Offering praise as a sacrifice!!! Any adivse after 50 years? "Have a sense of humor"

If I would title this picture taken by my niece for John and Bobbi... It would be...A Small Slice of Heaven on earth, if only we walk in the LIGHT with Christ and His Bride, The Church first and foremost in our lives/marriages/families/domestic Church! 

Sharing our Faith as a family gives me the most happiness and JOY and the words from the Psalm at mass today speak of how offering Praise as a Sacrifice...

"He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God."  Psalm 50:23

These precious pictures were taken at the park on the way to the reception just after their vows of Faithfulness til death do they part! 

No bar hopping between their wedding and their reception just a short play time at the park!  LOVE this and their JOY!  They certainly are offering a sacrifice of Praise! 

LOVE!!!


The day has escaped me and I had such fake plans to share many of the wonderful pictures we have now!  I had a great day yesterday on the road with new daughter, Bobbi!   We had a double shower in the Cities and then a 50 wedding anniversary for an Aunt and Uncle of our family.  It was very sweet when Bobbi met Raenell for the first time as a newly wed, and she asked her if after 50 years she had any advice.  "Have a sense of humor."  she shared and it really struck home for me.  I do not allow things to roll off my back and laugh at what life deals me!  A sense of humor would allow me to be more easy to offer praise as a sacrifice, and would turn that frown upside down!

Sweet baby Lawrence with mom and grandma... we honored his beautiful LIFE! 


Traveling with Bobbi for about 6-7 hours in the car... we shared stories, a rosary, and lots of finding where we were going from one place to the next! 

Bobbi sharing the story of her waiting 10 years for John!!!  LOVE this and her message to share with the world!


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!

I love Pat's huge smile at the newly married John and Bobbi Verly!!!


I have been so impressed by the huge glowing smiles that come from a deep place of Joy and Happiness within in all the pictures I have taken for them and I see this in Bridget's pictures too!  Knowing how she patiently trusted and waited... I can see why she is the picture of JOY!!!

Bobbi, I and John love these two ladies in heaven... her patron Saint, St Therese, and Mary our Spiritual Mother of heaven and earth!  We see eye to eye on how much they are with us on this journey!  Beautiful flowers were arranged by Pat's sister, Mary and her daughter!  Out of this world... a small slice of heaven indeed!

Some of John's favorites are with Godson, David!  So much love and happiness!

Yes, it is hard to stop sharing these great keepsakes!  Love the faces!

New mom and soon to be Bride... double shower makes it twice as wonderful family time! 


Walking in with new bride, Bobbi, she was immediately surrounded by other young women, who had shared in her wedding asking about how things have been going and recounting their times touched by her big day!  Bringing back the wonderful day and now onto our time in France celebrating with Hallel!

Rejoicing in their LOVE as they place Jesus first and all the rest will fall into place!


Jesus, may we always recognize how you are God in our midst!  May we die to self so that your Holy Spirit may live in us and show us the path we are to follow!  Jesus is in control in the storms of life, and when we step out to walk to you on the water.. may we keep that sense of humor and laugh when we start to sink and you lift us up!  We can give our worries all over to you and smile!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

John told me this is one of Bobbi's favorites, and I can see why!  She now has more sisters than brothers, just as John now has more brothers than sisters, which is really funny after Bobbi had only 3 brothers and John was the only boy with 4 sisters!  LOVE!

We were 7 (Hallel included, and will be added soon), now we are...

Now we are 26 with 11 in heaven... LIFE is a gift to be open to and protected and cherished from conception to natural death!  Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke
Hallel will soon be added to this one too!




Natural is the only way to go... Ruth is a Creighton Model Instructor... John and Bobbi just learned from Ruth!  All of the girls use Natural!
What is NFP? Natural Family Planning (NFP) refers to scientifically verified methods of learning the naturally occurring signs of fertility or infertility that a woman’s body displays during her menstrual cycle. No drugs, barriers, devices or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy. A married couple, privileged with the gift of co-creating with God, prayerfully discerns if they feel called to achieve or postpone pregnancy and use the information accordingly.