Listen and Bloom

Listen and Bloom Blog

March 5, 2026 – “I want to live again!”

March 5, 2026

March 5, 2026 – “I want to live again!”

As a wise woman in my family just reminded me . . . we are surviving some things in life at the same time as thriving others. Here are some examples of where I...

March 3, 2026 – Surviving vs. Thriving

March 3, 2026

March 3, 2026 – Surviving vs. Thriving

So it’s been almost 10 months since I returned from Spain and walking the Camino. I have tried to bring home the Camino to my regular life. I have to say the Camino lesson...

Day 36 – I am home – Date May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

Day 36 – I am home – Date May 20, 2025

I am home. It is Tuesday morning. I took 3 flights to get home and about 20 hours of being awake. Thankfully I slept all night. Now I begin my post-Camino life and I...

Day 34 – underneath the alter in the cathedral are the bones of St. James the Apostle. There are many routes across Spain for the Camino but I did the French route. It is also called the Way of St. James. It is the most popular route. I wanted to do this one because of it’s connection Jesus’ apostle James.

May 18, 2025

Day 34 – underneath the alter in the cathedral are the bones of St. James the Apostle. There are many routes across Spain for the Camino but I did the French route. It is also called the Way of St. James. It is the most popular route. I wanted to do this one because of it’s connection Jesus’ apostle James.

Day 34 – Me in the plaza with my certificate and my smile! I am proud of my accomplishment. Thank you for all your support!

May 18, 2025

Day 34 – Me in the plaza with my certificate and my smile! I am proud of my accomplishment. Thank you for all your support!

Day 34 – One of my certificates. After I got this, I bought a cheesy T-shirt for St. Jean Pied de Port which is the city in France where I started. It shows the distance on the front (779.5 km) and lists all the villages I walked thru to get to Santiago. I will wear it proudly!

May 18, 2025

Day 34 – One of my certificates. After I got this, I bought a cheesy T-shirt for St. Jean Pied de Port which is the city in France where I started. It shows the distance on the front (779.5 km) and lists all the villages I walked thru to get to Santiago. I will wear it proudly!

Day 34 – after mass I went to the plaza where a lot of pilgrims gather after reaching Santiago. From here I went to the pilgrim office to get my certificate of completion.

May 18, 2025

Day 34 – after mass I went to the plaza where a lot of pilgrims gather after reaching Santiago. From here I went to the pilgrim office to get my certificate of completion.

Day 34 – Three of the 8 guys tying up the burner after it’s use via the ropes on the wall. It weights 117 pounds.

May 18, 2025

Day 34 – Three of the 8 guys tying up the burner after it’s use via the ropes on the wall. It weights 117 pounds.

Day 34 – swinging incense burner. Look to the right of the pillar above the bald guy in front of the woman in pink. The burner is swinging in the high arches of the cathedral. I took a video so if you see me, ask me to show you the video. It is quite impressive.

May 18, 2025

Day 34 – swinging incense burner. Look to the right of the pillar above the bald guy in front of the woman in pink. The burner is swinging in the high arches of the cathedral. I took a video so if you see me, ask me to show you the video. It is quite impressive.

Day 34 – this is the Botafumeiro; it means “smoke spreader”. It’s a giant incense burner and it take 8 men to operate the device when they burn it at mass. It is not always done but it was used at the noon mass.

May 18, 2025

Day 34 – this is the Botafumeiro; it means “smoke spreader”. It’s a giant incense burner and it take 8 men to operate the device when they burn it at mass. It is not always done but it was used at the noon mass.

Day 34 – inside the cathedral before mass began. It was 90% in Spanish but I didn’t care. It was so cool to be there. It is here that I realized I did not have to walk tomorrow!

May 18, 2025

Day 34 – inside the cathedral before mass began. It was 90% in Spanish but I didn’t care. It was so cool to be there. It is here that I realized I did not have to walk tomorrow!