Wednesday, September 10, 2014

The Handmaids mean the world to us! 3 generation farm!


This is a gift to me... Mother and the three sisters down from her lived with Hallel for a year in the discernment house in St Paul in 2007-2008.  And Sr Mary Catherine is a dear friend we have known through TEC and John being on DYC with her.  The other night I kidded the Bishop that he didn't get them here to start their formation quick enough to catch Susan/Hallel before she left for France.  We all know that she was called to join The Community of the Lamb instead.  But a mother can feel bad that she missed out being so close to home - they are now settled in New Ulm... just a little over an hour from home.  Instead we got word from Hallel today on the answering machine - I missed her call while I was out sweeping out the garage - that she will be in Rome for the year... no "real hugs" I guess or meeting the soon-to-be 3 new nephews she has to meet.  Sigh....
 Rose is so adorable with her grandpa and the 130 weaned calves - they aren't crying/bawling so much anymore!
 Now in the fall like corn field in her super cute monkey hat!  It was chilly today.
 Keep that hood on Luke the wind is cold today...
 An interesting day getting filmed for promoting agriculture in the City school K-4th grade. 
 Pat feeding the calves - chores are back again every day...
Watching the gate for the first time this year.  I wasn't dressed properly for the occasion.  Wearing the pearls John bought for me at the silent auction at Stand up for Cancer - "Mom, I bought these for you because I owe you my life!  Thank you and I love you!"  John as he gave them to me on Monday night.  I have worn them a lot already.  Thank you, John, I love them and you! 
Waiting and praying and glad to have our internet back working after a day without.  Not able to share the news that we have to keep waiting for our new grandson.  Bless-bless, Barb
Stand as brave men in battle. 

From Book 1, Chapter 11 of the Imitation of Christ.

Full Chapter: 

ACQUIRING PEACE AND ZEAL FOR PERFECTION

We should enjoy much peace if we did not concern ourselves with what others say and do, for these are no concern of ours. How can a man who meddles in affairs not his own, who seeks strange distractions, and who is little or seldom inwardly recollected, live long in peace?

Blessed are the simple of heart for they shall enjoy peace in abundance.

Why were some of the saints so perfect and so given to contemplation? Because they tried to mortify entirely in themselves all earthly desires, and thus they were able to attach themselves to God with all their heart and freely to concentrate their innermost thoughts.

We are too occupied with our own whims and fancies, too taken up with passing things. Rarely do we completely conquer even one vice, and we are not inflamed with the desire to improve ourselves day by day; hence, we remain cold and indifferent. If we mortified our bodies perfectly and allowed no distractions to enter our minds, we could appreciate divine things and experience something of heavenly contemplation.

The greatest obstacle, indeed, the only obstacle, is that we are not free from passions and lusts, that we do not try to follow the perfect way of the saints. Thus when we encounter some slight difficulty, we are too easily dejected and turn to human consolations. If we tried, however, to stand as brave men in battle, the help of the Lord from heaven would surely sustain us. For He Who gives us the opportunity of fighting for victory, is ready to help those who carry on and trust in His grace.

If we let our progress in religious life depend on the observance of its externals alone, our devotion will quickly come to an end. Let us, then, lay the ax to the root that we may be freed from our passions and thus have peace of mind.

If we were to uproot only one vice each year, we should soon become perfect. The contrary, however, is often the case -- we feel that we were better and purer in the first fervor of our conversion than we are after many years in the practice of our faith. Our fervor and progress ought to increase day by day; yet it is now considered noteworthy if a man can retain even a part of his first fervor.

If we did a little violence to ourselves at the start, we should afterwards be able to do all things with ease and joy. It is hard to break old habits, but harder still to go against our will.

If you do not overcome small, trifling things, how will you overcome the more difficult? Resist temptations in the beginning, and unlearn the evil habit lest perhaps, little by little, it lead to a more evil one.

If you but consider what peace a good life will bring to yourself and what joy it will give to others, I think you will be more concerned about your spiritual progress.
I came across this Thomas a Kempis quote - I have loved and been fed by him since my early romantic Catholic days, and I have never fallen out of LOVE/LIFE/LIGHT!

Born Again - Third Day
Trust in Jesus - Third Day for Lt Joseph, who sings just like them!

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