SEASON OF FALL IN THE MOUNTAINS!

The season of Fall is here in Sierra Vista amidst the mountains. We do not have any leaves changing colors but we know it is Fall because the temperatures are dropping. No more 90's and a jacket in the early morning hours is appreciated.

Part of our Fall celebration is the annual Blessing of Pets for St. Francis Day. Since Oct. 4th fell on a Saturday we celebrated on the 3rd with our school Mass outside. Our pastor and organist were both out of town so I recruited the chaplain from Fort Huachuca-Fr. Pete Uhde and three of our students who are taking piano lessons played the keyboard for us. (The puppy is taking lessons too. )

The pets lined up with their owners after Mass for a blessing.

This student's pet died last year so he brought a picture of him for a blessing-gone but not forgotten.

 This little altar server was proud to hold the holy water through all the blessings.

 The whole family was present as their two dogs were blessed.

 

After the blessing a parent gave me a Packer cheesehead. A great gift for the feast of St. Francis. You wouldn't believe how many students come to my office to look at it and say, "May I please try it on Sister?"  And some even say-"Is it really made of cheese?" :):):)

Now for the real celebration of St. Francis Day.

Sr. Joellen and I on the 4th went to Mass together at St. Andrew's Catholic Church and then out for breakfast. I was disappointed there were no cinnamon rolls. I was ready to celebrate with one. Then a stop at the Hallmark store to see if they started their Christmas card sale that is in October. (not yet). Off to Papa Murphy's Pizza where we ordered our pizza for dinner that night while we watched the Nebraska football game. (The pizza did not get eaten though until Monday.) One of our teachers from All Saints Catholic School picked us up to watch the Junior High football game that some of our 8th grade boys played in.

 After the game, he invited us to dinner at The Olive Garden. It was a four course meal ending with pumpkin cheesecake. There was no room for pizza that night.

Sunday, after Sr. Joellen got home from religion classes, I started to preheat the oven for our Papa Murphy's Pizza when the phone rings and it is our landlady who is also our school nurse, calling to invite us to her father's 90th birthday party at his house which is down the street from us. So off went the oven and off we went walking to the party-card in hand.

We enjoyed Filipino food and homemade chocolate cake. Again-no room for pizza.

Monday night we at last ate our St. Francis Day pizza and it was still good with the special ice cream we bought to go with it.

During this month of October, for P.E. classes, we are teaching how to jumprope in a variety of ways because we will be doing the Jump Rope For Heart the first week of November. I have improved my jumproping skills. I can now jump backwards and cris-cross and beginning Double Dutch. Many of our students bought jump ropes to practice at home and all of our non-jumpers are now jumping. :):):)

Since teaching P.E. this year I have discovered how little P.E. equipment we really had so I wrote a grant to the Huachucans to fund our program. I was given a check for over $1,700 to buy what I need. The students were thrilled and so was I.

 

Our week of Fall Break began and I took a day to celebrate it in Tucson with friends. I went to the installation Mass of Fr. Miguel as pastor of St. Odilia's Parish.

They also began that day the 50th Jubilee Celebration of their parish.

After that we went to the Cheesecake Factory to celebrate a friend's birthday by enjoying a chocolate cheesecake.

During Fall Break there was  a funeral of a young border patrol agent who died. The funeral procession came through two fire trucks that held up the U.S. Flag. What an honor to a fallen agent.

There are still a few days left to our Fall Break!  I intend to enjoy them :):):) and this wonderful Fall Season!