The fair begins... foremost feeding our souls/planting the seeds and the feeding the world!

Getting the look from both Mary and one of her personality plus pigs as the animals arrived at the county fair yesterday.  This morning we are all up early getting the calves ready to show starting at 8a with cloverbud, David.  Now Ruth and family are experiencing the excitement and craziness of showing animals at the fair... they have amped it up by adding pigs and goats to the beef that we always showed!

I am over at Ruth's with the 3 youngest still sleeping, so am having an unexpected quiet time to read morning prayer and marvel over the readings on this feast of St Lawrence.  This month in the Magnificat we read about the Saints that over the centuries - over 2,000 years since St Peter was made the first pope - these saints have supported the Pope!

Today the feast of St Lawrence we read about a deacon, who wanted to sacrifice his life to protect Pope Sixtus.  Instead he was martyred days after Sixtus was beheaded by the Romans.  It is so good to read about saint after saint that encouraged and protected the popes throughout the checkered history of The Church!  Especially these days when you hear of those questioning and misunderstanding our current Pope Francis.  He is my Holy Father, and I pray for him and support him as the head of The Church!  And I don't need to tell you about how much I love, love, love The Church!

Rose telling me a story about a calf that got away and jumped into the river behind the fairgrounds with our 4 calves behind her.  The calf was caught and now was tied up and all was back to normal as can be when you are working with cows and calves at the county fair!  They are now caught up in a whirlwind of activity getting washed and blown up for the big show!

The readings today are very special from a farming perspective,which I have been given in my life after marrying my farmer, Patrick, 39 years ago last week!  Yes, I can say that our family takes seriously feeding the world.  But over and above we take very seriously our reaching heaven forever and putting our Jesus and His Church, which is there to help us get to heaven if only we will follow the dogmas and teachings and not pick and choose, but follow The Truth we are given to live by!

Brothers and sisters:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9
The cheerful part is lacking for me, and a good reminder to paste that smile on my face and hopefully it will travel to my heart.  As the kids walked out the door this morning... a reminder to smile for the judges this morning when they are judged.  Also for us!

The cows at sunset... unexpected time with Pat and sunset with a group of cows and calves.

"The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness."  2 Corinthians 9:10

How I cling to this promise as I feebly attempt to sow the seed of The Word/Jesus here, and of his Mother, who is so much with me on this journey through her rosary prayer!  As we approached the pasture with the cows out last night we said a "Hail Mary" that all would be well with them, and with a small job of fixing some fence all was well just as the sun set, and we watched lightning bolts in the sky on our way home.  "I am a farmer first of all, and welcome the rain."  said farmer Pat.

An fairly recent picture of Ruth and Paul, but says so much about how they love and promote farming in their marriage and life's work of sharing with all the work we do feeding the world!

The Gospel today is such a powerful one from John 12 about the grain of wheat that must die to bear fruit!  How true is this for us on this journey of Faith/Family/Farm?  Yes, we are called to die to self so that the Holy Spirit may work in and through us - we become the hands and feet of The Lord!  Marriage and being open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS  has been huge for doing this for me, and now for my 3 married daughters.  The more children you bring into the world... the more you are called to give without counting the cost.

Gospel Jn 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me."

So true!!!!  Hear my prayer, O Lord.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

So true!

Ruth's handiwork... she is passing on her love of the farm and her faith with JOY!