"A Prayer of Pilgrimage"

May the babe of Bethlehem be yours to tend;

May the boy of Nazareth be yours to friend;

May the man of Galilee his healing send;

May the Christ of Calvary his courage lend;

May the risen Lord his presence send;

and his holy angels defend you, to the end.

Amen

                                Unknown

 

What a joy to be sent off with a blessing and good wishes.

Thank you to everyone for all your encouragement and support.

Check back in 2 weeks to see "where in the world" I will be.

Countdown Day 4

 Four more days to get ready to be gone for a year and near panic set in. So I go to a meeting yesterday and what did I see but a message just for me.
PANIC??? or PRAY!!!

Today's sermon at St. Andrew's was on the same thing, making changes for positive self talk in the New Year. We are what we think.

The cross in in the courtyard of the Arlington United Methodist Church, a delightful collection that makes a whole. The church is easy to find on University Blvd. North with it's green A-frame roof. http://www.arlington-umc.org/

New trend at Cemeteries?

Tonight at dusk, I was riding by the cemetery where my son is buried and noticed many small lights around some of the tombstones. I guess I haven't driven by during the night lately. The cemetery closes between sunset and sunrise.

Is this a new trend to put solar lights around the tombs?

I have taken a few pictures being careful not to show any of the names.
These small trees on the left photo were flashing.

Countdown One Week

Look Ma, NO Cavities!

Dentist Check and Cleaning before I go. Much relieved to get an all clear to go this morning. Very Happy.

Looking at our table

Looking from our table

I've always wanted to eat in the kitchen at Bucca de Peppo's near the Avenue's Mall. What a treat to eat with daughter and son-in-law. Excellent service for Italian food served family style. Wonderful day start to finish.

Sunrise

Sunrise off the dock in Arlington, a subdivision of Jacksonville, FL

Dane's Point Bridge on the left

 "Today is the first day of the rest of my life." This is how I start my day. I don't get to the dock enough, I'm just so glad I got to go before I leave. In the summer, the sun comes up behind the bridge.

Prayer and Meditation

God of Hope fill you with all Joy

St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, Jacksonville, FL

Saturday January 5th several of us met for Silent Meditation in the chapel of St. John's. After a brief intro we were on our own to pray here, in the gardens, at a small labyrinth, or in the beautiful, magnificent sanctuary. What I realized during prayer was that my pilgrimage has already begun, even before I leave.

Pilgrimage Home

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Jacksonville, FL

Christmas Eve 2012

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, FL  is my home church where I will begin my pilgrimage. These photos were taken by me. St. Andrew's will send me off with a pilgrimage liturgy and dinner Wednesday January 16th at 6 pm.

Countdown Day 16

Happy New Year 2013! It's finally here! I celebrated by seeing the movie "Les Miz" and cried all they way through it. Crying is good. It means I'm feeling emotions instead of staying in my brain. The scene that was hard to watch was after all his friends were killed and he was not. Beautiful and touching for all veterans of all wars. (and their wives)