As the summer passes, and our two weeks in Michigan are now a deep seated memory of greatest family times surrounded by God's glorious beauty... we are thrilled and deeply reminded of the cabin, we were blessed with by our parents, over and over as family after family gathers to enjoy their family time there! Talking to my mother yesterday for a health update - we launched into the two books she wrote, and asked me to illustrate for her. The first one we read as a family sitting in the cabin for a few chapters here and there. All were listening as they worked on projects - Ruth on her new little son's Christmas stocking, Nancy on some art/craft project she is going to feature on her blog, and 7 year old Mary with a clean sheet of paper before her would suddenly launch into an illustration of something that grabbed her imagination from the story!
Mary had a special time making herself a "treasure box" much like the one described by my mother - belonging to the main character in both books - Suzanne! She even added some special treasure finds to put inside, with room for adding more. Sharing this story called Treasures made this a summer we will always remember. I then read the second story - with more mature topics on my own, after we have gotten back to the real world and life as it marches on. I loved it too! And was most interested to see that a lot of the experiences that we have had were included. Suz meets a special extern sister in a cloistered monastery. I asked my mom if she wrote that while we were going through our experience with Maria entering for 5 months - the Poor Clares. "Yes! That was just when I was writing this book." So much of the book - I could see that I had been involved in those experiences in real life. The deep inner feelings of our family time in Michigan as a child growing up - the oldest of 12 kids. And now with my own kids and grandkids, and my own mother as a kid had time on the Big Lake too! Sharing this together for generations is almost genetic in that we are all immediately transported to this place of great beauty in our hearts, minds and souls after sharing it. The thing about the Big Lake is that it has been there for millions of years - yes, there is the year of the dead fish, the year of the low water, the year that the sand went away and the rocks appeared, the year of heat or cold... but the view we see as we look out has been the same for all those 5 generations of our family that have stood there on that beach or on the deck of that cabin. We share and it pulls us together into a deep love and appreciation of the glory of His marvelous creation and goodness to us. It never grows old, but always blesses us and reminds us that He loves this world and made it marvelous to look upon.
Two freshly washed baby girls playing together is even a more glorious sight to behold - one of the gift of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT we are blessed with when we say "Yes!" to new LIFE. "Doing the will of my Heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother." Jesus reminds us in the Gospel today in Matthew 12. He asks us to be open to family and LIFE in our marriages, and when we are the outcome can be surprising at times - like the many losses we had along with the 5 children we are blessed with here with us... Yet, I see that this is a definite way for me to keep my eyes on Heaven and knowing that I am being prayed for by my 7 in heaven is a great help to me!
A beautiful moth on the railing one morning... Lord, your world is such a gift to us and reminds us that we are loved beyond telling and created out of that unending LOVE for us! We know that LOVE through the selfless giving we receive within our domestic Church/family. We give without counting the cost one to the other, and although wounded by those the closest to us, we continue to LOVE. You showed us how to do this by your example to us as the innocent Lamb - who went to your death for us! May we take up our most Cherished Cross and follow after YOU. I am forever filled with wonder at the JOY we find in our saying Yes to YOU and your call to bring LIFE into the world and to bring LIGHT where there has been darkness. Even now when my years of giving birth to children has passed me by, and I have the blessings of 12 lives here and in heaven, I still rejoice that my daughters have answered your call to bring LIFE even with major obstacles and those telling them otherwise - we are called to prayer from the moment they are in the womb until their final day on this earth - praying without ceasing for all those you have given us in our families! Today I can come to YOU in my hour of Adoration - what JOY! Last week I was able to pray for two new lives for the first time - one newly born and one that we just discovered was in the womb! To place them in the glorious golden jewel encrusted monstrance with YOU - it lifts me to the highest place of praise and honor and glory within my heart and soul! Full to bursting with YOU, my Lord! I find my peaceful and joyful HOME in YOU and with YOU and am blessed by your Spirit within me crying out "Abba, Father, I am weak and lowly and humbly need YOU to live and breath and have my being ever carrying my Most Cherished Cross and following after YOU. Jesus, I trust in YOU. Amen and Halleluia
Dancing with JOY!!! Bless-bless, Barb
"We saw his glory, the glory of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth." John 1:14
http://communityofthelambusa.org/monastery_progress.html The little monastery in Kansas City is soon to open! Here is the latest update!
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