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!
Ruth and Maria with their combined 9 children sharing a pancake breakfast this morning after mass... notice the puddle of spilled milk at David's place - he had gone to get a washcloth from dad who was serving pancakes. As my mother-in-law said to me on our way home - "You sure have a burden with me and all the little ones." "It is an easy burden a light burden." and those words of Christ made total sense to me at that moment. I had to help little David out to the bathroom at the Gospel for the first time in probably 20 years, but in sharing that experience in his need he looked at me with me eyes of gratitude and wanted to come home with me as I took great-grandma home. So good to live the words of the Gospel and discover The Truth that sets us free!
They made a moving picture which is kind of crazy but that is so much REAL in a beautiful way! I have comments from people about having our hands full with some looks of sympathy, but I really don't see it that way. We get just about as many people that see how wonderful it is too! We are going to see Pat and John with some kids in tow today... Nancy is bringing her 3 from the Cities and I am going with Ruth and Paul and their youngest two. Grandpa is going to be so happy to see the little ones and have his arms full! As I was dropping off Pat's mom this morning she commented on how much Pat loves the little ones/kids! "That's what I fell in love with." I said.
Father talked today about being a mentor to those we share Faith with in our lives... encouraging them to consider a call to the priesthood or religious life. This has been huge for me as I too considered long and hard a call to being a nun As a matter of fact , my hearing a voice calling me led me into the Catholic Church along with my entire family - all 13 of us! http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html Here is the story if you are interested.
Sweet Therese for her 6th birthday last March was surprised with a Little Sister Habit her mother made for her. Her grandpa, David, made her a cross necklace and a 20 decade rosary to wear over her belt. She is already talking about when she will be Sr Maria someday.
Her special baby doll, Anna, with her habit, too!
A thing of beauty to an old grandma's heart. A grandma, who is so in love with The Church and all that makes it up! A grandma, who has a contemplative soul and am blessed with times in the Chapel of the Community of the Lamb when I go for a visit! I cried when a Benedictine Sister making a retreat with me a few months ago told me that I probably had my Little Sister Hallel, because of my hearing the call, considering the beauty of a vocation, and still holding that in my heart although I was called to marriage. A vocation that was a result of all that, and now I can join in with them when I have the opportunity and we are blessed with this expanded family and all the prayers and LOVE we receive from having them in our lives! On the way back from Rochester, John had to call our family of the Lamb and tell them that he is now 5 years cancer free thanks to their prayers and that of so many prayer warriors!
Therese and Anna at prayer to Jesus as in a chapel - bathed in the LIGHT!
An icon I found and painted in Kansas City while there on a visit - so similar to Isaiah 55:1-2, the Word which spoke to my dad and brought us into The Church! Eucharistic!
Self portrait in the chapel of their old rectory - now they have built Lumen Christi Monastery - LIGHT of Christ!
Time with Jesus for prayer and meditation!
Just a short time before we took Susan to the airport - Sept 2008
We don't see her much, but we are blessed by her prayers and her ability to leave the world behind and follow Jesus.
This morning we sang "Give me Jesus" after mass and the words about "you can take all this world... give me Jesus." rang in my heart, mind and soul. Some feel that Hallel has it easy leaving the world behind.. it is hard, but it is what we are asked to do!
A card John got from the Community early in his battle fighting brain cancer. So it was very powerful to have the paralytic the Gospel two days ago when we were there for our MRI, and good news.
Maria when she lived with the Poor Clares for 5 months discerning a call.
Such a powerful and beautiful time in our family. "Don't you feel bad that she didn't stick with it?" "I wanted all my kids to consider a call, and she certainly did."
Therese is blessed to have Susan/Little Sister Hallel as her Godmother, and a priest for her Godfather! She will certainly consider a call and know how wonderful that will be!
Maria listening to the Lord in Assisi!
At least 3 of these girls are now sisters/nuns - maybe more!
Final vows in Rome of many of our Little Sisters... giving their all to Jesus!
2 year old Therese with her Godmother, Little Sister Hallel, in her habit. Yes, all of our grandkids will be listening to The Lord's call. It is a wonderful LIFE to consider and to live with all our lives. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body." I Corinthians 6 - the second reading today, and so powerful in the context of being a Bride of Christ!
Mary made this last year... considering a call! How she loves to be with the Community in her blue apron and washing dishes. "She is a contemplative - she works in silence." said little Sister Agape
Jesus, the floodgates have opened once again as we are reminded of the beauty of listening to the Lord's call in our lives and to have an option of being His Priest or Bride! So blessed to by following the path he has laid out before us. Taking up our Most Cherished Cross and following His example of dying to self so that the Holy Spirit may live and breath within us. Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Hallelujah
So fun - Maria found the first Communion dress that the 3 older girls all wore - Therese trying it on just now!
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
One of my mentors during my "nun years" - my first Catholic years when I considered a call to be His Bride!
"You look like a bride."says her brother, David.
Cute!
She found a picture of her mom wearing the dress for her first Communion! she gave it a kiss!
Danielle Rose - Pursue me
She wrote this for vocations and she lived in Community for a year discerning - she is now married and expecting a child
She shared this picture lately - so amazing!
And this - the Best!
One more of Danielle's - The Saint that is just me - reminding us that we are all called to be Saints! Even in marriage we can leave the world behind!
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