Most of us like to work on jigsaw puzzles, so we have several going throughout the house. Here's Sr. Jackie and me working on one in our living group.

Here I am at home today doing some of the usual weekend routines that I have always done – cleaning, doing laundry and preparing a little school work. As a Benedictine Sister, I also am doing some work that was not part of my usual Saturday morning routine – at least not before I turned 36!

That is, I went to Lauds at 9:00 a.m. (blessedly later than the 6:30 a.m. Lauds of the school week!), and after lunch I came to the liturgy office to work on a Liturgy of the Hours Book for the Office of the Dead. It is a big project and I have been working on it for almost a year.

I got up to take a break and walked down stairs to our dining room and to fetch a drink and a snack. As I was doing this I began to flash back on my life before entering the monastery. It funny how it just pops into my head sometimes … and interesting to ponder the journey God has led me on!

Back in Cedar Rapids, I lived in a small efficiency apartment. I was paying my bills, getting my credit score back into shape and thinking, It’s time to move into a bigger place. I wanted a nice 1-bedroom apartment with a balcony and a pet.

But God had other plans for me, and here I am today. I’m a member of a large, tight-knit family of women who have committed themselves to God and to one another. I live in a large house (my preschoolers think it’s very “cool!”). While I still do many of the things I did every Saturday as a teacher in Cedar Rapids, I’ve added a few new ones. Some are quiet, as when I get my first cup of coffee in the morning and run into Sr. Helen eating her breakfast. I give her a friendly smile and a nod of the head (because we keep silence until after Lauds). Other things are noisier, as when a bunch us get into a lively conversation over lunch. It’s wonderful to have someone to eat lunch with beside the T.V.! Today, I ran into Sr. Marlene getting my snack and had a nice chat.

Having family around is wonderful … and so different from my life in Cedar Rapids. It could get very lonely on a Saturday. I am blessed with and by the Sisters in my community. If you are interested in learning more about our way of life, contact me at smacdonald@smmsisters.org. I am always happy to share!!!! 🙂