Vacationing with the Cloud Angels

On this Labor Day weekend, my family and I were invited to stay at my sister and brother-in-law's cottage on a small lake. It was blissful peace! No television, no computer, no radio-just a row-boat, a paddle boat, some fishing poles and some books, a football and a few games and puzzles, lots of garden fresh food and lots of love.

Saturday night, with our bellies full of burgers, fresh picked corn on the cob, green beans and melon, we gathered close to the fire and gave thanks to God for the blessings of the day.

In the morning we attended Sunday Mass at a quaint little country church beneath a steeple fitted with a heavenly crown. Stepping into the interior was like stepping back in time, pews filled with prayerful families and nuns in habits. The homily was outstanding! Father spoke of his time of discernment; how he was unsure of what to do with his life and spent much time trying to decide which path God was calling him towards. As he sat in the library with many questions on his mind, he noticed an old man sitting nearby. His clothes were dirty and worn, his hair was messy; he was the type of man that most people would shy away from. He noticed that the man held a rosary in his hand and realized at that moment that the old man was praying for him. Whether or not that was really true, it felt to the priest that the prayer was meant for him and it was at that moment that he decided to enter the seminary and begin to seriously prepare for the priesthood. How profoundly the power of prayer can affect our lives, even if the prayers are not meant for us!

My sister Cindy and I rose early on Sunday morning before anyone else was awake and the sky was still dark and filled with stars. We sat outside in the brisk morning air, rosaries in hand and watched the mist swirl over the water as our 'Ave's' rose to heaven...

Cloud Angels
















cool morning, breaking of dawn
visible between the cattails
breath of our prayers adorned
with milky wafts,
air imbued with
transparent clouds on earth
had I stepped into heaven?
for it seemed that the angels were
in front of me, dancing on the water
giving praise to God

the largest angel spread her misty wings
reaching out to me
to take my whispered prayer
and she dissipated from my view
on her way back to heaven
carrying the precious cargo
of my prayer to the heart of the Lord

and all that was left in view
was a smooth and shining lake
with the orb of sunlight
rising in the distance
and the assurance in my heart
that He had heard my prayer