"You have made known to me the paths of life..." Psalm 16

A bright beautiful Easter Monday is upon us!  We are rejoicing after starting with prayers together... just Pat and I... the family time is now a close memory with all of our kids a part of the day in some way or another! The tears of joy and amazement rolled as we prayed together!  Too much to take in sometimes are the ways of the Lord in our lives!  The deep experiences that we all shared together with our out of this world Catholic Church is the glue that binds us even though Maria and Joe were experiencing it all in Georgia on the army base, Hallel was in France with her community, and Nancy, Bill and John shared Holy Thursday in the Cities together.. yet we were together - united in our faith and the universal Church - the same everywhere whether in French or English or Italian or Ugandan!  We are blessed from the tops of our heads to the bottom of our feet and everywhere deeply spiritual and filled with life within and without!  I am filled with JOY and HAPPINESS today - the glorious Easter Monday!

Little Dave and his "angel" Mary - she had some special Easter eggs for him in the outside hunt...  It would be very hard to think that Easter could ever just be the Easter bunny and candy and a nice meal shared with family - that part is always a good thing,but the shared time of worshiping Our Lord and all that He did for us!  That is the mortar of holding our families together in LOVE and LIFE! 

There is so much to be found on our journey as we share the Word as it is laid out for us in our daily readings... today we listen to ST Peter speaking about what the death and resurrection of Christ means to us!  Acts 2: 14, 22-33  "Exalted at the right hand of God, he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear." Christ we love you and thank you and follow you into LIFE! 

Speaking to Hallel in France as we sat around the dinner table was a gift!  We were so amazed to hear her share that she will be driving a group of little sisters to Rome in the next few days to be there on the weekend for the Beatification of John Paul the II!  "I don't know why I got chosen to go, but I think that it had something to do with John's cancer."  So out of this world for me!  How I love him and to know that my percious daughter, who also loves him and has prayed to him for John's healing, will be given the extreme joy and blessing of being shoulder to shoulder with a million or more there gathered to honor this amazing pope and man!  I will be glued to EWTN to see it all, and now I might catch a glimpse of those that wear a humble blue habit and see my own daughter there!  Too much! 

My pages of writing about what John Paul II meant to me in my life were not quoted in the National Catholic Register... Understandable but he was so huge to me and continues to be in my life and marriage and family!  "Two months after we married John Paul II was made Pope. He became for me the Church and the force of life and family and love within my marriage. Early on I read somewhere that he was calling families to become the “Domestic Church,” and this became so profound to my husband and I… We were not alone! In many ways we continued to feel alone, and do even to this day within our Church! John Paul II was such a dynamic and deeply spiritual leader, who was never wavering from the Truth!"

Lots of precious family time spent over the weekend sharing all those things that are part of life and what we look for as we walk the way of LIFE!  Jesus, we are filled with the wonder of your Sonlight this day!  So good to see the sun in all of its brightness and splendor!  "The dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace."  Luke 1- the canticle of Zechariah that we repeat every morning... this morning it was so amazing as we have just experienced this exact thing within ourselves and our family! 

Thank you Paul, for the "H" - you did it just for me and I so appreciate it!  Thank you Jesus for our families and the joy and life that they bring to us!  Watching and experiencing the light and joy of the little ones gave us the laughter and delightful warmth that Your Son has brought into this world... through the eyes of little children we "see" life in its fullness and greatness and wonder and majesty!  Jesus, we are grateful with our lives and our love one for the other!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!  

"In 1979, I worked in the media department of the Philadelphia Archdiocese and was charged wtih wrangling the press photographers for JP2's visit to our city.  I was a rebellious feminist, horribly sinful and arrogant at the time.  In a receiving line to greet the Pope, the monsignors and bishops in the line next to me chashed to their knees to kiss John Paul's papal ring.  Alone of all in the line, I refused to kneel or otherwise acknowledge the Holy Father, except with a cold handshake.  To this day, the memory of John Paul II's face is crystal clear.  He was in deep in prayer, even as he greeted us.  The rosary was in his hands.  The impression was one of the deepest humility.  He touched my hands and moved on.  Had I but acknowledged then what I know now.  This I know for sure: Karol Wojtyla enjoys the Beatific Vision and prays for us sinners remaining on the earth.  Even me. "  Leslie Rabbitt from the National Catholic Register article - Blessed John Paul, Thank YOU!  - Register readers reflect on the Late Pope's Legacy...

I just want to say that this is one more of reasons too numerous to mention - for my undying love and devotion to him... I also cling to my rosary throughout each and every day, and I know personally the strength and peace and love and support that can be found there!  Bless-bless, Barb