Sunday, May 12, 2013

MAY 12, 2013 - GREENSBORO, NC

SUNDAY
MAY 12, 2013
 
What an amazing experience it is,
while traveling,
to seek out a parish to visit
for Sunday Liturgy.
It helped us locate St. Mary's in Greensboro, NC,
just a few miles from our Greensboro Campground,
where we attended 11 AM Mass today.
 
 
 
 
 
St. Mary's was a very welcoming community.
Father Charlie, a Vincentian priest,
was our Celebrant.
 
 
At the conclusion of Mass,
Father Charlie shared the important bulletin announcements,
and then took the time to
ask all Visitors to stand and
introduce themselves, and tell the town they were from.
 
Next, he asked for all Birthday people to stand,
and the Choir Director led us in singing
Happy Birthday.
 
The next round was for those
with Wedding Anniversaries,
to which we sang Congratulations.
 
Father Charlie made a special point
of Congratulating a young man
who had just received his
PhD in Industrial Systems Engineering.
You could see the Communities joy
over his great accomplishment.
 
Last but not least, Father Charlie
asked all Mothers to stand,
and several Ushers came forward and
gave the Mothers a Yellow Rose,
after Father Charlie said a blessing for us.
 
 
They had no way of knowing how special that color
was to me.  When my daughter, Kathy was born,
I received a Yellow Rose from an Aunt
in our family who had given birth
to her Son on that same day,
several years before.
It just happened that we were spending
Mother's Day this year, with Kathy,
and that was how we were in the area.  
 
 
After Mass many of the parishioners gathered
on the lawn to take pictures,
and were thrilled to have me take a few
pictures to remember our visit with.
 
Three of the ladies posed in Church for me,
and we exchanged e-mail addresses,
so I could send the pictures to them.
They have given me permission to post
these wonderful photos.
 
We know we will see them again,
in future visits with Kathy.
 
 
 
When I inquired about the special fabric in their
dresses, the ladies told me it was from
Nigeria.  I could not help but think of
Father Jerry Aman, SJ who has
ministered in Nigeria for years.
 
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

MAY 5, 2013 - SNOWBIRDS are migrating North via Interstate 95

MAY 2 - 4, 2013
 
On May 2nd, we progressed 294 miles from Florida to South Carolina.
The weather was not very cooperative.  We had torrential rains most of the way.
I was so thankful when we reached our destination, that I didn't even
want to venture out to dinner.  We had a nice meal in our RV instead.
Planned leftovers are such a blessing on days like that.
Another blessing of the day was gas priced at $3.18 a gallon in South Carolina.
 
MAY 3rd
 
One of the joys of a dry travel day is being able to get out
and walk at the rest areas.  I was able to take these lovely
photos of the Scarlet Red Poppies beds planted along
 Interstate 95, from a rest area in North Carolina. 
Later we had blue flowers, some of which
I am sure were Bachelor Buttons.
Gas in North Carolina was $3.23 per gallon.
We traveled 263 miles today. 
 
 
One of many beds of Poppies along Interstate 95 in North Carolina.
 

Scarlet Red Poppies along Interstate 95 in North Carolina.


Bachelor Buttons along Interstate 95 in North Carolina.

 
 MAY 4th
 
 
A field of Buttercups and Cows near
 Smithfield, Virginia.
 
We traveled 186 miles on Saturday, May 4th
which makes for a total of 743 from Florida to
our first family visit.
 
MAY 5th
 
We had a lovely day with my sister and her husband,
enjoying Smithfield, Virginia.
In the afternoon we attended a performance
of OLIVER at the Smithfield Little Theatre,
with an outstanding Cast of so many
talented young people.
We drove into Norfolk for dinner
at Bonefish Restaurant.
 
 
Sculpture outside Smithfield Little Theatre
 
 
Rita and Linda