The 4th/8 hours in the car/3 hour visit... Wake up to mass/the paralytic with John standing beside me at mass!

A familiar summer sight!  16 year old pet cow, Baby, getting groomed for the fair.  Mary is showing her and her calf, with 2 goats and 3 pigs!  She loves her animals and Rose is right there joining in with big sister. 


I grabbed a few pictures as Pat and I took most of the day to have a visit with my parents.  With all the rain we decided to do the 8 hours in the car (4 hours up and back), a nice 3 hour visit including a supper with my brother and his wife, and then a goal to be back for the fireworks here in town.  Our large group shared pizza and pop corn balls sitting on the grass with Ruth's family , John and Bobbi.  15 month old Joy sat on grandpa's lap and watched with interest and not fear of the loud booms they made.  They were loud but very beautiful! 

Grandpa giving the girls some pointers... we figure that Baby has had 14 calves.  John got her as a calf in 2002 when Ruth and Paul were engaged.  She is due to be babied and put some weight on before the fair.  John was excited to hear that they were going to show Baby this year.  He had some good years with her when he was in 4H!

The lake that was in Ruth and Paul's pasture with the farm reflected in it.  After almost 6 inches of rain this will take a while to go down. 

Still going over the top... the pipe underneath is about 20 feet tall - a lot of water!  In a number of days it will be back to a grass pasture.

Lots of rain!!!  Actually hoping for some weeks of dry so that the hay can get done. 

A good visit with my parents... 3 hours sounded like a little after all that time in the car, but it was just right for them.  With my husbands busy schedule our time together traveling can be special and good.  With my rosary beads in my fingers we pray and visit...

It is good to get hugs and share JOY! 


Once again I was deeply moved when my parents shared that they "drew lots" before they decided to come to Minneapolis after high school.  "I was offered to be a pastor of First Presbyterian church in LaPier, Michigan at the same time I was asked to start the Chemical Dependency Unit in Hennepin County Hospital in Minneapolis.  We drew lots and Minneapolis was a "Yes."  Wow!  The thought of the other option - my entire life would not be as it is!  We probably would not be Catholic and that brings so much to each of my days since!  Meeting Pat... my life as it is... it absolutely blew my mind to think about all that! 
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html


A part of my story that I never knew and now it gives me once again that powerful knowledge of how the Lord has touched my life and been in charge through the working of the Holy Spirit!

Mom has always had a beautiful garden and this greeted us when we arrived!  Even though she is laid up with a recovering broken ankle,,, it still is a stunner!

The aged flower child returns with red, white and blue!


Returning to the fire works celebrating our freedom to be a believing Family sharing our Faith with JOY!  Pat and I read evening prayer on our return trip shortly after we witnessed an accident on the road.  It seemed a good time to focus on our Lord.  It was a delight to share the readings for the next day and discover that it was The Paralytic from St Matthew 9!  This was huge for us during John's brain cancer journey as he was lowered into the presence of Our Lord by the prayer warriors/his friends and showed so many the power of prayer with his healing/forgiveness of his sins/finding faith through brain cancer! 

John, Bobbi and I had decided to share mass this morning as a special young man in our lives is having cancer surgery this morning.  To stand next to John and Bobbi, when the Gospel was read and John sighed with the memory and power of it... Talk about the words coming to LIFE!  Jesus in The Word and Body and Blood was very powerful for us today! 
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html

The garden stone with all 12 of my children on it... a gift from John for Mother's Day! 


The three of us then had some prayer time together in the chapel set aside for Adoration on Tuesdays and Thursdays!  The reminders of the power of prayer and the Trust we have in our prayers being brought to Jesus through Mary... the rosary my lifeline through all the dark valleys we have gone through. 
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-story-of-little-lamb-grandson.html

This came up from 4 years ago today!  We have 4 more grandchildren since and no more Michigan.  I love the picture of LIFE that it is!  I am filled with gratitude that John's wedding brought all our family together only missing Hallel! 

Just a month ago!  All 15 together on Ruth's beautiful porch!  "You are a prolife family!"  Father Craig at the graveside of grandson, Maximillian.


Jesus, we are a prolife family as we are open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS!  May we die to self so that you may live in the heart of our domestic Church/family.  May we give without counting the cost.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

John and Bobbi brought our family together to celebrate their love, and now they share their faith with this old mom... united in prayer and sharing Jesus in His Word and Sacraments... there is nothing better in this world.    Our Domestic Church/family is now 26 strong sharing our Faith with JOY!  Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke

Love this!!
“Let us run to her, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.”
-Saint Francis de Sales

Overcoming cancer!!!

St. Elizabeth of Portugal's feast is today and though she was royal, she had a fairly difficult life. She is known as a peacemaker and often portrayed with a dove.

Another one from 4 years ago of the 11 grandkids!  Baby Dominic was just 3 weeks old!