Boy or girl?

So sweet yesterday afternoon to see the little red calf laying in the deep lush green grass by the creek while her mother ate grass nearby... the boys walked to the creek right past her without even noticing she was there.  Such a picture as if right out of the psalms in the Bible!  I am so blessed to have the Bible come alive in my life on the farm and with the little slice of heaven/domestic Church we have!  I was so excited to go to May 1st and see if it was a feastday for the new baby... It is devoted to St Joseph - the worker!  How wonderful and then there was a meditation on Mary as the month of May is devoted to her!  "Every follower of Christ spends a long 'December' in a stable.  But May means to burst, with Mary, ever Virgin, into our fullest, most fecund (the quality of producing abundantly fruitfulness or fertility) flower."  (Heather King is a Catholic convert, contemplative and writer.)  So perfect as Ruth is getting prepared to be a fecund flower this very moment... She has embraced LIFE and Trusted in HIM! 

Mary picked lettuce from the garden to feed the little calves... they were too unsure about us to allow her to do that.  Maybe next time, Mary!  Well, it is thrilling to have this day - May 1st to be devoted to both parents of our Lord, Mary and Joseph!  We will get the call shortly to discover if we have a grandson or granddaughter!  We are all praying for them with great JOY and Trust!  Jesus, we thank and praise you for LIFE!  We recognize you as the Christ and there is no hesitation in our turning to you each day of our lives!  You are our LIFE, our LOVE and our LIGHT!  We are so filled with wonder and awe at the arrival of our new grandchild this day.  May your heavenly parents be rejoicing with us as we welcome this new and precious life into our arms!  Protect all LIFE, dear Lord!  End abortion and may LIFE be protected Mother of LIFE, Our Lady of Guadalupe!  Jesus, Mary and Joseph we trust in you!   Amen and Halleluia, Halleluia, Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

The little calf no longer in the lush grass - now surprises the kids by walking across the creek.

Blessed John Paul II on Joseph the worker

"What is crucially important here is the santification of daily life, a sanctification which each person must acquire according to his or her own state, and one which can be promoted according to a model accessible to all people: 'Saint Joseph is the model of those humble ones that Christianity raises up to great destinies;...  he is the proof that in order to be a good and genuine follower of Christ, there is no need of great things - it is enough to have the common, simple, and human virtues, but they need to be true and authentic.' "

"Mary, who probably  couldn't read but who took care of the baby and cooked the meals, is our greatest saint.  To be a mother is to stretch yourself as far as you can possibly go.  It is to say, There!  That is everything I have; that is my blood, my heart, my bone marrow.  And it is then ti be called to give in yet a different way, a different direction.  Just when the mother wants to rest, she is called to more openess of heart, more self-emptying, more patience, more work, more letting go, more love...Mary, What simplicity.  What confidence.  What humility.  What purity - for in order to magnify God, you have to become transparent yourself."
Heather King