"Greetings, do not be afriad..." Matthew 28

What joy to find this picture of Nancy and family in Kansas City.  We are feeling the pangs of sadness that they have moved twice as far away from us, and their frequent extended times with us on the farm will slow down considerably.  We do know that there is a visit we will be making down there to meet our new granddaughter in May, and that fills us with a lot of excitement.  Grandma will be there for the time of arrival, hopefully, and then we have a fake plan in the works that Ruth and the kids will come out in early June, after school is out and meet their new niece/cousin, see Nancy and Maria's homes and have the Baptism of our new member - welcoming her into The Church and our growing family - the LOVE just grows and grows with each new LIFE!  So much LIGHT fills our world!

I checked Maria's blog this morning... hoping that she too had put a family Easter picture, but not yet.  Here is the new farm family in their new farmhouse filled with LIGHT/LIFE/LOVE!  There have been quite a few challenges over the last week with the weather and all, but they are calm and accepting and hard working no matter what.  I see this attitude in both Ruth and Paul... "We can do it."  The greeting from the risen Jesus - as Rose says "Jesus Rose" - "do not be afraid" Matthew 28... we can face all that comes at us with confidence and strength given us by The Holy Spirit and personal hard work and perseverance. 

I am so glad that I grabbed this special one of John with his David.  How John will smile from ear to ear with his Godson at his side!  John is in that good place that we have prayed for for so long!  He is serving in The Church as Director of Religious Ed in 3 churches near by, he is co-speech coach at the high school there, and giving numerous talks around the state!  He is single and seems to be accepting and at peace with that right now.  We have prayed long and hard for John to have the right doors open and they have!  We are so thankful after many hard humbling knocks this certainly fills his life with a lot of peace and joy and assurance that he need not be afraid of the new John after brain cancer!  How he burns to share his story of finding faith as he faced death due to brain cancer, and he is being given the chance over and over and his story is ever growing and developing into a ministry of sharing the LOVE he has been given!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html

A year ago Simon and I got up in the middle of the night and went to join Hallel and her Community of The Lamb in KC for the all night Easter Vigil!  We all know that she celebrated similarly in Rome!  I am remiss in getting her a card or package, but Easter continues on for weeks so I plan to get on that soon.  It would have been wonderful to hear from her yesterday, but it didn't happen.  We will probably get a call soon, and we can give her all the latest news!  Our prayer yesterday was that we can hope to get a real hug from our Little Sister Hallel in the next year, and not miss her too much.  The wonderful postcards we were blessed with lately were so wonderful and precious!

It is so fun to see how much our little Dominic and Gus are growing!  Yet, we also know that Dom will be a big brother soon!  Those chocolate eyes melt me!  How I loved my time with the two youngest boys - Romeo and Dominic were so loving and interested in their old feeble grandma!

Spending the night and morning with Pat's mom today.  She is sleeping peacefully so I am blessed with this island of peace to share from my heart!  I am looking forward to some time at my new home to start to get it settled.  I know Ruth is doing likewise at the farm. Her dad asks her to be his assistance outside, too, so she is really juggling it all!  I know that she takes it head on and is hardly ever afraid to look a situation in the eye and take it on and do it!  I have so much to learn from all my kids!  They teach me and take me deeper into Trust and going forward in Faith!

As I continue to wait for Maria's family picture... I will borrow Nancy's one of our zesty Bernadette.  Her hair is hiding her dimples, and grandma would have loved to fix her hair pretty for Easter.  I did have the joy of doing Rose and Mary's hair into Bernadette/French braids, and that was wonderful for this old grandma, who did 4 girls' hair each day. 

The Easter bunny cake seems to be admiring pretty Mary with her Bernadette braids!

Jesus, my heart is on fire filled with all the LIFE you have given to me in your Resurrection from death into LIFE eternal!  I yearn to be forever with you and to leave behind my selfishness and sinfulness.  May I give, as you did, without counting the cost!  May I not hesitate to go forward down the narrow path carrying/dragging my Most Cherished Cross and come to LIFE eternal forever with you!  My Mother Mary I am so blessed to have you always with me each day.  We go forward together to your Son, Jesus Christ with the help of His Bride, The Church!  Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah!

The table has turned.. in our old dining room is went in the other direction and took up the entire room!  So happy to have the farm filled with family once again.  Jesus, watch out for them and guardian angels keep them all safe!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Many wonderful weeks of Easter lie ahead!

Since it has been a long time - a year since a hug - just needed to share this from a year ago in KC!

This is food for thought on this bright Easter Monday!

Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!!!!

A bright LIGHT has gone to eternal reward.  She truly allowed Jesus to work through her and change the world!

My sister, Mary's grave, decorated for Easter by my other sister, Carol!  Always in my heart.

Casting Crowns - Glorious Day

Newsboys - Narnia - God's not dead

Mother Angelica - Lifelong Catholic - Journey Home

Maria's family to round it out covering all our families this Easter.  Romeo was active and blurred him and mom a bit, but still great for my eyes to feast upon!

Patrick got cut out of the selfie... but he is so cute in the one above that we can imagine his squinty eyes and smile.  Happy Easter weeks ahead.

Here is studley Patrick hanging out with the Incarnate Jesus at Christmas, to make up for missing out of the family selfie for Easter.  Love you and miss you like crazy my sweet Patchy!