December 29 celebrate

 Word for the day:  celebration: pleasure at an important event.   I have missed a week due to celebrating the birth of Jesus with my family and friends.  However, I continue to have my mornings of silent reflection.  Now the morning NPR has become a distraction.  Prayer, mindfulness and contemplation are becoming a daily routine.  

The Christmas 🎄 holiday was blessed and joyful.  The grandkids were happy with their “haul.”  And we all attended the Children’s Mass together. And extended family for the day!  

This was part of my disconnection from the group.  I was still trying to get over my cough and prepare for return to the walk on the 22, with the large group.  Today I am reminded to do all things, “for the greater glory of God.”  

This day of meditation offered us “the 2 standards”. We can choose to follow Jesus and a life of simplicity and love,  or we can choose the ways of the world.  

While the pilgrims walked from Bujaraloz to Alcarras; I walked a 12 km, up Montjuic.  So I felt somewhat prepared for rejoining the pilgrims for the walk on the 23rd.  

               A view of the Mediterranean from the      castle at Montjuic

A green parakeet in flight.  Aren’t we all in flight, going somewhere, but not always knowing where that where is.   I try to learn from nature and my sure
     Walking the castle Montjuic walls
         An entire village of parakeets
    A lovely building along my walk.  I believe it was the Agricultural Ministry 
A pilgrims’ prayer 🙏 along the journey 

Today, December 29, would be the 74th weddoy anniversary of my parents. They had 72 anniversaries that they shared.

        Here they are with granddaughter Lexi in on October 21, 2018. Cat ear muffs!

             Lexi and Zoey, granddaughters
     In 2021, we stopped in Rock Springs, Wyoming on return from our 7000 mile trip across country.  My grandpa Chadez came from Slovenia to work in the coal mines.  
 A memorial for all those killed in mining accidents

     The train station where many miners disembarked for their hard journey of descending thousands of feet to work in dusty, dangerous conditions 
My grandpa escaped the mines, and homesteader in Homedale, Idaho; along with several  other Slovenian families.  As Slovenia was part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire at the time; it was known as the “Austrian settlement.  Here are my parents outside their farm adjacent to Grandpa’s and Grandma’s homestead.

They certainly chose simplicity over worldly possessions.  And we 7 children benefitted greatly from their live and example. 

                     Jeez Louise!


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