For our many new subscribers to the Casa newsletter, and also as a reminder to our Casa Charter Members -- here's a brief update on our Casa Garden plans and progress.

Are you eagerly anticipating spring and working in your garden? WE SURE ARE! How naive we were to think this project would have been completed before the end of our first year in San Luis, Colorado! Here we are completing our second winter -- with miles yet to go.

It's a rather daunting task we have ahead of us -- a 300' diameter circular garden in Colorado's High Desert country. (DESERT being the operative word:-) If you haven't seen the diagram of Mother Mary's Garden, here it is…

Spring of last year we cleared (had bulldozed) a 400' foot circle of all the sage brush and tumbleweed. Unfortunately no one told us the tumbleweed would grow back. Just before winter set in we HAND REMOVED it all -- and hopefully that will be it.

After burning 30, 15 feet high piles of dry tumbleweed, we then collected about a million l(well, would you believe hundreds) large rocks to mark the outer path around Mary's Garden.

The center star is where the 10' tall 750lb sculpture of Mother Mary will soon stand. It's being completed by a Native American master carver in Alaska. (Mother Mary is currently snowed-in on the Island of Ketchikan, Alaska, and will be shipped when the Casa land is completely free of snow, ice, then the ensuing mud).

When in place, the sculpture will be surrounded by pavers and flowering bushes, and some meditation benches. The center piece of the garden.

Looking at the bottom entrance to the garden, the first circle at the left has been pretty much completed. WE dug out about a five foot by five foot, one foot deep fire pit. The pit is surrounded by 11 15" high log seats a friend gave us from his Cottonwood tree. Really nice.

That circle will be for our Native American fire ceremonies and drumming ceremonies. It also has a beautiful sculpture of a Native American Angel.

The next circle we'll be finishing up when spring arrives is at the 12-o'clock position. That will be our healing grotto. We've already ordered a beautiful three tiered spanish fountain (Donated by one of our wonderful Casa Angels) that will sit in the center of the circle. The circle will be encased by an Adobe style four foot wall with an entrance at 6-o'clock.

Against the back wall of the healing grotto circle will be a cave-like water treatment that will be the healing focus.

Flowering plants and bushes will grace the inside of the grotto circle. We already have 17 Aspen Trees planted outside the top of the circle. They're about three-four feet tall. (And we'll find out soon if they've survived the rather harsh winter.)

The other circles will include two labyrinths, a prayer-rock circle with contributed rocks from all over the world, a medicine wheel, and a mini-Stonehenge. Each circle will include, or be surrounded by flowering plants and bushes of varying designs.

Our dirt is very dry clay w/lots of sand. Not at all ideal for growing anything but sage and tumbleweed. That's why -- when this desert blooms -- it will indeed be a miracle NOT of our making:-)

One of the challenges we're faced with is, finding plants and bushes that will not appear to the wild horses, elk, deer, coyote, and giant rabbits, as a buffet placed to satisfy their hunger pangs.

Any suggestions you might have to make this challenge easier would be gratefully appreciated:-)

If you notice the dipping lines that connect each circle to two others... That's a walk way/path. Along that pathway, notice the six small dark circles. Each circle represents a statue representing various religions or spiritual teachings. One we already have our eye on for purchase is a wooden sculpture of Saint Francis, the saint who loved all the animal world. Another will be a Buddha, one of Gandhi, Jesus, a Native American, etc. Appropriate decorations for this Garden of welcome and healing for those of ALL religions, or NO religion.

The Casa Going Hi-Tech

Speaking Of Hi-Tech

It was like Christmas all over again. Through the generosity of our dear friend Diana Cortez in California, the Casa recently received a beautiful new 2605 dtn Hewitt Packard Color LaserJet Printer, as well as a new Hewitt Packard Digital Camera. What a lovely and appreciated surprise.

Thank you so much Diana, for your love, the gifts, and your continued support of the creation of Casa de Santa Maria. What wonderful friends the Casa has attracted.

Speaking Of Wonderful Casa Friends

Many dear Casa friends have expressed an interest in one day moving to this area once the Casa has been completed. (Probably selfishly) Susan and I would like nothing more than to be surrounded by like minded friends nearby, and to have help with all the Casa tasks. We eagerly await the arrival of the Picketts of North Carolina who have purchased land adjacent to the Casa property, and who plan to build a home one day.

To any who are giving serious thought to moving to this area, we share here openly what we've shared to individuals privately in the past. Do your homework and don't make plans based on your emotions.

We strongly suggest you have a built-in source of income. Jobs here are virtually nonexistent, and we don't foresee the Casa being any possible source of income for a number of years — if even then. At present, nice living accommodations in this area are virtually nonexistent. (Both rental and for purchase.)

If you love winter weather, this is your place. We still have snow and ice on the ground since Thanksgiving Day. Susan's is currently having a severe case of Cabin-Fever.

Be prepared to drive long distances for your shopping. The city of Alamosa is the closest, offering things like a WalMart, hospital, Wendy's, and good restaurants. It's an 82 mile round trip.

If you have any type of heart or lung problem, living at an 8,000 feet altitude might give you second thoughts. (Check with your doctor.)

We've had folks say, "As long as we have you two as neighbors, we'll be fine. Just to think about spending quality time with you two would be worth the hardships!" (This was the most difficult of all to address without sounding hurtful:-)

Between our regular money making day job of grief counseling via telephone, keeping in touch with our some 1,700 clients by way of phone, email and newsletters and the record keeping involved -- plus our assignment to help create the Casa de Santa Maria in our spare time -- Susan and I work a minimum of six days a week, sometimes up to 15-hours a day.

That's easy, and even at times a real joy for us -- but not exactly a schedule conducive to spending quality time hanging out with friends. (Although, again, we dearly enjoy those occasional visits we receive.) Perhaps once we have volunteers able to help with the Casa work, our social calendar will free up a bit. That would be fun. (Just planting seeds:-)

If you are being "called" to this area, be assured spirit will pave the way! As on-site pioneers, we feel spirit will use us as a pre-move warning/alert system!

A New & Powerful Book — Coming Soon!
	"How Come When I Talk To God, That's OK, But When He Talks To Me -- People Think I'm Crazy?" Channeled Messages From The Holy Spirit by Susan Sanderford
A life long Fundamentalist Christian, Susan Sanderford sat down to share some serious doubts with God in October of 1993. “God, where are you? I‘ve been doing it right for 37 years.” “I‘ve gone to church, been baptized, prayed daily, tried to live a good life, have stayed in an unhappy marriage because I‘ve been taught that is what You would want me to do -- so why am I so miserable, empty, and unfulfilled?” “Why don‘t I sense your presence God, why don‘t I see you in others. Where are You? Where is the God of miracles I‘ve read about. Why is my life like an empty shell? GOD -- WHERE ARE YOU?” Guess what. God answered! If you ask from the heart, He‘ll answer you also. Just be prepared for the ride of your life. God really knows how to build a roller-coaster that will turn you upside down and inside out. This book is Susan's account of her ride! (A possible blueprint for yours). "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." Jesus John 14:26 The Holy Spirit On Gaining Truth And the Holy Spirit shared with Susan, Become free from bondage, this is where your confusion and pain begin. You have become so bound by the limitations of the mind. You must become unbound by casting off all the wrappings of earth. You are so much more than what you perceive yourself to be. You are One with God. God is One with you. You are each a part of the whole universe. You are each the whole universe. This is what you must come to understand. The light does not come all at once, but is a slow process of releasing truth at small levels so that you can gain understanding in time. Do not be afraid to question any belief you have, even the ones that you are sure are truth. In questioning comes the answers. In your confusion comes organization. Confusion can not continue. It will seek its own order of organization. These things are good and right. In casting off all thoughts of what you held to be true, all that is truth will come into focus. Keep searching for truth, it must be revealed. It is a natural universal law. You are reaching the pinnacle of understanding. There you will see things beyond your imagination. Cast off the earthly so that the climb is not too difficult to make. The more you cling to as necessary, the harder it becomes. Cast off your doubts. Cast off your fears. God is but a breath away! The Holy Spirit Coming Soon In "How Come When I Talk To God, That's OK, But When He Talks To Me -- People Think I'm Crazy?" Channeled Messages From The Holy Spirit by Susan Sanderford