"The Holy Spirit will teach you everythiing and remind you of all I told you." John 14

These two start my day with a beautiful reminder of the Lord at work in our lives... trusting in His Plan year after year and the ups and downs of life.  They are a model of listening, asking, and trusting in The Holy Spirit at work in their lives!


The wind is roaring outside... Pat and Ruth are out there as Pat scrapes out the barn, and I am blessed to have a sweetly sleeping Joy Jean here beside me wrapped in her special blanket.

From a mother's perspective, who has so closely been a part of John's life over his 29 years of life... I have fought the battle for his life 9 years ago against lymphoma of the brain for a year, I have watched him return to the U of M and get his degree in Ag, I have prayed and hoped for him when he entered the seminary for a year and discerned out, I felt his pain as he has lost numerous jobs from bank, selling trucks, 4H agent, and all woven through those constantly wondering how his brain would be affected by all that was used to save his life!  


With all that history... he would always be asking the Lord to show him his path... how much does that make this all so wonderful, and knowing that for Bobbi too there has been a lot of waiting and prayers and asking to be shown!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html

Let the games begin!!  Keeping humor as a part of their marriage will be a gift!  Laughter is so healing and powerful and makes you realize that often we focus and blow up small things that become bones of contention.  John definitely makes us laugh, and he reports that Bobbi is very silly, too!  Don't get too serious about life, and trust in HIM!


With the readings from mass today ringing inside me, and looking at the beautiful joyful work the Lord has done for those who ask of him... John and Bobbi... the words from the Gospel spring to LIFE - "I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name --
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you."  John 14




These words of Christ have come true for me!  Reading in The Word all he has told me... truly does come to truth in my life!  It is not as I would see it but according to his prefect plan!  Imagine if John and Bobbi had not had these 11 years since high school and all the experiences of asking for his plan, going forward and discerning, and all that they have taught them... it was long and hard at times but without that Cross of waiting and asking... finding each other would not have been nearly as sweet and now placing Jesus and His Bride, first and foremost is no question! 

One of the questions at the shower was where John proposed to Bobbi... Here in our church in front of Mary!  "Mom, there is a mom better than you!"  "I totally agree, Johnnie!"  How we love Mary, Queen of heaven and earth!  She led John to embrace his faith fully, when he encountered her love and caring and healing at Lourdes!

His second time in Lourdes - July of 2011... the look of LOVE!

So much LOVE and gratitude to Our Lady of Lourdes!  John healed for 1 1/2 years when he returned to say "Thank You, O Mother of Heaven and Earth! "

As Father Craig began the blessing of their new home... Bobbi lives there now and John will move in after their wedding as they are waiting for marriage.   Father Craig laughed and said the obvious; "And Barb will take pictures."  Always and obsessively...

I recalled how awkward I felt capturing this one of John receiving the anointing of the sick from Father Craig just before he went for brain biopsy... Susan/Hallel and little Sister Benedict had just walked in and were there to join in prayer, and Pat was very worried and placed it all in the Lord's hands!  This picture has appeared in an amazing video of the Sacraments, and is such a powerful one of being ministered to by The Church!


Armed with recalling how important this picture was for many... I did attempt to capture the glorious beautiful occasion of blessing their home!
With amazing words like this:
When Christ took flesh through the Blessed Virgin Mary, he made his home with us. Let us now pray that he will enter this home and bless it with his presence. May he always be here with you, share in your joys, comfort you in your sorrows. Inspired by his teachings and example, seek to make your new home before all else a dwelling place of love, diffusing far and wide the goodness of Christ.
You can see how we are given so many graces by The Church, which I love, love, love with no reservations... everything they ask of us and teach us is Truth!

I had my phone on silent and just took a few here and there... but to capture the words, which were Spirit filled and deserve to be shouted from the rooftops... I went to the blessing on line!  How amazing to read them again and again... "The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you." 


These intentions are filled with Truth from The LIFE and Word of Christ!
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
Assisting minister: John read these...
Lord Jesus Christ, by your life with Mary and Joseph you sanctified the life of the home; dwell with us in our home, so that we may have you as our guest and honor you as our Head. (For this we pray:) R.
Assisting minister:
In you every dwelling grows into a holy temple; grant that those who live in this house may be built up together into the dwelling place of God in the Holy Spirit. (For this we pray:) R.
Assisting minister:
You taught your followers to build their houses upon solid rock; grant that the members of this family may hold fast to your teachings and, free of all discord, serve you with their whole heart. (For this we pray:) R.
Assisting minister:
You had no place to lay your head, but in uncomplaining poverty you accepted the hospitality of your friends; grant that through our help people who are homeless may obtain decent housing. (For this we pray:) R.

I weep with JOY when I see how much this priest has been a part of our lives as a family in all that we face!

Recently he had a graveside service for Nancy and Billy's, Maximilian, who they lost at 20 weeks on Thanksgiving!  "You are a prolife family." he spoke to our hearts with The truth!  And this is how we live and die to self so that we may serve without counting the cost!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html


Lord, how we long to live out your commandments out of our love for you and your Bride, The Church!  "Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him."  John 14 today is so true for us, who can find a small slice of heaven in our domestic church/family if only we trust and believe in all that we are given to help us down the narrow path to heaven forever with Jesus, Mary, all the Saints - St Pope Pius V today - and all our dead that have gone before us!  Our 11 - 7 children and 4 grandchildren keep our eyes focused on heaven!  What a glorious reunion that will be!   Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Two in pink.. one young and lovely inside and out, and the other old and so grateful for her willingness to help on the farm and with family.  Mary you are a gift to all!!!  Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke

St Teresa, is at work in heaven... there is no doubt!

Saint of the day and words from the Gospel!

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL
THE ARCHANGEL
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. ...
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

A year ago today!  Father baptized Joy in the midst of the First Communion mass for David and 70 others!  His message..."I baptized these children... where have they been all these years?  Please bring them back to receive Jesus at the Table of heaven and earth!  Bless your family with a small slice of heaven and put Jesus and his Church first in your lives!"
 

It's all about the pruning so that we bear fruit... dying to self/anwers to prayer

Each step with these two is a gift and a blessing!!!  Bobbi reminds me so much of myself and our girls, and the JOY that radiates from her after waiting for John and John for her and now finding each other and sharing their Faith as #1 in their relationship! 


Yesterday was a special time with both of her sides of Aunts there to support her with a wonderful shower!  There was so much love as they spoke of her with tears, and they showed that love with a beautiful gathering in the newly redone KC Hall behind the church in Minneota. 

Ruth, who will be a bridesmaid along with Maria and Nancy came with her 3 youngest to spice up the event!

John with Goddaughter, Joy, looking over the beautiful salad table!

Luke and Rose approved of her favorite candy...M and Ms!!! 


I was unable to blog yesterday and the readings for the 5th Sunday of Easter today are glorious also, but the final words of the Gospel yesterday just keep reverberating and tumbling around and around in my heart and soul... "If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it."  Why?  Because looking at John and Bobbi, for example, how long they had to wait and all they went through and all the prayers and all the hopelessness that would come to them from time to time... in the end He did it!  Jesus answered their heartfelt prayers and all that they went through to get there made it that much more wonderful!

It was sweet to sit next to them at mass this morning and see them holding hands... this is huge for Pat and I and so healing in our marriage to share mass weekly and to hold hands here and there.  It heals wounds that come with two human beings trying to give without counting the cost... embrace our Most Cherished Cross to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!!!

Rose and Luke "helped" her open her presents, and Bobbi was most graceful about it!  Excitement for presents, even those of others is true of kids!

A beautiful handmade quilt brought tears to mom and daughter... It was a bond we seem to share also... tears are always close to me, happy of sad!  I whispered to John; "I could see this hanging on the wall of a little girls room."  "I could see a little girl wrapped up in it."  was his response!  Hoping and praying for family to bless their marriage is no secret!  John prays so powerfully for his future family and marriage - truly understanding the "sacrificial Love" that will be required of him!

Rose admires a special apron someone made for her, with so much love in every stitch!  Rose is so lucky to be adding a very special aunt to her life!  She seems to know that and be very happy about it as are we all!!!

I learned that Bobbi's favorite thing to do is bake!  We all have a smile on our faces when we know that.  Cheesecake is their specialty and John's absolute favorite!

Hurried home to put some cows and calves out to pasture... grandma got to hang with the younger kids and spent time out bouncing Joy on the trampoline... she giggled and loved it!


Pondering the cross that enters into our journey of life/marriage/family/day to day ups and downs/struggles that come hand and hand with our aging/difficulties/hardships/all that calls us to die to self...  The words about how we are to be pruned to bear more fruit really speak to me this day.  Pruning involves the cutting away of those parts that are holding us back or not contributing to our welfare or progress in giving our all without counting the cost and what would be the fruit we would see from that?  Being open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS is very much our family motto and allows us to give and die to self!  The LIFE is our fruit!!!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

Rose and Joy playing together on the tramp...

Baby Joy a year ago when she was just a week old on the trampoline with cousin, Evangeline Mary!

Arm in arm!!!  In 5 weeks they will be together for Uncle Johnnie's wedding!  Will Joy be walking?  Time will tell!

I was reminded of this most beautiful occasion today as it is First Communion Sunday at our church.  A year ago Father Paul did a most amazing thing! He baptized Joy in the midst of the First Communion mass where 50+ kids were there with their families for their first Communion!  His message: " I baptized these kids, where have they been?  Please allow your children to come to the Lord and worship as a family!"


 As a good friend spoke to me about how blessed we are to share our Catholic Faith with ALL of our family this morning..."They are all so filled with happiness to know and love The Church!"  Yes, this is the glue that holds us together!  I call is a small slice of heaven we are graced with!

Joy adores her grandpas!!!  She saw this picture up on the dresser and wanted to admire and point to her wonderful grandfather.  He is my champion for LIFE and family!  This was taken a year ago when Hallel was here for her home visit on the farm.  Planting was late last year, too, and she was here in the midst of the craziness and rode along with her dad in trucks and tractors.  All the girls were daddy's girls when they were little just like Joy!

He always loves to hold them and demonstrate his love for them!  He will step in the house over there to just hold his Joy and she sees him and reaches for him, too!

Lots of special red hair on Paul's side of the family and #6 delights us in many ways, but also her special red hair and sweet brown eyes!  That smile is her gift to the world... she lives up to JOY!


Jesus, we know that there is much in us that needs to be pruned/cut away/left on the floor of the confessional that prevent us from accomplishing all the work we are called to do!  We long to bear fruit and to stay grafted to the vine of your love... returning that love, mercy and forgiveness we have been given unconditionally!  May we die to self so that you may live in us and much fruit for the good of our world, family/domestic Church may be the result.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Both in pink, so mom took a picture with my sweet oldest granddaughter, 12 year old Mary Angela!  Holy family statue gifted to Ruth at her first baby shower from Mary Lanoue on the piano, and a tractor waiting outside... LOVE the life we have and share...  Faith/Family/Farm!  Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke

This speaks volumes of Pat showing Luke how to hold a baby chick a few years back!  Be still my heart... when I witness these moments I am weak in the knees with LOVE!

Rest in peace, Alfie.

These words made me jump for JOY!  Exactly what is on my heart this day!
Happy Feast Day to One of the Four Female Doctors of The Church!! St. Catherine, Pray for Us!

She said it all for me and I am smiling with the wisdom of her soul!

Happy Feast Day
Saint Catherine of Siena
1347-1380
Feast Day: April 29
Patronage: against fire, bodily ills, firefighters, illness, Italy, miscarriages, people ridiculed for their piety, sexual temptation, sick people, sickness...

Catherine was the youngest of 25 children. She started having mystical experiences and visions when she was only 6. She became a Dominican tertiary at 16. A brilliant theologian, although she never had any formal education, she persuaded the Pope to go back to Rome from Avignon, in 1377, and when she died she was endeavoring to heal the Great Western Schism. In 1375 she received the Stigmata, which was visible only after her death. She died when she was only 33, and her body was found incorrupt in 1430.

How's that for his plan, and dying to self... the youngest of 25 children?   It certainly makes you wonder at how children are so limited and planned this day and age!




So true for us too!!!

The Gospel today... the Vine!!!

With you we can bear fruit that will last!!!

Mother, we love you!


How can loving our Mother be wrong???  How I love that she journeys with me through my days!

Once again that Most Cherished Cross is what is there to hold us up!!!

Casting Crowns - one nail scarred hand to the other... East to the West

Casting Crowns - Oh Glorious Day!

The Cross John embraced to find Faith!

Danielle Rose - the saint that is just me

5th Sunday of Easter

"Do you not know that God has placed churches in the cities as ports 

in the sea, that those who come tither for shelter from the

storms of this world may find perfect peace?" - St John Chrysostom

"When the adorer crosses

the threshold of the sacred temple,

when he sees the mysterious lamp which,

like the star of the Magi,

indicates the presence of Jesus,

oh, then, with what faith and joy,

with what transports of love he prostrates himself

at the foot of this tabernacle of love!"

St. Peter Julian Eymard

The Saints are my beloved!!! They are amazing to have with us on this journey!