Today is John's 4th birthday! It is the day that after wiping out all his immunity with "the bomb" chemo that his stem cells/seeds were put back in. When I say that they wiped out his immunity - he had to take his baby shots over again. He was as a newborn as Luke was just 2 months ago.
John and cousin, Brad, at 4 years old!
Just off the phone with Ruth - she has started her own blog!!!! http://familyfarmexperience.blogspot.com/ It is in it's infancy - like she started it last night - and we were just talking about how appropriate that is today as I am talking about John's new beginning 4 years ago today with his stem cell transplant! This grabbed me today as we look out on the frozen landscape left behind with the arctic blast that hit us yesterday...
"When faith wavers, hope disappears, love grows cold, adoration ceases, doubt nags and the whole life is shrouded like a winter landscape in snow, when hatred and arrogance predominate, life is mortally wounded. That is the time to get into reverse, and let the Holy Spirit work from within building up a new life... There is no fiber in our being that the healing Spirit cannot reach as long as we are willing to let it do its creative, healing work. It goes on in silence within us and we should remind ourselves constantly that in alliance with God we possess powers of recuperation which enable us to endure the most grievous wounds without flinching and go on meeting the demands life makes on us." Fr Alfred Delp (1945) was a German Jesuit priest condemned to death by the Nazis
This so speaks to me of John's journey!!! He came to his brain cancer after praying for lack of Faith! He went through many horrific procedures to find medical healing, yet he also was surrounded by so many prayers as well as all the Catholic Church gives us to aide in our healing, and that is so much! The Saint for each day was with us, receiving his Body and Blood in daily Eucharist, he was anointed 4 times, prayed over with relics of soon to be St John Paul II as well as Venerable Solanus Casey, contant prayers together and for him - the rosary was our lifeline! He had the courage of David facing the giant, Goliath, and realizing how the Holy Spirit was holding him close to the heart of Jesus burning with LOVE for him and ministering to all his needs through His Bride, The Church... I understand his profound courage and Faith and Trust!!!!
4 year old John going outside to help dad and Nancy...
Today in the Gospel Jesus speaks about the Holy Spirit, and how we are to be aware of it at work in our lives! I had wanted to go to visit John tonight and make him a birthday supper, but due to meetings we are going to celebrate tomorrow night instead. It is striking me that we have so much to celebrate, and we need to continue to trust that John will "not be silent" rather he will be sharing his story/journey called cancer/healing/faith journey far and wide! He will always remember that he has been most grievous wounded in his brain and now in the silence of within the Holy Spirit has come alive and healed and brought him to a place of loving and following Christ down the narrow path of LIFE carrying his Most Cherished Cross! We are reading about the champion of God - King David in the first reading and the Psalm 89 for today... this was with me on our journey with John as he was young and ruddy and healthy in every way except for having a cancer in his brain! In the midst of John's battle shortly before Christmas on Dec 21, 2009 we had our second grandson named David born! So powerful now looking back. John bursting with youth and surrounded by Prayers fought the fight of his life and defeated the giant! How that filled many with HOPE and JOY! Even those parents of young people, who lost their battle with cancer, found comfort in seeing John healed and defeating their mortal enemy, cancer!
Out to ride with his dad in the tractor - 4 year old John.
Jesus, on this brutally cold day of remembrance - John's 4th birthday when the seeds were planted in his soil that was empty of LIFE - wiped clean of any immunity by chemo! The reading for this day 4 years ago was the sower and the seed planted on good soil! How we prayed for John's seeds taking root and supplying him with all he needed to go forth to love and serve God with all the rest of his LIFE! Our prayers have been answered as he continues to ask Jesus to show him the path he is to follow. Jesus, we trust in YOU. Come Holy Spirit and dwell in us and use us to your honor and glory... now and forever. Amen and Hallelujah
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
Me and my Johnny then...
Oh, Happy 4th Birthday, John!!! Birthdays were pretty simple around here! Tomorrow night I plan to go and make John supper and hang out in his place... it is still the simple things in life that make it special!
John and I... all snug in our little yellow house in Rochester 4 years ago! There was a blizzard here on the 26th too according to my journal. Some things never change!
Danielle Rose - the Saint that is just me







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