angels watching over me... all day

Gorgeous angel in front of the Pauline Books & Media store

When Michael and I left our home yesterday morning, it was 8 degrees and snowing in Norman and Oklahoma City. A mere handful of hours later we landed at LAX, where the temperature was a balmy 60 degrees.

Needless to say, I’m in heaven. 

we began the day with daily Mass at Our Lady of Malibu 

the view from Pepperdine University

As if the warmer temperatures were not enough, I am spending the next few days writing and staring at the ocean—while my husband attends a conference on “Law and Love” at Pepperdine University. 

I can already confirm that this was a good way to spend my airline miles!

I brought with me enough research material to tackle one, maybe two good chapters of my book project while I’m here.

In my experience writing a book, the early stages in the process always make me feel a bit overwhelmed by the picture I see. As I whittle at it little by little, not only does the picture become clearer, but the process itself seems to find a natural rhythm that leads me in directions I couldn’t even see until I was “there.”

In a very real way, it’s a lot like going on pilgrimage. 

I am convinced that a pilgrimage begins the moment you decide that you’re going on one. In those early stages of preparation, it all looks and feels “big,” too big!

But this feeling (for lack of a better word) is only temporary—and as I continue to make progress on this project it’s important that I remember that.  As my dear Pat Stankus often reminded me, just enjoy it. It will pass!

It was easy to enjoy today.

the amazing Sr Rose!

I had a delicious lunch with my lovely and talented friend Sr Rose Pacatte, and even got to see her “writing space”  at the Pauline Center for Media Studies, as well as the impressive store run by her community, the Daughters of St. Paul, in Culver City. By the way, if you go, be sure to drop by their beautiful chapel in their store!

Just talking with Sr Rose was energizing and inspiring! 

On the way back to Malibu, I was enthralled by the beautiful drive along California’s PCH and made several stops along the way. 

Wishing you inspiration and blessings this weekend. And if you don’t hear from me for a few days, say a prayer for my writing project!

a few shots of my drive north on Cali's PCH:

Technology and the present moment

When it comes to cool technology, I tend to get as excited as my two-year-old granddaughter when she plays ball, although I try not to shriek out loud, at least in front of people!

I especially love it when technology offers us simple avenues of enhancing our world, of helping us be more present to our everyday life and finding gratefulness there.

The other day I read in Mashable about a new iPhone app that aims to make each day of our lives "memorable." Proposed on Kickstarter, the 1 Second Everyday app prompts users to capture one second of footage each day to create a "curated and definitive film reel of their lives." 

It's an interesting concept, and I like it much better than the $1.99 app that simply takes a picture of your face every day and records it so that you can see how you are "changing." Seriously?

Kuriyama giving a Ted talk on his project at Ted 2012

Here's what Cesar Kuriyama, the creator of 1 Second Everyday, explains about his intention, as reported on the project’s Kickstarter page:

“We have a tendency to pull cameras out when we’re doing something fun or interesting, but we probably don’t think to record when we’re just sitting at home watching TV. Recording a moment daily started encouraging me to wake up and seize each day.”

Check these more traditional Catholic apps that I enjoy:

• The Daughters of St. Paul have a list of apps for smartphones that you want to check out. My personal favorites: the Rosary in English and Spansih--beautiful!

• Did you know that the Divine Office is available as a very cool app? So is our Catholic missal

• One that I personally use everyday, on my iPhone or iPad: the Magnificat app. I still prefer the actual Magnificat Magazine in my hand with daily readings, prayers, reflections, saints. But this one is hard to beat when I'm traveling!