Sand in the seats - Michigan/family day dreams on a 22nd Sunday of ordinary time

Luke is so cute when he dances and claps his hands!  He is in the sugar sand for the first time in Michigan about 2 months ago already... smiling and clapping his hands.  Why am I going back there this morning?  I sit in the back seat of our minivan when we pick up Pat's mom to take to Church, and climbing in there today I could see sand in the seat, and it reminded me of the glorious 2 weeks I was blessed with.  All of my grandkids were there and only Hallel and Lt Joseph did not make it at all.  When you are talking about 31 people - that is pretty darn perfect. 

Luke and Patrick sharing sun and sand time... It was so precious to be together in this beautiful place.  There is some talk that we should find a place closer, but that would make it too easy to get back to all the distractions at home.  This way we get away from it all! 
It has been a Sunday with reminders of the Cross we are called to embrace - as it was the Gospel today.  So the visiting priest from he Philippines spoke about how we are called to the Cross.  In conversation the mess of the world came up...  I also just talked to my nephew, Sam, and he will be bringing his family through Kansas City and would like to stop in and spend some time with The Community of the Lamb - our daughter, Little Sister Hallel's order.  How blessed they will be to spend time with them in prayer and sharing prayer or meal or even spending the night with them or one of their families of the Lamb!  To have them with roots down - a Little Monastery in the heart of our country is so important and necessary for the Truth of The Word/Christ to be at work!

Luke and Rose looking cute - I would love to be on the beach looking out over the endless blue water as far as the eye can see.

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me."  Matt16

That pretty much says it all right there.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah.
Bless-bless, Barb

 Rose and Patrick enjoyed each other, yet they were also typical toddlers... Patrick had the red shovel.

 Rose took it.

 Patrick wants it back...

 Rose runs away with it and Patrick in pursuit.

Rose teases Patrick with the red shovel.

The classic toddler pose - "Mine!"  Yes, having 3 toddlers made it very interesting times, but I do miss all that special interaction.  We talked today about how the kids are distracted by TV and games on computers, etc.  We put the TV in the closet and have a lot of close family time for those two weeks!  So good, and yes hard at times too!  I am yearning for it today, but after the two weeks I was kind of overdone by the noise and all.