Alleluia!

I have been so blessed to spend the last 3 1/2 days in silence with Our Lord. Even more so by the location. The retreat facility was set on a cliff overlooking a mountain stream in the Canadian Rocky foot hills. In the near distance were the beautiful Rockies that I miss from my youth. These Spiritual Exercises were so needed (thank you St. Ignatius) and I have come away feeling refreshed and renewed, and wary. Wary, because we were warned by our director that the first 24 - 48 hours are a time in which we may face opposition to all we experienced during our retreat.
And while it was wonderful to spend all of that time in silence with Jesus and to be spiritually renewed, it is so good to be home to this beautiful family of mine. 4 small faces eagerly pressed up to mine, anxious to tell me of all of their adventures. One extra small boy who is quickly growing and learning words that ring so sweetly upon my tired ears. Words like "mama" and "aweooya"(alleluia-learnt from the Regina Caeli). One extra big boy who loves me in a way no other human does on earth. He loves me enough to let me go be with my most beloved Lord for 4 days while he watches over hearth and home and does not begrudge it. Maybe because I'm such a better wife for it, when I return home.
Thank you Lord Jesus for all of your gifts, living and reigning now and forever! Amen!!