"peculiarly his own." Dt 7:6

When we were reading morning prayers this morning... reminded that today is the anniversary of legalization of abortion and therefore the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children in all the dioceses in the U.S.  That with the great JOY of praying for a new grandchild in the womb for the first time was such a powerful mixture of joy and grief knowing of all the tiny lights in the womb that were not loved as respected as LIFE, and were killed!  Maria called us with the news of her newly discovered pregnancy as we were traveling back from Rochester last evening!  Then to awaken to this day of prayer for all LIFE to be legally protected and recognized as a human baby, and to pray for our newest little grandchild in the womb for the first time on this hugely hard and important day of PRAYER thoughout our country!  We are blessed today to have our two grandchildren here for a few days while their parents are away, and that too adds to the depth of LIFE's Beauty and wonder as they make our day rich with simplicity of those little ones we are called to pattern our lives after with Christ!

Gus loves the farm and is out early to help grandpa as the feed truck arrives and the cows and calves need to be fed!  I found a scarf we bought in Assisi and tied it Italian style around his neck as a blizzard has just hit us.  The kids are coming home from school in the midst of the storm.  As I was talking to Nancy this morning she was remembering coming home on the bus in the midst of blizzards - coming up the long driveway after they were dropped off at the end - "I remember saying head for the Christmas lights in the bushes in the front of the house, and one would fall into the ditch and we would pull them out..."  I remember them wandering into the pasture once with a 12 pack of pop they had taken for a birthday gift for a birthday - either Ruth on Jan 4th or John on Feb 3rd...  Winter storm stories are rich in warm memories of sitting in the house playing board games in front of the woodstove - out of school for the day or days!

Off to farm on a blizzard day...  As we were doing morning prayer from the Magnificat we could hear the little ones starting to wake up... We all had a wonderful night's rest!
One phrase from Deuteronomy..."You are a people sacred to the Lord, your God; he has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth to be a people peculiarly his own..."  Dt 7:6  That word "peculiarly" stuck especially after spending the day with John at Rochester yesterday and his quirky humor that might be thought to be peculiar, and hearing about the 3 days Pat spent with him at the TEC retreat and how his humor was so large in his ministry to people there.  I must admit that we did not get totally good news yesterday in Rochester.  There is a prayer need that we now need to focus on for John and that it the effects of whole brain radiation on his brain.  There is some deterioration noticed along with the total lack of cancer!  On the one hand we rejoice and on the other we are concerned and prayerful for more protection of our precious son and healing!  I will soon be calling our prayer team in our family - Little Sister Hallel and her Community of the Lamb to begin praying for her new little niece or nephew in the womb as well as the protection and healing of her brother's brain!

Berna and her soft Herbie the kitty!

How are we peculiar?  Some of us, like John, have quirky sense of humor, or like Pat with eye flaps on his eyelid... but what this really means is that we are made in the image and likeness of God!  We are so much more special and peculiar in the way that we are set apart and LOVED than all these wounded and mistreated animals we see constantly on the TV - asking for money to protect this animal or that!   At the same time human babies are killed and thrown in the garbage - talk about the most horribly peculiar screwed up thinking that ever existed!  So wrong and absolutely backwards!   We are Sons and Daughters of the KING, and animals are here in this earth to give us joy and companionship and food!  Peculiarly his own is a setting apart as a beloved child of God - a child that He loved so much that He died on the Cross to give us LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! 

Grandma having fun with a small child of God and her special kitty!

When I called Maria today to ask about sharing her news and request for prayer to surround her and the new life within her on this day of prayer.  Answer -"YES!"  "Mom, did you read the first reading from mass today? It was David and Goliath... I have been almost daily to mass for years and I think it was the first time I have heard it read at mass!"  Not only does Maria have her David, so it is special!  It is also very much the theme of John and his defeating the giant, brain cancer 4 years ago now!  I was so grateful for my wonderfully newly pregnant daughter sharing this with me!  Of course, the Gospel has been read a couple times together starting last night as we went to bed in keeping with the model we have from The Community of the Lamb.  The healing of the man with the withered hand in Mark 3:1-6 - "save life rather than destroy it?"  Jesus, poses the question to the Pharisees and they are silent and only watch to see if he will break the Sabbath by healing, then they plot to kill him when he does good and heal the man!  May we follow his example and face death in the eye and defend LIFE always no matter the cost!

Gus comes in from the storm as sister watches with interest!

Jesus, so much filling me with day with the reminder of LIFE as a total blessing and gift to be cherished and protected no matter what!  The first day of prayer for a new LIFE - little grandchild in the womb of our Maria.  This baby and mother will take so much prayer and we are up to the task!  May our prayers for the sanctity of ALL LIFE in our country save many this day of Prayer for protection of all LIFE!  Jesus, we also are on our knees for the protection and continued healing of our son, John Patrick Augustine!  We know that you have a wonderful plan for John to share far and wide the LIGHT of healing and Faith that has been given to him as the result of a half- hearted prayer for faith.  We know in our deepest places of our hearts and souls that we are so loved and forgiven no matter what and are a peculiarly yours!  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

In from the cold with his Italian scarf!  It reminds me of a special priest friend that lives in the NH!  I showed him how to tie his scarf European style and he was delighted by it and most especially commented on how warm it was that way!  "I can't wait to show those young priests that have studied in Rome - my new Italian scarf!"  Super sweet and fun!

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

"Life is not born from the encounter between a sperm and an ovum, nor is it only the result of a love story between mom and dad.   It is born from the only source of love who is God, who is the source of life, and who has called us to be collaborators with him in bringing  forth life.  We all love life for what we see, feel, and touch, but life does not belong to us; it belongs to someone else, we belong to someone who wants to take care of us and who wants to discover the true flavor of life, for he knows that only in this way will we be truly happy."  Mother Elvira Petrozzi is foundress of 63 houses in 15 countries which welcomes the lost and desperate

Snuggly in the swing by the woodstove with a book while it storms outside - warmed by her sweet smile!!!

Wonderfully made - Psalm 139 by Danielle Rose