How little almost 4 year old David loves to kiss his new little sister, and the special thing about it is that she seems to respond to his loving care for her! This is the picture taken just before this one...
This was probably minutes before David kissed her...
And this is the one taken just after the kiss, and she looks like she misses his love already! So special to have this recorded in my obsessive photo taking, but it seems to show us that she is very responsive to knowing that she is precious to her siblings. Mary looks a bit concerned here - like she is heading for a tiny baby melt down. How amazing on this the feastday of the Visitation - that the 6 month fetus - John the Baptist - the Voice... lept for JOY in the womb of his mother when Mary appeared with the tiny Christ - the Word - in her womb! So responsive to LOVE incarnate! How I love this part of the Gospel with still 2 of my daughters expecting babies, and a month ago all 3 of them were expecting! So many prayers and love already are surrounding them in the womb! There is so much wonderful sharing in the Magnificat today, that I think that I am going to use a lot of the wisdom that is to be found there - see http://www.magnificat.com/ ... Also the mass for today is extra wonderful from the Preface of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the Eucharistic prayer and the final blessings!
"Unlike a simple visit, a visitation is different owing to the purpose intended by the get-together. A visitation aims to accomplish something. Specifically, a visitation is an encounter that carries within it a meaning that is exceptional. In the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that meaning is not a 'message' but rather the exceptional presence of the Son she carries within her womb. We can be certain that the mystery of the Visitation is effective in our life if we do now, before Jesus is born, what Christ will command us to do as he dies: 'Behold, your Mother.' " 
Four different faces and responces to the request for a smile at grandma! Too fun! The first reading for today... Romans 12: 9-16
"be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in Hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer... Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
The Gospel is AMAZING! Luke 1: 39-56
The Gospel words that we repeat in the rosary - entirely scriptural! "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, 'Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb...for at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." Some of the most amazing words ever, and how much it stirs the joy in a woman,who is pregnant!
Then,of course, Mary's responce with the Magnificat - which we repeat every evening with evening prayer in the Church! Talk about the cry of the poor and the beauty of being humble in this world...The Prayer Of Mary "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever. "
(Lk 1:46-55)
Well, there is way too much to share today in this blessed feastday devoted to women and their willingness to say YES to LIFE! ..."as we celebrate the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary... For truly even to earth's ends you have done great things and extended your abundant mercy from age to age: when you looked at the lowliness of your handmaid, you gave us through her the author of our salvation, you Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord." Preface to the Eucharistic prayer in mass today!
Thank you, Lord for this amazing day of celebration of women and the wonderous gift we are given to carry and nourish life in our wombs! How glorious that you chose to come to us as a tiny infant and be placed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of our spiritual Mother, Mary Most Holy! These blessings at the end of mass to great to leave out. "May you know always and everywhere the protection of her,through whom you have been found worthy to receive the author of life. May God, through the childbearing of the Blessed Virgin Mary willed in his great kindness to redeem the human race, be pleased to enrich you with his blessing. May you, who have devoutly gathered on this day, carry away with you the gifts of spiritual joys and heavenly rewards." Now you have been blessed real good! Jesus, with your glorious Mother, Mary Most Holy, we are filled with wonder at the beauty and blessing of new life! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halleluia! 
David ducked just as I took the picture... Bless-bless, Barb
"Again and again, to our astonishment, we discover that it is the poor, in those who need our help, that the Lord is waiting to fill us with the knowledge, the knowledge that we are loved. And this knowledge is knowledge that heals. If we, who know ourselves to be wounded in some way, make an effort to help others who are suffering, if we 'share our bread with the hungry' and try to 'shelter the homeless poor' or make a visit to someone in need like Mary, then not only will we experience enlightenment of some kind, but our wound will quickly be helaed over. And why? Because in those who are most in need of help he will meet Christ himself: "Whatever you do to one of these, the least of my brothers, you do to me.' "
Fr Paul Murray
Beautiful Rose with flowers in her hair by Our Lady!
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