Back to High School and a sweet offer!

So I’m back in High School today, speaking on vocations to a few freshman theology classes. I was waiting in the make shift front office and after having them sacn my lisence and sign me in I was told when the bell rang I would be dismissed to the classroom. I texted the friend who is a teacher here, whom I’m visiting, and said “Please come get me. / They’re making me sit in the library until the bell. / I can’t think of anything more fightening than navigating a high school hallway filled with highschoolers. / !!!!!!!!!” PRAISE JESUS she came and fetched me.

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!

A Reflection on today’s Mass and other musings…

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!

Let’s play a game!

Ok!

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!

Countdown: 14 days

Totally a countdown image for Christmas, but work with me people!

That’s right…. two weeks.

TWO WEEKS! I’ll be in the convent Sunday Aug. 28th! Very excited, of course, a bit nervous and well, EXCITED!

To Do List before then:

1. Clean my bedroom, box up stuff for Goodwill, convince friends to come TAKE MY STUFF!
2. Mail my bedding/towels to Ann Arbor so they won’t take up so much room in my suitcase!
3. Figure out what a “months-worth” of toiletries is… One bottle shampoo? One Conditioner? AHHH!!!
4. Wash my new nun nightgowns and stitch-in “Sr. Meris” name tags. (The summer nightgowns are backordered! Am I really going to have to sleep in long-sleeve winter nightgowns in August?? lol)
5. Find about $5,000 (SO close! I know God will work some miracles here! But once I’m done with my loans I’m off to help Carolina and Theresa meet their goals! GET THESE GIRLS TO THE CONVENT!!!!!)
6. PRAY!!!!!

Ok. The Zydeco music in my living room is very inspiring. Going to be productive.

Bloggosphere hugs for everyone!

 

I’m still alive…

Just been AFB…. “Away From Blog”

But I miss you all! And I am cookin’ up some good posts for you, maybe a late edition for you tonight?

Until then, enjoy this treat:

The Sisters in the MAO in Austin showed me their list of saintly intercessors! LOVE THIS!

Pray to those saints too…. especially if you want the sisters to be more permanently established in Central Texas

Nun Shower – In Full!

So the moment you’ve ALL been waiting for…. details on the Nun Shower!

A large amount of my family drove in from Louisiana! And a good friend helped with planning/set-up! I hear she and my mom prayed the Serenity prayer together before the whole thing started. The AC in the room we used wasn’t working for a while… started getting cool about 5 minutes into the thing!

People started showing up, in their Black & White (& Hot Pink!) and my SC shows up looking like this:

HAHAHA! I asked if the white was nunderwear... She's so creative. (It's a white tank top btw)

My beautiful friend operated a fancy camera for us…. We had fun appropriately themed nails!

Vinny and Garette with fun nails!

We played a few games, all led by the fabulous Brenda, like Nunwords (none of you have asked for the answer key yet!) but one of the most hilarious was a spin on the classic bridal toilet paper dress game! Groups had to choose a model and make a nun habit! I will show you the winner:

Check out that toilet paper rosary! And her Dominican cape is spot-on!

It should also be noted that this winning submission had white knee-high socks – MADE OF TOILET PAPER! What beautiful attention to detail!

And finally, one of my many gifts besides sheets, nun socks, and towels was my postulant outfit that my mom sewed (with love). I tried it on and did a walk way fashion show! Below is me and the SC:

<3

ASK 5 Update! I only need 336 more people to give $20…. or about 6 people to give $1,000! WE ARE SO CLOSE YOU GUYS!

HAPPY FEAST OF ST. DOMINIC!

Well what a day it has been! I’m not a Dominican, YET, but I cannot wait to be officially IN the community. I can’t help but wonder, “How is the Motherhouse in Ann Arbor celebrating today’s Solemnity?”

Guess I’ll find out next year!

My day started off with Amelia, my SC from this post, coming to collect me at 7:30am. She had work but was going to let me borrow her car so I could pick up this person:

Oh, you recognize her?

Bloggosphere, meet Theresa! Officially! She is my soon-to-be SISTER! We are entering together and she has decided to make a little “Texas Retreat” this week to visit me…. and get holier, of course.

We went to a beautifully sung Mass at a Dominican parish and got a priestly blessing from Father! Look at this happy Dominican Joy-Fest!

Thanks for the blessing, Father!

We celebrated today’s feast with some yummy midtown Vietnamese. And I had a left-over cake ball from Saturday…. Theresa is gonna wait til tomorrow to try them. I admire her self-control.

Matching shirts! (Not planned)

 

In other news, the one, the only, Fr. Hugo (co-conspirator off the “Ask 5″ campaign) sent some sweet words of encouragement. What a great friend! Thanks Padre!