"She appeared from the river" She bore The Lamb perfect "without blemish" into the world! Farewell til next time son, Breno!

How we have loved having our Brazilian son, Breno, and his fiancé, Renata, here for the week!  As Breno has said and I have been experiencing..." it is as if I have never left."  It was so very easy and enjoyable to share our farm life with them, and to see our life through eyes that appreciate and respect our life here on so many levels. 


It was very interesting to have Renata explain to us the name of the black Madonna, which Breno gifted us with when he left 17 years ago.  We knew that she was found in a river and hence her dark coloring, but her name itself means that she appeared from the river.  It is such a bind that ties to have Our Lady bringing us together across the world!

She joined us on the porch for our final supper with them... Farmgirl beer bottle for the purple bells, and the red barn in the background. 

We all are filled with the reminder of the great gift we were given by someone asking us if we would host a boy from Brazil, who wanted to live with a Catholic family.  We had never thought of having a foreign exchange student, but it seemed like the Lord was knocking and we needed to answer with a "yes."  John said this morning..."Breno is my brother from another country.  We know that we love each other." 

Any apprehension I felt at their coming here, has long evaporated and we are so happy to know that our family has only grown larger with Breno and his wonderful fiancé, Renata, whom we have similarly come to love.  Our prayers for their safety and future together goes with them.  He shall permanently join John on his decade of the rosary or maybe I will give them one of their own!

Pat was super sweet last night in grilling them steaks.  He planned the supper and brought over Ruth's grill and spoke with our expert cook son-in-law, Billy, and made us wonderful farm grown steaks with love and care.  So good as was the conversation and enjoying each other's company!

Breno prayed over our food and our time together expressing what we all know - we are truly family no matter the miles that separate us nor the years that we can't see each other and all that comes with LIFE.  A person cannot have too many in his family, and there is always room for more!  We now welcome our sweet wonderful Renata, too!

Brothers!  These two are close and for John to have his 3 wonderful brother-in-laws, and his Brazilian brother, Breno, before them.  A wonderful blessing for him. 


The first reading from Exodus of the original Passover... where the blood of the lamb without blemish on the doorposts and lintel of each house.. so that the angel of death would pass them over.  Reminds me of the Lamb/Jesus Christ/without sin or blemish and Mary, who brought him into the world in her sinless womb prepared for him by God.   How I love that she is all over the world to bring us all together in a family of LOVE!  Bringing us to her Son/the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  Yet, Jesus reminds us today in the Gospel that "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." 


"So in this sea of God's mercy all sin is destroyed, but the sinner is saved."  St Lawrence of Brindisi (1619) whose feast day is today

Pat's sister stops in to be amazed by Breno's travel stories with many more to come.  Lord, give them safety on their journey.


Lord, no matter what we face we can get through it with your assistance.  We are weak and small and humbly ask that you be our rock and our help so that the love and mercy we are shown we may return to those we encounter.  Especially those closest to us in our domestic Church/family.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

May I keep my selfishness out of the way of my becoming your hands and feet dear Lord.  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Fresh flowers after the inch of rain we got this morning... she is the tie that binds us all around the world!  Love her no matter what or where we find her!

So good to grow in our knowledge and appreciation of each other's lives.  Family has many facets as a beautiful gem to be held close to our hearts. 

Such a great picture and photo story supreme!

St Theresa of Calcutta and Our Lady having a talk!  She knows her Mother!