In the Mountains for Spiritual Sunday

I spent the past two days in the mountains for Spiritual Sunday and went to Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission Catholic church in Cherokee to celebrate Rich’s and my 58th anniversary, as we have done in the past. Mass was Saturday evening and it’s a small church but beautiful. It’s built like an octagon with a gorgeous stained glass wall of Lady Guadalupe behind the alter and the ceiling looks like a huge star. When I went last year, the first anniversary on my own, the parishioners were so kind and comforting. One lady especially stood out and yesterday she was there again. After Mass I went up to her to say hi not thinking she would remember me but as soon as I walked over, she was so excited to see me back. She remembered me for a year ago. We talked a bit and I apologized because I forgot her name but remembered her face. As soon as she said “Mary Ellen” I remembered because she told me, Mary Ellen as in the Walton’s! We hugged and as I walked to my car she waved from the parking lot and I said, “I’ll see you next time Mary Ellen from the Walton’s!”

An interesting observation I noticed, the Priest last night was a guest from Nigeria and my home church in North Myrtle Beach has fundraisers to help a church in Nigeria. Wouldn’t it be a blessing if our church was helping one that he knew. Like all the other times I visit this church, I have had my picture taken with the Priest.

Before Mass I drove up to the spot where Rich and I would hang out on the river’s edge for many years. I had brought some roses with me again to send down the river as I sat and hung out with Rich’s spirit.

I saw so many butterflies, mostly the yellow Swallowtails like the ones that have visited me other times but they were so busy flying from flower to flower I wasn’t able to get a picture of them. But these smaller ones were all over this beautiful butterfly bush.

I felt love, compassion and spiritual blessings from the members of the church and I could feel Rich’s presence with me while at the river’s edge. I think being in the mountains for Spiritual Sunday is just what I needed. May you all have a blessed week.