Thank you Sister Magdalen

On September 13th, we had the great honor of having Sister Magdalen from St. John the Baptist women's monastery in England to speak at our parish.  She was supposed to be in Houston for the weekend, but the hurricane brought her north to our area.  

This was an incredible blessing for our parish.  Since we are a small mission parish, we rarely have the opportunity to have people come here and speak, so we were all very excited.  Her topic was "Busy lives, spiritual lives" and it was a simple, yet powerful discussion on how to keep our daily lives focused on Christ.  

I was wondering what we were going to do with the children that showed up since we didn't have time to arrange for childcare.  I thought we could all take turns watching them.  However, I was amazed that all of the children that attended sat and listened attentively (including my three!!)  What a blessing!

Sister Magdalen works with children in England and is very gifted in this area.  I have read her book "Conversations with Children" and it is quite good.  

I love spending time with monastics because they are a reminder, to me, of all that is possible (and expected of me) in this life.  I love their Christ-like love for people and their humility.  They are a breath of fresh air for me.  

This picture is of Sister Magdalen with Fr. Justin, me and and the girls.  

S Prazdnikom! and many years Zoe Marie!

We celebrated a joyous day on September 14th.  First, it is the feast of the exaltation of the precious and life creating cross in the Orthodox Church.  This day celebrates both the finding of the cross, by St. Helen, and the recovery of the cross after it was stolen.  It is a glorious day in the Church.

We also celebrated the birth of our little Zoe Marie.  We decided, at the last minute, to have friends over for dinner and have a proper birthday celebration.  It was a great evening with wonderful food and friends.  The pictures are of Zoe making her "lenten" chocolate cake,of her burying her face in Thea's chest when we sang happy birthday to her and her blowing out her candles.

Mama, I'm gonna be a cowgirl.

For several years now Katherine has aspired to be a cowgirl.  I'm not quite sure how this whole dream started but I think it was confirmed in her heart when Grandma and Grandpa Ocean gave she and Thea horse riding lessons last Thanksgiving.  

On our most recent visit to the N.W., they gave Katherine private lessons with one of the cowgirls on the ranch by their house  (Thea was too young).  

Katherine now talks non stop about horses and has already asked for a horse and cowboy boots.  I can probably come up with the boots, the horse may be a little more difficult.  

The pics are of Katherine at her lessons.  When we went to watch Katherine ride, Grandpa (in the background) allowed Thea to take a few turns.  

Well, it's a good thing we live in horse country.  Maybe I can find someone who wants to give Katherine riding lessons once a week.  

AXIOS!!!

It is with great joy and thanksgiving that I inform you all about Archimandrite Jonah Pauffhausen's election to be  Auxillary to Archbishop Dmitri in the South.  I am so thankful for this great blessing.  I can't imagine anyone else except Abbot Jonah in this position.  I love Vladyka Dmitri and am elated that Abbot Jonah will be working beside him.  Thanks be to God!

Axios!