From a Second Year Novice!

Yes, that's right. Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the beginning of my novitiate. I was teasing with Pat that from now until I leave for St. Paul, I am going to spend the night out since I can. Actually, these last weeks are some that I really spend savoring community, so these are the weeks I don't really want to be away. I don't know if that's lucky for them or not.

Yesterday the novitiate community hosted an ice cream social/going away party for Amy and me. Actually I don't do going away parties, so I think Amy called it "New Horizons" open house on the e-mail that went out. I figure it's the motherhouse--I'll be back. It was just lovely to gather with so many people simply to enjoy one another's company.

This afternoon I experienced my first-ever photo shoot. Well not really, but I have never had so many pictures taken in sequence. (Okay, maybe that's not true. My little brother Brian got a hold of my camera once on my birthday and I do believe there were forty or fifty of me in a row. If I ran through them all quickly, it looked like a comic strip of some sort.) Fontbonne University, the college from which I graduated is doing some little article and came to the motherhouse to take some photos. It felt kind of goofy to keep smiling and turning my head this way and that, but I figure why not have all of the experience that life provides, right?!

Wednesday starts the next section of our Provincial Chapter. I'm actually kind of excited about that. Being with my sisters. Looking ahead. Great energy. After that maybe I'll start thinking about my next move--St. Paul, Minnesota, here I come! While I have yet to start packing or even really planning what I'll be bringing, the "transitional tensions" or "T.T."s as Pat calls them are invading my sleep. I never sleep well the month or so before I leave somewhere and for a few weeks once I arrive. Hopefully I can get enough naps to keep from getting crabby.

I was going to write more, but I am realizing how long this is getting, so maybe next time. I'm sure there will be plenty to share after Chapter. Until then...

--Sarah