hurdling the last hours of the year with a town trip and a gift...

Today is the last day of the year 2007 and it seemed it will not leave without me getting errands for the community.

Today, I left the monastery very early in the morning to drive down a monk Dom John Thomas to Albuquerque who has decided to leave the monastery for good but will continue with his monastic life in another community at St. Meinrad Monastery in Indiana. His leaving us is a sure loss to the community as he did a very good and efficient job as our acountant-bookeeper. But weeks before, He already started training another monk, Dom gabriel (Korean) of the rudiments in the accounting office, so the flow of our finances will not get affected.

We had an early lunch at La Chosa restaurant in Cerillos Road, Sta Fe before dropping by at Sta Fe Place's GAP and picked some garments which he will use when he goes to Farnborugh, England for a three-month break before he finally step his feet to St Meinrad. Afterwards, I drove him to the Franciscans of the Renewal's community in Albuquerque where he will spend the evening for his early morning flight the next day.

It seemed John could not decide what food he will order for his last lunch in New Mexico, or is he just so overwhelmed of the fact that he will be entering another phase in his life in another place with another set of community members of different personalities and values and customary practices? I am just curious really!

He ended up getting a Mexican specialty: with extreme spicy beans and sauce,and he ended up sprinkling sugar to balance its spiciness.

In coming back home, after helping John with his luggages to the room of a Franciscan Brother Simon (who is out for his family visit, so John was lodged in his room), I stopped over a rest area along Interstate 25 highway for a drink and a stretch when I suddenly thought to check the bulks of mails I picked up at Abiquiu Post Office in coming to Sta Fe this morning. Look what I got! A package from my blogosphere sister Vera!!!!

I was so glad, it went through and got itself to its destination.

To my dear Vera,I thank you so much for such gesture of thoughtfulness!

EEEEEKKKKKKKKK, I forgot to include the bookmark in the photosession!!!!!...There is still one item she gave me and it's sooooo cute bookmark. So here it is: my addendum image to the images I took last night. "Vera dear, I am sorry, I was so nauseated last night due to my whole day's driving that my vision failed to hit the bookmark!"...

A white shirt, a bookmark, and a music Cd …

I practically ran out of words to say when I finally got my birthday gift package from sweet and charming beautifulRebeccca of Skippyheart and Silent Vespers. I was speechless because I got hold of it exactly on the day of her birthday(Dec 19th)! Isn’t it amazing that the one celebrating her birthday, who was supposed to receive a package from me was the one sending a gift for me? It was such a very humbling experience really!
The package was delivered in my doorstep by one of the monks who went out for a town trip yesterday. Jorge of the Country farm supply store kept his word! I was really so excited that I rushed inside my cell, wasted no time, and hurriedly opened it with so much gladness...

As soon as the package was opened, I found inside it an Armani white shirt, a red leather bookmark, and a music Cd coupled with a greeting card. Indeed, Rebeccca never runs out of surprises for me. She wrote in the greeting card her reasons why she gave me a white shirt, a bookmark and a music Cd. Her reasons were indeed just fitting and proper that my heart rejoiced with heavenly joy !...

And the best way to show my gratitude to a dearest one
is to put on the white shirt… use the bookmark on one of the Gospel books I am currently reading… and listen to the music Cd (of love songs) from my iTunes.

Thank you so much my dearest one!!!! May God continue to shower His abundant graces and blessings for your continued good health, for a longer life and for your safety and protection in all the days of your life.

pondering thoughts....

Yesterday was a hectic day for me...I was asked to drive two Junior monks Dom Cecilien (Madagascar) and Dom Anselmo (Mexican) to Espanyola for their medical appointments with the community's physician Dr. Murray Ryan, MD.

The experience to be driving down two people for their important appointments made me feel so much sense of belonging....

I marked the day as my first time to officially drive monks going on towntrips . The feeling was just so humbling!...

When I came back, I found a card enevelope in my pigeon hole and I was so delighted the card came from the Philippines, and guess who it came from?....Jeprocks my buddy in Manila!....this greeting card marked the first time I got one from the Philippines....

Hey Jeff my friend, I am deeply touched by your gesture!..... Thank you so very much and may God Bless you and may He keep you safe always for ever and ever...