Reminded of the blessings - all around me!

9 year old Simon can say the cutest things ever and really surprise you sometimes.  A week ago we were out picking sweet corn for our big freezing day..."I just unwrapped a present, and here it is."  He held up a ear of sweet corn he had just taken the husk/wrapping off of!  It made me smile, chuckle, and of course snap a picture or two.  It was a special moment in what was a very long and hard day, but a day shared with Ruth and her 5 kids helping us. 

For some reason this morning as I walked through my house getting breakfast and doing my morning ritual with husband and son before they headed off to work... my eye was caught and my heart would fill with rejoicing at all the reminders I have around me of the little ones in my life.  I am so grateful for them, and also so convicted that I need to protect them and surround them with prayer - beseeching their guardian angels to watch out for them.  Knowing that in less than a month I will have a new grandson to meet - joining the other 2 grandsons we have had in the last year- I am so humbled and grateful for this new "miracle baby."  Both Ruth and Maria are continuing to have babies after most would throw up their hands and quit.  It takes a lot of Trust and prayer!

Luke just sat in this high chair yesterday, and over the weekend Nancy will be here with her 3!  This gets a lot of use, and that delights me! 

It is evident that we have twice as many grandsons than granddaughters... such a change from our family of 4 girls and then John!

I have to admit that there are times that I feel old and the caring of the little ones gets a bit heavy for me.   It is good that Luke is now crawling because he is literally very heavy for an old grandma.  But there are so many blessings that come to me in having most of them close and very involved in our day to day lives!  Pat was just saying how much he is looking forward to seeing little Augustine in a few days- "He's a farmer!"

Even outside my door is a stroller ready to carry a little one on an "adventure."

The last two nights in evening prayer I have been touched deeply by two canticles - one from Colossians and one from Philippians.  I so marvel at the words of St Paul to describe in such eloquence the mystery of Faith and the glory and freedom to be found there!

Philippians 2:6-11English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,^[a] being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Soon to add one more - Maria due on Sept 9 in Texas!

Colossians 1:12-20New American Standard Bible (NASB)
¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us ^[a]to share in the inheritance of the ^[b]saints in Light.

The Incomparable Christ

^13 [c]For He rescued us from the ^[d]domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of ^[e]His beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
^15 [f]He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For ^[g]by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He ^[h]is before all things, and in Him all things ^[i]hold together. ¹⁸ He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹ For ^[j]it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the ^[k]fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in ^[l]heaven.Is this not everything that matters in LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT?

Maybe because there are those reminders all around me!  Also my prayers are always surrounding all of my family with all of their needs.
Jesus, may we hold dear to our hearts all the life that surrounds us!  We pray for ALL LIFE this day - most especially those that are in the womb and being threatened.  End the taking of innocent life by abortion and reveal to those contemplating taking the life of their unborn baby that it truly is a LIFE with a heart beating and arms and legs...  Jesus, we long to protect and cherish all LIFE and to raise those given to our care as LIGHTS for the world.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

A fuzzy cow book is right at home next to St Therese... I love it!
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke the crazy-Catholic!

You certainly give me nourishment St Therese, and you were the most humble of them all!

Third Day - Nothing compares

Danielle Rose - Wonderfully made

Just had to add one of these - getting them all together was the best!!!

Life is a GIFT!  We are all called to raise LIGHTS for the world!