I am sorry for how long it's taken me to write. I've been
busy. I figured I’d recap a little from last time, since it was written so
quickly.
First, I left Indianapolis to go to Rolla for a couple of
days, then headed up to KC for Amanda's wedding.
Now, Amanda asked me to come up early, so I got there on
Wednesday (the wedding was Saturday). We were pretty busy because Amanda didn't
outsource anything. I'm not sure what their total wedding budget was, but it
was pretty small. Brent's mom made the cake and his sister, Christina,
decorated it. It looked gorgeous-- better than any professional cake I've ever
seen. Amanda did the flowers (with a little help from Lisa and me). Amanda,
Brent, and I did the rest of the
food-- I was in charge of the kitchen during the reception. I think I ran around
like a chicken with my head cut off for most of the week, trying to be the
biggest help I could. The wedding got on with only a couple mishaps, one of
which being that I forgot my dress at home in Rolla. It all worked out well,
and the new Miller family had a beautiful wedding.
While I was in KC, I couldn't stay with Amanda because her
apartment was full of bridesmaids (it's a tiny apartment, right off the plaza--
nice location, but not a great size). So, I stayed at Jerusalem Farm. Many of
you probably remember the wonderful experiences I've had at Nazareth Farm and
Bethlehem Farm. Well, this one is a new one. I'm loving it. Getting to stay
there was one of the highlights of my week. I got to come home to people who I
can only call "my type of people," which was a blessing when I was
coming "home" from Latin Mass (not my type at all). We had a lot of
fun and I got to know Jessie and Jordan Schiele much better. They're lovely
people. All my friends in Missouri should check Jerusalem Farm out as soon as
they can!
The day after the wedding, I went to breakfast and Mass with
my friend, Bernie, and then headed back to Rolla. I got home just in time. I
walked into my parents' house and looked at my dad. He looked absolutely
awful-- pale white, breathing hard... Mom told me that she had been trying to get
him to go to the hospital since the day before, but he wouldn't go. I told him
he had to go and finally he agreed to. I'm not sure I really gave him an
option. Mom said she was going to force him, but knew I'd be home soon and I
could get him to go easier than she could (it's a baby girl thing, Daddy rarely
says no to me).
So, Mom and I spent a less than awesome day and evening in
the ER with Dad and they admitted him, saying that he had severe pneumonia in
the lower part of his left lung. It was pretty bad. Over the next two days, I
became familiar yet again with the hospital in Rolla, something I wish I could
avoid for a while now. Mom was able to stay with us on Monday because it was
Memorial Day, but had to go to work Tuesday. The big problem was that Mom was
having surgery the Friday of the same week, so she had to get the hospital
ready for her being gone.
On Tuesday, around 5pm, I finally got to bring Dad home. He
was doing better, but not much. I spent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with
him, not even leaving the house. Then, Friday, my aunt and grandmother took mom
in for her surgery, since we couldn't leave Dad alone. I felt bad not being
with her. My aunt kept calling to tell me how things were going, but what Aunt
Sharon didn't seem to understand is that the problem with my Mom and surgery is
not the surgery. Mom heals really well. Mom's problem is the anasthetic, which
she has almost not woken up from before. So, really, Aunt Sharon was just
making me more anxious by calling me.
At any rate, Saturday I had two sickies to take care of.
Sunday, I went in to Mass and brought them the Eucharist. By Monday morning,
two things were apparent: 1) Mom could probably handle taking care of herself
and Dad for a couple of hours on her own and 2) that was good, because if I
didn't get the heck out of the house, I was going to go crazy. So, I went to
the store to take care of a couple of things.
In the middle of all this, I noticed that the water was
tasting funny, so we have been drinking bottled water (something I hate doing).
I had to go get more water, for one thing, because I think that contaminated
water was what was making Dad sick. We still haven't found out if that's the
case.
But, I went into town Monday, happy to get away for a couple
of hours (literally a couple of hours). Then, I came home. We spent a lot of
time that week watching movies and reading. I think I read 7 books over the
course of the two weeks that I was home.
Tuesday, I went to lunch with a new friend and then Mom and
I got adventurous and went out to dinner with friends. Wednesday was spent at
home, as was Thursday, and Friday was spent preparing to go to Notre Dame.
One thing I have to say for all this is that, even though I
missed going to Texas (which was heartbreaking-- Ponikiewskis, I miss you!), I
got to spend more time with my mother at once than I have EVER spent with her
in my whole life. We've never gone on family trips and Mom has always worked
late hours and early hours and all the hours in between. I'm sorry she was sick
and had to have surgery, but it was kind of fun being together.
Friday was an adventure getting ready to leave. Mom ended up
buying me a camera, since mine wasn't working very well. It's really nice and
I'm trying to take as many pictures as possible, since I have a grand total of
like 5 from last summer. It's my last year at Notre Dame!
I also ended up borrowing my best friend's (Hannah's) mini
fridge, since the one that I took to college the first two years didn't even
fit into my car.
So, last week on Saturday (the 9th?) I left for
Indianapolis, where I would spend the night and then go on to Notre Dame.
Saturday, I got to Indianapolis just in time to go to Mass
with my friend, Annie, and her family. It was fun being back in Indy and nice
to know the roads (I was perpetually relying on my GPS in KC). After Mass,
Annie and I went to a concert at The Vogue in Indy for Jon McLaughlin, who was
really good. I had never heard him before, but Annie loves his music. It was
fun just to be with Annie, who is such a dear friend. She is often the very
embodiment of joy. I wish everyone could know her and love her. She brings such
sunshine into my life!
So, Saturday night I got back to my house really late. Amy
had to let me in, since I gave up my key for the summer (annoying). But it was
nice to sleep in "my" bed.
Sunday morning, I got up and headed for ND, stopping at a
Marsh on the way to buy fruit for breakfast. It wasn't a very long drive, and
it's an easy one. I made 13/14 stoplights on a green!! (We keep score.)
I got to ND around 1, which was when we could move in. I was
the first from Echo 8, and only the second to arrive. Meg Kanatzar, who was one
of my BEST friends at UD, got there just a little before me, but waited for me,
so I could show her where to park. Apparently, the guard told her it was
confusing. At any rate, it was SOOOO good to get there and have a hug from my
Meggie, who I hadn't seen since my trip to UD in October (she was the generous
soul who let me sleep on her floor).
We unloaded quickly and about halfway through, Luke
Slonkosky, one of our directors, showed up. Then, other Echoes started
arriving. It was unnerving that there were so many people I didn't know! Now,
of course, Echo 9 has not only grown on me, but wormed their way into my heart
the same way that 7&8 did. Dear Echo 9, I love you. Thanks for being part
of our family!
Unpacking, eating dinner in the dining hall, hanging out...
it all happened so fast, I'm not sure there's much to tell. I think I've
learned the names a lot more quickly this year, but I only had 9 names to
memorize this year instead of 23 (I already knew three of the Echo 9 class-- 2
were my friends in college and 1 came to visit our community to get a feel for
Echo back in the fall. I'm so glad they're all here!).
Orientation was great and a typical Colleen Moore
experience. She's our director, and she is wonderful.
I'm rooming with my friend Meghan (different from Meg/Megan)
and sharing a quad with Kathy and Pam. It's an ongoing adventure.
Classes started today and I'm in the break between classes
and I thought that I would take some time to update you all before I start my
homework. I hope that you are all well. My Dad is doing much better, thank you
for your prayers. I'm doing okay. I'm exhausted and my plan for recharging my
batteries fell apart because of my Dad's sickness, but I think I'll pull
through. It's a day to day thing.
Classes are going to be interesting. This module I'm taking
Theology of Prayer and Teresa of Avila. Next module will be "Contemplation
and Action" and "Catholic Sacraments."
Also, my friend Annie (from the concert) is having trouble.
Her external harddrive, which had everything (pictures, video, homework, stuff
for comps) from the last five years, quit working. Please pray that the people
she is sending it to can fix it!
And, as always, I'm praying for you, please pray for us!!
K