Merry Christmas--Haikus and a Few of my favorite things...

I can't believe the month of December has flown by!  It is Christmas Day, early afternoon.  I get a little break in between family festivities and food fests so I thought I'd blog a bit.  I wrote some Haiku's and took some photos of some of my favorite things about Christmas.  Enjoy!

Moon rise; silent night.

Simple stable; holy night.

Love.  Came down for us.

Star brightly shining.

Stop. Listen.  Can you hear him?
Singing songs of peace.

Look, little one, look.

He comes.  A child, just like you.

Embrace.  He is love.

No rain drops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but these are a few of my favorite things...

Bubble lights!



Snowy Christmas



Remnants of Joy-giving.

Grandmas cookies and coffee for breakfast

Ornaments with stories

Our motherhouse.  I sang with the choir for "midnight" Mass.

Handbells.  I love singing and ringing.

The revered and most special of all cookies...the Butter Horn.  Only on Christmas do we get to partake in such splendor.



Finally...my most favorite is spending time with my family and community...

Mama and Kate

Crama, Dan, Mama, and Kate

Ellie and Kate



Sisters Guisselle, Charlita and me



Sisters Kathleen and Joyce

Sisters Connie, Mary Jane, Toni and Bernadette

And because this is just too funny to let go...My sister Ellie attempting to play wii tennis with a text break in the middle of it.  :) 

Whack!

Oh...hang on...text break.

Hiyah!

Merry Christmas faithful readers....

Joy, Be You, And this is Just the Tip of the Iceberg?, Forgiveness

I've been "arting" lately; which I really enjoy.  I wish I could dedicate more time to it (and some funds to get some supplies to add to my meager collection).  I really should take a class in painting or something; I have no idea what I'm doing half the time.  I'd love to learn how to better produce mixed media art.  Oh well someday.  Enjoy the 4 pieces!


Joy

Be You

And this is Just the Tip of the Iceberg?

Forgiveness (This one is based on Sarah McLachlan's song Forgiveness from her new album!)

Pilgrim Journey

A few weeks ago I was in Door County with one of my nuns.  I went for a 3 mile hike and created this video meditation with some haiku's.  Enjoy!

We are the Body of Christ

I did this awesome prayer service with my 8th grade religion classes a few weeks ago.  In a "magnetic poetry-esqe" fashion, I blew up print from all sorts of different books and bibles.  The kids were to let the words pick them so-to-speak and the prayer poems they created were phenomenal!  They were not supposed to worry about grammar, etc.--just go with the Spirit.

I made a little video on them to share.  I did this video in 20 minutes, so it's not my best quality, but you'll get the picture.  The song is from Casting Crowns--If We are the Body.  Enjoy the work of the Spirit through these 8th grade wonders.

Winter's Here

Winter is here!  Yesterday the high was 36 degrees!  I actually love winter.  Well...ask me at anytime of the year and I'll say I love that season.  I don't love winter in April that's for sure.  But this time of year, bring on the snow and the coolness.  There's something meditative about winter unlike other seasons.  I like getting bundled up, drinking hot drinks, fires in a fireplace, snow, etc.  It's a quiet season.  I was inspired to do some writing last night about the unofficial, but weather indicating switch of seasons.  Enjoy my latest Haiku series.

Slowing down season

Crisp, chill air of winter's bite.

Deep invitation?

Sun illuminates

Enfolding darkness around.

Living with balance.

Breath of life is seen,

upon God's chilly backdrop.

Bundled in God's love.

Interconnected

Beauty of stark trees surround

Blanket of snow, come.

Exterior chill

Go inside to find yourself.

Interior warmth.

Shout Out

I need to give a shout out to the barista at Caribou Coffee...who ever you are!  Thanks for reading my blog!

Here's the story...

One of my 8th graders comes barreling into my class today.  "Ms. LaFond, Ms. LaFond!"  

"What's up?"

"The craziest thing happened today.  I was having coffee at Caribou with my dad this morning.  The barista said, 'Don't you have school today?'  I said yes.  She asked where I went. I said, St. John Vianney.  She asked what grade.  I said 8th.  She said, "IS YOUR TEACHER MS.  KATY LAFOND?"  I said, "YES"  She said she loves your blog, she reads it all the time, and you should post more."

How freaking cool is that?  So my student was totally jazzed up.  I think that's awesome.  Thanks, Barista...I will post soon.

Peace out!

Humility



Humble Surrender



Humbly I pray here.

Amid healing, flaws; just me.

Heart surrenders here.

Your presence is joy.

Teaching humble acceptance.

Peace for a stirred heart.

Franciscan Spirit.

Try to remove? Can't. It's me!

And yes, I wear jeans.

Transitus Joy

Some Transitus artwork and poetry to digest.  I'm trying to embrace and "complete" my joy these Franciscan feast days.  My "transitus" of spirit is giving me lots of reflection to say the least.  Perhaps I'm called to experience what losses happened at the loss of Francis.  True and perfect joy...not always what one wants to reflect on.  I carry my Franciscan tradition in my heart; that is joy enough.  Happy Feast Day!

Trasitus Joy  10/3/10



Transitus being.

Feast day carried in the heart.

Sister Joy hidden.

Francis welcomed dark.

Embraced joy within; around.

Joy will be complete.

Carry feast in my heart.

Marked with a Tau forever.

My God has called; JOY.



Phoenix Girl

I've been able to get my work done at school this week and I haven't had many things on my calendar either.  Wahoo!  I've been feeling creative and having some pretty powerful images when I'm praying and dreaming.  Today I painted this which came from an image I had this morning while praying.  My image included heavy things "raining" down on the girl too, but I omitted those from the painting and focused on the rising from the flames.  Avoidance?  Most definitely...why would I want to ruin a great image with bricks and stuff raining down on her?  Nope..not this image. 

I like how she looks strong and powerful, she's open and solid.  She appears confident in her transformation.  She is who she is and that's all that matters.

I also wrote a Haiku (A 5-7-5 poem) that goes with her.  When I was away in DC, someone gave me the "assignment" to write a Haiku a day.  It was a really nice and focused way for me to get my thoughts and feelings together.  I write a lot of Haiku's now and most often with my art work.  I'll share my Haiku's periodically on my blog with ya'll.

Phoenix Girl rises

Flames transform her; open, strong.

She is who she is.

Phoenix Girl--9/21/10 KML

It was a good image and I think I'll pray with it the next few days and see what else comes up. 

Casting into the deep...

So...I'm surprising myself these days.  I am NOT a morning person by any stretch of the imagination.  My usual morning routine is wake up, run out door. 

I think I've turned over a new leaf. I have to leave my house by 7.  I've been getting up between 6 and 6:15a.m. (sometimes 6:30 ha!).  I have an automatic coffee maker so I take my cup o' Joe and put on Pray-as-you-go.  I've blogged about this website before.  It's really really a great way to pray.  It's 10-13 minutes, has some world music, the reading of the day and thoughtful reflection questions.  I've found that centering myself for these 10ish minutes has been a great start to my day. 

Last week, or the week before (I forget which day), one of the readings was Jesus telling the guys to cast their nets into the deep waters.  I was praying and that image of casting into the deep really struck me.   I spent the last 11 months "casting" a lot into my deepest spaces and being challenged with the hardest situations of my life.  I still find that underneath the tough stuff (ya know...hurt and other yuck) is love...just love.  That is when I have the rare occasion and I'm more comforted and can say, "Ok God...I don't like this, but you're in charge. I have the love."   The other times are much more frustrating.  I guess if I keep casting...it will come.  Not a big fan of the whole surrender thing.  It's not so bad when your deep carries love, though.  I just need to remember that.

Casting into My Deep--9/20/10 KML

Another week...another fishing trip ahead!  Ahoy!

Takin' Some Time Off

I'm Baaaaaaaaaccccckkk!

It has been a LONG time! I'm thrilled to be back in the blogosphere! I know there have been lots of questions and comments these 10 months. I have good news and I have some bad news. The answers to the questions everyone wants to know...

The GOODnews: I was away at a renewal program in Washington DC for 10mo's. It was rewarding and I am doing GREAT! I am teaching 7th and 8th grade English and 8th grade religion at St. John Vianney Catholic School this year. I'm living in a great apartment not too far away from all my best people.

The bad news: In June, my provincials asked me to take some time away from community. This is extremely difficult for me because my heart is an SSSF. I know God is with me. I'm trying to be open to this time despite my broken heart.  Please keep me in your prayers.

I contemplated changing my blog title, making a new blog, quit blogging until I re-entered. I really enjoy blogging. I figured I would take this opportunity to be One Fun "Taking Some Time off" Nun.  To avoid confusion, I have settled on One Fun Laywoman.  I still think Religious Life Rocks and am discerning and healing my heart.  I plan to blog about my experiences living this year as a laywoman and continuing my discernment about religious life. I'm sure I'll have much to share, some ups and some downs. Regardless...I'm happy to be back on the blog scene. Stay tuned, faithful fans.