February 15, 2010 -- Happy President’s Day.

One step into the dining room and we knew we were celebrating something special! There were red, white and blue streamers on railing into the room, red white and blue balloons on the tables and stars and stripes patriotic tables cloths. The menu was an All-American Meal: *Southern Fried Chicken, *Mashed Idaho Potatoes with Gravy, * Midwest red, white and blue Jello Salad, * Washington Cherry Pie, *New England Apple Pie and root beer. Yummy! There were fun trivia questions about the presidents posted on the door…lots of conversation starters all around.

These two weeks, a hundred Norwegian Home Guard members are guests at Camp Ripley for winter training. And we have a hundred National Guard members training in Norway. This is the 37th year of this exchange program. Quite a number of years ago, my brother-in-law, Karl, went to Norway on this exchange.

Last weekend St. Francis Center hosted a Marriage Encounter weekend. There were 9 couples and a team of 5 facilitating the weekend.

Last Saturday the SFO (Secular Franciscan Order) Regional Council had their meeting here at St. Francis Center, also. Sister Christelle frequently talks about our “Dynamic Center.” And that is the truth of the matter—there is always something going on.

Wasn’t the hoar frost beautiful on Saturday? Only God could create something so vast, delicate and beautiful.

Are you watching the Olympics? There are lots of us watching every time they are on. I admire the discipline and training that those participants have to do to develop their skills to be part of the program. And even if I were able, some of those things I would want no part of.

Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, or Donut Day. In our Community, donuts are the treat of the day. We have them for morning coffee, noon lunch, afternoon coffee and supper…and on Wednesday we start Lent. Easter will be here before we know it.

Let us continue to pray for the people of Haiti.

God bless you.
Sister Mary Lou