This lone sunflower left to grace the new and beautifully remodled church, captured my attention in its simple beauty... like a small sun reflecting back on the God that created it on the altar! Deep in my prayers with Jesus... I find such a place of peace and joy! The best hour of my week by far... sitting on a sunny hill at the feet of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Today is the birthday of my wonderful spouse, Patrick! I just had the joy of going out with him on this beautiful cool sunny day - so much like fall in the air - to look at the calves that he has brought home to wean.
I am bursting with the news of a new grandchild on the way! Ruth and Paul are expecting their 4th child and this is so exciting to us regardless, but under their special circumstances... of being told after their second that they should stop having children... this is a time that we totally turn to prayer and trust! They did go to the surgeon that saved Ruth's uterus, after she ruptured trying to have Mary vaginally, after having her first C-section... they were assured that if she allowed her uterus to heal well over at least a year, and they were monitored very closely until the baby was ready to come, and then with a C-section... all should be fine, and it was! They had their miracle-gift baby, David! Now they are to have their next gift from God in April of 2012, and there will be over 3 1/2 years since they had David. Lots of healing, and prayers with high hopes, and welcome arms aching for this new little one! Life is such a beautiful gift, and we trust, and put it all in the Lord's hands... as we do each grandchild that we are blessed with!
It continue to ring in my ears - the call from Maria last spring with the news of grandchild #7 on the way..."Mom, no matter what happens, this will always be your 7th grandchild!" Yes, just like my own losses, I pray for little Alida/Hector, who left this world while Maria was visiting us in May by mischariage. It will always be our 7th grandchild, so this will be number 8! The prayers have started to flow all around this new little life... I call it in prayer - our "little rosebud," until we know the name and whether it is a boy or a girl. The baby's three siblings are very excited at the news and are counting the days! This could be a very long pregnancy from their young eyes. I would love to hear their prayers at night... as they each pray from their beds on either side of the hall, as mom stands between the two rooms and the 4 or 5, if dad is there too, pray together. There is no doubt that the new baby is prayed for with love, and joy, and excitement, and knowing kids... probably a some impatience too! Simon is already asking his teacher at school how many days until school is out - dad told him that is about when to expect their new sibling - I can hear him asking this same question day after day...
How we rejoice, and welcome each new life into this world! How powerfully we are reminded that there is so much beauty in the LIFE that results of LOVE, and opennness to LIFE! I feel such a deep stirring pondering on the miracle of that tiny life, that is forming inside of Ruth's womb. So amazing, and wonderful beyond words! The prayers that are surrounding that little new life is also so good, and wonderful, and keep us all in the deep communication of Trust and Hope in our God! 
Patrick with his mother in France...today she gave birth to her 5th child with huge hands and feet... 57 years ago!
In his entire life... he only met one other man with hands his size and he was a dairy farmer in Wisonsin. Those hands serve him well, unless he needs to get at someplace in a tractor or grain bin that is small.. one time he needed someone to climb the grain bin to help him get at a bolt in a small place. I was too scared to climb much more than a few steps... he had to have Ruth the Brave - then probably about 10 years old- climb up there ahead of him... he went up right behind her to keep her safe with each step that she took up and up and up to the top of the bin! Thankyou, Ruth, for doing something your mother could not even think to do!
The circumstances of Pat's birth were difficult - his sister, Grace, was in the hospital in Mayo...as she came close to losing her leg after an accident where her leg was run over by the rock wagon, and gangreen set in... she was about the age of our oldest grandson - 6 yo. Mom had been riding the bus to see her... hugely pregnant with Pat. Then close to giving birth, she hemorraged and thought that she was losing him... this morning I was admiring his strength, and his health, and see that he was meant to be here without a doubt! Thank you, Jesus, for bringing Pat into this world in the midst of difficulties - he was truly meant to be here, and is a formidable force to be reckoned with! 
How he loves to share his life and his work with those that he loves!
To have his Susan/Hallel at his side was a joy beyond telling! He was trying to look serious in this one, but his delight was profound and without measure! He was able to help with his muscle, and understanding of the things of the hands, and of the mind, and of the spirit... he is a complete man, and complete package of all that is good and worthy of praise, and to be followed in his children! Sometimes he drives them a bit crazy, but they love and honor him as a great dad!
A super cute calf that I enjoyed out with my husband... looking at the 110 calves that are in the barn now... a few days ago they were crying long and hard for their mothers... now they are eating feed and looking good!
Talk about super cute... Pat with his cheerful willing work crew in France!
Getting a phone call happy birthday wish from John, while out with his cows and calves on a beautiful birthday morning!
So with a deep love and appreciation for the man that the Lord has blessed me with, as well as his adoring children, and grandchildren - including the newest, and the one that is now in heaven joining in prayers with the other 6 angels we have there lifting up their dad... He is a man that has been totally blessed with many to pray for him... and he shows it!
Lord with your Sorrowful Mother at your side, and as you asked us to take her into our homes at the foot of the Cross - "As the Savior's dying gift to us, Jesus leads us back to Mary... for we need the maternal closeness of the Sorrowful Mother to sustain us when overcome by the terrifying trials of life. Through Mary's compassionate presence at the cross, that event - as it recurs in our life - becomes more deeply human, filling us with courage to face life's sufferings, certain in the secure embrace of divine providence. Whenever Mary loves us, she give us Jesus." see http://www.magnificat.com/ Today being the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows... there was so much beauty and deep Truth in this... I had to share! Our Lady, on this feastday that falls on the day of birth of dear Patrick Gerard Verly - may we feel love, and secure in your loving arms, as you bring us to your Son! We love to know that you are with us in the midst of our domestic Church - our families! How we need you there to be our Spiritual Mother, in the midst of this world that has lost sight of how wonderful a family centered in faith in God can be... a slice of heaven here on earth. You, Our Lady of Sorrows, can show us how to continue to love even when the hurts of life, and the pain, and suffering of life come upon us - "Wounded,I will not cease to love." This leads to healing, and forgiveness, and new life, and LOVE! Jesus, we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, BarbThe Gospel for today -
John 19:25-27
"Standing by the Cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home." Lord, we need to listen to your direction... and bring your Mother into our homes to teach us to say "yes" to family and to love!
Pat is happy with how his calves are looking, after being off their mothers for 4 days..."They are settling down and are eating good! I am happy with them!"
Little Dave had to go give Our Lady a hug and tell her that, "mommy has a baby in her tummy!"
Dave says goodbye to Grandma Verly, after he shows me around with joy and cuteness - there is the "owl" that he made on his first day of preschool behind him - held by his other Grandma Lanoue. We are rejoicing together, and pray for our newest famliy member... to be met in person at a later date. Thank you, Jesus, and we trust in you!
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