Starts with Roses

 I don't think it's ironic in any way that my semester and long journey of my program ended on the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. Our Lady has been interceding for me all along, in small and big ways. 

You see, before I started my Masters program I prayed and asked Our Lady and specifically Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of my favorites. I was inspired by St. Zelie's devotion to her and how she got answers and consolation of what she should do- to ultimately start a lace making business. This gave me full confidence that Our Lady would be interceding and guiding me as well in my own endeavors.  And it didn't stop there. Throughout my time in this unique online program, I've asked for her help and looked to her for consolation too. These past few years brought on many challenges and demands, so what better way to have her by my side. 

It wasn't a coincidence that I named my blog for my last class 'Salt and Roses' on WordPress and had an image of roses and beautiful and colorful bouquet of flowers underneath Our Lady of Guadalupe image. It was my first semester in the program I took the photo, as I mentioned, and looking to her was a balm to my soul. 

This was a similar photo to the one with roses

I felt that things had come full circle. Here I was finishing out my program and, in some ways, looking back to the very beginning, not just with the roses and image, but also my professor for my last class was the same professor whom I watched his lectures for my first course. (My professor had us watch his lectures). 

I know it also doesn't stop there. She will continue to help and guide me on this new journey and season of discovery. As I've had an image on my wall for a couple of years and that I look to often, 'Am I not here, who am your Mother?'