"The lives of the poor He shall save..." Psalm 72

Grandpa and Grandma with our sweet 6 year old granddaughter, Bernadette at CCC!

Nancy called yesterday to say that her kids were wanting to be back at camp.  They had traveled 8 1/2 hours to come from KC to be a part of our wonderful weekend!  We love our shared family time that much... that they would travel a day on each end to come and be a part of our family time!  LOVE!

Bernadette has her mom's dimples and she always reminds grandpa that he started it all with his own dimple that it now in his smile crease.  He makes us laugh when he recalls how his aunts and other ladies would comment on how cute he was with his dimple!  "I would make a straight face and not smile.  I hated that!"  But now we love our dimples in the next generations, right?

John and Bobbi with two of their Godchildren, Joy and Big Dave!.

John and Bobbi expecting their first child in a few months seems especially poignant with the Gospel today in which St Joseph is told in a dream to trust in the Lord's ways... that the child of Mary is from the Holy Spirit and their Son will save the world from sin!

John and Bobbi too are trusting - knowing that it is all according to His plan for them. "Jesus, we trust in you" has become our way of life since we faced John's brain cancer roaring back through the ehemo… Bishop LeVoir wrote to us on caringbridge; "When faced with difficulties repeat this; "Jesus, I trust in you."  St Faustina

Love this reminder of all that we have been given and how we continue to Trust!

Last year they were engaged and Bobbi came to meet John's Cross family.  Now they are newly weds who soon will welcome their first child!  Life is a gift!

Yes, St Joseph is a Saint that can help us give control over to the Lord and Trust in His Plan!

"Joseph was willing to cooperate with the divine plan, though he in no way knew its contours or deepest purpose. Like Mary at the Annunciation, he trusted and let himself be led."  Bishop Barron
 
The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
"Drop down the dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain the Just One! Let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior!" (Isaiah 48:8).

So many prayers for our 3 new little ones in the womb... the expectation of Bobbi, Nancy and Maria... all in March!  There is no doubt that Mary and Joseph prayed for their Jesus/the Son of God in the womb and expectation was hugely a part of that.  Jesus, we trust in you and place these new lives and their mothers in your hands.

Those small helpless little new lives truly are the poor and lowly in their need for total care to survive.  Jesus entered the world depending upon Mary and Joseph to grow and become the great healer and Savoir of the world!

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Psalm 72

Entering the world as poor and helpless... a newborn babe... surrounded by loving caring parents he grew to fulfill this for us!

Love to see these two close girls sharing happy times together.  Rose and Berna are both 6, and so close that there is no time needed to break the ice... they are immediately close like sisters seeing each other after being apart for some time.  Their other 6 year old, Patrick, missed coming this year... maybe next time!

Missing 8 with Maria's family and Hallel, and 3 new ones to join in March = 29!

May we too be poor and open to the Lord at work in our lives, our marriages, our families, our work, our play, our ups and our downs.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb