Seeing Hallel/Susan for the first time since the wedding with the newly weds!!!!! JOY in the middle!

I copied a 8x10 of John and Bobbi moments after their wedding with Mary and St Therese looking over their shoulders and their faces aglow with JOY!  They are the JOY in the center of our family, and even with all the family and travel and busyness of my life... I am still to happy and excited and still have not come down to earth since!

The Gospel today calls me out on my obsession and those treasures of earth that distract me... photos!  Yes, I snapped a few during the wedding and this one as they walked past is a treasure for sure!  I was close to John and Bobbi's age when I married later than most - I was just a few months away from 27 and John is 29.  When you ask and wait... watching others marry... it is a true source of JOY when you receive the answer!

The Sermon on the Mount is filled with The Truth straight from Jesus to us!

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.
But store up treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."  Matthew 6:19-23

The watercolor of our 11 in heaven with Mary and The Eucharist!  Makes our family wall complete!

I love my family wall and it represents to me so much of the treasures I have in heaven.. the remaining 7 and now 4 grandchildren!  They keep my heart and eyes focused on heaven!

My beautiful new daughter, Bobbi Marie Therese Verly!  She has touched so many in sharing her burning answer to the often asked question;  Did you ever think that you and John would get together? 


After being classmates for all 13 years for them to come together 10 years after graduating is kind of special.  She shared to the 300 family and friends gathered at the reception in her sweet humble way about how John Verly popped into her head and heart when they were seniors in HS as her future husband.  Time and time again the same answer came to her through prayer and roses from St Therese and opening her eyes to see him right in front of her at WYD in Australia... When we consider what John experienced over those 10 years... brain cancer, seminary, girl friends, ups and downs and how disheartening it probably was and how powerful her prayers were for him!!!!  Amazing!!!   And how patient and trusting and prayerful and waiting and praying for John, this sweet girl was!

The Sunday in February when she happened to come to Marshall church by herself, and John and Pat noticed her... John asked her out for pie and he paid for it!  A date!!!  As her matron of honor told her... also a classmate of the two!  John came home saying that their time together was good and it continued to their engagement around Thanksgiving on November 9th... where he proposed in front of Our Lady in church! 


Bobbi shared the reading on the day of their engagement from the Divine Mercy Meditation on Nov 9th..."God will fulfill what he reveals."  Come Holy Spirit!!!

I am super excited to have them join us for the weekend in KC and share their JOY with Hallel!  I have copied off some pictures of the wedding so that Hallel can keep them in the pocket in her habit and show others... like she did with their engagement pictures! 


Nancy shared a cute story where Hallel asked Dominic to do something for his "auntie Susie."  It makes this mom's heart happy to think that she can float back and forth and be at home in the midst of her family times we are gifted with this year she is in the U.S. A super special one lies ahead!!!

Jesus, we thank you for the family times that lie ahead... including 18 of us gathering in France for Hallel's wedding/final vows!  Be with us on our travels and thank you for the gift of pictures to hold them close to my heart and share the JOY with all!!!  May we die to self so that you may live in us and we may keep our eyes on heaven!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

Love!! The Best!!!