With the icey roads challanging us on our planned gathering... the key word was patience as we attended a later mass and got to be there to see the 15 Emmaus ladies welcomed....By then the roads although slow were much less trecherous and we slowly made it up to the Cities for our Thanksgiving/Farewell... So reminicient of last year when Bill cooked his marvelous turkey and stuffing and trimmings for us in the midst of having Hallel here and taking John for his second week of radiation! How that wonderful time in the living room/made into a huge banquet hall in St Paul... filled with both Joe's family and ours... we were ministered to in a wonderful way, by the gift and skill of Bill in the kitchen! 
The long hours lovingly put into the amazing meal that we were served... is such a delightful gift in the midst of knowing that last year John was in the midst of the fight for his life... now doing the radiation that we had vowed would never be done to his brain! How we clung to the promise from the Lord that he loved John and had him in the palm of his hand! To be surrounded by family for a meal of Thanksgiving including his sister here from France! That was as good as it gets for a meal of celebration! 
Now with our the final day with our son in law Joseph... he is leaving his family for 6 months to join the ... there were tears and food and laughter and food and conversation and food and blessing and prayers and food... To watch the newly weds... filled with joy that in the summer they will begin to fill this house with family themselves... serve us the fruits of their labor of love! My 85 year old father, who had come on icey roads from the north, while we came from the south..."Let's make this an annual affair!" he exclaimed with gusto over and over. It was wonderful as the life of the little ones and the wisdom of the older ones and the toil of those in between brought together into a symphony of FAMILY most beautiful and special!
On this feast day of the patronness of musicians - St Cecilia - "A line from the 15th century story of ST Cecilia explains how she became the Western patron of music. Faced with a forced marriage, despite her desire to dedicate her virginity to Christ, 'she sang in her heart only to God' for his protection - and received it. This early Christian martyr's song of faith has certainly outlived the and political power of the Roman oppressors." See http://www.magnificat.com/ 
Saying something we each were thankful for before we ate the marvelous feast... Simon said..."For two farmboys and a girl princess"... that is how he thinks of himself, his younger brother David and his sister Mary! Now that is something to be thankful for...Siblings are the best gift of all, and living on the farm is wonderful too! So wonderful to have the 4 generations gathered in gratitude and praise for all that we are blessed with!
The oldest and the youngest share time together, and such a blessing they are one to the other!
It is appropriate to have St Cecilia today as the patron saint... Our son in law, Joseph, is a gifted musician and even as we were driving him to his hotel by the airport last evening and after we had shared a decade of the rosary - the Crowning of Mary... Queen of heaven and earth... he was singing as we drove down the expressway! His gift with guitar and voice is a special way that he shares with others as well as his family and some of the most wonderful moments in their home over the last year and a half was when he would play and sing and little Therese would dance with delight! I will hold that memory close while he is away from them, and I know that they did some movies for the kids so that they will remember dad... I am sure that is one of them!
Since Joe is entering the ... we are all aware that they can be in harms way these days with the all the "fighting around the world"...The psalm in morning prayer seems to be for us to take heart today: "See how my enemies turn back , how they stumble and perish before you. You upheld the justice of my cause; you sat enthroned, judging with justice.
"For the oppressed let the Lord be a stronghold, a stronghold in times of distress. Those who know your name will trust you: You will never forsake those who seek you." Psalm 9
We gathered around Joe and his family at this big step in his life!
It is hard to understand, but we know that Joe asks the Lord to direct his path, and we trust that this difficult time of separation will only cause their love to grow the deeper!
A touching moment when Joe asked my dad.... a permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church for a blessing... How we love our Church with a burning fieceness and how it is such a gift that gives and gives! 
Joseph... we send you forth with Jesus,. Mary,all the angels and saints with you... you are surrounded by an army in heaven too! How can we allow fear and doubt to enter into our hearts, minds and souls? No! You are protected... just as St Cecelia was! 
"O Lord, hear our requests. Through the intercession of ST Cecilia, please grant what we ask."
Another family moment as we had our niece, Kristin, stop in to see her grandma and to speak with John about his cancer journey... she has just discovered that she has Hodgkin's lymphoma... so is facing her own journey called cancer/healing... Jesus we lift her up to you also this day, and trust in your holding her in the palm of your hand. There is so much we cannot understand, Lord, we can only give it to you... you are in control in the Storm! 
We thank you for the time with our Joseph and now the work and joy of caring for and supporting his little family as they come to live with us! Jesus, we love you and honor you and yes... we are brought ever closer to you by the suffering and hardships in our lives. We realize that we are weak and unable to go ahead without your support and loving wisdom and guidance in all that we do! Jesus, we trust in you! 
Bless-bless, Barb"Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, For he has rescued the life of the poor from the powers of the wicked!" Jeramiah 20: 13
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