The Pat and Barb Verly family and their 5 children, in laws and grandkids along with many prayer warriors have been drawn together by John's cancer... sharing daily for 8 months started this blog- Family Soul Story - Our faith, family, farm and now our cancer journey called HEALING have colored and deepened our world. WE continue to share and depend on the support of our prayer warrior community, that has lowered us into the Lord's presence for His healing!
Being an obsessive photographer has its perks - Ruth and Paul asked me along and take pictures this morning, as they shared the baby chicks, baby kitties and a baby calf with preschool through 4th graders at Holy Redeemer School. They presented as a farming couple the ways we are called upon as farmers to care for animals as we feed the world. Some of the facts that I gained today - each farmer feeds about 155 people for a year. There were about 170 teachers and kids that got to see them in the chapel! You would never think that a baby calf would be walking around the front of St Mary's chapel, but I think this was the first as well as baby chicks and baby kitties. The gym was being used for the passion play practice, so we were blessed with the amazing lighting in the chapel - a place of fond memories for my kids, who all went through 8th grade at the Catholic School! Now Ruth and Paul's oldest are attending there - David in Preschool - kindergarten in the fall, Simon in 3rd grade, and Mary in 2nd grade.
Ruth and Paul holding their two youngest explained to two groups of 70-80 kids facts about farming. "What is your job?" They asked - "To eat!" 3 day old Beef calf and 2 day old baby chicks that will lay eggs are sweet to touch, hold or look at... they are here for a reason to be cared for, fed, and to give food to the world! To have the animal new life in the chapel light - arms full of their miracle babies.... it was kind of a dreamy experience! John stopped in and seemed to enjoy being there with our family and his memories of the years of masses there growing up. "I want to be sure that none of these small animals get hurt." said John as he looked on with interest. I heard many kids saying that they had never held a baby chick or touched a baby calf. Then the small pets - they do have a farm job of killing mice - well, many of Mary's friends were saying that they would love to have baby kitties - I think Ruth and Paul's kids came away from sharing with their classmates their farm and pet animals... they now realize a bit more how lucky they are to have the life they have been blessed with on the farm!
There was some pretty powerful teachings of morality and Truth shared in this simple setting. At one point Paul was sharing the difference from the animal world and human. He talked about marriage and having one spouse for life in humans, and then he thought again and started to say - "Well... that is how God wanted it, but..." Teachers were quick to thank Paul for speaking of the sanctity of marriage in his own way. Pointing out the difference in animals not having marriage of one cow to one bull... It is good to realize that there is a very big difference between human and animals... sometimes the boundaries get blurred. Most especially when there is uproars to protect animal rights when human babies are killed in the womb by abortion! No wonder there is confusion and misinformation out there. Thank you, Ruth and Paul for modeling family and openness to LIFE as a couple trusting in Jesus and His Bride, The Church. You also model the love of the farmlife and caring for animals to feed the world.
Paul showing how we can watch Cow TV on our phones....
David showing his preschool friends how to hold gently baby chicks.
A sight I never thought I would see... a baby calf in the LIGHT of our beautiful school chapel - St Marys!
John and Rose taking in the sight...
Simon and Mary's classmates know Rose and wanted to hold her and give her hugs - Ruth said "Rose petting" was another attraction of the morning. It was a special time of JOY and LIGHT!
A reminder of this Holy Week... the most amazing week in which we are given new LIFE through the sacrifice of the unblemished Lamb of God! How we are forever blessed and made new if we will only die to self so that Christ may live in us! Today in the Gospel we hear the story of the last supper and Judas and Peter. May we take heart from their examples of betrayal and denial... Jesus, when we are weak we turn to YOU.
"If your mom and dad ever carry you to bed... well, this calf weighs about 80 pounds so it is like mom and day carrying you to bed at night."
Sweet Luke was held by many and even took at little nap in one of the teacher's arms.
Mary shows them how to quietly hold out their hands to the calf without scaring it... soon the calf just laid down and allowed the kids to come up and feel it's soft warm coat! As a young girl this age - I would have been amazed to get this opportunity. I was a city girl and only came and started learning about the farm as a newlywed. It is an ongoing lesson of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT as we embrace our shared journey called Faith/Family/Farm! All the kids were very interested and paid close attention to all Ruth and Paul shared by word and deed. Some of the questions the kids answered showed how little they know about the farm. Today they got some wonderful education in Faith/Family/Farm!
Very calm and peaceful, but what would you expect of a calf allowed to come and meet 170 in the chapel?
Close peaceful encounter with new life - just 3 days old!
Paul and Ruth shared love of farming and appreciation for the wonderful LIFE we have here caring for the creation of God's world! Simon looking up to his dad... he loves the mechanical parts of the farm more, but has realized that calves are cool too.
Luke knows this will be his school someday and mom and dad will do this for him and his classmates too!
Mary learned that she is a very lucky blessed girl, and she thanks God in her heart, mind, and soul!
The last few moments before they have to say goodbye and head back to class. Yes, we are very blessed to live on the farm. There is work involved, but it is all worth it. Jesus, thank you for young farm families like Ruth and Paul. May the world come to know and appreciate the true meaning of LIFE and most especially respect all human LIFE from conception to natural death. May we share the Truth no matter where or how...even when sharing about the difference between humans and animals - humans called to marry for life - embracing our Most Cherished Cross and following You down the narrow path to LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT. Being called to Family and openness to LIFE, and raising LIGHTS for the world. Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen
Paul and Ruth - true promoters of LIFE!
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
"I will make you a Light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."
Isaiah 49:6
The first reading from mass today!
Sharing the specialness of God's creatures
Peter Mayer - Holy Now
This just seems fitting and kind of the way it felt to share the wonder of our farmlife in the chapel filled with LIGHT! It made it all feel kind of Holy now!
I tried to get a few movies to show how wonderful they were for the kids to learn about the farm. Their love for our life here on the family farm was very evident to all there. LIFE is a gift. Farmlife is a special blessing.
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