Road Trip!

Helloooo!!

I am alive and well, exited about school, and back in the blogger world!

A couple of weeks ago my family and I took a trip up to Montana for a Eucharistic Conference.  It was held at Corpus Christi parish in Great Falls, MT.  It was completely and utterly AMAZINGLY INCREDIBLE!!!  In the evening there would be Mass, dinner in the basement, a talk, then Eucharistic Adoration.  On three of the days we were supposed to go to the park, but were able to only one of the days because of the weather.  We still had fun, though.
I also had time to go crazy with one of my best friends about the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.  Because really, we're not the crazy ones. ;)

During the conference we had a Forty-Hours devotion.  Simply speaking, the Eucharist was left on the alter for forty hours, even during Mass and the talks.

Click on the pics to see them bigger.

The alter was completely amazing!!!  I think someone said there were over 120 candles.  Really the pictures can't do it justice, and I pray all of you will get to experience something like that in person.

We also had a Eucharistic procession.  Everything was so amazing, and being a part of it (opposed to seeing on the computer) was even amazinger!!!! ;D

I'm in the blue maxi "next to" the candle stick by the line.

The entire church was full of priests in cassocks!!  I'm not sure I'd even seen one in real life until then!  Most of them were young, and we got to talk to a lot of them.  My friends and I even got to sit with one during dinner!  A couple even came to the park and played frisbee with us.  It was truly an incredible experience.

On our trip we found some pretty good places to eat that I will highly suggest in case you are ever up that way.

2K's Kafe: Amazing food and service!  Tiny, but completely small town feeling.  My sister got the cinnamon roll french toast.  Definitely the favorite in my fam!  

The cinnamon roll french toast

Culver's: They now have some in Utah!  I know this is probably a common fast food place in the mid-west, but for us westerners who never get to eat their amazing fried chicken and custard, it was a treat!

Yesterday's Calf-A: They have amazing burgers and pie!!!  I would highly suggest the coconut cream.  We found out about this place from our friends in MT, and definitely worth the stop.  Keep an eye out when you're traveling on the 95, though, this place is literally in the middle of nowhere.

 

The coconut cream pie.  I'm getting hungry just looking at it!

Florence Coffee Company: It's only a small shack in Helena (one of three locations there, I think) but their drinks were REALLY good!  I got a coconut smoothie and would highly recommend it.

Em's Restaurant:  We went here after Mass at the Cathedral in Salt Lake City for brunch.  The smoked salmon eggs Benedict was amazing!  My sister got it for her birthday brunch.

Snyder Drug: This is a cute Catholic gift store, convenience store, and soda fountain all in one!  They have everything from odds-n-ends, ice cream, home decor, and chocolate sodas!

My mom's chocolate soda at the soda fountain in the back.

While we were driving up to MT, we passed through Butte at night.  There was something really bright up on the mountains beside us.  There was a big discussion as to what it really was.  My mom said it was a statue of Mary.  On our way back home, we passed through Butte during the day and saw that she had been right!

Our Lady of the Rockies.

We also saw an overlook with a sign that explained who she was and why she was there.  It was pretty neat!

We also stopped on our way back in Helena to see the Cathedral.

Note:

If you're anywhere near 50 miles of the place, stop by!!!

It is incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The church was huge!

 

The Stations were beautiful!!

Most of all the stained glass windows were gorgeous!

 St. Helena and her son, St. Constantine

 The Last Supper and St. Pope Pius X

The Transfiguration and the Crucifixion

A few things have been redone over the years, but those and most other things in the Cathedral are pretty much original to 1914, the year the building was completed.  The cornerstone was laid in 1908.

All in all it was an amazing trip!  I know I will definitely miss the scenery and the Toy Story clouds :)

God bless, and Namárië until next time!

An Idaho sunset.

An Amazing Weekend With Amazing People

 Last week I promised I would try to post about an upcoming trip to Alhambra, California.  This past Thursday we headed down with one of our friends and her mom for the Carmelite Sisters of The Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles' annual Boutique.  There is more information about the boutique in general on their website. ( http://www.carmelitesistersocd.com/ )

 Right when we got to the retreat house the sisters put us to work in the kitchen.  After getting hair nets and aprons on, ( I brought the one I had made here ) we started working with the postulants and novices.  It is such a joy to work with them, especially in the sister's giant kitchen!  Mostly on Thursday we boxed cookies for the boutique, but we also helped with other small tasks.  Friday morning we got up bright and early to go to mass with cloistered Carmelite sisters.  It was so cool seeing them behind the grate, participating in mass, and even getting to talk to one of the sisters and use the round-a-bout thingy to give them a donation!!  You know, the same thing in the movie  Thérèse.  Then we headed back to the retreat house to be put right back to work in the Carmelite kitchen.  There was so much to do, and I'd say we all worked from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, but it was so worth it.  I was always thinking to myself, "Why can't work at home be this fun?"  Being surrounded by tireless, joyful sisters gives you more energy than you ever think you can have.  As well as we would have a few candy or "mistake" brakes.  The mistakes are cookies or treats that can't be sold at the boutique, which the sisters end up eating.  The day of the boutique came upon everyone so quickly, and we didn't even finish with everything until after the boutique started.  My sister, friend, and I went to go get our name tags to see where we were assigned for the day.  They were assigned to go to the front gate to hand out flyers from 12:30 to 2:30.  All mine had on it was my last name.  I asked Sister Gloria Therese what I should do and she told me I should just help out wherever I was needed.  Then she wrote my name on my tag in the Most beautiful handwriting ever!!  It's a certain style of writing, and all the sisters have to learn it.  Even if I don't become a sister someday, I will certainly try to learn it!  Anyway, I helped in the kitchen until there was no more I could do.  Then I went to wander around and see where else I could help.  I ended up heading over to Santa's workshop ( a.k.a. the kids area ) to see what I could do there.  I was recruited for face painting, and those who know me will know I was pretty excited.  I love drawing or painting, and previously I had considered setting up a face painting business, but I had never actually had a real experience.  It was so fun!  I think my favorite part about it was seeing the kids reactions when they looked in the mirror.  Seeing someone so happy with something I did just completely made my day!  I even got a tip! (which I later donated to the sisters )  After the boutique ended at four, everyone cleaned up and went home.  Well, everyone except me, my sister, our friend and her mom.  My parents headed home while my sister and I stayed with our friends.

That's my name badge.

We found these in the Mater Dei Hall during the boutique.  Aren't they so cute?!

Here is where we went to mass with the Cloistered sisters. 

The is the inside of the cloistered sister's church.

That's me, face painting.

 We heard somehow that during their evening prayers, the sisters were going to sing the Salve Regina. We thought that would be so cool to hear.  So the three of us ( me, my sister and my friend ) went into the chapel with our veils to wait for the sisters to sing.  As we were waiting in the back pew, a sister came out of the side chapel and motioned for us to follow her.  At first we were hesitant, but then a sister came from behind us and asked, "Would you like to join us for evening prayers in the side chapel?"  Not knowing what to expect, we all went with her into the chapel that is on the right side ( if you are standing in the pews facing the alter ) of the alter.  It was such a special
 experience that I don't think I could even try explaining it here.
 After evening prayers we talked with the sisters' Chaplin, Fr. Anthony.  He was going to take us on a pilgrimage that had something to do with St. Jude.  We ended up not going because we still had to eat dinner, but hopefully we'll get to go someday.  I just love Fr. Anthony!!!  He's so holy, yet so hilarious, plus he adds these little points that make everything personal.

 Anyway, we went and had dinner at Wahib's Middle East Restaurant.  It was the first Greek food I've ever had, and it was good!  I especially liked the baklava!! ( Of course ;)

 Sunday morning we went to mass with the sisters, and after mass we sang happy birthday to Fr. Anthony.  Then we packed up and headed back home.

 To sum it all up, this was one of the best trips I've ever taken.  I want to thank my friends for making this trip possible, and the sisters for their hospitality.
I had so much fun and was surrounded by joy the entire time.  Would I do this again?  Even after all the hard work I had to do?  Totally!!! I will never forget that wonderful experience!!!