friendly visits!!

Sorry it has been a while between posts...I was feeling a bit under the weather and was busy..so just now catching up on the routine.

After Notre Dame left, I was sad to see them go, but also jumping out of my skin with excitement because my other half, my two best friends from home were coming to visit me. Lindsay and Mel drove up from New York and spent most of the weekend here. At first deep down I think I may have been also a little nervous...not sure if I or they had changed in the two months we were apart, but no..things were as they should be.

It was great just to be with people who knew me so well...just being together was enough. Yet, I also wanted to show them around. We got to see Vanceburg and test out local restaurants. We went on a tour of Cascade cave at Carter Caves and saw real bats!After church on Sunday we spent the entire day hiking in the tree tops at Carter Cave trails. We saw beautiful natural bridges and the views were amazing. Hiking took a while because we just enjoyed it...took many pictures, collected leaves and we just happy together. From there we went to wildwomans to watch the amazing race and then retired back to the farm to rest up. It was such a good weekend to have a little bit of home here...thanks guys!!!(pictures will be put up when our computer stops being temperamental)

Anyways other than that, the last few days have been recovery...fighting off whatever bug was trying to bring us down. We hit our usual off week stops...the library! and yesterday I was able to spend most of the day painting since my family sent paints down with Linds and Mel...for today..its on to plan for this weekends groups.
Wishing you all good health
sending love,
Colleen

(As promised...here are some pictures of the weekend..more to come later)

Saying goodbye to Notre Dame

This week was another good week...I learned some important lessons about myself that I think can make me a more effective farm manager in the future. When I first arrived on the farm and saw the schedule I wanted to know why we did not have groups every week. Joe had explained that he turns down groups every year and I wanted to know why...I thought we could handle it...after all any of you who know the way I like to live my life, its jam packed with so many things...theres barely room to breathe...the thought of not being able to fully give of myself week after week seemed unlikely....well I learned that is not true for me

After the week with Mount St. Mary's, I was tired. It was a phenomenal week emotionally and spiritually. So, coming from one days rest it was not that I was tired physically and could not do the work, but was emotionally tired and started to see myself not completely there.

In the beginning of the week I felt a little guilty. It took longer for me to learn all of the students names and hear their stories than usual...I felt I was not there fully in the first half of the week. However, the students from Notre Dame were great! Their energy and drive to go above and beyond really made a difference. At times I felt they were carrying me...and by mid week things worked out. I had a great time working with them and learning from them. It was also neat to seem them all bonding with each other...its funny that always seems to happen here on the farm.

Looking back...the week was a great one...I think in the midst of it I did not realize how good it really was until after. Last night, sitting around the fire sharing stories...I was blessed with the gift of community. So, thank you Notre Dame students for giving your all this week and making it such a good experience for me. Your work this week has made a difference...so thanks.

Also, today is a good day...Lindsay and Mel are coming to visit...which means I am one lucky girl
until next time,
wishing peace and sending my love,
Colleen

first day with Notre Dame

Today was my first day with the new group and oh man was it a busy one...if I had to put a label on it Id say it was the odd job day. We started off heading to Holy Redeemer to tear out two massive sick rose bushes. After many pricked fingers, we used a chain and the big red truck and tore it out. We pulled all the roots and then drove slowly back to the farm..built a fire and slowly burned the massive thing down. Apparently it was infecting other plants...not sure exactly but it was a big job. Then we used old wood to measure out pieces to make a house for our new cat Mau for the winter...I got to use the circular saw and everything and the girls nailed it and painted it...at the same time, the other half of the group was mowing the farm...which is a whole days work in itself...so needless to say...it was a busy day

God is not subtle

Today ends the trip for Mount St. Mary's College, a great week and my first College group here on the farm. A friend of mine recently tole me that God is not subtle...well I had been feeling like I wasn't doing my best here-I could work harder/ more, I could live more simply etc/ It was all too fun and seemed like it should be more...well I was also having trouble being present...I prayed for the ability to really be here in this space-well I felt too controlled by time and my watch just shut off and I felt too disconnected and the Internet goes off..although frustrating at first it was good in the end, I felt really present for this group this week...coincidence or not...it was good.thanks.
This week was awesome. The 3 of us farm managers are a really good team, enjoy each other company and work well together- we are lucky! We have a community here now, something that was not here a little over a month ago. We each have our different strengths and together we made it work. This week faced with flat tires, sick dogs, changes to the schedule, power outages,rainy/ cold weather, getting lost etc...and it all did not effect the groups week...

It was neat working with college students. At first it was an interesting change, high school kids listen more because they are younger, but college kids make us their equals which is even better. Together we made a community this week and I was able to learn from them. They really got this place at a deeper level which was neat to see. After this week ,I see thing in myself I want to work on...like establishing more of an intentional community, trying to live more simply...trying to develop my faith even further...and being okay with just waiting ...I was reminded of both the struggles and rewards of service, the realities of living simply, the beauty of deep faith and to be careful of judgements of others...I also saw glimpses of myself in college which allowed me to look at myself through a different perspective....overall it was a great week
I made friends with some amazing people...they all were wonderful and will go on to do great things! It was so nice to be present in this space...God was working this week.
Thanks Mount St. Marys for some hard work, friendship, many laughs, and a great time!

Packing boxes

Today I spent the day with Jamie and a group of students from Mount St. Mary's College packing boxes for our Pantry hand out...about 250 boxes later we were surprisingly tired...it was a good day of work though...

Lend a Helping hand Pantry is a good place, and I am lucky to be able to spend so much time helping them...this week is a hand out week, so we get to later see all the hard work pay off..it has become one of my favorite things here...pantry week

anyways...off to do my job and be with the group...God's time and no watches are really starting to mess with my efficientness(not a realy word i know)...which may not necessarily be a bad thing

Waiting, Patience and Presence

Today we prepare for Mount Saint Mary College(MD) to arrive. I am a little nervous b/c I have yet to work with a college group, but I have faith it will all work out.

Yesterday Jame, Alex and I went grocery shopping and got to eat at my new fave Gattis(a pizza buffet place -oh boy!) then we returned home..I went on a hike with our dogs, and was surprised by the St. Patricks kids coming to stay for the night...we got to play some Bball...it was good. We closed the night with farm manager game of canasta round two...Alex won again! too bad I learned how to play for real half way in...well I'm sure theres more to come of that.

Lately I can't sleep well. Whenever there is heavy rain I hear the creek nearby and although the sound of rain calms me and puts me to sleep, for some reason knowing its a rushing creek keeps me awake(maybe thoughts of flood procedure j/k lol). Anyways, I know the simple solution would be to close my window...but I like it open when I sleep...So I am just hoping that I will get used to it...I remember freshman year at Marst the train woke me up every time it went bye...a few months in, it was a comforting noise and still is today, maybe one day the creek will be that noise for me

Also, before closing today, I just wanted to ask for prayers. Things are going well here, and I am really happy. But, as always I seem to find myself wondering what I will do next (next as in after next September).I have been looking into options (maybe Grad school for Pastoral ministry or something like it...not sure)and such...but I think a challenge for me is to stop planning. I need to stop being apprehensive, always looking forward and learn to JUST BE here. So, please keep me in mind that I will have more confidence in what God has planned and that I can trust to let it unfold as it should...that way I can be here more, in this time and in this place...
thanks,
well, heres to being thankful for another wonderful day
wishing you peace
sending my love,
Colleen

preparing and being thankful

Today we are preparing for our basically back to back groups coming the next two weeks. We are heading to Portsmouth to grocery shop and such. It should be a good one.

Yesterday..again was a relaxed day. We got our stove fixed, I went for an amazing run in the rain...not stormy rain...but nice rain...PERFECT running weather...it was great!

Then I got a call from most of X5...how wonderful...hearing their voices changed my perspective...I should not sulk or be sad I am not with all my friends at alumni weekend this weekend...rather I should be thankful...I am so happy that they all get to get together...and even though I can't go and am bummed...I am thankful....I mean after all I have some pretty great friends/family who love me and I love them...so much in fact that I can get homesick even in a place like the farm! So, thanks guys...I love you!!

I guess its all about perspective
Colleen