Who did Rose have to say goodbye to first and for the longest this morning before she got on her coat and boots and hat and came over to grandma's for the day? Her little brother, Luke! Today is his one week birthday, and it is almost like Rose needs to assure herself that he is real and that she truly is a big sister to a new little brother. He sleeps by mommy's bed in the same bassinette that Ruth, her mommy slept in by our bed, and that Pat slept in by his parents bed too! We should have done a running notebook with all the names of the many babies that have slept in it... I think it would be closing in on 50 for sure! Most of my grandchildren have used it and all of our kids were beside our bed in it and Pat would reach out and shake it when the baby had no reason to cry with a full belly and a dry diaper... it shakes very nicely with those big farmer hands and the babies often responded to the motion.
It is always interrupted writing these days with little Rose here to fill our days with 18 month activity... Of course, grandma has to have her little photo shoots too. There was a warm relaxed feeling this morning as Rose watched grandpa build a fire with the snow covering the ground it just has a cold winter feel to the house and the air outside. Pat and I reminisced about the many kids and grandkids that have stood there with grandpa as he builds the fire. It is delightful to have this little girl here - just her all by herself. Mom can't have her there, because at 18 months she still needs to be lifted up and down a lot, and Ruth can't do that with her incision. We have found the best thing for the 3 of us - Ruth, Rose and me is to bring her here for a day of being the princess on the farm. All the way up the driveway when I brought her over this morning she was making the "MOOOOO" sound. She knows that cows and calves live here. It is very great to have the chance to step back in time with our sweet little girl around here. We were remembering how special it was when Ruth and Paul moved here from Blue Earth when Simon was 1. I became his baby sitter while Ruth worked half time at the hospital. He loved the farm and going outside with grandpa - we have some precious memories of his bringing Pat's jacket and boots to him - telling him that they needed to get out and do chores! Such JOY with the little ones to share LIFE and to see it through their excited and new eyes.
It has been great fun to have Romans for the first reading for the last few weeks! Romans entered in very large in our journey with Patrick a little over a year ago now. This morning this phrase really spoke to me - "sanctified by the Holy Spirit." The definition of sanctified is set apart for sacred use. This is what the Holy Spirit dwelling within me does for me - I who am nothing on my own am set apart for sacred use. This can only occur as the Spirit is working within me, and I must be the clay in His hands! I ask to be a humble earthen vessel used for the basics in LIFE. The drop of water that is poured into the wine at the consecration and mingled with Christ in His Blood! Embracing my Most Cherished Cross and bringing LIFE into my family/domestic Church. Through the Holy Spirit within me I am set apart to raise those children we have been blessed with to be LIGHTS! I can only do that by allowing the Spirit to use me in this sacred and most important above all works - bringing the Way, the Truth and the LIFE - Christ into our home and in that way we share a small slice of Heaven - the Kingdom of God - here on earth!
Jesus, we are filled with YOU in the Spirit that dwells within us and sets us apart for sacred use! May we love and serve you in one another - most especially those in our domestic Church/family. The home is the most important place for our Faith to be shared daily in all that we do one for another without counting the cost, by sharing the Gospel in Word and deed, by sharing the LIVES of the Saints, by prayer without ceasing, by attending with JOY and desire the Sacraments of Eucharist, Reconcilliation, taking in hand the sacrament of matrimony as we ask the Spirit to assist us each day on the road to holiness/sainthood... So much can occur in our homes/domestic Church as we raise LIGHTS for the world of darkness and sin. Help us in our weak and sinful state to become the prudent steward - not doing wrong but for the good alone. Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Hallelujah
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke with one week old Luke in front of the sudden winter landscape.
"To make holy desire grow in you and not flag, I want you to open your mind's eye and come to know God's unspeakable love for you. In love he gave you his only-begotten Son, and that Son gave his life for you in such blazing love that it should melt the hardness of any hard heart... After you have acquired purity in the way I've described, you will see there is no service you can do for God, so you will extend your love to your neighbors, doing for them the service you cannot do for God. You will visit the sick, help the poor, and console those who are troubled. You will weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. I mean you will weep with those who are grieving in deadly sin by being compassionate and by offering continual prayers for them in God's presence. And you will rejoice with those who are glad because they are true servants of Jesus Christ crucified, always happy to be in their company." St Catherine of Siena (1380)
I love her - she is a lover of the Cross - the Most Cherished Cross!
So precious - a new light has entered the world!
Danielle Rose - the Saint that is just me
Third Day - Your love O Lord
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