Fair Weather

Greetings,

Labor Day was celebrated at home in the monastery.  The sisters gathered for prayer, Eucharist, and an evening meal of favorite picnic foods.  Some of the sisters on mission away from home also gathered to celebrate this remembrance of the labor by attending a state fair!

We started our tour through the Nebraska State Fair with exhibit hall filled with the arts and crafts of the state.  It ranged from the very interesting creations including a trio of guitars bedazzled in gold and silver with blue spot-lights to this triptych of quilts with a religious theme.  Each of the quilts had a Bible quote stitched into its intricate fabric work. After some time before the triptych, we came to the conclusion that the last two would do better switched around. We pondered the creativity and beauty of the our resident artists.

In another exhibit hall, there were representatives from many of the state's industries from A to Z, or from Spas to Pork and Beans!  The pork producers had some fun promoting their 'home-grown' product by designing a gigantic pig from cans of pork and beans and fenced it in with green bean cans!  Also on display were the requisite 4-H and FFA projects that ranged from baked goods to monster pumpkins! It was wonderful to see all the work of our youth from Nebraska.

 

 All throughout the fairgrounds, there were fun sights and a multitude of folk!  We wandered up and down the lanes and aisles enjoying the day.  It wasn't long in our meandering that we were recognized...our sisters who serve in the city were becoming well known.  Sr. Clarice found a few parishoners among the fair-goers and Sr. Barbara was greeted by some of the high school students.  Both were amazed at being noticed in the throng of people, but glad to share our day.

 Soon enough the day had passed and it was time to return home to their little convent house we call St. Gertrude's.  The midway lights were shining brightly in the distance, beckoning the all to come and play, but it was time to settle in and pray.  It had been a wonderful day of wonders and laughter, a day to enjoy a little rest and fun, a day to be grateful for our blessings of work, family, and fun.

Blessings,