Giving the tree a hug goodbye til next year/Lighthearted times with mom and dad/reconnecting with family and friends

My parents lightheartedly played along with me before we took the tree down.  I asked for a final picture in front of the tree and they playfully surrounded it with a "hug". Yes, tree huggers!


 My visits during Advent and Christmas were filled with great admiration for their lovely tree, and only today did I learn that it was artificial!  What???  I had thought it to be real as beautiful as it was!  It is all now apart and such a big job for them!  They are not sure if they will do the work next year, but they are taking one day at a time at this late point in their lives.

Helping my mother put each ornament in it's special place. 


At one point each of my parents said to the other that they would be fine on their own... and said that they really depend on and need to be together.  Dad was doing the check book balancing and mom was saying how much she depends on him for that... it was heart warming to hear them say to each other how they need to be together and helping each other out in their own part of the team.  Yet, they continue to ask the Lord what is around the corner for them. "I ask the Lord, why we are still here." said mom.  It is an echo of what I heard my mother-in-law say often for her 2 years on hospice especially!

Fun with black and white...


Lots of our times are spent visiting and praying together.  We have a bit of routine here and all plop down at night and have been watching old episodes of Foyles War on Netflix.  So good and really full of lessons of the war years.

Now onto Ordinary time next Sunday! Christmas comes to an end with The Epiphany of the Lord tomorrow!  "I am sad to see the tree go.  I have really enjoyed it this year."  Considering all the work they had to do to get it up and beautiful... it was nice to enjoy it as much as I was able to.

Time spent with mom looking at family pictures - we came across this one of Mary in her wedding dress in the winter of 1983 in their house in Taylors Falls.  There is a heavenly look to it, and is so special to find as Mary died in July of 1986, leaving behind her husband, dairy farmer Gerry and their 20 month old daughter, Audrey.

A picture of a picture from our wedding in 1978... roses for Mary, my spiritual mother of heaven and earth! 


Dad just gave me a book of the Holy Rosary and Padre Pio... in which he gives the virtues of each decade...  For the Joyful he calls each one a white rose in her crown.  For the Sorrowful he uses blood red roses.  And for the Glorious mysteries the roses are full blown white roses tinged with the red of the passion.  He died before the Luminous were installed by St JPII, but dad was saying that he uses these verses from the Bible for each one;
The Baptism is from the Gospel today -
"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."  Mark 1:11
The Wedding from Cana is Mary's words to us the servants; "Whatever he tells you do it."
The Proclamation of the Kingdom - Repent the Kingdom of God is at hand!
The Transfiguration - "This is my Beloved Son, listen to Him!"
The Institution of the Eucharist - "This is my Body and this is my Blood, unless you eat of it you will have no life in you."  John 6

My father leading us in prayer from his well worn prayer book.  Some of my most precious moments here.  It is approaching rosary and nap time... LOVE!

Our Lady bidding the tree farewell until next year... we pray for more good years with my parents and I cherish each time I am given with them here in this "perfect home" they were led to when they left Michigan. 

Dad fitting in a nap before lunch... lots of those through the days when you reach 90+.  I am familiar with this from my years at the nursing home.  The beginning of our lives as well as the end of it... we need our naps through the day.  I am just so glad that in between they have each other and are keeping on keeping on.  Thank you, Jesus!  Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke

The circle of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!

Brother André had a particular love for the Eucharist

and encouraged people to go to Communion frequently:

“If you ate only one meal a week

would you survive?

It is the same for your soul.

Nourish it with the Blessed Sacrament.” 

St. André Bessette

Canada ~ 1845-1937

Holy Cross Brother, porter

Miracle Man of Montreal

Great devotion to Eucharist and St Joseph

Feast Day - January 6

“It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints

the most exquisitely beautiful pictures."- St André Bessette

"Put yourself in God's hands; He abandons no one." - St André Bessette

 

"There is so little distance between heaven and earth that God always hears us. 

Nothing but a thin veil separates us from God."- St André Bessette

Such a masterpiece with the small brushes of my life!

Danielle Rose - Small things with great love

Mom and I reconnected with a friend from 50 years ago... found her on FB and shocked her to hear from us!  Her mom is alive and living in the home she was in 50 years ago in Flint, MI!  Wow!  Also word about family in far flung places.