"What is this?" David following a vision to bring LIGHT

 David had a vision last night!   We arrived in the blizzard at supper time to find David up on the counter looking for birthday candles for a dessert procession after supper.  He had noticed a lit candle and wanted to have a specialness with dessert.  Well, the birthday candles were not found, but we used regular candles along with plates of applekeuchen and the result added delight and fun for the grandkids to march around singing "We three kings" at the top of their voices...we all thanked David for casting wonderful LIGHT in the darkness as the winds roared outside our doors!

 David always follow your visions that bring LIGHT/LOVE/LIFE into your world and that of your domestic Church/family.  It was super sweet as he had written a list of the 8 grandkids to gather and give something to carry and follow singing.  They all loved to help and be a part...  Where did we learn this special way to make a celebration of the ordinary?  From our dear Community of the Lamb for in their poverty this is a way to make specialness reign.  It is crazy to think that I might be seeing them at the end of the week when Nancy, I and her kids head down to KC!

 The procession waits for the lights to be turned off... it is more wonderful in the dark hence the candles are an important element. 

Today in the Gospel Jesus reveals himself after an unclean spirit recognizes him.  So interesting to read these instances where Jesus seems not to appreciate that the evil recognizes him for who he is.  Maybe a reminder that we recognize the truth about evil being alive and well, yet do not give it the time of day in our day to day lives.  Rather cast it into Hell where it belongs and go forward under the protection of our Faith in Jesus Christ and His Bride, The Church!

The Cross!!!  Yes, we are to embrace the Cross and follow after Jesus to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT in our day to day lives.  What is the cross for us today? For me it is having to clean out all the cupboards suddenly in my upstairs bathroom as they unexpectedly take out the chimney from this 100 year old house.  It means sitting in a bedroom and going through a mountain of sheets that I just jammed into the cupboard over all these years.  Sigh!  I fell tired and sick at myself!

 Kids line the counter and then overflow into the dining room as we share a wonderful meal together.

 Luke and Dominic are first to the table and are hungry little guys.  David is pondering his hope for a dessert procession - thank you, Dave!

 The two 3 year old girls are together again, and happy about it in front of the new patio door!

 I feel like the house is coming down around my ears with all the noise going on everywhere.  Help!

 These two are getting to be better friends, and now they will see each other much less with Nancy and Bill's move to Kansas City in a few weeks.

 A posed picture in the new wall of Ruth and Paul's bedroom where our family room used to be.

 Dominic loves to sit in grandma's curio cupboard for some reason...

 A smile for Rose!

 Our couch in the kitchen is a fun place for grandpa to tease Berna about her blanket, and

 Demonstrate for the boys how he moves bales with the tractor.  Luke is bale nuts, and talks about them constantly, uses his hands like a grapple fork, and when he sees bales while we are traveling he gets very excited.  So cute, and it thrills his grandpa to no end!

 Grandpa is ready to drop the bale in the feeder, and Luke is enthralled by it all!

Well, it is time for me to get busy with the mess I have to deal with.  I will remember the Gospel today and how Jesus has authority over the enemy of the soul.  It causes all the people in the synagogue to take notice as he casts out the unclean spirit... "What is this?"  May I never grow self-satisfied and proudfull and filled with evil thoughts and deeds to the point that I don't recall that Jesus is all I need and that he has given me The Church to give me more than I need each day to fight the good fight towards heaven forever with Jesus and Mary, the Saints and Angels!

Ephesians 6:10-18New International Version (NIV)

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
LOVE it! 

The most adorable of all!!!  Grandpa grins ear to ear when Luke brings him two toilet paper bales with a hair clip grapple fork!  He is creating a precious farmer as he learns at the feet of one of the best!

Jesus, I am yours and I long to resist all the evil that bombards me this day and cling without ceasing to prayer with each breath that I take and every beat of my heart!  Your Word feeds me and gives me the Truth to cling to and hold in my heart. Jesus, I trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

So true!  Thank you Jesus... The Word made flesh!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

One of my mentors of my early Catholic days...

Something deep to ponder...

Danielle Rose - The Saint that is just me