to practice it with each other.  Keep a lookout for like videos from me.  (The picture is one I took of the Sister Servant's statue.)

Update on Big Bro

So, lots of you have been asking for an update on my Big Bro.  Up till today, we haven't had an update since Sunday.  But, I think I'm getting a little ahead of myself...

A little over a week ago, Mike called saying that he had been pulled from PT due to symptoms similar to a heart attack.  (I'm keeping it simple so I don't get details mixed up...)  As I understand, they told him that, basically, his muscles gave up and his kidneys began to shut down.  For that reason, he has been put into rehabilitation with special PT instructors to fix the problem he has. 

Anyway, today I got a letter that I thought you might want to read: (minus a "colorful metaphor," as Spock says)

"Dear Elizabeth,
      "I wanted to write and apologize that I'm going to miss your entrance into the convent.  I know you'll probably say 'oh, that's ok' but I know you are disappointed and I wanted to make sure you knew I was thinking about you.
      "Besides this place mainly royally ___, there are some things that are pretty cool.  I get to salute!  How cool is that?  If I walked past Dad outside I would have to salute him.
      "How is Benny doing?  Is he still a spasticat?  What about squackers and that uuugggly cat?
      "By the way, I'm really glad you rode all the roller coasters at Dollywood.  Wasn't that fun?  You've finally gotten over your fears and even put your hands up!
      "Anyway, I have stuff to do so, until the next letter,
"Sincerely, Mike."

For a little commentary, "squackers" is a reference to our neighborhood cat, Squeaker, and "that uuugggly cat" is a reference to his son who we call Opossum.  Yes, Opossum is a cat who looks like a opossum. 

On another note, my last, my final, my absolute last English paper was graded a 96, giving me a 96 quarter grade and a 96 year grade for 12th Grade English!  I'm done (hopefully) for life!!  Two Religion papers are all that I have left.  Yay!

Prayer Request

A few weeks ago (around Becket's birth) a deacon friend of ours died after a long illness. He left behind his wife, Glenda, and children. His younger son, Chris was a great comfort to his mother during the funeral process. Yesterday, 42 -year-old Chris was found dead by his mother. He apparently died after a massive heart attack. As you can imagine, Glenda is taking this loss very hard. Please pray for this family as they struggle through this catastrophe and grieve the loss of two instead of one. We have hope that Chris is now reunited to his father in Heaven.

Dollywood!

First off, let me just give you the answer to last week's TTT: #1

Absolutely, Mrs. Haus Frau, you are more than welcome to come watch LOTR with me!  But, sorry to dissapoint you, my extended edition is the same as your in-laws'.  :)

I haven't gotten any new legos recently, but I did update LEGO as i can.

And - what we've all been waiting for - I do have a fellow postulant!!  Praise be God! 

Big Bro is now deep into four hours or so of Navy OCS.  (Hence the LEGO as i can picture.)  For a last hurrah/goodbye/party/vacation/thingy, we went to Dollywood!  Here's my total of rides:

• Wild Eagle: 4
• Tornado: 2
• Mystey Mine: 1
• Thunderhead: 6

Can you guess which one was my favorite?  :)

Oh!  Funny story: near the end of the Mystery Mine ride, a pigeon made a dare-devil flight right in front of our car and lost by a few feet as it smacked into Big Bro's face.  Thankfully, at the next upsidedown turn, he just flew out of the car.  I wouldn't have believed Big Bro's testimony that a pigeon flew into his head if I hadn't been hit in the face with a plume of whitish feathers and if the people in front of us hadn't asked if we saw a pigeon, too.  Crazy, huh? 

And, our sixth time on the Thunderhead proved a dissapointment as the little 8-year-old sitting beside Dad threw up before (thankfully) the ride started.  It took - no kidding - 15 minutes for the four employees to clean it up.  It was a typical Tennessee greeting card joke: four employees with one to do the work and three to supervise.  When we were finally cleared for take-off, the people stilll in line gave the workers a standing ovation.  It was priceless.

Mom and I went to the zoo on the way back home and I got some cute pics:

The Day my Fiancé Died

I don't know if I should dare call Jesus my fiancé, but He is so close to being my spouse that I long to think of Him as my Betrothed. Last night at the Holy Thursday adoration time, I couldn't help embracing the beautiful, life sized statue of the Sacred Heart and kissing the foot. I am ashamed to say that I am not as fervently religious as I would like to be. But, the Tridium, especially Good Friday, brings the best out of my mental prayer life. How much I long to embrace the real Body of Christ! We are so blessed in having the Holy Eucharist. Thank you, Dear Lord Jesus!

Two Truths Tuesday - April has Arrived!

Among other things that are happening in my life, there are 104 days left until my entrance into the convent.  If I were to tell you what I have been doing, you would be incredibly bored, as I have done little but sleep in, exercise, read, and write.  However, I have attempted to scramble a few interesting things together for a TTT.

1.  I purchased the X-Wing LEGO set for myself!  I'm waiting till Easter to open it.

2.  I found the ultra-extended-extended edition of The Lord of the Rings at McKay's for a total of $22!!

3.  I will have a fellow postulant in July!!!  She is from Texas and plays the viola.

Oh, and by the way, I agree with Mr. Z_; the purple birds are my favorite, too!