Savoring our trip to Kansas City a year ago...Hallel was still in the US and John had just finished his stem cell transplant a month before... we had finally heard the word - CR...complete response - the cancer was totally gone! 
We could visit the Community and rejoice and celebrate! They had been a huge prayer power supporting us, and it had allowed Hallel to come and be with us! The supreme gift for our family to be physically together... thank you Lord! 
Hallel and John have always been so close... for them to have a chance to share John's terrifying cross - cancer/healing was very much needed by both of them! Hallel did not have the freedom to be with us throughout other than the most important way - Prayer. But she was allowed to come and be with John for a week here and there. She drove him for his 3rd week of radiation and then was able to have Thanksgiving with her family as we gathered at Maria and Joseph's home in St Paul.
That was so important to John as this was the hardest thing that he had to do "to live." Radiation was the one thing that he had decided that he wouldn't do, as it could cause him to lose some of his brain power with time... so to have his rock in faith, Hallel, with him and supporting him at that time was very wonderful!
It is a wonderful view for me to see Hallel from the back... I find the veils that they wear to be very fascinating and it really brings to Life that she is truly a little sister! John thinks it is funny and special to have a little sister after growing up with only 4 older sisters. Hallel agrees that she is John's special little sister now! 
What a beautiful sight... John and I thoroughly enjoyed our gift of being with them for the week a year ago,while Ruth went to a wound care conference there in town! We had driven to spring... note the green grass across the street. This reminds me of a sight that my mother in law pointed out last night as we arrived for stations of the cross... there were some bushes as we parked with clumps of snow perched here and there and they looked like flowers - she pointed out to us..."At least the flowers haven't left us." I thought that it was a specially optimistic thought coming from her after this long drawn out winter. Of course I wished that I had my camera, but no such luck...
Hallel is called to study and continue to prepare to make her first vows.... we hope to learn when that will be and to go to France to support/celebrate with her! I long for her dad to get there and "see" France. In order for that to happen - we need quite a few months of warning so that he can get everything lined up. 
Today is the amazing Gospel in Luke 15 of the Prodigal Son... The Lord's forgiveness for us as we come to him and say.."Father, I have sinnned against heaven and against you"... I am sorry for my sins, please forgive me, and with your love and help I will try to do better... A good reconcilliation will allow us to go into Easter joyfully and ready to love and serve Him as we see His face in all those that we meet...especially our families... Our family has been expanded to include many more little sisters and brothers! Such a blessing to us! 
We are blessed with beautiful "snow flowers" everywhere we look... the hard things have turned into faith and life giving gifts to us! John has come through the long hard road of cancer with a new lease on life and appreciation for the power of faith and prayer!
The Archbishop of KC is the one who asked the Community to come here to the US - we are eternally grateful and the US has their life changing faith in the heart of our country! Thank you, Archbishop, from the bottom of our hearts!
Jesus, we love you and thank you for the beauty that continues to dwell in our lives no matter what we face. When we are asked to share your cross with you...we have been touched in a special way by you... we look to you and need you... when we are weak - we find you so very close in our need! Go forth with us today and allow us to minister and care for those that we serve - especially those the closest to us - Our Families! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halleluia!
Bless-bless, Barb
"Then let us celebrate with a feast , because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found." Luke 15
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