"There is no more sweetness than an hour of prayer before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament..." St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

Grandpa loves to share lunch with the little ones!!!  He used to come in to eat when he had a chance and usually that wasn't at meal time, so he would have his lap full of the kids helping him eat.  He loved it!  Joy thought grandpa's sandwich looked yummy and her two little bottom teeth helped her bite some.

Such a joyfilled and mobile little girl she is!  Her name is a description of her peaceful smiling self at 11 months!  "You were supposed to be here Joy!"  Each new life in the womb is precious and to be protected and cherished no matter the cost!  Hear our prayers to end the horror of taking the life of the most innocent and helpless those in the womb!

The Cross overhead and I love that the tabernacle is in their midst - Jesus must always be put first in our lives, our marriages, our families... only than can we find the love necessary to live the motto of The Community of the Lamb - "Wounded, I will not cease to love."  Only with Jesus first in our lives can we embrace our Most Cherished Cross and find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! 

The Saint for today... St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows brought my heart to an exciting and happy place of longing for my hour of Adoration/prayer in front of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament today!

“There is more sweetness

in one hour of prayer before Jesus

in the Blessed Sacrament

than in all the world's crowded theaters,

and brilliant drawing rooms,

and giddy diversions, and social gatherings.”

St Gabriel Possenti

Passionist clerical student

Italy ~1838-1862

Exemplary devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows

Feast Day: February 27

Now the tabernacle in Bobbi's church in Ghent and where they will be married in 3 short months!


It is no secret that my time in Adoration each week is the best hours I spend all week, and longed for and loved above anything else!  I have no desire for social gatherings, concerts, really nothing can hold a candle to my time with Jesus and yes... I am filled with so much peace, joy, love and hope for all those that I lift up!  With the litany of both of our families numbering over 200 combined... I place each one in the monstrance with Jesus by name, and when a new little one is in the womb or a new member has joined us as fiancés... it makes me jump for joy in my heart as they are given to Jesus in payer!!!

The Alpha and Omega and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Both John and Bobbi share a deep faith in The Church and we are given so much with each new day to help us on our journey!  Such a place of great beauty in leading us through our senses to feel his LOVE for us!

St Gabriel took to heart the sorrow of Mary at the foot of the Cross...

“Love Mary! She is lovable, faithful, constant. She will never let herself be outdone in love, but will ever remain supreme. If you are in danger, she will hasten to free you. If you are troubled, she will console you. If you are sick, she will bring you relief. If you are in need, she will help you. She does not look to see what kind of person you have been. She simply comes to a heart that wants to love her. She comes quickly and opens her merciful heart to you, embraces you and consoles and serves you. She will even be at hand to accompany you on the trip to eternity." - St Gabriel Possenti

She is always with us on our journey and the best mother's love and care for us!  What strength she gives us to persevere no matter the cost!

Our Lady was huge in John finding his faith through brain cancer!  "Mom, you are a good mother, but there is a better one."  "I agree with you John!"

His video allowing him to share his story far and wide!

She was given to us at the foot of the Cross by Jesus and we are to bring her into our homes!  Mary in our homes brings us peace and joy and love and hope for overcoming all the ups and downs of carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross down the narrow path after Jesus!


Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
If you are willing, and obey,
you shall eat the good things of the land;  Isaiah 1 - the first reading from mass today read all around the world in every Catholic Church... how powerful is that?


Looking to the example of Mary in our homes - her "yes" which allowed the Holy Spirit to bring LIFE into the world of death... may we also be life-giving in all that we say and do with her help.  Ruth and Paul learned this and do this in their marriage!  How I need to learn at their feet!

Joy and cow TV!  I heard her mommy talking to her about the cows and calves that we are constantly watching day and night these days!  She has yet to go out and meet her first calf, and grandma wants to be there with her camera for that!  "It's been too cold." said her mom


"...you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."  Matthew 23
The Gospel today reminds us of how we must be humble and not try to control our lives or the lives of those around us!  We take control over and over, and it doesn't work so well for us.  There is so much peace to be found when we give it over to him and TRUST!

I offered them a baby calf picture, but they preferred a baby Goddaughter, Joy, picture and it is a delight!


Jesus, with your Mother Mary at your side, we long for the peace of giving our all to you and not holding back.  May we give our all without counting the cost.  Dying to self so that the Holy Spirit can work in our lives and we may experience the fruit of the Holy Spirit most especially with those the closest to us in our domestic Church/family!  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."  Galatians  Yes, we can find a small slice of heaven in our homes if we put our Jesus, His loving Mother and The Church first!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen

Soon dad will take Joy out to meet her first calf... this was Luke 4years ago!  I wonder if she will like them like her big sisters Mary and Rose do?  The cuteness factor is always special!  Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke

Bobbi chose an outstanding patron Saint - St Therese!  I am loving the book Bobbi gave me for Christmas about her littleness allowing LOVE and Trust to work in our lives.  HUMBLE is what we are called to, and giving away all of our pride allows us to find PEACE!

From my blogpost of 3 years ago... mom on hospice with her precious daughters!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/2015/02/thank-you-lord-for-all-you-give-to-me.html

Reflecting on her wonderful life!!  Surrounded by Faith and Family which is all that matters as we approach the end of our days on earth!

MOTHER TERESA’S PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY

Heavenly Father,
you have given us the model of life
in the Holy Family of Nazareth....
Help us, O Loving Father,
to make our family
another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign.
May they be deeply contemplative,
intensively Eucharistic and vibrant with joy.

Help them to stay together
in joy and in sorrow through family prayer.
Teach them to see Jesus
in the members of their family,
especially in sickness.

Make their hearts meek and humble like Jesus’
and help them to carry out
their family duties in a holy way.
May they love one another
as You love us, Father God,
and forgive each other’s faults
as You forgive us.

Help them to take whatever You give
and to give whatever You take
with a big SMILE.

Immaculate Heart of Mary,
cause of our joy, pray for us.

 St. Joseph, pray for us.

Holy Guardian Angels,
be always with us, guide and protect us.
Amen.







http://www.dosmallthingswithlove.com/2015/08/10-reasons-every-kid-should-spend-time-on-the-farm.html

Danielle Rose - Memorare

Danielle Rose - Hail Holy Queen

Hillary Scott - Thy will be done

Ginny Owens - If you want me to

Hawk Nelson - Drops in the ocean

Maria's words about their stations around their library.. some of the most powerful times during our Lent shared with Maria and her children a year ago was sharing The Stations on Fridays!


"About a week into Easter, T and I finally took a few minutes to put up our Stations.

They fit perfectly all around our library, with a candle beneath each.

It keep the Littles much more "focused" on the Stations when they 

know they are able to blow out a candle after each one has been prayed and pondered."

The Stations of the cross a year ago...