"Facing the Storm in the arms of our Mother"

So much love and fun with my little sweet Bernadette today!  She has been doing everything with grandma today,and my camera has been capturing it - up to 150 pictures mostly of her!

There were those special moments when we could get brother to join us for a snuggle!  So warm on a cold bright day!  How I have been anticipating this day when the Gospel would arrive at Mark 4: 35-41!  I knew that it had to be coming as Mark 4 progressed day after day!  Why so excited?  This was the Gospel of Father's day 2009 - the day we got the news of John's brain cancer for the first time!  We called France to tell Susan now Little Sister Hallel the shocking news - "Mom, do you remember the Gospel for today?"  "Yes, it was Jesus calming the storm."  "Well, this is the storm and Jesus is in control."  How this gave us strength, peace and the ability to give it all to HIM and trust!

Another sweet moment of the two today!  A reminder to me that we find a refuge in the storms of our lives with the little slice of heaven found in our domestic Church/family.  It was so wondrous today to find, as usual, that Saturdays are devoted to Our Lady, Mary Mother of Heaven and earth!  And this added reflection by St Pio - "Facing the Storm in the arms of our Mother!"  Wow!  This is totally how we faced the storm - the rosary beads were my lifeline that was thrown to me to keep me afloat as the huge waves washed over me again and again!

Berna loves every thing soft and this blanket on grandma's bed is super soft and makes a little girl super cute and snuggly!  The kids have now had lunch,stories and are down for a nap.  I can hear talking and singing above me, but as long as there isn't crying or a crash... all is well!

The sweet little helper while grandma gets ready for the day.

This Gospel is so important in all those storms of LIFE - "He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Quiet!  Be still!'  The wind ceased and there was great calm.  Then he asked them,  'Why are you terrified?  Do you not yet have Faith?'  They were filled with great awe and said to one another, 'Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?'"  Mark 4

The dynamics here could not be more perfect for John in his half-hearted prayer for his Faith to come alive!  John always had said that he didn't feel anything because he had never had anything bad happen to him and he had never needed to turn to Jesus and His Bride, The Church,for anything.  Well, the storm called Brain cancer hit and that all changed - here is John's story in his words as it appeared in the Prairie Catholic a few months back;

http://dnu.org/news/documents/JAN.2013MASTERISSUE.pdf  

It's rare to get the two together, but grandma has her ways!

Then to find this link between facing the storm in the arms of Our Lady - such a gift today.  I am soon to be finding my quiet space with my rosary!

"Do not fear the storm that roars about you, because in proportion to the rigidity of winter, the spring will be more beautiful and rich with flowers, and the fruits more abundant.  No matter what the tempter may say or do, God is working out in you his admirable purpose, which is your sanctification.  Don't believe the murmurings and promptings of the enemy...

To be afraid of being lost while you are in the arms of divine goodness is stranger than fear on the part of a child in its mother's arms." St Padre Pio

Soft blanket wrestle in the February sunshine!  

Speaking of a mother's arms - little Luke is left while mom  has to work the weekend at the hospital - the first time they have been apart for any length of time.  Thinking of them as they face this small storm in their peaceful world.  

Jesus, we thank you for having the loving merciful arms of your Mother to protect us when we are facing the hard times in life.  How she has given me the comfort I have needed over the years as the waves stirred up by the storms wash over me.  I recall that you are in control of all my worries and suffering, and I long to give all my worries to YOU and have that Faith that we should have gained by now after all this time!  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke with little sidekick, Bernadette

"My Jesus fill you with his holy love and grant you all those graces your beautiful soul desires, and I incessantly ask for you from our heavenly Father!...

When you are unable to take big steps on the path that leads to God, be content with the little steps, patiently waiting until you have the legs to run."  St Padre Pio (1968)

How thrilling to be reminded that we have St Pio - a great saint of prayer praying for our needs and graces to face all the storms that come our way.  I, too, take the time for prayer for all the needs of which I am made aware!  Prayer is my communication of LOVE with my Lord through his Mother, Mary Most Holy! 

Two precious lights that will welcome a new little LIFE/LIGHT with LOVE this summer!  

The prayer of Mary by Danielle Rose