Letting Go

This time around it is hard to find an internet computer to write a blog. It seems like a rainy day in Switzerland is a good day for hunting down a computer,  finding a washer and dryer and a hair dryer.  We say there are no bad weather days only bad attitudes.

My soulmate and I are having a wonderful time. This type of travel is not for the fainthearted. There are a lot of jumping on and off trains – finding connections and finding hotel rooms all without an understanding of the language – on the fly but with the many prayers of our friends and family we have always managed by grace to find a safe and affordable place to lay our heads at the end of the day……long run on sentence but the computer has a mind of it-s own.

John is 100 % adventurous and I started out at 5% but he says I am up to 92%. I am not too sure about that number.

What I have learned along the way is that Letting Go is a Leap of Faith.

First I had to get rid of all the stuff that I thought I needed but could not carry. Living without is so much better than carrying that which is a burden.

Then we had to let our beloved Murphy pass over the Rainbow Bridge without us there. Heart breaking for us as for Christine and Mark who were with him.

Now everyday I have to let go of expectations and trust that Someone has our backs.

Sometimes you just Need to have faith…Trust and let go.  Even on a rainy Saturday in Switzerland there are blessings in letting go…..a hair dryer, a washing machine and dryer, and an internet Computer.

A reminder to myself…. Be better than you think you are…..more couragous, more adventurous, move loving and more caring.

Learning to live with less….. and more in the present moment.

John and I try to connect in some small positive ways with the people we meet. We try to be a positive image of an American. We truly find the best part of travel is in the people we meet and in extending gratitude and kindness to everyone. We are definately the minority. It is because of all of you praying for us that we are able to let go and share God-s love. Thank you!!!!

Buen Camino

 

 

 

 

“Pilgrimage” ~ Or Just on A Long Walk

Somewhere I read, ¨If your dreams don´t scare you they aren´t big enough!¨

Pilgrimage is described a journey of moral or spiritual significance usually to a distant location.  I like to think that all of us are on a pilgrimage, this journey called life, which leads us through many sacred and not so sacred places to our final destination back to where we began with our Creator. Sometimes our steps are mindful and yet other times we are basically sleep walking day in and day out not giving much thought to where we’re going. When we quiet our minds and hearts we can hear the quiet voice of God and He is saying, “Come follow Me.”

The difference for me between talking a very long hike and making a pilgrimage is the intention of  letting go of ordinary every day life, with all the noise and distractions and following the call to follow the Lord.   For me walking, although physically, mentally and even emotionally challenging, is a way to feel a keen awareness that God is Near!  For the last several days we have been walking up and down the  beautiful Pyrenees Mountain which is physically challenging  and for two of the past two days it has been raining. It may seem crazy for most people but for us it is very special time in our lives and a special place.  As we  “Follow the Call” to live in the present moment, we are grateful for each breath and every step. We don´t take it for granted. This time we haven´t met anyone older than us or we have not met any other Americans hiking. It is escpecially challenging because we are carrying our backpacks but it is still an amazing experience that we would not change for anything.   On the Camino we meet people from all around the world who are kind and generous in spirit and like us they want to draw closer to God and to live a life that reflects love and peace.  With each step I pray, Lord, have mercy on our world help me to show your love to others that they might know you and live in peace.¨

P:S: It is very difficult to get internet access to write a blog post. If I were able to write from my IPhone it would be easy but not posible for me. It may be many days between posts. Thank you for your interest and for your prayers. We are praying for you as well.

“Take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.”  Hebrews 12: 12-13

Buen Camino!

A Simple Path

After a two week “rain delay” or more accurately a 7 mm kidney stone and lipotripsy procedure, John and I are back on track to begin a hiking and backpacking pilgrimage across Europe.

Most of our friends tell us there isn’t any way they could be gone for two and a half month living out of a fifteen pound backpack. I think, “Who wouldn’t like to take a second honeymoon through Europe with their soulmate?” The way I look at it, we’re studying abroad for the summer semester of our “senior year”. It’s a simple path, a journey of faith, filled with great adventure and mostly celebrating love. Like most folks our age, after graduating from college we got married, began careers, bought a house and started a family. “Back in the day” no one I knew traveled abroad.

Now at this stage of our lives, John has planned a trip of a lifetime just for us. Seriously, when someone you love offers you a gift are you going to tell them it’s totally impractical????? NO!!!! Not this wife!  I began to think, “Why not???” The last ten, twenty even forty years where have they gone? I don’t want to look back in five years and say to myself, “It was something we’d always talked about doing but I was too practical, and yes, maybe even too scared to go!” It’s now or never.

My one requirement, John needed to clear it with his cardiologist. In 2008 John had five by-passes but within the next year, he ran the Peachtree Road Race and the Marine Corp Marathon. That being said, I still get concerned when it comes to his heart issues. Following an EKG, stress test, and a 24 hour heart monitor, I asked his doctor point blank, “If this was your father, would you give him the green light him to hike across the Pyrenees with a 25 lb. backpack?” Dr. Mathew’s response, “Yes, take me with you!” When we returned home that day, John called and made our plane reservations. Then he started to work on the itinerary. There’s no turning back, not heart, not kidney stones, not knee pain can stop this man.

Tomorrow we’ll lock the front door, leave the comforts of our home, drop off our beloved twelve year old golden retriever, Murphy, at our daughter’s house, and head out with packs and prayers. Because of our two week “rain delay”, we will begin our pilgrimage in Lourdes, France, hiking approximately twenty four days (rather than our original 38) through what is considered some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Europe, crossing the Pyrenees Mountains then on to Burgos, Spain. This is an eastern portion of the ancient Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage, which has many different routes throughout Europe. (We hiked the entire 500 miles Camino from St. Jean Pied de Port, France to Santiago, Spain in 2012.) After we reach Burgos we’ll travel to Barcelona and then train back through France to LePuy. This is where we had originally planned to start but instead will end this leg of our trek here with Mass and a blessing from the local bishop. Flexibility is a must on a pilgrimage! From this point forward we’ll travel by rail through ten countries staying in small guesthouses, pensions, and hotels along the way. September will find us traveling through scenic villages from Budapest to Amsterdam. Finally to complete our adventure we’ll “Chunnel” to London and spend a few days with my cousin and his wife, Mike and Kathy, before returning home.

…..A simple path across an ancient trail, a journey of faith, to live in the moment with God’s protection, “Soulmates-Solemates” counting our blessings along the way…..

We hope that you will pray for us as we will be praying for you as well.   Let the adventure begin!

Buen Camino

A Journey of Faith

“A Curve in the Path is Not the End of the Road”

Well, I could start by saying, “Que Sera, Sera” or “A curve is not the end of the road”.  What I choose to say is, “All things work together for good for those that love the Lord.” Romans 8:28.

Now that being said, we were scheduled to depart for a  three month backpacking adventure including a 500 mile pilgrimage across France and Spain on Tuesday, July 7. However, a few days ago my “solemate” was diagnosed with a 7mm kidney stone that needs to be blasted to smithereens  and two week recoup before we depart.

Ok,  so we are a little disappointed BUT oh so grateful that it happened in the good old USA where we can speak the language, have the best medical facilities and  last BUT certainly not the least, medical insurance. Rather than boarding a plane for Paris, my “soulmate” will be ushered into the ER next week.  Probably will cost a lot more than our trip across Europe on $5 a day. (I think that was back in the 50s).   All in all I think we are VERY blessed, easy for me to say,  I’m not having my kidneys blasted.

If all goes well with the patient, our trip will be postponed by two weeks.  With the help of meds, we are still planning on hiking 14 miles on July 4^th to celebrate the Annual Peachtree Road Race which is our tradition.   We enjoy walking from our car to the start and finish, then walking back to the start and to our car stopping at the Mellow Mushroom for a slice of pizza and a beer. Life is short what can I say? What people do in Atlanta to get a T-shirt.

Happy 4^th of July!!!!!

God bless our servicemen and women and PLEASE GOD Bless America and protect us from all the crazy people! We really need it!!!!

Homeward Bound

Just as we were about to go out and buy cruise wear, John talked with the cruise line and we do not have reservations after all.  They still had him registered on the cancellation list.

He just got off the phone from changing our flight reservations and we will be home tomorrow.

Sometimes, (actually most of the time), I think life is all about surrendering  control.  Letting go of control is probably the single most difficult thing for us humans to do. We want to be in charge of every step we take or don’t take.  One thing this journey has reminded me is to just let go and let God direct our course.

We are looking forward to seeing kids, grandkids and friends and of course Murphy.

Prayers to all. Please pray for a safe and SMOOTH flight.

Love,

Patti

GPS

Re-navigating is what our GPS tells us when we have taken a different path from the one that we originally set.  That is pretty much how I feel right now. After hiking all over Rome today and expecting to come back to our hotel to make arrangements to fly home to Casa de Murphy , John got an email saying that our reservations had been accepted to take the cruise. We were second in line for a cancellation and hadn’t heard anything as of this morning.  Even after all of  these years of being Soul Mates there are plenty of times when one soul gives preference to the other soul. Sometimes it’s John and sometimes it’s me.  I had been praying that whatever happened as far as the cruise I would accept. I know this is what John really wants to do.  I must admit that I was looking forward to traveling back to our home and thought for sure that’s what was going to happen. Now I will set my GPS in a different direction.  GPS – Today I must say God’s Plan is  Superior to my plan.   My sister has a saying, “Let my expectations be from Thee”.  I was expecting to go home but I’m sure this will be a wonderful adventure and when I look back I will be glad that we had the opportunity to do it. It truly is a once in a lifetime adventure.

To all of my friends and family,  I am praying each step of the way for you.  Please keep us in your prayers for a safe journey  as well.

Buen Camino

Patti & John

Sole Mates-Sail Mates-Soul Mates

After underestimating the degress of difficulty of hiking the Appinnine Mountains and overestimating our ability to actually climb them with heavy backpacks, and old knees, we headed out of the mountains into the cities of Italy.  We have walked the roads of Rome, Siena, Assisi and Chique Terra.  We have had over two weeks of adventure, hopping on and off trains arriving in cities, finding a place to set our bags and heading out into the streets to explore all parts of italy.

We are on a waiting list to take a cruise of the Greek Isles but as of now we are second in line for a cancallation.  We are back in Rome at a Holiday Inn (so nice to have clean pressed sheets). We are off to explore the city and perhaps when we return to make arrangements to fly home to Casa de Murphy.

This pilgrimage is nothing like we planned but more than we could have ever imagined.  We have met many wonderful people, experienced the goodness of strangers and the presence of the Lord, our faithful friend and guide.  There have been many times when I have prayed for His protection along the way and always trusted that we are in His care. His ways are higher than our ways and His plan is always perfect.

Sole mates, sail mates  in Italy,  in Greece or in Hoschton wherever  we go  we remain Soul Mates.

Buen Camino

A Change in Direction

Just when you think you know where you are going life seems to send you a curve ball.  We had planned our pilgrimage out.  John had worked hard at getting maps and everything we thought we needed to make this a very special  spiritual expereince.  On the Camino di Assisi as on the Road of Life there are always unexpected circumstances that turn us around.  We have learned to be flexable and find the blessings in these events.

First, let me say, thank you for your prayers and for your love and friendship. We are safe, sound and enjoying our trip.  We are in Assisi but did not arrive on foot but by train.  After two eight hours days of hiking the Appinnine Mountains only to arrive at very desolute refugios, (Refugee Camps for Pilgrims and safehavens for bedbugs) we decided to skip the mountain climbing and travel by train.  We may have a heart for the Lord but we are not yet ready to be martyrs.   The Camino de Santiago had spoiled us as the Way of St Francis is not yet established enough for two little old  pilgrims to navigate themselves in a foreign land not knowing the language or climbing the mountains of Italy.  We were  smart to quit before we got hurt because we both knew we were in way over our physcial ability.  That being said the weather has been wonderful and the scenery beautiful.

Now, I would like to mention that there have been so many blessings along the way.  Each time we have become lost or without a place to stay , usually it is late at night, out of no where appears a Good Samaritan that offers us either a room, a ride or advise that leads us to where we need to go.  It has been small little miracles along the way that let us know that there are many  praying for us and SOMEONE is watching over us.

I think what I have been reminded is that happiness is being wherever you are, with the one you love and knowing that even a change of direction can be the right way  all along.

Internet access is VERY limited and I am not able to post. Know that we love you all and appreciate yoour love and prayers.

We spent two days in Siena, two days in Rome and we will be in Assisi until Saturday.  Assisi still ramains my most favorite city.  We are staying at a wondeful, extremely clean and comfortable convent guest house.  Saturday we are traveling by train to Chiqua Terra.  After that we will decide what to do next.  We are still hiking up and the the streets of Italy but limiting our mountain climbing to more manageable endeavers.

God bless you! 

Buen Camino

Traveling Light

How appropriate that yesterday’s readings spoke of traveling light.  We leave today on our pilgrimage across Italy.  Everything I need for a month is stuffed into my backpack weighing 13 lbs, or carried in my heart, or walking right beside me.

I love the idea of traveling light. It’s  actually very freeing to know that we can live, and still be very happy, with such a little amount of “stuff”.

Several years ago, John and I moved  into our little cabin in the woods of North Georgia. I have always loved St. Francis and in a way it felt like it was a “call  to simplify our lives  and serve” in our little “Hermitage”.   After retiring from ATT, John became an EMT and firefighter at age fifty. He earned $6.50 an hour. Although we had our retirement set aside, we wanted to try and live on those wages.  Every time I thought of buying something I would think of how many hours he had to work to pay for it.  I became a consignment shopper but what I really learned is that I didn’t need  a lot of things to be happy.  A few years later, John and I went to work as teachers, his parents moved in with us, and we moved to a new home and started furnishing it with “treasures”.  It’s interesting how easy it is for me to get caught up in that whole material world. I will be the first to confess that I like nice “stuff” but living at the cabin truly changed me.

A few weeks ago, after my mother passed away, I was gathering her belonging from the nursing home.  Except for her pictures, and a few bags of clothing she had no other possessions.  What she did have was her  amazing faith and her loving family, nothing else mattered. I was reminded that  “In the end only three things last, faith, hope and love and of these love is the greatest.”

As we walk the Way of St. Francis, what we will take is our faith, our friends, and our family.   Those things we will carry in our hearts and we will leave behind all our “stuff”.  Hopefully when we return home we will be changed in some way  by this new experience.

Love and prayers to you as we travel The Way of St. Francis. Please keep us in your prayers as well.

Thank you to Christine and our friends who are caring for Murphy while we are away!

Buen Camino

Homeward Bound – My Mother’s Eulogy

I had been praying for several days whether or not we should cancel our trip to Italy.  My 92 year old mother was very fragile and although I was trusting the Lord for direction it wasn’t until Sunday morning at 6 a.m. that I had a clear answer. Since 4 a.m. that morning I was preparing the last details for our 10:30 ride to the airport.  When my sister called I knew we would cancel our flight and make the fourteen hour road trip to Michigan. We arrived at midnight on Monday and I spend the night at our mother’s bedside.   She passed peacefully and gently into eternal life late Tuesday afternoon.  I was at her side singing and praying as the Spirit of the Lord was upon her and she released her soul into His care.

Below is the eulogy I shared at her funeral Mass  at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Erie, Pa.

Elizabeth Ann McLaughlin ~ January 23, 1921 ~ October 1, 2013

To God Be the Glory

 In speaking for my brother, Dan and my sister, Carol, I would like to thank the Lord for His faithfulness in making provisions for our every need.  Thank you Fr. Richey, Monsignor Smith, Jean and the music ministry for a beautiful Liturgy and celebration of our mother’s life.  We want to thank the Lord for providing a way for our brother, Dan and Becky to be with us.  This is nothing short of a miracle as Danny has been in the hospital and rehabilitation for the past three months.  Danny and our parents were very close and it was important for them to be here. As a matter of fact, John and I arrived in MI on Monday evening at midnight after driving fourteen hours from Ga. Carol and I spent the night with our mother. About 3 a.m. Carol was in the restroom and when she came out I told her that our mother had opened her eyes and spoke to me.  I told her that our mother said to tell her, that it was true about what we both had always thought: “Danny was her favorite.”  We both laughed and Carol relayed a text message to him in the morning.  We are so grateful that Dan and Becky could be here.  I also want to thank Carol and Tim for the past five years of their loving caring for our mother.  They did an amazing job and I pray that the Lord will bless them. Finally we want to thank all of you for being here today and for the efforts that all the grandchildren made in traveling to Erie. We truly appreciate your love.

Our mother’s life verse was: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This was the verse unknowingly both Carol and I had encouraged her to use for the last twelve years of her life as she struggled to meet her physical challenges.

As we arrived in Erie on Friday from MI, I asked John to drop me off at the library so I could write a few thoughts to give to Fr. Richey to help him understand why we had chosen the scriptures for our mother’s funeral.  Both Carol and Fr. Richey thought that I should share them with you.

Romans 15: 13  “Now the God of Hope fills us with JOY and peace in believing that we may abound in hope through the Holy Spirit. Today we are filled with JOY, peace and hope, because we know without a shadow of a doubt that our mother, Elizabeth McLaughlin, is with her Lord and Savior, and her beloved husband, Paul Francis. She loved the Lord with all her heart and mind and with all her soul and she loved others as herself.

Proverbs 31 speaks of the Godly woman and that was our mother. She was humble in her own estimation but in the eyes of the Lord, she was a true gift to our father, Paul, and her children and grandchildren. Before my father passed away he told her she was more beautiful than the day he met her and sixty-six years later he loved her even more than he did the day they married. Mother was the love of his life and they were truly soul mates. Their commitment in good times and in difficult times in sickness and in health was an inspiration to everyone who knew them.

As a mother, she loved and nurtured her children and her grandchildren. She never tired of showing them love in all the special things she did to make our house a home. As small children she would sing Irish songs and hold us and stroke our brow when we were sick. She did all those thousands of little things that make special memories for all of us.  The ways in which she welcomed all of Dan’s friends around the kitchen table and taught them table manners and help them get ready for the prom. She also made care packages for him when he was in the service. She made sure there was always well balanced meal on the table each evening. She would spend hours sewing my sister and my Easter and First Communion dresses. She even made my uniform for Villa and my prom and graduation dresses. Holidays were made memorable by the care and preparation of decorating our home and special meals. If being a mother wasn’t enough, she truly excelled and loved being a grandmother. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were her delight in the later years.  I’ve heard it said that God gives grandchildren as a reward for not killing your own kids. Most importantly our mother was a PRAYER. She covered our every need in prayer. Day and night she prayed and one specific prayer was that each of us would marry just the right spouse. God was faithful in hearing and answering her prayers.  Just like our parents, each one of us has a wonderful spouse and we are happily married for many years.

Besides the gifts of faith and love, one of our mother’s greatest gifts was GIVING. She was the original re-gifter. We always knew whatever we gave our mother she would give it to someone else as a gift. If she saw a need she wanted to help. Whether a friend, relative our complete stranger, she was the first to organize an outreach for someone in need. We didn’t have a lot of extra money or material possessions growing up but there was enough to go around and to share with others. Mother was always collecting for the Carmelite Sisters. That was her favorite part of any holiday.  Our parents were involved in St. James Church and the Carmelite Monastery for over fifty years. They were also involved in the Cursillo Movement and volunteered at both Villa and Prep. In their later years they volunteered with the Benedictine Convent and at Benetwood Apts. where they lived. Our parents’ lives revolved around their faith and their family. This remains a tremendous witness for all of us.

Finally:

Our mother’s final legacy is truly found in today’s gospel reading: John 14: 1-7. Jesus told his apostles that He had to go to His Father’s house and prepare a place for them. Those were the last words that our dad spoke to our mother before he died.  More importantly, when Thomas didn’t understand what Jesus was trying to say, he asked Jesus, “How can we know the way?” Jesus replied, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME. IF YOU KNOW ME YOU WILL KNOW MY FATHER AND YOU WILL SEE HIM.”

Our mother KNEW JESUS! She loved him and she knew that HE is the WAY! I was with our mother when she passed away. I saw the beauty of the Lord upon her. She was radiant! As I softly sang the Our Father, she ever so peacefully passed into eternal life. She knew where she was going and she knew the WAY!  She was going HOME to be with her Lord and Savior and her beloved, Paul Francis.

Our mother would not want us to put the spot light on her but on Jesus. She would say, as did Jesus’ Mother, Mary, “My soul proclaims the greatness of our Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for HE is mighty and has done great things for me and holy is HIS NAME. His mercy is on those who fear the Lord from generation to generation.”

To God be the glory for the things He has done!