“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.”

“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.”

C.S. Lewis quotes (British Scholar and Novelist. 1898-1963)

This past summer I fulfilled my burning desire by traveling to Quebec, Canada.  My grandmother Clara Rice went on this journey with the AAA Travel Group in the 1960's when she was in her 80th decade.  From her journey she brought home stories of her adventures, pictures and a small oval medal for me from the Catholic gift shop @ Saint Anne de Beaupré.  I still have this tarnished medal in my treasures collection box.

http://www.moytura.com/stanne.htm

Along with many people in America my husband has been affected by the economic down turn that began in Fall 2008.  While I was packing my belongs on a truck to attend graduate school at SCAD he was given the heads up that the career we moved from hometown Pittsburgh, Pa. to Western NY was going to come to an abrupt end before the year was over. 

His career as a Facility Manager began with a chance meeting of a man in St. Thomas Moore Church in Upper St. Clair, Monday night Praise and Prayer Service. Both men were in the vestibule with their very restless toddler sons.   I am as protective of my children as a mother Tigress. You can imagine the eyes I flashed at Jim when he returned to the pew without Barry. Jim had left Barry in the church vestibule with a man he had just met.  Little did I know that man who would soon hire Jim as part of his start up team at the prestigious PPG Place in downtown Pittsburgh.      http://www.ppgplace.com/

Bob became his mentor and is still his friend to this day.  August 4th, 1983 Bob called Jim to begin working at PPG the next day.  It was that same morning that I realized I was pregnant with Kara. Since that day I have been aware of miracles happening in my life.

The day before Thanksgiving 2008, after twenty- five years service with one company, Jim comes home with a box of chocolates and an ergonomically correct chair from his office to alleviate his chronic back pain. 

By a strange coincidence the next day while we were delivering Rice Rafferty Devore Scarves for sale in the Burchfield Penny Art Museum shop, Jim gets a call about a position for hire as a project manager for a bank.

Fast forward since April, Jim is now on a new career path as a Facility Manager with EFS,Inc.
He was offered this position by the owner of the company who at one time worked with Jim.  Having awareness of Jim's expertise he felt confident that Jim would be a good fit for his company.

Three jobs in two years has not allowed Jim much time off work for vacation aside from visiting and moving me back and forth to Savannah and a few trips to Pittsburgh to visit his mother and his aunt who recently passed away.

Sorry I digressed. 

Kara agreed to escort me on my pilgrimage to Quebec in July 2010 so I would not have to journey alone. Three days into the journey we finally arrived at the cathedral.

Saint Anne de Beaupré Church

 



Saint Ann my patron name saint





The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a major Roman Catholic place of pilgrimage and has the only copy of Michelangelo's Pietà (the original is in the Vatican City).

The basilica is also known as a place of miracles. One of the builders of the original church, Louis Guimont, helped build the church despite having severe scoliosis and needing the aid of a crutch. When the church was complete, he was able to walk independently. Subsequent visitors to the church who have prayed have left their canes, crutches and walking aides behind as testament to their healing. The main wall when you first walk into the basilica is now completely covered with crutches.



Votive candles represent the prayers of the faithful





wish you could smell the wonderful fragrance of the burning wax and
 feel the heat generated in the room

 

St. Anne Chapel in the lower level of the cathedral

At the time I arrived at the church I had no clue to the next challenge I was about to enter.  I prayed for peace in my heart, the wisdom to know the Lords will in my life and the grace to fulfill it.
  It is a very good thing life is revealed to us " One day at a time."

YES !!! Miracles are all around you if you only have eyes to see.

                  I am very grateful for my adventures with Kara to Quebec and Montreal, Canada.



Come back to visit me again

Have a VERY CREATIVE DAY ;~)