Friday, July 23, 2010

Gifts from God: More Monasteries

The Dormition of the Theotokos in Michigan had a wonderful children's garden, planted by Abbess Benedicta, memory eternal.

I would love to create some of these little rock messages in our garden at home.
The Monastery also sells little nun and monk dolls , which were dotted all along the children's garden, re-enacting various scriptures and events.

At Holy Cross Hermitage in West Virginia, we all got to milk goats!


The monks use the goat milk to make soap and lotion products.

Although the monastery website provides a woderful 7-page Vistors Guide, I would add One More bit of ADVICE as a Mother:

Do NOT put your little girl in pretty church shoes. Tennis shoes or mud boots would be much more appropriate for milking goats and hiking through the woods!

As the monks said every time we told them "Thank You" for something,

THANK GOD for our summer visits!

4 comments:

  1. I love both of those monasteries. We are fortunate to live somewhat in between the two; although, I've only been to Dormition once. Next weekend, we are going to St. Tikhon's for the first time. We are all looking forward to it.

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  2. What a beautiful series of photos, and those dolls are adorable!

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  3. You've really been traveling! What great photos of milking the goats in WV...we are in OH, not too far. Where are you?

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  4. What a lovely site! I feel so blessed to have found your beautiful blog and I look forward to reading about your adventures in Orthodox mothering often!
    Ann

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