"If they fall they shall not stay down..." Psalm 37:24

Yes, today marks our 37th anniversary!  Pat was very sweet and got us a overnight together and we awoke to our official anniversary!  Coming home we had to stop by Ruth and Paul's to check the hay in the ditch.  Stopping in David picked up the heart rock he found and is displayed on their front porch... leading to this most cherished gift - our official 37 year portrait!  Yes, our marriage is a hard as this rock... chiseled and formed by millions of years of grinding... We continue to have hard work to do, and we grind off the rough edges one for the other and that is usually not very pleasant to go through. 

Hallel showed me the beauty of using the Psalm for that year as a special way of gleaning special meaning for these milestones and Psalm 37 does not disappoint!
If they fall, they shall not stay down, because the Lord will help them up.  Psalm 37:24
The Lord guides us in the way we should go and protects those who please him.  Psalm 37:23
I am old now; I have lived a long time, but I have never seen good people abandoned by  the Lord or their children begging for food.  At all times they give freely and lend to others, and their children are a blessing.  Turn away from evil and do good, and your descendants will always live in the land; for the Lord loves what is right and does not abandon his faithful people.  Psalm 37: 25-28

Pat's cows and calves look wonderful on pasture this time of year!  Driving through the countryside this early bright morning with not a cloud in the sky...  Farmer Patrick spoke with some emotion about how the crops are looking so wonderful this year, and how bountiful they are!  "It is so amazing at how much we grow here in just 4 short months.  We rival other places where crops can grow year round and we are at the mercy of Mother Nature."  "Our production is truly amazing!"  Pat loves his vocation of famer and I love this and foremost how he has promoted LIFE/Family/raising LIHGTS!  It makes for a marvelous man in my eyes!

The sky above and the farm below...

Today in the Gospel is Matthew's version of the feeding of the 5,000!  Matthew 14:13-21.  Such a beautiful promise that we will always be cared for and "they all ate and were satisfied."  Sometimes life seems to cause me great anxiety and I feel down about myself, but just as the heart rock... I come through it with the help of my Faith in Jesus, and His Bride, The Church, and find my shape is more that of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT through the cross! 

 A morning glory brightens the beginning of our 38th year!  May we find more love, patience and understanding in this new year ahead!

 Raking the ditch... baling is wrapping up for a while.  It has been hectic!

 The abundance of corn along the waterway with bales to be picked up last week.

 The setting sun cast my shadow of the pickup with the bale rack behind on the tall and productive corn field! 

Now with bales on the rack and the bean field as my canvas... a beautiful sight to behold!  The Lord truly has cared for us and given us a wonderful life raising our LIGHTS on the farm.

Jesus, thank you for all your blessings over these last 37 years!  May this new year together be filled with all of your blessings and LOVE one for the other.  Yes, we fall but we will not stay down, because the Lord will help us up.  Psalm 37:24  May we continually learn from our trials and therefore value our sacrament of marriage that much more!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Sing with Joy to God our help.  Psalm 81:2a from mass today!

A good motto for marriages!

Another good one for me!

Danielle Rose - Your Bride

Danielle Rose - Small things with great love

 4H projects shown to grandma with pride and rightfully so... so much hard work!

 They are learning so much!

 Wow!

Special picture taken by 6 year old grandson, David!  No better gift to be so close to our wonderful Ruth and Paul and their great family on the farm!  Thank you, dear Lord!