It was a funny sight yesterday as Maria dressed her two in the winter clothing for the first time... it took about 10 minutes with the ususal putting mittons on over and over... with the thumbs everywhere but the place where they are supposed to be...
Therese had time to go and watch the kitten play while mom got little brother, Dave, dressed... As the snow was blowing around and the wind is howling, we just shared breakfast with Maria and her two little ones and read morning prayer and the readings for the day... Little Therese prayed for "a new baby brother"... no, Maria is not expecting yet... and for her "daddy", who is in the for training. We discovered to our delight that it is ST Andrew's feastday today... He was very important to both of my girls in their ventures into religious life and also is a favorite name of all 3 of our girls for a boy... we already have 2 Davids and it would be funny to someday have 3 Andrews also!
I knew that Maria had thought that if she had stayed with the Poor Clares that she would have been Mary Andrew... I asked her today to remind me why.... "When I was in Rome... he just seemed to always be there whereever I looked. He also had died on a cross in the shape of an "X" and wrote a most beautiful thing about the cross." It is called "Bona Cruz" and it was written and placed on Susan's altar in her room and I found it there when she left... It was still in her room when Maria moved in a few days ago and is now in her prayer space that she has set up in the "office/play room/guest room" that she has made in one of the bedrooms upstairs... Therese is overjoyed to have her toys on a shelf in that room. They have been stored here in the basement in a box about 5 months before Joe left for the ... wonderful relaxed family time to keep them strong now with the seperation! 
The beautiful Gospel today of Christ walking along the shore and calling Andrew and his brother, Peter..."'Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.' And at once they left their nets and followed him." How simple and nonquestioning this was for them to "know" that He was Real and True and that there was no doubt for them to do what he asked of them! He is calling each one of us to follow him... we hear Him in our families and our jobs and our vocations and our worship and all those that we come in contact with... we must leave all and follow him... leave all that distracts us... The Magnificat today addresses what Andrew did when he left all to follow Christ..."What made Andrew leave his nets and follow Jesus? 'Faith comes from what is heard.' Christ beckons,'Come after me...' His promise transformed the possiblities of Andrew's life. St Andrew preached what he met in that moment. May he always be our friend." see http://www.magnificat.com/ 
A toil of love getting her kids all bundled up and then going out to do a small job that grandpa had asked her to do... it took about 5 minutes and they were all back in to get out of their layers of warm clothes...."Therese says that she is cold." We all have done it many times in our lives... living here in the winter wonderland that we do... the last day of November and school was already late 2 hours this morning! Grandp is now putting on his layers of warm clothes to go out and care for his animals... I don't think that Maria and the kids will be joining him today.... howling cold wind and snow are not exactly good for a 2 and 1 year old.
The Cross and sharing the Gospel is what St Andrew signifies for us and for my girls... It is so interesting that both of my girls encountered him on their journey into religious life! 
This is what I found in Susan/Hallel's room after she had left for France... O Bona Crux "O Good Cross, which is decorated and made beautiful by the hanging body of the Lord upon it, long have I desired you, ardently have I loved you, unceasingly have I sought you, and now my eager soul is ready for you. Accept me from among me, and bring me to my Master. Receive this disciple of Christ, so that by means of you He may receive me, He who, by his death upon you, redeemed me. Amen" - Prayed by ST Andrew before being crucified for his faith.
Such a wonderful peaceful prayerful time... we are filled with gratitude on this week after Thanksgiving. To have the eyes of little ones to show us the delight of the simple things in life! Grandpa has been upstairs reading the kids books in their prayer/play room! 
Baby animals and kids... Grandma is in heaven!
Lord and Savior... your Word came to earth and showed us the face of God! It is one of LOVE and PEACE and JOY! How we long to follow you and to reveal you to all those around us...especially to those the closest to us... Our Family! St Andrew we have come to know you and how you embraced without hesitation... with total joy... the Cross... the tree of LIFE! Thank you for being such an amazing part of our life and continue to intercede for us... A shout out to our nephew, Andrew, today and his son... Andrew! Jesus, we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia!Bless-bless, Barb
"Then Jesus said to his disciples,'Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself , take up his cross, and follow me.'" Mt 16: 24
Therese came to pose for pictures with both of her new kitties that grandpa got for her to spend the next months with...Thanks Grandpa! I love you and Alice and Herbert... Ally and Herby!
No comments:
Post a Comment