Author: Maria

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the struggle is real

The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases.

~St. Rose of Lima

I recently had an encounter with St. Rose of Lima while on a mini-vacation. Don’t worry, I don’t usually have saints come up behind me and tap me on the shoulder. I certainly wish  things were that easy.

It wasn’t like that — I’ve just had a lot of things piling up for discernment. I’ve often felt that a memo from God would make everything so easy. I could obey, or disobey, and it would be very clear either way.

So I found myself confused — a little lost even as I struggled to make some decisions on my own. I was on vacation but instead of relaxing I was getting more and more wound up. Finally, I just prayed for a church, any church, so I could go inside for a moment. To pray. To sit before the Blessed Sacrament.

My husband, aware of my anxiety, googled local churches while I went inside a gas station for some drinks. He was smiling broadly when I came back, and told me I’d get a nice surprise about a block down the road.

Sure enough, we turned down a side road and there in front of us was a quaint little church named after St. Rose of Lima. I got my wish and the peace that comes from prayer: Jesus I trust in you.

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out of time

For as long as I can remember holding a camera, I’ve been drawn to scenes that show disrepair and the passage of time — perhaps a level of brokenness or abandonment that speaks of good times long gone. I’m sure if I was able to find a Freudian analyst, he’d have a field day helping me figure out this attraction. Whatever. It leads to a compelling picture every once in a while.

preserveRecent adventures in the Mobile Bay area of Alabama yielded quite a few opportunities to find scenes that are off-season — past their prime. I love the idea that there was a time of prosperity and now these places are in a new season — either a season of renewal, as this hundred year-old church under renovation and historic preservation, or one where the passage of time has rendered a property or home useless.

The church is pretty and quaint; this dilapidated home, however, calls to me. Who lived there? Why did they leave? What secrets are being reclaimed by the forest? It doesn’t just tell a story, it weaves a tale through the kudzu.

house

 

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foodie adventures in Mobile

Took a little weekend jaunt down to Mobile, Alabama. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen so far.

And then…dinner. We were too tired to venture out of the hotel, and the Hilton Garden Inn has a small restaurant. Oh. Boy. Best decision all week.

Screen Shot 2015-06-13 at 4.49.48 PMThis is Tim. He just got back from a tour in Afghanistan and he’s the cook. Not the chef — his training is as a mess daddy in a field kitchen. I’d say that’s the best training of all. When the only thing available for morale is good food, you better believe the cooking has to be good.

John had a delicious-looking andouille sausage and shrimp pasta deliciousness that I couldn’t sample (I’m allergic to shellfish — oh the humanity!).

I om-nommed my way through three amberjack tacos. The fish was grilled to perfection, seasoned beautifully, and the black bean and corn salsa had just the right amount of bite. It was heavenly.

Tim came out to talk with us. He invented the recipes and was watching us to see if we liked them…we just pulled him over to talk, about food, his service, and desserts. I wasn’t going to have any dessert, but he made the bread pudding, and I wasn’t going to say no to homemade bread pudding. Especially since he made an exquisite caramel to drizzle over it. Mmmmm.

We enjoyed speaking with him. I could tell that he loves his job cooking, and he loves inventing new recipes. I shared an idea with him for making a fried bread pudding, and I could see his brain working immediately. I wonder if it will be on the menu tonight. Anyway, it was such a pleasure to speak with him and share in his passion. His face lit up as he explained his recipes, and he was just — well — charming. I need to rediscover that in my own work. We all should.

We’re going back for more tonight. I expect it to be amazing.

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