The day before we depart on a pilgimage into the lives of The Community of the Lamb... now with their first group living in the US in Kansas City, Kansas. Our daughter, Susan Angela Agnes Verly is now the first female from the US to join this fairly new order (both the foundress and founder are still living). The same day that she took her habit a young man from Florida became the first man to join the Little Brothers... We are grateful that this happened before Susan joined as now there is a place for her to be not across an ocean from us, but just a 7 hour trip from our home! She came here to live with the group of 6 women in Kansas City in November, and this will be our first trip there. It happened now because John's oldest sister,Ruth, has a nursing conference there for the week and we are jumping in with her! She will drop us at their door and we will enter it and the lives that they live for the next week! I have asked to be kept busy and not treated like a guest... so I will be in the kitchen and John could be my assistant... We will have much to share in a week when we return, but I might be silent until then. They do have internet, but it is used seldom....
Yesterday was a special gift day... I had my soon to be 4year old granddaughter, Mary, over for a day with grandma! From when she was 6 weeks old and Ruth had to go to work half time at the hospital until she had little Davey in July and I discovered that taking care of 3 kids was just too much, and then Mary and Simon went to daycare while I just had baby David here.... All those wonderful over 2 years... I had my Mary here with grandma 3 days a week. It was wonderful and as I have shared it was like stepping back into our "nest years" just enough! To have grandpa come in and the kids climb on his lap to help him eat... going out for adventures any day we could around the yard... Simon to look at the equipment and Mary to see the animals... Mary always had to go and spend special time with the Blessed Mother statue too... from when she could first walk... she would go over there and lean on her and kiss her... It was something that came from her without any encouragement from me... she just naturally wanted to show this lady in the garden her love and it was the most beautiful way to see with the own eyes the love that little children bring to their innocent faith!
For the first part of her time here... I had on PBS... Barnie gave us a neat idea that turned into a fun thing for the two of us! We then turned off the TV and started a big project drawing and painting Mary's family tree... We have noticed that the kids cannot understand that we are Ruth's parents and how all the aunts and uncles and cousins work, so I thought it could be a good teaching thing for her too. It took up a good chunk of time and she really got into the red watercolor paint! But the final result was fun for her to take home...she also took a box of watercolor paints so it will be fun to see what she comes up with. I know that I like watercolor best of anything to work with in my simplistic way of art.
Just before lunch...Pat was feeding the bottle calves in the shed, so Mary and I bundled up... it was once again cold and windy... and headed out... we had fun as Mary gave a calf a partially full bottle, and then she wanted grandma to chase her into a special space... like a little playroom... in the round bales in the shed. After going out to see Grandpa put down some fresh bedding in the new barn for the cows and calves while the calves kicked up their heels in delight... we came in and had some nice soup on a cold day with hot chocolate... We then had stories on grandma's bed before a nice nap.... Mary and I have read certain books about horses (she is a nut about horses, and is saving her change in a jar for her horse)over and over in those years... Cowardly Clyde by Bill Peet is our absolute favorite...I have the short version which she used to sit on my lap for as I clippety clopped through the... turning the pages like you are watching a movie... fast!
Mary found the book and was so excited... I had to do the fast version first and then read it word for word... we loved it! Thank you Lord for the gift of wonderful children... may I allow them to grow up and appreciate each new step they take into a new a beautiful part of their growing up in You!
The quote from the Gospel for today that I used for my title today... This is so beautiful... written by Paul Claudel (1953) who was a poet, a playwright, and a diplomat....
"The Gospels show us the Savior coming to the soul and imparting truth and virtue by the touch of a hand, the brushing of a garment, a bit of moistened earth applied to the locked eyelids. One look from him is enough to make an apostle out of that idler yawning under the fig tree.... Jesus did not always need a miracle or even a word. A tone or inflection often served his purpose, and somehow the intervening gulf was bridged. The lost sheep recognized his Master's voice and repsonded with feeble bleat."
How exciting, dear Lord, to be heading for a week with LS Hallel and her community for this week leading up to Palm Sunday! They live the Gospel and they "chew" it each day in prayer and study... How we love your Word made flesh in Christ... allow us to become more and more with Christ within us as we take your Gospel to heart and soul. Jesus we love you and trust in You!
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