"break into song; sing praise." Psalm 98

I borrowed this from my friend, Becky, who has taken some wonderful pictures of Les Miserables play in which John is involved.  It is so much the poster picture of the miserable desperate characters we find in France during the revolution. I use it here as tonight we start the last 4 performances, and with John in this play there is constant music/song in the house as he sings always and with great conviction!  Reading the psalm from mass today - Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.  Psalm 98  I experience this with my son, who loves the stage and presenting himself there and sharing his LIGHT there!

When John lost his job suddenly a month ago... he thought about quitting the play so that he could "just drive away from here."  But the night he went to quit, he came home saying that he just couldn't do it.  Now having experienced this great production in which John has a small part... I see how healing and good it was for him to stay in it and to stay busy doing what he loves the most, and finding value in sharing his God-given talent for the stage in front of people.  It is definitely a new John, since his brain cancer - it will be 6 years Father's Day - but to see that he still can be on stage and entertain is a wonderful thing and healing for John!

So many came to together to make it a wonderful show.  Very good - see it if you can!

I see that there is a new respect within John and for John.  It helps overall, yet we all know that we are called to humility and that seems to be a hard lesson we are called upon to learn and relearn.  Today is the feastday of an apostle we think of or hear of seldom - St Barnabas.  He was teamed with St Paul, who by far outshone him and he was called to fade into the background... "He willingly sought and sponsored St Paul until the latter outshone him in renown, apparently without any thought to seeking the competitive edge.  Humility in God's service brings its own success."  see www.magnificat.com

Black and white of sweet granddaughter, Mary, admiring the beauty of peonies yet aware that it takes ants to open them up and they come along with the beautiful flowers.

One of my most cherished memories, and from time to time I am blessed with it again... is when I was at mass with my girls and John around me and we all sang for JOY to the Lord!  The volume and the feeling behind the hymns shared with my kids was a wonder and delight to the highest heavens!  I was just reading a journal I wrote while John and I and Nancy were in France for Susan's taking of her habit 6 years ago in August...  her name "Hallel" is the singular form of Hallelujah which is the plural, so it so very much expresses the JOY of the highest praise to God that I experienced with my kids around me singing with no reservations with their beautiful God-given voices.  I am starting to rediscover that JOY with my grandchildren Mary and Simon, who have beautiful voices and are not afraid to use them at mass, too!  They have watched dad up leading the singing and follow that wonderful example.  It is so good for little ones to see grandpa as Eucharistic minister, and dad as leading the singing and as a reader of the Word!   It tells them that they love and value their Faith in The Catholic Church!  With Nancy visiting while Bill travels I am gifted with her voice rejoicing with mine once again! 

Ruth and Paul usually sit by us at mass and their voices now uniting with their children in Praise/Hallel is a pure gift/delight!  The daisies are grown by Ruth and graced this wonderful collage on my wall - Ruth being held around the neck and her chin "eaten" out of love by Mary a few years back, and how Jesus loved his mother and showed it in the same ways, as proven by the many icons of this sort... my favorite! 

Jesus, it is with great JOY that I am reminded of how the singing around me truly does lift my heart, mind, and soul to YOU.  Singing lifts the spirits and calls us to recall the gift you have blessed us with and how you must LOVE to have that praise and thanksgiving come to you from our humble selves.  Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds;... All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.  Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.  Psalm 98  Sometimes it is hard to thank you for the humbling things that happen to us on our journey, yet we do trust and know that you love us and have a plan for our lives of Faith/Family/Farm.  May we always embrace our Most Cherished Cross and find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT/Jesus and His Bride, The Church... always there to help us get to heaven.  Jesus, we trust in you and give you the Highest of Praise with our voices and our lives!  Amen and Hallelujah!

 John and Wes are working hard on some music for Relay for LIFE!  Another wonderful way that John can share his talent and his gift of newness of LIFE!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

 Art time with the kids a few days ago.  It is wonderful to have John around these days... helping and praying and following the path laid out in front of him with Trust and Hope!

 Mary's wonderful painting/get well card for great-grandma Ann with John...

Icy time with the 5!  Family is the best and where we can heal and grow in our Faith/Family/Farm! 

Maria's science lab with the kids at homeschool... Her teaching is blossoming - literally!

I think St Augustine knows something about humility!

St Ignatius is where this came from... so true and hard! 
Wounded, I will not cease to love.  The motto of the Community of the Lamb, and the Lamb reveals this to us.  Also very hard to do!

Danielle Rose - the Litany of humility

So great!