A.) I don’t have a lot of time

B.) I might cry again

C.) There’s not a whole lot more to say that this video doesn’t say:

<<Caution: Video has tears. Sorry!>>

This is me, signing off!

You’ve been great!

SEE YOU IN THE EUCHARIST (I meditated on this during Mass today and I felt like I was bursting as I looked at “Our Jesus” elevated by the priest on the altar. Exploding Heart Syndrome as Carolina and I call it. Beautiful. You all were there, IN THE EUCHARIST!)

Being that I WAS an altar server from 4th grade to 12th grade, I figure I’d pass on his request….

Vote here: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/08/wdtprs-poll-does-an-all-male-sanctuary-foster-vocations-to-the-priesthood/

uhn-bee-leave-able.

My room is empty, except for a sleeping friend in my closet, lol. She’s the same friend who came over two years ago at Christmas time to make pretzels ’til the wee hours of the morning. I didn’t have a bed yet in the apartment so she slept on my sister’s mattress which was just on the floor of her room. Now, again, I have no bed (went to a good friend today) and she slumbers sweetly in the space where my colorful wardrobe once hung.

Sleeping friend has been pixelated to protect her true identity. lolz.

So last time I wrote, I was threatening a strike. Good news. Strikes over! Bad news this is probably one of my last entries. MORE GOOD NEWS – I ENTER THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF MARY IN 36 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow.

But, the strike is over because CARO IS ENTERING THE CONVENT WITH ME! Praise HIM! Through generous donations, pledges, and a whole lotta prayer (and a giant miracle) she is comin’ HOME to Ann Arbor on Sunday. Thrilled.

We really cannot even begin to thank the interweb world and small Catholic family world that has brought us home. Home to our Beloved. To Christ! I am so excited (even if these last few days have made me a smidge “grouchy”) and want to HOP ON THAT AIRPLANE ALREADY!

Wow. Wow. WOW!

I should have called this post “W-O-W”… but maybe I already named one that….

Go here: Carolinavocation.blogspot.com

Make a pledge. She’s looking for $20/month, $25/month, 35/month, $50/month, $100/month, $200/month sponsors to pledge their support.

She’s got about $13,000 left to go. ONLY 4.25 days! PLEASE pass this on!

I already feel like she’s my sister! I want to help her get to the convent since so many of you helped me! It only seems right!

GET HER TO THE CONVENT Y’ALL!!!!!!!!

HAHAHAHA look at us!

Anyways, my run with them may be short-lived given my pending entrance this coming Sunday, but we’ll see. God’s will be done, eh?

First official post: http://www.catholicmatch.com/blog/2011/08/why-im-joining-habit-wearing-rock-star-dominican-sisters/

Lolz.

Carolina

Caro with Sr. Joseph Andrew ** <3 **

My future “seester” Caro (“Carolina” if you like the formal) is an absolute ball of awesomeness. I love her. We both enjoy similar things, like Starbucks, Jesus, our beautiful heavenly Mama Mary! She is the LAST one in our group of 17 to be working to eliminate her debt. She’s probably around the $14,000 mark and DESPERATELY needs your help! I know what a struggle it can be (been there, sister!) so I am BEGGIN’ you on her behalf! We only have one week left so please pop on over to her page and check her out. She too has a PayPal link, a video, and a vocation email address where you may contact her.
Her blog: http://carolinavocation.wordpress.com/
Her vocation email: carolinavocation@gmail.com
Her video… sound familiar?

Clothing

The other day my good pal came over to help me clean/organize/de-stuff my bedroom. WHAT A BLESSING SHE WAS! Not only did we go through my entire closet/shoe collection… SHE TOOK IT ALL WITH HER! AHHHH!!!!! So freeing to get rid of all that… a bit sad too, but AWESOME! I had asked a few friends to come by and take what they wanted of my wardrobe/shoes/accessories etc. and the rest is now GONE!
This was the third load brought to her car:
 And, her car STUFFED with my stuff:

Wow! Bye bye glitter! Bye bye the color "hot pink"

Coffee

Yesterday I had coffee with the one, the only, Jennifer Fulwiler! She literally changed my life and I wanted to hug her (I’m a hugger). So we met for coffee and talked and talked and talked until it was prudent for her to return to her babies who were at home with her husband. She originally posted about my pleas on her blog here. Friday she gave her readers an update here. What an incredibly generous thing she has done for me! I am assured that most of my benefactors were readers of hers who popped on over to my blog at her suggestion. Beautiful. I can’t wait to see her again… maybe at a Sisters of Mary Mom Retreat? Yes? I PRAY SO!!!!

Crying

I’m anticipating a lot of crying over the next few days before Aug. 27th and 28th. I’m even trying not to cry right now as I type the words “a lot of crying.” I had to say goodbye to my beloved “surrogate” parents who have loved me as their own since high school. I also happen to be the godmother of their eldest daughter. Said goodbye to her too, though, I don’t think she quite understood I wouldn’t be seeing her for a while. I’m so overly emotional, which can be as beautiful as it can be troublesome/ugly. I’m just really good at crying and I’m really good at loving my friends and family so let the tears begin! On a similar note, I’m borrowing a gal pal’s car this week while she’s at WYD in Madrid! In her car she has some SWEET tunes, Third Day, other famous Christian songs I hear on the radio, and a Mandisa CD… you’ve heard “Stronger” on Christian radio I’m sure, but have you heard “Just Cry”????

“You don’t need to run
You don’t need to speak
Baby take some time
Let those prayers roll down your cheek
It maybe tomorrow
You’ll be past the sorrow
But tonight it’s alright
Just cry”

Cold-Turkey

I’ve been having some thoughts/discussions in regards to adjusting to the 5am wake-up calls that will begin on Monday Aug. 29th in Ann Arbor. Yes. The Sisters rise at 5am. F-I-V-E. My mom even remarked at my nun shower while filling out the crossword puzzle clue “The hour the sisters arise in the morning.” To which she filled out the answer and said “That will be a first!” Ha! Thanks mom! Anyways, I’ll have to get up early. I did fine on Pre-Aspirancy in June when we lived the life for a week in the convent, although the summer hour of rising is 6am. I think I’ll manage but should I practice? Should I try it on my own on Saturday? Sunday? Tomorrow? ….or should I go cold-turkey? I hear that God gives the sisters LOTS of graces for the things they find difficult… I wonder if He’ll shower me with some of that in this regard.

And ok, let’s do ONE more C…. So 6 C’s for this entry…. how about….

COMPLETE!

My debt is gone. Vanished. Completely eliminated. PRAISE YOU JESUS! Heaps and heaps and heaps of thanks for all your support. I wouldn’t be so blessed if it hadn’t of been for all of you, my benefactors! WOW! Did you guys really show me the love! Expect a thank you video soon that you can pass on to all your friends – WOO!

Love you PAPA!

I’m literally watching the live streaming of World Youth Day as I type this… I made the other window smaller and put it to the left then opened this one on the right. Awesome sauce. (http://www.madrid11.com/)

I went to WYD ’02 in Toronto and WYD ’05 in Cologne. I had to miss ’08 in Sydney because I was starting a new job as a teacher and taking grad classes for my M.Ed. And now, I’m missing WYD ’11 Madrid! Start the huge prayers now that the Holy Spirit blows me to WYD ’13 in RIO!!!!!!!!!! AH!!!!!!

So even though I’m not in Spain today, I can watch the live streaming on the interwebs, and FURTHERMORE I can see all those lovely WYD pilgrims in the Eucharist. I can’t be at WYD but I can be a part of the universal Body of Christ each time we take communion. A friend told me that last night in text, “See you in the Eucharist.” I had to say some goodbye to some friends last night at church and was reminded that though we may be apart, Jesus unites us! Isn’t Jesus just wonderful?

Same for all of you… I’m here in Texas, but I’ll see you all in the Eucharist! Often, right?

Second period was awesome and I was happy to field some of their zany questions! Can’t wait for the other classes! My teacher friend bought me a Starbucks so I’m thrilled to be alive right now!

Last night, a hand-full of friends started posting my money pleas on their Facebook walls. A kind kind soul commented on one of the posts and said: “Meris, please spread the word if you think it will help. I’ll give a 45min photo session in my studio or on location OR A custom digital illustrated portrait of their choice to anyone who donates $100 or more from this day until you’re debt free. Anyone willing to give $1000 can have a 4hr photo event package for their next party or event OR A 16×20″ custom religious acrylic painting. God Bless You! You’re gonna be a NUN!!!! ” -studiovos.com

WOW! Can you believe it? You’re helping me and you’re getting free prayers and NOW free photography services!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! DO IT! DONATE!

Imagine how God will work in your lives if you support a vocation? AH! It makes me so happy!

Ladies, if you haven't tried "Sally Hansen, Salon Effects, Real Nail Polish Strips" yet, you can thank me for telling you now. They are awesome, and no, Sally Hansen is not paying me!

While praying before the start of Mass today I was told by the priest that he liked my nails and that he read about them on Facebook. He then proceeded to tell me I spend too much time on Facebook. Perhaps this is true, but in 12 days I will no longer be spending ANY time on Facebook – let alone TOO much time! I will leave this blog, too, much to my great sadness! But be assured, dear readers, of my endless prayers…. more time for praying when there aren’t distractions like Facebook around – or cute “Kitty Kitty” nails.

Now on to the point of this post…. before Mass I did the Office of Readings (technically I think you’re supposed to do it in the morning but I do it whenever I find a moment – in the ‘vent on the morning of Aug. 29th I’ll do it in community at like 5:30am!) Today’s saint is St. Stephen of Hungary. A really pious and just king – there aren’t a lot of those. In the Office, the second reading was a letter St. Stephen had written to his son. I really liked his words

St. Stephen's "Holy Right Hand" - incorrupt! Cooooool!

here: “My beloved son, delight of my heart, hope of your posterity, I pray, I command, that at very time and in everything, strengthened by your devotion to me, you may show favor not only to relations and kin, or to the most eminent, be they leaders or rich men or neighbors or fellow-countrymen, but also to foreigners and to all who come to you. By fulfilling your duty in this way you will reach the highest state of happiness.” Ah! What a cool dad! His advice to his son is kinda like what y’all have done for me – showing favor to me, a stranger!

The priest who commented on my nails earlier is probably one of my favorite people. I love seeing him around campus and even was blessed to have him as a professor on a study abroad to France back in 2007. He preached on St. Stephen and related it to today’s gospel about riches and camels passing through needle eyes, etc. Being rich isn’t a bad thing if you are at the service of others, and Father had this to say: “We are called upon to be of service to others and realize that all we have is gift – even our lives.”

You all have truly shared this gift with me. Your kind words, your prayers, your money, some friends have even given me their cars! I am so grateful to be a part of your service to others and only hope that I can pay it forward for you all in prayer. Internet hugs for all!

LOAN UPDATE: I need 175 more people to give $20 OR 35 people to give $100….. SO CLOSE! Only 1.5 weeks til I enter, pass on my plea for debt reduction to a friend or 5 if you haven’t done so!!!!! Thank you!

The game is called “Can you spot the nun footwear?“

Of these nine pairs, how many will travel to Ann Arbor with me? And which ones?
Choose wisely, I threw in some decoys to throw you off! Mu-hahahaha!

You would think at a time when I am trying to simplify my life and get rid of things I wouldn’t be adding to my shoe collection – but I AM! There is one pair of nun shoes missing but they are gently used and waiting for me in my new nun cell (nun bedroom).

I tried on several different combos of the above shoes the other day. Some are worn OVER other shoes! Crazy!

ADDITION:

These "galoshes" things go OVER your normal shoes!!!!!!!!! Never seen anything like it!