SEASHELL NELL

This is my Camino. Welcome.

nellskac

Blots of thoughts from Marytown and Detroit. A fusion of thoughts!

I went on retreat. You know I did, and I know you know I did.

Honestly, team, I’m ready to burst back into life and go to the library and check out books and read them all and learn a bunch of things (and get behind at laundry) and go to the fabric store and feel all the fabrics and pull all the patterns and textures together.

I’m ready to crack open cookbooks and TRY NEW THINGS. I refuse to be daunted by the apparently ever-available presence of failure in the gluten-free world and instead insist on focusing on the successes of the past year: the dinners, the parties, those happy memories of friends and food and food that was, in the end, fine and dandy.

I’m ready to go dancing. Lots and lots of dancing. And I’m ready to flair my arms and toss my head and point my toes, tracing soft circles on the wood floors, laughing readily with my partners.

I’m ready to have discussions–holding trails of thought-pattern and faces and see where people are coming from. I’m ready to travel and learn and grow.

Oh, hey, 2015. I’m ready for your flowers and your poetry and your hot tea. I’m ready for scented candles and stars and nature hikes and all the times I need to clean the house. And I’m ready for your sorrow and your heartaches and your wretched brokenness–the people who will need me, the times I’ll be astoundingly confused, the experiences that leave me brittle and exhausted. (I know who I serve. I know the promises of Abundant Life).

I’m ready for cauliflower-crust pizza (one of this years gluten-free successes, WHAT NOW, ODDS?) with you and other friends, and I’d love to hear about where you are and what God’s been doing in your life so, yeah, we should hang out sometime.

BUT UNTIL THEN (and I’m waiting patiently), here are some images of retreat. Why not? It’s a blog. You can come and see what my life looks like. Especially what my favorite part of my life looks like and that’s: prayer and fun with people who I love.

First of all: it's important to note that Michigan brought the fire to the annual talent show. Per the usual, obviously. Here we are interpretive dancing as trees in a magical forest.
First of all: it’s important to note that Michigan brought the fire to the annual talent show. Per the usual, obviously. Here we are interpretive dancing as trees in a magical forest.

Except for Josh and Brigid and Julia and Diana. They’re fairies.

Obviously.

Oh, and our skit had doo-wop girls. And a fight scene. And spoken word. Clearly: awesome, right?
Oh, and our skit had doo-wop girls. And a fight scene. And spoken word. Clearly: awesome, right?

Michigan brings the fire, what can I say?

Old friends Father Pio Maria (<3 <3 <3) and Father Anthony ("We're glad you're all...safe") in line for snacks.
Old friends Father Pio Maria (<3 <3 <3) and Father Anthony ("We're glad you're all…safe") in line for snacks.

Aren't they the best? The best-best?

Do you remember this face? Do you, though?? Brothah Thomas strikes again. (And Fr. Pio with a tropical beard in the background, please note).

These pictures are from New Year’s Eve. Because I don’t know how you prefer to ring in the new year, but I prefer: semi-formal dinner, talent show, dance, mass, receiving patron saints for the year.
In that order.
There’s a reason this retreat is my favorite.

These lovelies. So lovely. Oh my gosh.
These lovelies. So lovely. Oh my gosh.

Soundtrack this. (But listen to it three times. One for each of them).

This was at mass, near midnight, on New Year's Eve. I snapped it real sneaky-like. Enjoy.
This was at mass, near midnight, on New Year’s Eve. I snapped it real sneaky-like. Enjoy.

It kind of makes your heart swell, doesn’t it?

THESE. These ones are newly consecrated to Mary, and I'm so happy for them and proud of them and ecstatic to see their lives of faith EXPLODE.
THESE. These ones are newly consecrated to Mary, and I’m so happy for them and proud of them and ecstatic to see their lives of faith EXPLODE.

Pray for them. I love them.

Nicolette and Christine and Brigid...laughing over a photo at a Panera on our commute home.
Nicolette and Christine and Brigid…laughing over a photo at a Panera on our commute home.

This joy.

On retreat, in confession, the priest reminded me of the connection of joy and laughter and the Holy Spirit and, really, this was just a blessed moment.

BONUS PICTURE OF COLLEEN AND BABY!! Colleen was like, "We have the godparents picked out" And I was like, "But do you have the FAIRY GODPARENTS picked out??? And, then, can I be a fairy godmother?" And she was like, "Um. I guess you can be a fairy godmother." So that's a thing.
BONUS PICTURE OF COLLEEN AND BABY!!
Colleen was like, “We have the godparents picked out”
And I was like, “But do you have the FAIRY GODPARENTS picked out??? And, then, can I be a fairy godmother?”
And she was like, “Um. I guess you can be a fairy godmother.”
So that’s a thing.

Doesn’t that baby snuggle in so cute?

And then we had parties and food and it was special and good. Amen.
And then we had parties and food and it was special and good. Amen.

And, that’s all I have for you.

Goose night. X.

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