Cheering each other on

I was able to play the role of cheerleader this weekend to a very hot water polo player. I'm hoping we can always be each other's cheerleaders in life. Unfortunately, he was injured and barely got to play at all, but I was able to do some embroidery... which takes fooorrrreeeevvvveeerr. How do people actually finish projects like these? I need about five extra doses of patience. 

A symbol of true love

Today I gave my beloved a gift, at a very special place. It's called Schoenstatt and, luckily enough, it's walking distance from my work. 

Cultivating friendship

"Cultivating the art of friendship... with God and others" is my Lent motto this year. And that includes making time to spend in person. My week of vacation didn't include finding a house to rent (even though I saw quite a few)... or anything productive for that matter... but at least I got a few "friend dates" in. 

A friend and I at Starbucks (she didn't like it, for the record!) a wonderful snack at a friend's house...

Tick, tock...

I went all out and bought a really expensive dress for my sister's wedding this summer (the scarf is below). It's perfect for her beach wedding and her favorite color. She also bought a wedding dress and a dress for my wedding on the same day... all at the same place. It was pretty insane. It is cool that we're getting married in the same summer, that way we can shop together. BUt... it's especially insane to think that I'll be married when I wear this dress! It's like a really big promise and time bomb ticking in my living room...

New website Catholic Stand

I am honored and very excited to contribute to another website by the same editors as IgnitumToday (which I already contribute to). This new website is called "Catholic Stand" which is about taking a stand and responding to the call for "an ever-new communication of the revealed truths of an eternal God, the truths of faith and the truths of reason".  

Click here to read my article, called "You are not perishable. Live accordingly":
http://catholicstand.com/you-are-not-perishable-live-accordingly/

And here is my pin on Pinterest:

Life lesson #1 from orchids

You can't rush things and you must be gentle. Otherwise, you mess it all up. 

Oops...

Try and try again

My week of vacation (Carnival/Mardi Gras holiday here) started off just as all vacations at home should start: a sunny day, a clean house, freshly baked bread and a failed attempt at making Milano cookies. It was my first time so hopefully with ajustments it will turn out perfect at the end of the week... 

 

When life gives you lemons...

...make lemonade. Today I was lucky enough to have lemonade with my chili. My coworker gave me organic, homegrown lemons from her sister's farm in the north of Portugal. It is so inspiring to hear there are people that leave their city jobs, move into an agricultural area and roll up their sleeves. And apparently her sister has lots of (young) friends up there also. I heard a Portuguese author, Jose Luis Peixoto, talk on TV yesterday about Portugal and I was super impressed. (I'm actually running out to buy his books) He said he thinks (old) people that live in the country and closer to nature are also closer to the essential things in life. They can't hide from them like us city folks do, things like death. They don't waste time with non-essential things.

Beach buds

This weekend D and I were beach buds and had lots of "business meetings" and time together. It was wonderful. I am savoring the last weeks (or months) I will be living so close to the ocean.

Superbowl sadness

Defeat is so hard to deal with. I only just painted my nails especially for the occasion and stayed up until four in the morning (with work the next day) at my sister's house to watch the superbowl... for the 49ers to lose. Better luck next time, 49ers.