These were some pictues I took of Nancy and Bill last year when they came home for the special prayers for healing that happened at mass on Sunday the second week in November last year... John had his tumor grow through the chemo and we were facing the thing we had said that we would never do... radiation! My parents rushed here with a relic of Venerable Solanus Casey to ask for him to intercede for John's total healing, and Fr Paul incorperated that with his 3rd annointing! The Church was packed for 8a in the morning and it was very moving when we were called into the center aisle... John with his family gathered around him laying their hands on him and then all the congregation lifting their hands in a blessing over him! Many have told me how powerful that day was for them!
I shared how one of our 9th grade confirmation students, we are teaching this year, came to me and told me that ever since that mass she has been praying for John every night and "now I have heard that his cancer is gone!" The power of prayer became very real for her at that moment! Bill and Nancy's relationship was happening... along with John's cancer journey.. as well as Little Sister Hallel/Susan becoming a member of the community in France! It was all so powerful!
To see Nancy so happy and filled with joy at finding the man that she has been looking for all these years! And in the midst of her concern for her brother... to have Bill there to support her and give of himself in such a special way for our family! He will forever be remembered as making us a stupendous Thanksgiving dinner - Susan was here for a week and drove John to radiation.. so we all gathered in Nancy and Maria and Joe's home in St Paul to celebrate in the midst of our crazy, out of our control lives!
How we clung to our times together, and the support was so important in making it through to today... Just a few days ago I got a call from Hallel for my birthday and I was quick to ask her if she had gotten word that Nancy and Bill are expecting a baby! Yes, she had and that is hugely important to the newly weds as Nancy seems to be struggling more with remembering my losses more than the other two... Maybe it is because like me... she is getting around to having a family at an older age than her other two sisters... I was too!
They have hesitated telling people, but now realize that they need prayers either way. So with their blessing... I have been allowed to let the word out that they are now 5weeks pregnant! I was told by some after my many losses that maybe I should just wait to say anything until I knew I was having a baby, but I could never understand that kind of thinking, and I think as a result of sharing both the losses and those that weren't that we are a closer family!
We are overjoyed for them... and they are so excited and hopeful that all will work out for this little one to enter the world around mid June! Nancy is no different than her two other sisters, at this point and should celebrate her first anniversary with a 2 month old! How I longed for that for myself, but it took us 7 months to get pregnant and I even had just learned how to chart using Couple to Couple League to work at getting pregnant!
I was sharing with them the other night about how I was learning how to do pregnancy tests at Birthright... I had decided that I wanted to do more than say that I was prolife... I wanted to do something to help, so I was being trained to be a volunteer, which I have done now for 31 years, I guess, because I tested myself and discovered that I was pregnant with my first daughter, Ruth! Now that was thrilling!
Now it gives me amazement and joy to see my girls, who are open to life from the beginning of their marriages too.. to be blessed in this way! Especially Nancy and Bill, who are older and waited long and prayerfully for each other and now for a family! Thank you Lord!
Nancy and Bill there shoulder to shoulder with John last year in his battle against cancer! Now John is so thrilled and happy for them... He had to call Kansas City to let the little Sisters there know and to be praying for the new little life, and in turn they called France to let Susan/Hallel know and so she too and the Community would be praying! If anyone knows and values the importance of prayer and family united in prayer... it is John and his family!
Yes, we all know that marriage is an adjustment, but it certainly is wonderful when you both are united in your faith and your openess to family! Now it will ease many anxieties they have to know that they are being held up in prayers by many! Jesus we trust in you and thank you for the gift of life!
As a united force we faced all that this last year could throw at us... surrounded by our spiritual army! Now we feel that all that happens is equally surrounded and lifted up in prayerful hands to our Lord! Jesus, we lift up this new life and ask that you bless it and allow it to grow healthy... how we love family!
I wept tonight at mass when we sang the song - How Beautiful
"How beautiful the radaint Bride
Who waits for her Groom
With His light in her eyes
"How beautiful when humble hearts give
The fruit of pure lives
So that others can live."
Lord, How we love and thank you for the way you touch our lives with the gift of life! Bless Nancy and Bill and the new little one that they are so excited to welcome into this world as they start their family with you firmly in the center! They waited in love for each other and it was hard at times, but the rewards are great! May they be a beacon to others that they can hold fast to the teachings of our wonderful Church when it comes to being chaste until marriage! Then to allow you to dwell in the bedroom after marriage! Each act of love between husband and wife open to life! Jesus we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia!
Bless-bless, Barb"How beautiful is the Body of Christ."
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