Mom, woman of faith

Welcome back to Mom, Woman of Faith, a Saturday Series where moms share about all that our vocation is.  Thank you for being here, and please consider contributing in the future!  Just email Nancy (info found on contacts page).  Enjoy.


This week's question: What was one of your most joyful moments as a wife?

Nancy
Small Things

What is my most joyful moment as a wife?  Well, that is a difficult question, not because I am unhappy, but because I am very very happy!  I am married to a wonderful, faithful man.  He is a man that I never would have picked out for myself, but thankfully the Lord knew better than me.

When I think of the pure joyful moments in our marriage one does sort-of stick out, and that is the birth of our first child.  We had thought that since he was our first, I would go over my due date, but in the end the baby came early and very quickly.  I taught that day, and had a baby in arms the next morning. Because of this, and due to the fact that we don't have any family living near by, it was just me and my husband through the entire labor, and even most of the first day of my son's life.  I am so grateful that we had this time together. 

After I delivered the nurse took the baby over to the warming table to assess him.  I looked over and there was my husband, weeping with joy over his son.  Wow, I will never get over that moment.  Never before had a felt so close to another person.  We had just had a baby--and crazy as it might sound, this baby was going to be totally dependent on us.  I just looked on as my husband wept.  I will never forget that moment, and a praise God for the joy that he has brought into my wife since that day, almost three years ago, when I became a wife.

Barb
Family Soul Story

My most joyful moment as a wife was my wedding day…Pat and I ministered the sacrament of marriage/matrimony to each other in our lifelong vows in the gloriously beautiful Basilica of St Mary in Minneapolis, MN.  I was married in 1978, and I was older than most women at the age of 26, soon to be 27.  I had considered a call to become a sister, and due to circumstances at the time, when the Sr. directing me told me that she was leaving religious life and getting married – the “call” evaporated for me – I see now that I was called to marriage, and this was the answer to my prayers for direction.  My entire family had converted to the Catholic faith in 1971, and that is really saying something because my father was a Protestant minister and I was the oldest of 11 children.  So 13 of us converted with our first communion together on Christmas Eve mass!  If you would like to read about this go here.    

On our first date my husband shared that he had shocked his sisters by saying that he would only marry a Catholic, and after seeing how he is such a determined man – I now see that his prayers for me could have been instrumental in our entire family converting to The Church!  I fell madly in LOVE with the Catholic Church, and then madly in LOVE with Patrick Verly!  After those years of cherishing the daily Eucharist; being confirmed in a huge adult confirmation at the Cathedral in St Paul along with my parents, some siblings, and what appeared to be hundreds; looking at a call to religious orders; finding such JOY and freedom in frequent reconciliation, and on August 3^rd, 1978 we set out to live each day that sacrament of marriage, as we vowed to love, honor, and cherish until death do us part… helped along with the sanctifying grace and all the Church gives us to make that possible!  We are approaching 35 years of carrying forth each day that most JOYFUL moment of our joining as man and wife – the Sacrament of Matrimony!  By embracing our Most Cherished Cross – each other – we find LIFE, LOVE and bring LIGHT into the world.  

And now it's your turn!  Share in the joy and tell us about your marriage.  Comment below, or add your thoughts to the link on Facebook.

I find myself at Nancy's home this morning!  Pat and I had the great experience of attending John's great play last evening at the seminary.  It is called Saved by the Guillotine, and is about the short life of Jacques Fesch, a young man on death row for murder in France in 1950's, who had a conversion in prison before his death. It is very well done, and so good to see.  If you have an opportunity to see it here in St Paul over the next two days - do it!  You can call John about info as I am away from my computer and the link to get free tickets - 507-530-8810.  Bless-bless, Barb

Thank you, Lord, for the warm sun... we are all very grateful.  81A wanted to say a little prayer with me, and I think warm drying weather so that the grass in the pasture can grow and she and her calf can frolic in the warm sun was her prayer to YOU.  The answer has come already!  This is your amazing world and we are filled with wonder and awe at your feet with all the angels and saints!