"Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face." Psalm 24

Newborn Susan Angela on September 18, 1985... My mother holding her and her older sisters, Maria and Nancy admiring her.  After watching my belly get big and talk about a new baby... they are able to see her face.

It is kind of crazy to be able to pick up the phone and call KC and have Hallel answer the phone..."Hi dad!"  After 10 years of being in Europe, it is such a gift to have her only 7 hours away.  We have fake plans to go for the dedication of the Little Brothers' Monastery, Light of Mary, the Mother of God.  We love our time with our daughter, Nancy, and her family there, and our family of the Lamb!

Me and my sister Paula, getting to know our 3rd sister, Paula, over 60 years ago.  I am the oldest of 11, and Pat is from the family of 10, so there were many new faces that have become family and familiar and loved by us!

Today in the Psalm it speaks of how we long to see the face of God and love and follow his "call" to us!  St Paul today speaks of that call in powerful and moving terms...
"to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit
through the bond of peace; 
one Body and one Spirit, 
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all."  Ephesians 4:1-6

Nancy's baby is much hoped for and prayed for!  She has had 2 losses in the last year, and that pain makes us appreciate and long for this one to join us and fill our empty arms!  We long to see his face, O Lord!

How do we see the face of God and listen to his call in our lives?   Spending time in prayer is huge and just listening with our hearts to how he speaks to us in The Word and the stirrings of our hearts.

 I am just back from my hour in church praying for Father Denny in front of the tabernacle.  As I was walking towards Jesus in the tabernacle glowing in the front of church... I looked over at the 10th station of the Cross/Jesus is stripped of his garments, and stopped...

This station was where Susan knelt each morning to do her Holy Hour before mass in the dark church... Why? I asked her, "is it because of our need to ask for humility, which this is revealing?"  "No, mom, it is because it is the last row with a kneeler and I don't want people to see me crying."  She had just returned from the discernment house in St Paul and did not know where the Lord was calling her.

The door opened to her heart's wish to join The Community of the Lamb when they within a short time came to the U.S. to start their first foundation in Kansas City!

Sitting by the 10th station, and seeing the face of Jesus in the glowing tabernacle...

Surrounded by proof of your Truth and True Presence,,, seeing your Face, O Lord.  Joining me in the church for my hour were 2 men.  One was bent over in prayer in a humble and pleading fashion for most of the time I was there.  The other arrived towards the end of my hour and speaking to himself and singing in Spanish walked forward.. In front of Our Lady of Guadalupe he wept, and then knelt in front of the tabernacle with his hands out in the shape of the Cross.  Both men intent upon Jesus in the tabernacle and His presence very Real and True before and around us!

 "When we are weak is when we turn to Jesus." Hallel to me after my hip replacement.   And very evident with those coming to his feet in church throughout the day.  His presence is REAL!

My thing... making pies!  I probably have made thousands over this last 40 years!  What am I missing?  My girls beside me on a chair, or John with his matchbox cars making roads through the flour on the counter while I roll out the crusts.

A bumper crop of squash is part of the reason.... one way that Pat will get his squash in this form.

One apple and two squash/pumpkin... not much left already... it is fun to spoil my husband after so many long hours.  We shared supper last night and watched some TV together... to bed early though for the hard working man.

It looks like tomorrow will be picking up the 600 corn stalk bales, or get a start at it!  It looks like a busy day.  Jesus, may I see your face in all those that are around me and may I be a willing and patient and cheerful worker.  bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit
through the bond of peace; 

In other words... returning the LOVE I have been given, and be your face to the world around me!  Bless-bless, Barb