"When your the youngest of 5..." says John the day before his 25th birthday

Coming home from a couple days away to visit my parents and Nancy's family in the Cities, it was good to find that John had come home to be a part of the two retreats he is a part of... TEC and Emmaus!  It is also a good reason to pull together a big family meal/super bowl party tonight on the eve of John's 25th birthday!  With all that to do... I need to keep this short, but after sharing mass with the 4 generations in such a special way I just wanted to keep this short but from the heart!  Ruth had to return to work this weekend, which adds up to 3 - 12 hour shifts at the hospital!  Little Luke has managed OK, and he was so good at Church today.  We all gathered in a big group to help out Paul as he was lecturing today too!  Pat brought his mom to sit up with us in our two rows of Family!  Pat held little sweet Luke in his big arms and worked his magic by putting his little squeaks of complaint into a nice peaceful nap in grandpa's big arms!  How I love to see him with the little ones!  He was always very encouraging that we go to Church as a family from the first week home!  And he would always be in charge of holding the babies in his big strong loving arms. Only those times that the little one would not be consoled would I take them out to feed them.  Luke was perfect today, and John was commenting that "when you are the youngest of 5 - you tend to be a good baby."  I looked at my John,  who was my youngest of 5 and remembered that he was a good baby too!  Tomorrow will be his 25th birthday, so we plan on having a family celebration meal tonight!

After mass Luke missed his mommy, so dad took him over to the hospital and Ruth could take her morning break and "feed him up."  So great for the little guy to have some time with his mommy.  Tomorrow she can be back home with her baby boy! 

Not only are we moving up John's birthday celebration by a few hours, but Fr Paul also moved up the blessing of throats - St Blaise feastday a day ahead too!  Pat came over to bless his mother's throat and Mary too!  I carried up Luke in my arms and he got his throat blessed too!  I have been struggling with a cough for a week or so...I was very much praying for a healing!

Blessed with all the wonderful traditions in The Church!  So many graces and blessings to surround us on our journey.  Today is the Presentation of Christ in the Temple by Mary and Joseph!  It is a good sign to families that they are responsible to pass on their faith to their children not only by worshiping together but also by passing on their values and faithlife within their domestic Church/family home!  The parents are the most important teachers of their children and take the responsibility of raising LIGHTS very seriously!

There was a baptism today and Mary will have her first Communion this year following after Simon last year!  All those steps and celebrations that make us a family of Faith in The Catholic Church!

Nancy and Bill went to a Marriage retreat for couples that have been married 7 years or less - they celebrated their 3rd anniversary in August!  They were very excited to share with me - a supposed convert - http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html

They shared that the amazing  Byzantine priest that gave the retreat said that there is no such thing as a convert - rather we rediscovered our roots in the True Church!  I love it!  The one lady there that was a Protestant - he showed her that she truly is a Catholic at heart by showing her how with special occasions in her life, like her husband's birthday she is following the directions of The Church - a special meal and gifts etc!  It sounds like a wonderful day, and I am now going to say that we did not convert but rediscovered our roots in the True Church!  Thanks, Father and Nancy and Bill!

My two sweeties... Augustine and Bernadette in a few days Nancy and Bill are finding out what the 3rd they are expecting this summer will be!

Rose led grandma on an adventure through the Church - a familiar and special place for a little 21 month old girl!

Thank you, Jesus, for sharing Faith as a family and always holding our time of worship as precious and never to be taken lightly!   There was no question of whether Paul would get his 5 kids up, fed, dressed to honor our Lord, and to mass together this morning.  Sharing this special meal - Simon now partakes and in a few months Mary will join us too!  The younger ones watch their older siblings, parents, grandparents, and great-grandmother - as we worship and adore and take with great reverence and JOY Jesus in His Body and Blood!  Bless dear John on his 25th year of LIFE!  We have so much to celebrate with him as he has been spared to "not be silent" but to share his healing and finding of faith in his life.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

"Since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has power of death, this is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death have been subject to slavery all their life."  Hebrews 2: 14-18  The second reading from mass today!  Saved by the Blood of the spotless Lamb without blemish!

The sun rising over our world! 

Danielle Rose - the Saint that is just me