Pilgrimages!

Some of you already know that I am (and have been) in planning and (and thus already walking) the pilgrimage to JMJ 2011 (WYD) in Madrid this summer.


http://www.madrid11.com



This Christmas break I also have the awesome opportunity to participate in the FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) conference in Denver before I head back to school for my last semester of undergraduate studies.


http://www.focusonline.org/site/PageServer

If you know me well or at least moderately well you probably know that I have in insatiable desire for learning. Whether that learning be through travel, discussion, reading, or service  For those of you who didn't know, pay attention "I LOVE LEARNING" So, as my mother pointed out earlier this morning I have the tendancy to be like St. Thérèse in that I want EVERYTHING. It is true.

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=105



My list of desired pilgrimages is as follows:


√ Fatima
√ Lourdes
√ Rome
√ Focus : )
√ ... ALMOST (WYD 2011-MADRID)


THE HOLY LAND
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Kibeho - http://faithofthefathersapparitions.blogspot.com/2006/03/our-lady-of-kibeho.html
Medjugorje -  http://www.medjugorje.org/medpage.htm
Lisieux
ROME again ROME again... jiggidy jig (and Assisi because I never made it there)

Aside from pilgrimages, I have just happened upon very cool and famous churches, shrines, and monasteries in my travels. For example, in every town I visited I always visited the church or cathedral. I happened to live in Sevilla which boasts... I think the 3rd largest Cathedral?? Either way, it is HUGE. I also had the opportunity to go to the monastery where Christopher Columbus studied. For those experience I am extremely grateful and yet I know that there is so much more to see!

 However, no matter how many places I travel or how many books I read my heart will always call me back to my small little house in the middle of nowhere -- my home! At Christmastime I can't imagine a better place to be than at my home with my family!!

Anna May chatting up the Clause

Christmas tree when I was about 10

The Polar Express in Chicago! -- Super fun!

My grandparents house --- a LONG TOME AGO - 12 I think?

TOO MUCH SNOW!! : ) in a good way

Emily and the very prickly tree!

Yum!

Boys can bake too!

So even though I probably won't be going anywhere until the last weekend of break... I am happy to say that I am HAPPY TO BE HOME.

I will be filling the time with a LOT OF READING... prayer, visits with friends, MUSIC, exercise (hopefully) helpfulness at home and some movie watching!

Currently I am reading three books at once. I have never done this before but I am enjoying it immensily. I cary around my three current reads and when I am just slighly disiterested in one (at the end of the chapter) I switch to a new one. It. is. awesome.

My first three books are Orthodoxy, the Skrewtape letters and Great Expectations. I am making progress on all of them and enjoying all three very much! I will be done with this group before Christmas and then I can move on to my next batch. I think I forgot how much I LOVE reading... college does that to me sometimes.


Just a last note about the NEW DONATION BUTTON. I've added a donation button on to this blog for anyone who feels inclined and has the funds to donate to my pay pal account for piligrimases. The money in this account will ONLY go to my WYD and Focus Pilgirmage... and possibly a pilgrimage to the Holy Land!
Oh yes, I should probably mention the ND Holy Land pilgrimage. I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to go! But if not this one I will be able to go on another one... according to the Lord's Will! : )
This pilgrimage costs $2100 and is for Spring Break 2011. If you happen to have $2000 sitting around being unused... or even $5 : )


5 days until the Lord comes in Glory!
O Oriens: “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.”



PEACE PEACE PEACE and only PEACE

†
M

“To have courage for whatever comes in life. Everything lies in that.”
~ St. Teresa of Avila

"The only thing I really wish for is to love until I die of love.” ~ St. Thérèse

Now let us do something beautiful for God.
~ Blessed Mother Teresa