"It looks like you are feeding a lot of people."

Luke discovers his first pickle as grandma gets supper ready for 5 adults and 5 kids over the weekend.  Ruth was over to help with getting cows and calves out to pasture and I had the kids and meals to make.  Now in a few days Nancy and her two will be here for two weeks, and Pat is getting the crop in day and night, and John is home again looking for work and helping out around here at this busy time of spring work, and Ruth stops in often with kids in tow, and on and on... Well, I finally got out to get some groceries yesterday along with some seeds for the garden, and rushing around the store I ran into a friend as my cart was quite full.  She looked it over and said..."It looks like you are feeding a lot of people."  I felt a little bit sheepish as Pat and I are supposed to have a empty nest, but then I started to name off a few of the reasons I had a cart full of large quantities of food, and she just smiled and nodded her head in agreement as we drifted apart.  Yes, I do feed a lot of people!  I don't really give it a lot of thought, and unlike Ruth, who has 7 mouths to feed 3 meals a day... it just feels good to be stocked up again after being depleted by life that happens around here.

A cute picture of Rose blowing out her two candles the other night - I took supper over there as mom and dad were gone to Sioux Falls.  I usually try to make large quantities of food so that there are plenty of left-overs to heat up quickly when the men pop in for a quick meal in the midst of their busy days.  Pat has never really had a schedule for eating meals, and would come in at odd times for his meal in the microwave.  The kids would all climb on his lap and help him eat.  Maybe he wasn't here to eat with us set meals much, but he always welcomes the little ones onto his lap.  In fact, he begs them to sit with him...

And just like Rose has learned... grandpa gives you a big fork full of purple frosting or any other sweet he might be able to find. 
My life on the farm is "never a dull moment."  I like the family spirit that fills that busyness with the coming and going of our kids with spouses and kids in our home.  Bill's job now involves traveling internationally for two weeks at a time.  The reason they decided to do this now is so that Nancy can spend her time on the farm with kids still not in school. It will be hard now with the new baby to arrive in a month or so.  Bill will be home for that month!  To have John home now is a delight for me.  He is kind and helpful to both his dad and I, and makes me laugh a lot as I am doing those things that I do not enjoy.  Such a special thing for me to have him here to pray with and laugh with.  We start each day, if possible, with morning prayer from the office which we both now have on our phones... such a gift to share this as we start the day.  Thank you, Lord!

Three little ones 2 and under sharing breakfast... Gus can't you handle two spoonfulls at once?

Pat serving desert at Sunday dinner.

John feeding Luke applesauce.  That's why we do the work.  Yesterday as I was struggling to plant my garden in that horrific wind... I had to remind myself of all those smiling faces as they hungrily spoon in tomato soup or applesauce.  It's why I do all the work!

Love that special girl, love that smile, love that soup smile!

Food made with love, and they can taste it in more ways than one!
Once again from amazing John 6 today - "I am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst... And this is the will of the Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day."  Jesus to us today in the Gospel - John 6:35-40
Part of the prayers I share with Pat and John is our intentions which we pray out loud with each other.  With our huge families on both sides this can be quite lengthy, and l always end with "that we all may be together in heaven someday."  How I pray for that to be true for all my loved ones!  I know that I need to be willing to do more than pray, and I ask that the Lord may reveal to me how to share HIM with those I share family ties with in this world.  Jesus, use me and Holy Spirit speak through me.

The two Patricks - grandpa Patrick with little Patrick charmed by crackers without end on grandpa's lap.

Never empty for long... now he has little Rose on his lap - she and Patrick are just 5 months apart - part of the 3 one year olds we had last year.  Now we are having a new crop of one year olds... Luke is 6 months, then Nancy's little boy in a month and then Maria's baby in September... next week we find out girl or boy! 

Last years one year olds at Christmas time... now 3 more little ones this year!
Yes, what I love about that friend's comment about feeding a lot of people... I love the part of that truth which means that we have a close loving and lively family that loves to spend time together to celebrate and work and pray and eat and play and relax at times, and help one another, hopefully without counting the cost, and sharing our thoughts and fears and joys and crosses and pain and struggles and ups and downs, as we go down the narrow path as believers in Jesus and finding eternal LIFE!

Rose just was the first to turn 2 years old of the 3 little ones... Luke is waiting for his two cousins to join him in LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!
Jesus, thank you for this humbling reminder that I am blest by family/faith/farm!  I do truly love that family piece of my call as a farm wife and mother.  That is where I feel passionate and happy and serve others with LOVE when it comes to my family and the growing wonder that the little ones bring to our lives.  I am called first of all to be a mother, and anything else second.  The LIGHT grows brighter and brighter with each new life - the miracle babies that are all around us.  We are just days away from going to Kansas City to share in a glorious occasion with our family of the Community of the Lamb!  What Joy!  Thank you, Lord, for helping these three Americans persevere and take the habit with this amazing Community of the Lamb!  http://courtneyinkc.wordpress.com/my-story/  I just came across this sharing by Courtney, who will be taking her habit in three days - so amazing!  I read it aloud to John and we both were blessed by her witness to the wonderful LIFE of those called by Christ to be Little Sisters as our Hallel has been.  So amazing and her prayers are with us each day of our journey and how can that be anything but a blessing and surround us with the graces we need to face all that comes to us?  We are filled with Your Truth - knowing that we recognize Christ and believe in Him and are on the path to eternal LIFE.  We are called to be saints and strive for that in all we do and say and serve and pray and make meals for family and all the work to make the food for family.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

"A few days later, I found myself sitting in a park with two sisters and a poor man from our inner city neighborhood who had bought us bread and milk and was sharing this meal with us. At first, I was in disbelief of where I was and what I was doing. As I sat on the bench and listened to our neighbor share his life story with so much joy, I was struck by how the world would consider him poor, but in reality he was rich in spirit and filled with the Lord!"  Courtney
Please take the time to read this, and no worries she has met her goal and paid off her college loans and is entering on Saturday - taking her habit and changing her name to Little Sister_____!
http://courtneyinkc.wordpress.com/my-story/  She shares all the beauty that is to be found in this call.  How amazing and every young person should consider this special call for themselves!

A Rose for Mary - may she love her and look to her as a Spiritual Mother always!

Pursue me, Lord by Danielle Rose

The Saint that is just me - Danielle Rose
So excited to find my requested Easter pictures from my Texas family!!!  Enjoy!  I sure am!  Thank you so much Maria!

Super de duper!!!!

The finger is beside his nose... They are even color coordinated!  So great!  You made me smile!