George at his first open table and meeting the Community for the first time. What JOY to see my two daughters sharing their day to day lives together.
I was able to share with all attending the answer we had to prayers this last week for John, who had a health scare, and after two days we got the answer to our prayers shared by our family and our Family of the Lamb - a clear scan... continued healing!
A little over a week old and coming to meet his family of the Lamb for the first time! Aunt Hallel marvels at this new member of our family!
Hallel's dad told her that he probably won't be able to visit her again until this summer sometime as calving is coming, then spring work of planting the fields and we are not allowed to have much contact during Lent until Easter. We will be able to call and inform her of the arrival of her two new arrivals of Maria's son and baby Verly!
A special part of our meal was when George's dad introduced him to our family of the Lamb! He emotionally shared that he is named after his grandfather, who passed away about a year ago. "He was a wonderful man."
Josephine at home with Hallel's family!
A mother arrived with her family of 7 children... soon she will have her 8th at the end of March. Little Brother Louis Marie was wonderful in caring for them and feeding them.
Little Sister Sarah held baby George... he had on his blue Little Brother clothes!
While we did dishes after our meal... I had the joy of sharing with a postulant and other little sisters the story of how Bobbi was told 10 years before their marriage that she and John would marry. Such a joy to share this beautiful story of faith, trust and prayer as she did not give up through all those many years of silence until that fatefilled day when John saw her at mass and asked her out for pie.
The story she shared at their wedding reception of waiting for John! LOVE! All of the listeners around the sink doing dishes were amazed by this!
Bobbi's story which she was able to share with Hallel last weekend...
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!
The children with desserts end our meal of sharing from our hearts!
Our Lady of Guadalupe over his shoulder at Open Table.
Just back from sharing Sunday mass with both daughters and our families! Christophe in his homily talked about the final words of the Gospel...
“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give, and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”
Luke6
Christophe spoke about Juan Diego, who picked and poured out roses in winter in front of the Bishop and when they tumbled out Our Lady was there miraculously on his tilma to this day! "Give away what the Lord or Lady gives to us, and we will reflect them to the world!" So beautiful and also reminds us that we cannot do it ourselves, but only are able to live this Gospel if we die and allow Jesus to do it for us!
Pat showing Little Brother how high the snow is in Minnesota... he was shocked!
Ruth sent these from the farm... two cows in the barn close to calving now on Cow TV and the kids gathered to watch another year of calving ahead!
Simon and Ruth waiting for Paul to feed in the blizzard last evening in the snow fort they dug out of a huge bank of snow as high as 3 round bales... "It was surprisingly cozy" Ruth reported.
Josephine came to snuggle between grandpa and I this morning while we did morning prayers... at one point they compared hands. LOVE! We cherish our family time sharing our Faith!
Berna cutting grandpa's hair, Domo valcuming it up, and Pat talking to John on the phone.. family time and multi tasking.
This precious peaceful boy is the center of our few days here...
Grandpa's big arms held him during mass with Hallel and her Community in Lumen Christi this morning! Look at that smile of JOY at having a tiny one to hold close to his heart!
Our family of the Lamb adoring baby George... there was petition for him during the mass, too! A little over a year ago when Nancy lost her 20 week Maximilian. They prayed for him at mass also... it was comforting at that time. Today we share in our thanksgiving and JOY!
Such a beautiful sight - a young boy, who has 9 other siblings in awe of how tiny little new born George is! He certainly has lived to value LIFE and honor the call to be "fruitful and multiply!'
A book of Pope Francis answering questions of children. The sisters were so excited and sweetly read some of the questions..."Do you like to dance?"
Dominic setting the table with Aunt Hallel... we were blessed with a meal with our Little Sister. When we were deciding what to do today... Pat asked me, and I honestly said that my wish would be to spend mass and Sunday dinner with both of our girls. The Lord spoiled me and answered my prayer!
I am going overboard today as I am overwhelmed by these last two days with my girls and their families!
Southern fried chicken with the sides from a neighboring restaurant made for a delicious meal to share! I loved when Hallel and Nancy talked about blizzard memories from their childhood. "Head for the Christmas lights" they called to each other when they couldn't see the house after the bus turned around and brought them back home in a white out! Little Sister Pauline was amazed to here the stories and my heart was warmed!
The other side of the table...
Dominic in his blue sweater..."I am a little brother!"
Hallel using grandma Verly's ice cream scoop that she gave The Little Sisters when they visited the farm 10 years ago... frozen pineapple was a hit with the all but the kids had two bowls!
Hallel helping Pauline with the dishes...
Josephine helping Hallel put the chairs back...
It is so good to see the kids helping and at home. For Hallel to get this much exposure to life with 5 kids from 7 to 10 days makes me smile and my heart is full to the brim with smiles that she has been here for 2 years and known family life closely!
It's a cold sunny day here today with much of the snow washed away by all the rain yesterday. In the early hours of the morning - about 4A we will return to snowy Minnesota. I have been gone for close to 2 1/2 weeks! I will have some time at home, and probably spend some days with my wonderful parents... then off to Washington for the arrival of #17, Maria's new son on March 13th!
Jesus, I am so overwhelmed by your love! May I die more so that you may inflame more love in me so that I may live out your words to us this day in the amazing Gospel of Luke 6
Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say,
love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners do the same.
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
As Christophe's mother said..."This is crazy to live! I cannot do it... it must be Christ in me!" Yes, Lord, help me to allow you all the room you need in me out of my poverty! "Wounded, I will not cease to love." Bless-bless, Barb
No comments:
Post a Comment