Posts
Rachel’s Corner
· do a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.
o Start your day with a calming activity to celebrate Stress Awareness Day. Try yoga or meditation to relax your mind and body.
o Incorporate healthy eating by preparing a nutritious breakfast.
§ Open an advent calendar and enjoy a plate of nachos on National Nachos Day.
o Host a movie night with your dog in honor of the Dog Film Festival.
o Educate yourself about healthcare fraud prevention for Report Home Health Care Fraud Day.
o Listen to soothing saxophone music for National Saxophone Day. I have been to where the Saxophone was invented in Dinant Belgium when my father as stationed there in the Army.
o Shoot some hoops to celebrate National Basketball Day.
Best Place to visit in November: Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is another favorite of "snowbirds" (Northerners who head south in winter), and we can see why! It's one of the best places to visit in November in the USA to escape the chill. It's always sunny and warm in Scottsdale, but in November the desert heat is somewhat subdued, making it a perfect time to get outdoors in the area. Experience the Old West charm of Scottsdale by exploring historic Old Town, filled with art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants housed in charming adobe buildings. Don't miss the weekly ArtWalk, where you can peruse local artwork and mingle with artists.
Golf enthusiasts can tee off on some of the finest golf courses in the area, enjoying the pleasant weather and desert views. If you're seeking relaxation and rejuvenation, indulge in the city's renowned spas, offering luxurious treatments inspired by desert botanicals. November also brings the excitement of horse racing to Scottsdale with the opening of the Turf Paradise Racecourse. We also love the idea of getting out and enjoying the Sonoran Desert. You can even take a hot air balloon ride for a better view of the jaw dropping landscapes and giant Saguaro cactuses.
- Drink: Stout
- hors d'oeuvre
- appetizer
- main course
- Dessert: Dark Chocolate Almond Bar
· Bucket List: Military Hop-Rota, Spain
🌿 Rota’s Mercy in the Olive Grove
A week of mystic tapas, trellis redemption, and Andalusian hospitality
1. 🏰 Rest in the Ramparts – Lodging with Legacy
Stay where ancient walls meet modern mercy
2. 🍷 Tapas of the Trellis – Seven-Course Ritual Meal
A symbolic supper inspired by The Flight of the Baba
- Anchovy toast with lemon zest – clarity and courage
- Gazpacho Andaluz – cooling mercy
- Grilled octopus with paprika oil – fire and water
- Fideo negro with squid ink – mystery beneath the surface
- Iberian pork with sherry glaze – civic fruitfulness
- Manchego with quince paste – monastic strength
- Orange-almond cake with sea salt – crown of light
Tapas Tours & Foodie Links
- Private Tapas Tour in Rota
- Top Tapas Restaurants – Tripadvisor
- Best Tapas Bars – Restaurant Guru
- Unveiling Rota’s Cuisine – Spanish Plains
- Wanderlog: Best Spanish Foods in Rota
3. 🚴 Climb & Coast – MWR Adventures
- Trellis Trek – symbolic act of retrieval and mercy
- Beach bike rentals – ride the coast of Cádiz
- Olive grove tours – reflect on oil, anointing, and endurance
→ MWR Rota Activities
4. 🎟️ Tickets to Wonder – MWR Travel & Culture
- Day trips to Seville, Córdoba, and Jerez
- Flamenco nights and tapas tastings
- Wine pilgrimages through Andalusia
→ MWR Community Recreation
5. 🌅 Walk the Mercy Trail – Nature & Reflection
- Parque Atlántico – olive trees and coastal breezes
- Playa de la Costilla – symbolic immersion at dawn
- Sunset at the Port – Eucharistic reflection on the tide
6. ✨ Saints of the South – Local Anchors
- St. John of the Cross – mysticism, exile, and mercy retrieved
- St. Teresa of Ávila – interior renewal and bold reform
- Film pairing: The Way – pilgrimage, grief, and transformation
7. 🔥 Firelight Finale – Tapas & Trellis Tales
- Bonfires: not permitted on public beaches, but symbolic fire bowls or rooftop candles are welcome
- Alternative: host a tapas picnic under the stars with a string tied to your finger—then release it
- Ritual Act: read The Baba Goes Flying aloud, then toast with sherry and laughter
The Flight of the Baba
Before I was born, my family took a Space-A military hop from Sigonella, Sicily to Rota, Spain—a spontaneous adventure made possible by the Military Airlift Command. My older brother and sister were along for the ride, and after a long journey, the family settled into a modest hotel room for $16 a night. My sister, exhausted and inconsolable, refused to stop crying. She clung to her comfort pillow—a handmade treasure from Aunt Linda known as “the Baba.” In a moment of frustration, my father tied the Baba’s loose string around his finger and threatened to throw it off the third-floor balcony if she didn’t quiet down. This, of course, made things worse. She screamed louder. And then, true to his word, my father launched the Baba into the air. The string snapped mid-flight, and the Baba sailed off the balcony, landing on the one below.
My mother, now furious, demanded its retrieval. The family descended to the second-floor room, knocked twice, and when no one answered, my father cautiously opened the door. Inside, the Baba lay peacefully on the balcony—but just as he stepped in, a head rose from the bed. In comic retreat, he backed out, nearly knocking my mother over, and the whole family fled upstairs. My sister’s cries intensified. My mother’s fury deepened. And my father, desperate for redemption, noticed a trellis climbing from the ground floor to the second-floor balcony—right next to a tapas bar. Channeling rogue saint energy, he marched outside, climbed the trellis, retrieved the Baba, and saved the day. My sister still cried all night. My father went down to the bar and ate tapas as if nothing had happened.
To this day, I wonder if there’s a tapa named “Baba.” If not, there should be.
NOVEMBER 6 Thursday
John,
Chapter 10,
Verse 17
This
is why the Father LOVES me, because I
lay down my life in order to take it up again.
This is probably a reference to the manna in the desert, which elsewhere is seen as a type of the Eucharist. In the Gospel of John Christ states, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4: 32-34).
We like our Lord should have the same desire to build the Kingdom of God; to create a New Jerusalem in our home, at our work and in our communities. Our Lord asks that we prepare ourselves for the work by eating the food he gives us which is the new covenant.
We need this food to create a change in us from the old man to become sons of God in and through Christ which is the new covenant of His blood. Those who love him frequent Mass and take the food He gives us through His Priests. For this is real food indeed. It is not food to give pleasure to the body but it is intended by God to give joy to the soul. According to the late Bishop Fulton Sheen, "You can quickly become tired of pleasures, but you can never tire of joys." Joy comes by finding God. You cannot satisfy a soul with husks![1]
Copilot’s Take
John 10:17 reveals the divine rhythm of surrender and resurrection—Christ lays down His life not in defeat, but in love, knowing He will take it up again. This act echoes the manna in the desert, a precursor to the Eucharist, and deepens in John 4:32–34, where Jesus speaks of a hidden food: the will of the Father. This food is not for bodily pleasure but for soul transformation, inviting us to build the Kingdom of God in our homes, workplaces, and communities. Through the Eucharist, we receive the covenant of joy—a joy that, as Bishop Fulton Sheen reminds us, never tires. Unlike fleeting pleasures, this joy satisfies the soul, reshaping us from old selves into sons and daughters of God. To eat this food is to enter the mystery of mercy, to become what we receive, and to find joy in the laying down of our lives for love.
Bible in a Year Day 124 King David Rules
Today we
read about the moment David is made king over all Israel. Fr. Mike reveals that
as David begins his rule, he has both strengths and weaknesses. Today we read 2
Samuel 5, 1 Chronicles 7-8, and Psalm 27.
World Saxophone Day[2]
November
6 is Saxophone Day, an unofficial holiday that celebrates the woodwind
instrument popularly used in jazz, classical music, and military ensembles. The
day honors saxophonists and commemorates the birth anniversary of its inventor
Adolphe Sax. Born in Belgium in 1814, Sax was an instrument maker and musician
who designed and introduced the Saxophone in 1840. It was first adopted for use
in military bands and soon became a popular instrument played in a concert band
and in chamber music. Chamber music is a type of music played by a group of
small instruments - ones that usually can fit into a small room or chamber.
Today, the Saxophone is used extensively in jazz and other kinds of dance music
and in symphony orchestras around the world.
Many Different
Types
The
Saxophone comes in many different varieties, though most saxophonists usually
use one of the four most popular types. These are tenor, baritone, alto, and
soprano saxophones. The tenor saxophone is usually used in jazz and rock music
bands, while the baritone saxophone tends to be reserved for jazz solos. The
Alto Saxophone is easy to play and therefore used to train beginners. The
Soprano plays the highest pitch among all saxophones and is also often played
in jazz bands. Other saxophones include Mezzo Soprano, Sopranino, Tubax, Bass
and Contrabass.
How to Celebrate?
·
Are
you a saxophonist? Bring out your instrument and play some music with a band or
solo for your family and friends.
·
Attend
a chamber music, jazz or symphony orchestra concert. Keep an ear out for the
Saxophone notes.
· If you have always wanted to learn how to play the Saxophone, today is the day to get started.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite
yourself in the work of the Porters of
St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Authentic
Feminism
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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