Sunday, May 8, 2011

Beautiful Weather and More Photos

The combination of beautiful spring weather, more events, and the end of the school year has been great cause for me to have my camera with me more often. And so, there are more files in my May 2011 folder seven days in than there are for February and March combined. Below are a few from this week.

 
Roses for Our Lady

 

 

 
St. Patrick's Catholic Church

 

 



Just a quote to finish off this week, after the beatification of Blessed John Paul II and kicking off the month of Mary:
From Mary we learn to surrender to God's Will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God.  -Blessed John Paul II


In Christ through Mary.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Friendship and Simplicity

I recently visited the International Forest of Friendship with, you guessed it, some friends.

We kicked the evening off with some time at the lake, grilling and eating out of the back of the car since it was too windy to set things out on the picnic tables. Once almost everyone had left, four of us went for a drive around the lake and to the "forest."

It was beautiful. Okay. Not necessarily the trees (most were not in full bloom yet... if they ever are. Half the trees there are not meant to be growing in the middle of the midwest). The time there with friends was beautiful though. It's got me thinking though... how simple of a time it was. We sat on picnic tables at a lake, grilling, and talking for over two hours. No need for games, or movies, or computers. The most technology was an occasional phone call or text and my camera. Then the walk through the "forest"--how wonderful! The simplicity of the afternoon was great--it allowed for conversation, stories, jokes, laughter. Despite the 38mph winds, we enjoyed the geese, the lake, and most importantly each other.

I can't thank God enough for these wonderful friends I've made here at BC and for all the people He's placed in my life. Whether it's the check-out clerk at Wal-mart or a classmate or a FOCUS Missionary, they've all been placed in my life for a reason for a given amount of time--and I praise the Lord the time I've been given with them!







 





I once read this quote somewhere, and it's so true. Feeling the love of the people around us, and the Lord's love especially, is what feeds my life and keeps me going.

"To feel the love of people whom we love is a fire that feeds our life." -Pablo Neruda

What feeds your fire?



In Christ through Mary.