Reality check and time to check back in…

It has obviously been several months since my last contribution. There are several reasons for such an oversight. It was travel season at my job- I have been gone most weekends visiting different parishes and speaking at liturgies about mission. I have found that to be a very rewarding facet of my current position. There is something very tangible about being connected in a parish, seeing babies come in and out of church. Watching families, single people waltz in and out of the doors of a sanctuary. There is a sense of security in recognizing that while time marches on, it does not change the consistency in which people attempt to communicate with the Divine- whatever they know the Divine to be.

So travel season, for the most part is complete. I still have other small trips to take- comp days to catch up on, etc. But for the most part- I get to be a homebody and am able to still take in the beautiful surroundings of the city I live in and to which I belong.

Currently- I am a registered DC voter and resident!!! Praise Jesus!
I am looking into Doctoral programs or another Masters of some kind (more on that later).

I have visited several states over the last year and am closing the gap on places to visit…Louisiana (3 x) Chicago (3 x) Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, New Jersey (2 x), New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania (6 x), West Virginia, California, Texas, New Mexico, (this list does not include the layovers from said trips either!- that would be like another 15 states at least!!!!)
Relationships have changed…my sister lived with me for part of the summer. That was not a part of the original plan and people were surprised when I shared plan A with them. My typical response was, “Well, we tried living together once for, like, 18 years and someone almost died. My dad!” Of course they laugh and of course I jest (kind of), but while it was trying to have K. in the small one room apartment converted into a two bedroom apartment, her and I sharing a room, I feel that for the most part, we did pretty well. Granted I was gone most weekends, but it was lovely to have my sister as a part of my daily life.

That is my life for the past several months. I feel like I am still processing my trip to Guatemala, our country is still struggling to welcome those who are seeking refuge in our borders, and I am still continuing to figure out what my reality looks like. I, in my attempt to figure this out, plan to be disciplined in my blogging.