"It might be a challenge, but does that mean that you don't go forward?" Pat

How many 13 year old boys have a 5 1/2 month old baby sister over their shoulders wanting to grab a big handful of that red frosting?  So few in this world!  Simon is one lucky boy to be growing up with 5 younger siblings to share his life with... family is always a part of your life!


Simon has shown a lot of maturity in this last year with many new challenges socially and in other areas of his life.  He is in the autism spectrum, so the social aspect is probably the most challenging for him, but he has spread his wings and attended numerous camps and the State Fair on his own in the last year! 


It is true that in the KC area that Archbishop Naumann will baptize families that are welcoming #5 or above in their families.  It seems that he is encouraging families to embrace LIFE and raising LIGHTS!  Nancy is hopeful that their new little one due around Easter could be baptized by him!  I know that for Nancy in the KC area,  and Maria in the and homeschooling... they encounter more than the average large families!  So having a baby sharing her brother's 13th birthday party is not that crazy for them!  And a possibility for their families also.

A special meal of Simon's favorite spaghetti on their beautiful porch... Another wonderful part of Simon's life is that he is a farmboy living on the farm with his family!  Grandpa just gave him some money that they earned in helping to put in some fence around a new pasture this summer!

The wise words of my husband really made an impression this morning...  He was discussing on the phone about some new dirt her got and how he leveled it and is now stock piling feed there.  "It will probably be a challenge until it settles well over some time, but do you not make improvements and go forward because of that?"  He is not blinded to how rain could make it hard to get around there, but he also knows that it will over time become better and better until it gets to great with some hard work and frustrations along the way.  Such a good attitude at persevering.

Holding back little sister, 5 year old Rose Ida, from helping blow out those candles... she would, too!


 A lot of this same philosophy applies to all of us on our journey doesn't it?  That we need to go forward and struggle through the mud on our path knowing that in order to get to heaven forever with Jesus and Mary and the Saints including St Matthew on this his feast day... we need to deal with those struggles with perseverance and determination... now the key would be to do that with the attributes St Paul gives to us and the Ephesians today..."I urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace:
one Body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all."
Now that would make the struggles so much more Christ-filled wouldn't it?  In my experience the frustrations bring with them angst, yelling, cursing, and misery!  So much to take to prayer!

Doing some experimenting with Josephine with an angel in the light for sympathy cards...


The result of living in Faith and sharing it as Christ has in his plan for each one of us..."for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,
to the extent of the full stature of Christ. "  Ephesians 4




Lord, how we long to mature in our faith... you call unto us - "Follow me."  Your example of humbly taking all that comes your way on the journey to the Cross reminds us of how we too can embrace that humility and patience and be more like you.  As St Matthew we can leave behind our selfish greed and indulgences and find freedom to give without counting the cost!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and hallelujah

Such a wonderful father and husband!  He takes his youngest to see Our Lady of Lourdes.. they have a new life we are surrounding by prayer in the womb... "I got this statue for Nancy on our anniversary this year."  Wow!  What a beautiful testament of knowing what really matters in life/love/light!  So blessed to have our daughters and their growing families open to life and raising lights, and sharing our Faith!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

The fall like landscape and the cows in front of my little red barn.  Of course that sign is only true if you put Faith first of all! 

Love this!  Boys with their trucks and puppies! 

Ruth and Paul model for me over and over how we go forward with big goals and accomplish beautiful things like this amazing porch for family time supreme!  Their vision is like walking into a fairy land of perfection and they use it daily!  LOVE!

Out this morning to feed the chickens while they crowed at the cows and the cows mooed back!  Life is special for this city girl come to the farm! 
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html



LOVE is a gift!

"Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now."
-St Mother Teresa

And teach me how to be a mother to my children.





You, St Matthew, truly did walk away from treasure of this world to embrace treasure in heaven.  May we too!



"We cultivate a very small field for Christ, but we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements but a heart that holds back nothing for self."
-St. Rose Phillipine Duchesne

Our fields are small, but oh how they can bloom with love.

Newsboys - God's not dead

The Afters - Broken Hallelujah

Pentonix - Hallelujah