My wonderful husband and I are spending two sweet days at what was once a convent, and is now Sustainable Faith in Norwood, Ohio, as part of a spiritual direction training course. It is our third visit here, and now it feels like home-away-from-home. Dave and Jody, who run this place, are awesome people who have a knack for anticipating needs and making people feel absolutely welcomed. It was a day of fantastic coffee and conversation, snow falling outside, and true blue people that want to go to the heart of things- to the heart of me.
Precious space was created for silences, for listening, for learning. 
We spent lunchtime at Jill’s house- she is part of our class, and lives just a short walk away. She and her kind husband Josh opened up their home to all of us, and made us delicious soups. Perfect for a very cold and snowy January day. Jody sent over her homemade bread that I look forward to eating every visit! And Jill promises to share the soup recipes- a butternut/sweet potato soup, and the pea soup pictured here.
Dinner was hearty soup again, with more delicious bread. 
Heather, another class member, made a surprise treat for all of us in honor of Stephen’s birthday (another class participant). Dee-licious!! Today has been full of food, for the body and the soul. Now I’m going to snuggle under this quilt, in this creaky-floored convent, and listen to the stillness a bit longer, counting as treasure these moments of peace.
It was a privilege and a blessing to be there with you. I love this group that God has brought together!