The Pat and Barb Verly family and their 5 children, in laws and grandkids along with many prayer warriors have been drawn together by John's cancer... sharing daily for 8 months started this blog- Family Soul Story - Our faith, family, farm and now our cancer journey called HEALING have colored and deepened our world. WE continue to share and depend on the support of our prayer warrior community, that has lowered us into the Lord's presence for His healing!
4 year old Luke cooling the sweet corn with a smile... helping out in our huge family day of freezing 13 pails of corn=130 quarts for the winter!
Conversation and laughter as hours are spent cutting corn off the cob and Rose putting it in bags. Every available container was full of ears awaiting the process. David got a belly full cleaning the ears before and after being cut off!
Yesterday was a blur... just as Ruth and I and the kids got ready to go and pick and husk our 13 pails... I was sent on a 5 1/2 hour round trip to Buffalo, MN to pick up a part for the tractor. All those hours on the road allowed me to say my 10 decades of the rosary, chaplet of Mercy, and listen to Christian music in my chapel on wheels!
Big helper Rose is now 6! Cooling, cutting, and packing... she does it all with her good work ethic, and loud excited voice in the cheerful sharing we had during our many hours of work!
There is no straight shot to Buffalo, so I had to rely on GPS on my phone a lot and discovered some closed roads of course, too. France is on my mind so much these days, and I try to give it over to Jesus, who is in control, but the thought of getting around rural France gives me some panicy worries. Clinging to my rosary beads helps me to let go and give it to HIM!
Huge golden ears!!!
It was wonderful to have my prayer time as I sped across the farm country for 2 1/2 hours each way. I do find that praying allows me to give it back to him over and over. It was a delight to discover that this final day of July is the feast day of our great mentor and Saint with us on this journey - St Ignatius of Loyola! Why is he our man? Because when my parents were on the Ignatiun Retreat in 1971... my father was reading Isaiah 55:1-2 and The Holy Spirit told him that he and our entire family of 13 should join The Catholic Church! http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html
Deep in prayer with my parents a few weeks back... The icon of St John looks over dad's shoulder and on the coffee table in front of him is the icon of St Ignatius! Yes, he is very strongly attributed at bringing us into The Church! Each day since has been filled with more blessings and graces than we can ever totally utilize! Sharing our total LOVE for The Catholic Church is the best thing ever that I am gifted to share with my wonderful parents! Sharing Faith and Family with JOY fills me with so much gratitude and happiness!
Jesus promises us in the Gospel today... "the righteous will shine like the sun
in the Kingdom of their Father." Sitting at the feet of my parents and knowing how they brought me to the Truth and share it with me when I am allowed to spend precious time with them... they do shine like the sun for me! They are close to The Kingdom... I have no doubt, and I pray for me and mine to be on the narrow path heading there too!
With their worn prayer books, and then praying for the family! Knowing of their prayers is huge for all of us, and allows us to have peace and courage to face all that comes to us on this journey!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Love this Hallelujah! The Word is such a beautiful gift with each new day and The Spirit shows us the Truth to glean from the "wheat" which is our Food for the journey! Fed by Word and Body and Blood each new day! The peace and JOY will flow in and around me when I am seated in Trinity Cathedral in Saint Pierre, France for the final vows/mass for little Sister Hallel and 12 others on The Feast of The Immaculate Conception on August 15th at 11am surrounded by 17 more from our family to share in Hallel's wedding day!!!
The newly weds with Hallel in KC just 3 weeks after their wedding! Now on to Hallel!!! Yes, John and Bobbi are our traveling buddies! We will be in Lourdes on Bobbi's birthday! A birthday like no other! It will move me to tears to see John sharing Our Lady of Lourdes with his new wife. In Lourdes in 2009 in the midst of his cancer battle... John fell in love with Mary, and has never recovered! http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html
Just out of the baths with Father Craig! "I told them to pour the waters over my head, because that is where I need the healing." He is now healed for 9 years, and Lourdes definitely is part of the healing from brain cancer and finding his Faith!
His amazing video promoting his speaking and sharing his story to whomever will listen with "Whoever has ears ought to hear." Matthew 13:43... ought to be his message and prayer of sharing the LOVE he has been given. It grows more when you give it away!
Jesus, we give it all over to you and know that your plan is all that matters! Jesus, we are yours and we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
18 of us going to France in less than 2 weeks! The 7 youngest are staying with their grandparents! I think that Hallel will have a crowd of witnesses and surrounded by our LOVE and support... she will be lifted up and I have no doubt that our JOY will be complete and out of this world! Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke
Now to get through the County Fair next week and maybe a day of applesauce... Jesus, we trust in you over and over and over and over!!!
Memory from 4 years ago... Simon and Mary just were out walking their calves across the yard this morning... next week is the big Fair week! The day after the Fair we head to France!
This lady is straight to the Truth!
Another huge part of our healing!!! "I am the Immaculate Conception." what she told St Bernadette in Lourdes!
A few days behind!
This was in our bulletin... food for thought!
3 years ago in my old kitchen which is no longer... now on the other side of the house. We did 17 pails 3 years ago... this year 13 with just Ruth and I and the kids! Thanks for all the helpers in the midst of this crazy summer. "It feels good to have that job done." Ruth Dorothy Day had this to say about St. Martha (who we celebrate today): "If everyone were holy and handsome, it would be easy to see Christ in everyone. But it was not Christ's way for himself. Ask honestly what you would do when a beggar asked at your house for food. Would you give it on an old cracked plate, thinking that was good enough? Do you think that Martha and Mary thought that the old and chipped dish was good enough for their guest? It is not a duty to help Christ -- it is a privilege."
Lauren Daigle - Trust in you and you say Sometimes God hits you with a figurative cannonball. Sometimes he hits you with a real one, as was the case with Ignatius of Loyola. After this life-changing injury, he began reading about the lives of the saints, and whaddya know - he became a great one. #EWTN#Catholic#Jesuit
They got the memo of purple!!!! We have had a huge family job Sunday of picking up bales!
Gloriously lush landscape after breakfast on the beautiful porch on the farm and an armload of baby kitties! Mass, breakfast and then Bobbi and Mary were in charge of the kids while Ruth, John and I hauled bales after Paul loaded us and Pat unloaded back at the farm and made a bale pyramid!
Paul loading bales on John's hay rack where our first house was on Hwy 59!
Just about loaded and off to the farm for Pat to unload!
Pat unloading my rack... he was thrilled at how smooth we got our bales picked up. "It would have taken us 2 days! This is so great!" Bobbi's first time taking part in our family job of picking up bales! She made us a wonderful lunch of food from the garden and our own meat... hamburgers, corn, cucumbers, and lettuce and tomatoes! Nothing better!
So wonderful to have John 6 feeding the 5,000 for the Gospel today.... I found myself choked up after receiving Jesus Body and Blood! His love overwhelmed me! The day is gone so I will send this on for today! John and Paul are still getting the bales that are 10 miles away! Thank you John and Bobbi for helping out on our big day as we get 200+ bales baled and brought home for the cows as we are now 2 weeks from France! Bless-bless, Barb
John grinning at his beautiful bride while she repeats the vows of Matrmony
"I, _Bobbi_____, take you, _John_____, to be my wife/husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life."
Faithful all the days of our lives! Hallel has been sharing that on her invitations to her marriage/final vows! "Pray that I may be faithful to Jesus all the days of my life!" Yes!! I love grandson little David so sweetly in these great pictures, and tabernacle containing Jesus in the midst!... a sweet memory.
Ruth and Paul's beautiful family with Jesus in their midst!
Nancy and Bill with their 4 going on 5 with Jesus in the tabernacle with them on their journey! Jesus is in control in the storms of our lives!
family here from Tacoma, WA! Picture is complete with Jesus in their midst, too!!!
Always keep Jesus as the most important part of our families and all the rest will fall into place according to his plan for you.
Saturday devoted to The Blessed Virgin Mary, and both John and Bobbi have love for her and great gratitude and devotion to her on their journey of Faith and Family! St Therese, Bobbi's patron Saint is huge for them and absolutely amazing too!
I look at these two and the words from the Psalm today speak of this truth... "how lovely is your dwelling place , Lord, mighty God." Psalm 84 My inner temple is solid gold and filled with the most beautiful sights, sounds, and smells... all the senses are beautiful to me, and my heart soars to the highest heights! Peace flows all around me and through me as I pray without ceasing the rosary throughout my day... like in the pasture this morning to calm my angst and enjoy the beauty of God's creation and time with my husband.
Haying is in full force and the sun and breeze and puffy white fair weather clouds along the tall tasseled corn... picture perfect!
Pat ahead of Paul in the rake... barely taking a break for food or drink!
A proud moment last night after baling 211 bales starting at 9a for almost 12 hours! Pat even posed for the selfie with the bales in the background! They are back at it now... it will take many trips to pick them up and put them away... then the job will be partly done and our France trip can come more peacefully. Let's fit the county fair in there, too!! Mary was telling me about her 6 or more projects not to mention that she is showing cattle, pigs and goats! Such a busy young lady she is!!!
New 3 day old baby kitties add to the fun on the farm!
Two from the first batch born before the wedding 2 months ago now! Tiger and Black Jack are pets!
Black Jack is the most favorite of the 10 early kittens, and he seems to know it all to well!
Future mom cat as she is a female, and she makes Lukes chocolate eyes soft with love.
Joy giving kitties kisses!
White baby with grey nose and ears getting a baby girl hug!
Jesus, thank you for being with us always. We place all our trust in you and know that you are to be the most important part of our lives! Jesus, we trust in you. Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke
Longing for my rosary beads and the peace that prayer brings to me! Queen of Peace
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (The Jesus Prayer)
“My Lord and My God!” (The prayer of Saint Thomas the Apostle)
“Jesus, Mary, I love You! Save souls!”
“God, come to my assistance; Lord, make haste to help me.” (Psalm 69—Introductory Prayer to the Divine Office)
“Lord, I believe; help me in my unbelief.”
“May the Holy Cross be my light.” (Jubilee Medal of St. Benedict)
The next time you are anxious, fearful, or tempted—especially when you don’t have enough time to hit your knees or enter the Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament—take one of these arrow prayers from your spiritual quiver and send it flying to heaven…and into the heart of Christ. Yes!!!!
John and Bobbi leaving their reception under the raised arms of their family and friends! A beautiful ending to their celebration of LOVE!
The beginning of their sacrament of giving one to the other in giving without counting the cost! As they embrace their Most Cherished Cross/one another to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT through the Tree of LIFE/the Cross! Waiting for marriage... they did as did all of John's sisters ahead of him!
JOY!!! All their hopes and dreams had come true after all those years of waiting, and hoping, and praying, and trusting, and healing!
Bobbi's story she shared at the reception as well as with Hallel! 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!
Reading her story to all gathered... I looked around to see everyone deeply moved and many wiping tears!
The letter Little Sister Hallel sent to Nancy about your spouse being your Most Cherished Cross needs sharing here!
"Nancy, Look I am writing you a letter... aren't you impressed? Well, you better be because both you and I know how often this happens. I am writing to tell you now extremely excited I am about your engagement to Bill. I have to admit, when I got the news I wasn't really shocked but that night as it sunk in during adoration and the next day during mass I was so happy. My heart overflowed with joy for you. How beautiful to know that you have found your... most cherished cross. While I have never had the experience of being married, from what I hear is that he will truly be your cross. But not your cross as human eyes look at it, as a thing to run away from, as a thing of torture but rather as that which is truly the tree of life. It is only when clinging to the cross that one can truly live, it is the source of all life and of all love. Your marriage to Bill will be this, not something to run away from when it gets hard and when it hurts, but something to hold tight to, especially when it hurts because it is in this that you will find life and love. Know that it is through your marriage that Jesus wants to show you his great love for you and also that the best example that you can give to the world of Christ's love is a marriage lived in truth. So, in other words, know that I am so happy for you and that I love you a whole lot. Know that you are in my prayers during this crazy time of wedding planning; that you may not go crazy but rather learn to love each other better and that you may both have great joy and great peace. Remember to pray for me too! God Bless. Your Little Sister Hallel" April 2010
After a conversation with Nancy a few minutes ago.. I have permission to share with all that our 16th grandchild is on the way! Nancy is expecting a little sweet new life, with a strong heart beat and we celebrate new LIFE!
This is her 8th child! She has 4 here on earth and 3 in heaven, and two of those were lost in the last year! This little one is due about a month before she was to have Maximilian last year... he was 5 months in the womb and she lost him on Thanksgiving while Pat and I were there visiting. Then the day she left for Fatima she was pregnant and took that one to have a spiritual journey with Our Lady there, and lost him a couple months later.
Family picture with Max at the Marshall Catholic Cemetery/Calvary Cemetery just before his burial... Father Craig did the service for us and it was healing and honoring to his short life, and now he keeps our eyes focused on heaven and meeting him there someday along with 4 other grandchildren and 7 children! http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html
I love to ponder our family... yes, here we have our 26 with 2 on the way, and in heaven we have 12 more! Bearing fruit a hundred fold... well, really 28+12= 40 fold!
The words of the Gospel come to LIFE!
"But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold." Matthew 13:23
Somewhere between 60 and 30 fold is kind of mind blowing and fills me with so much JOY! Yes, the losses are hard and how I prayed that my girls would not go through it, like I did. But those little ones are a life no matter how small and they keep our hearts focused on getting to heaven to be united with them! And suffering the losses together in our domestic Church/family binds us in a very close love relationship with one another and instills in each one of us a profound LOVE of all LIFE!
How do we hear the word and understand it in order to bear His fruit on earth? By believing all that The Church teaches us and what we are told in The Word and the ability to follow it given us by The Sacraments, and the help of the Saints and my wonderful Spiritual Mother, Mary Queen of Heaven and earth! How can we go wrong? Open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS for the world!
The moment the Holy Spirit spoke into our marriage!
Pat and I proceeded towards our wedding date set for August 3, 1978 at the Bascilica of St Mary in downtown Minneapolis. First we were to attend our engagement weekend in St Paul with many other couples. Pat and I shared with great excitement that we were open to family, and wanted to have many children. We were very disappointed to have no other couple agree with us. They all said that they wanted to have at most 2, some one or none due to the mess that the world was in. It even made me question if we were being selfish to want to have a lot of children. When I asked Pat this question - he did not hesitate one minute..."The world needs LIGHTS." he told me. I was immediately brought to an instantaneous Peace by this statement of Truth! This is what our entire marriage has been based upon, and there has never been a moment's hesitation or veering from this course!
7 years ago in France for Hallel's first vows! Pat, I, John and Pat's mom, and now we are gearing up for 18 of us going there for Hallel's wedding/final vows! Mother continues to be involved from heaven! We know that she is with us in spirit... no doubt!
7 years ago... it will be 3 weeks later this year, and the sunflowers around Saint Pierre will probably be past their beauty!
A cherished keepsake from July 2011... now John will be bringing his bride, and all our children will be together to support their sister on her big day in which she vows to be faithful til her death and beyond to heaven forever! Many pictures will be taken and cherished and shared over and over!
Selfies before I had an Iphone...
Jesus, LIFE is such a gift and we cherish and protect it, and celebrate every minute we have with that life no matter how small! We take very seriously sharing our Faith with JOY with each new life we are given, and dying to self so that we may serve without counting the cost! May we bear fruit that will make a difference in this world and change it into a culture of life... banishing the darkness of sin and death. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Just before Hallel's vows 7 years ago! So blessed and lucky to have The Community of the Lamb in our family! Really Hallel's vow of celibacy has gifted us with a huge addition to our family of Little Sisters and Little Brothers! Our family is truly HUGE! Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke and family!
Mother's cousin came to the ceremony and the feast from Belgium!
Lourdes will happen again... Bobbi will celebrate her birthday there!
Cucumbers like rain!
Butternut blossoms are everywhere too!
God's creation is truly evident!
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I could use a bit more perseverance with my weeding!
I wish I had a bottle of this in my pocket! Lord, give us kindness and patience with one another. Photo of the Day: An almost full moon rises next to the Statue of Liberty at sunset in New York City. (📷: @garyhershorn)
1 John 4:16
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love,... and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him.
"So from these sad cases we can construe the nature of good soil. When we understand the faith, when we take the time to read theology, to study the Scriptures; when we persevere, discipline ourselves, and practice the faith; when we have our priorities straight; then the seed will take root in us. And it will bear fruit thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold. " Bishop Barron
