This morning, as we finished the first Mass at St. Anne’s since March 18th, the closing response seemed especially appropriate!
 
Due to the ban on visitation in light of COVID-19, St. Patrick’s Day was the last time we were actually able to have Mass celebrated here. 
 
Yesterday afternoon, we learned that a priest who recently moved in here was interested in offering Mass here on the morrow at 9 a.m.; it would be open to us and our residents. 
 
I’d have to dust off my sacristan hat in a hurry! 
 
I had to make sure the wine and hosts were still good, and change the lectionary and missal from Lent to the twelfth week of Ordinary Time.  I had to find a Mass stipend, and attend to other details. 
 
I guess, I was still a bit rusty because, at 8:58 a.m., Father asked me if I was going to light the candles.  After struggling to light the new lighting taper, I finally got the candles lit.  (Fire Hazard Warning: You cannot blow out a match while wearing a mask.  Make sure to take off your mask before working with matches to avoid burns or uncontrolled flames.)
 
I got back to my seat and remembered that I needed my bell to ring at the epiclesis and consecration.  Back to the cupboards I went!)
 
Other than that, everything went very well.  We felt so blessed to have Mass here once again.  It was wonderful!
 
I really am blessed!  Despite living in a very challenging time, I have so gifted!  Along with the greatest blessing of life and the sacraments, God continues to bless me in so many ways; if only I would remember that more!
 
I’ll share a couple of timely examples:
 
This week, we received a donated Baldwin piano!  We’re having trouble with the electric piano we have, and I’ve been dreaming of a real piano for a while now.  Now, this dream has become a reality!  I’m looking forward to playing it for our residents Sunday afternoon.
 
Also, a friend of ours has offered me the use of her private swimming pool.  This evening, I’m finally going to be able to take advantage of it!  This is very exciting because I’m a little fish (I love the water), but rarely get to swim anymore.
 
As if that weren’t enough for a list of blessings, we are getting company this evening for tomorrow’s board meeting.  I am very much looking forward to a visit from three of our Sisters. 
 
With all of this in mind, especially the blessing of having Mass in our own chapel again, it was with great fervor that I responded to Father’s closing statement: “Thanks be to God!”

This afternoon, when I got off work at the front desk, I had one destination in mind - Poppler's Music!

We are promised a new (to us) Baldwin piano, and I’m itching to get it in and try it out!
 
In the meantime, I got permission to order a book of large print hits from the ‘60s, which promises to bring much enjoyment to us at St. Anne's on quiet Sunday afternoons.
 
When working the desk this morning, I got the anticipated phone call that the book was in and ready for pick up.
 
I hadn’t taken “Neumann Wheels” (as Sr. Elaine’s dubbed my bike) out for quite some time, so it was kind of fun wheeling it out of the convent garage for the two-mile trek down Washington Street. 
 
It was also enjoyable seeing some of the sights of the city.  Living and working within one square block, I don’t get a chance for this too often.
 
I got back to St. Anne’s with the book in my basket, and tried out the new book right away.

Along with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," I enjoyed playing "Downtown," an appropriate song for the afternoon! 

I've been meaning to write this for a while, now.  (It's been a couple of weeks since I've posted here last.) 

Hovewever, since returning from Retreat at our provincial house in Hankinson, I haven't had much spare time.

I wanted share with you from my experience of "collecting precious metals," as I dubbed an experience I had with Sister Mary Ruth down there over the weekend (after retreat was over).

She had just offered a day of reflection, and had placed metal rods out on the grounds to form a large outdoor rosary.  After the day was over, she needed to collect them again.  Thus, I ended up helping her a little with the project.

She had me drive a little golf card named "Donkey."  I don't ever remember driving one before, and it's been over fifteen years since I tried driving a car.  (I had gotten my permit but never actually got a liscense due to my vision.) 

I was a bit rusty manuvering a steering wheel.

Riding "Donkey" took a little getting used to, but it was kind of a fun adventure, driving around the grounds as Sister Mary Ruth gathered the spikes, her "precious metals."

After that, we drove around the areas that were littered with downed twigs and branches from strong winds the night before.  "Donkey" proved to be the perfect aide in easily gathering these and bringing them back to be discarded.

When we were finished, I was grateful that my companion did the honors of "putting donkey to bed" (placing "him" back in its nook in the shed) as I don't think that would have gone well for me.  (As it was, I managed to incur minor property damage by taking out a wire from the close-line...that's another story all together!"