Feeling a bit overwhelmed as I awoke with only 4 hours of sleep after working the night shift... a big family meal was to happen that night with our children home from the Cities, and Pat was so busy with calving and all that goes along with it... Eventually I could find the push to get into the weekend and with the warm sun on Sunday, and the mass with the guys leading the singing - John and Paul, and the delight of the little ones, and the many calves that arrived safely - John and I got home from mass and watched one being born... while we sat on the couch and watched the TV screen! It all added up to a wonderful sharing of a family weekend on the farm!

To see our large dining room table full was a joy! Grandpa surrounded by his little boys is another delight and how he loves to have them right there on his lap to share the whole eating experience with him! Many times as we were outside I thought about how in a year there will be a new 8 month boy outside meeting the calves and the smells and sights and sounds of the farm for the first time - little Baby Boy Bandzuch! Our cup runneth over!

Grandpa giving the older Davey a lesson on sharing his lemonaide with the younger Davey...

Sometimes life's lessons take a while to sink in and a thing like sharing can be difficult even for the older ones... much like the rich man that wanted to follow Jesus today in the Gospel and asked what he must do...Mark 10: 17-27 Jesus tells him; "Go sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." Jesus, help us to give our all for you and to not be too attached to material things that can come between us!

After our meal we did the big push of getting all the little ones dressed for a trip outside, and it became quite an adventure! Soon Mary led the way to Snowball... As usual she was able to walk up to her and greet her with a pat on her head...

Therese has learned to be slow and quiet around the big animals and found a respect and love for them by emulating her cousin, Mary. The two girls share some time very close to Snowball...

With gentleness and respect they share some time very close to Snowball on a beautiful sunny Sunday - man and beast are feeling comfortable and relaxed and have found a Trust! It is a sight that warms a grandma's heart, yet makes me want to be close and protect and instruct them on where to stand and to be slow and careful and repectful of this being a big and somewhat unpredictable animal... The girls are very sweet and trusting with Snowball, and so far she has given them no reason not to believe that she knows them and likes them...

Grandma feels much more comfortable when they are in the hayrack, and then they can look Snowball in her big brown eyes, and try to give her some hay from their hands! We told Mary that a year from now Snowball will have her first calf - that will be another exciting event for Mary! There will be a new cousin here for calving next year and Snowball will have her first calf! Life doesn't get much better or any more exciting than that!

Maybe for Therese it was when she was petting Snowball, and...

She reached out and surprised another brindle faced heifer standing there... brindle means that it has white markings on its black face... The calf was surprised by the unexpected contact and backed up, but Therese then asked me what her name was..."She doesn't have one - you give her a name." She took no time to name her... her favorite name in the world - "Anna!" Hence we now have a new special animal out there now named Anna... she is not as tame as Snowball, but easy to spot with her markings among the all black ones!

Mary had to come and check out the newly named calf... Therese has made another animal a friend from a distance and warm thoughts and ideas about how Anna is doing and news to Therese... whereever she might be living next year in the military will have to be shared when she has her first calf next year too!
Lord, life is such a gift, and sometimes it is hard work, and we fear that we are not doing all that we can to protect and support the responsibility we are given. Thank you for the gift of family and may we work hard to bear the fruits of the Spirit in our homes... Peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, sharing and many more that we see are lacking so often in what we say and do. Give us the strength to leave the material behind and to follow you. May we see you in the poor in our midst! Jesus, we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb
O dear Jesus,
I humbly implore You to grant Your special graces to our family.
May our home be the shrine of peace, purity, love, labor and faith.
I beg You, dear Jesus, to protect and bless all of us, absent and present, living
and dead.