"the spirits of the just made perfect"/my 7 in heaven keep my eyes there/intercessors in our family/blessings after loss

 The 5 children that have been given me to share my journey of Faith/Family/Farm...  The losses - 7 are now joined by 5 grandchildren... keep our eyes and heart on joining them in heaven someday.  Those babies in heaven can become Saints - someone that is in heaven or as St Paul spoke of spirits of the just being made perfect!  So much comfort and powerful intercessions are gifted to us from our little saints in the presence of God in heaven with Jesus, Mary and all the Angels and Saints!

Nancy with her family burying their 20 week stillbirth, Maximillian, on Thanksgiving weekend 2017.

I am in the process of listening to Nancy's podcast about miscarriage and stillbirth... so wonderful and filled with so much truth!
https://catholicsprouts.com/catholic-teaching-on-miscarriage/
Take the time to listen as we are all touched by miscarriage/loss whether we ourselves or those close to us!

 The 5 together when Susan left for France/Sept 11,2008!  In less than a year John would face brain cancer and Susan would come home to join the fight with John's family around him.  Then we would miraculously be able to go to France to be with Hallel when she took her habit and became Little Sister Hallel!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/susan-angela-agneslittle-sister-hallel.html

 Together in France for Hallel's final vows in August 2018... 3 expecting little ones which are now about to arrive within weeks of each other!  LIFE is a gift and we are open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS!

I am a bit shell shocked after sharing my deep convictions of the value and respect we owe to ALL LIFE from conception to natural death!  I feel that there is no place for us to take the life of any little one in the womb into our own hands no matter the situation!  That is for God to do alone!  Even to the point to being dangerous for the mother... St Gianna is a perfect example of such a selfless giving for life.

 What JOY to see all my children on earth togehter to support this huge powerful step for our daughter, who is married to Jesus..."I promise unto death!"

With each pregnancy I had increasing bedrest due to pre-eclampsia, and would have amniocentesis to see if the baby's lungs were developed enough to induce them early.  It was a sacrifice and required many prayers and trusting and being obedient to the doctors' orders with the help of those around me... thanks to a sister, who came to help me when pregnant with Nancy, husband, mother-in-law, the older kids to help me out as it got to only being allowed to get up to the bathroom!  We managed and once that new little one was in my arms... the hardships became a distant memory.

With my desire for the large family both Pat and I had grown up in... I the oldest of 11 and Pat the middle of 10.  I was soon looking for the next positive pregnancy test!  The Lord had different plans for us!  At the time I was devastated and questioned those many losses... the two boys after John that I carried after John 20 weeks each were enough to break me!  Had I known John would be my last... I think I would have lost it literally!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

Between Ruth and Nancy an 11 week loss/Christopher, between Susan and John 2 losses/first trimester/miscarriages/ Thomas, Joseph, Paul (a set of twins on ultrasound), after John two brothers carried 20 weeks/William and Robert, and finally a baby sister Mary carried 14 weeks.  Pat and I said that we wanted 12... 5 with us and 7 in heaven is not quite how we hoped and prayed.  Lots of loss and grieving together as a family!

I was asked to not say anything to our kids until we knew we would have a child, but we were opened and shared the Joy and then the pain of loss!  What was the overall effect on our family?  A deep love and respect for ALL LIFE!  A deep love and respect and appreciation for each other.  A closeness and love and sharing of Faith so amazing and powerful that I thank the Lord every day for our Faith shared as a family!

How I continue to pray that it will be carried into the next generation - united in our love for Jesus and His Bride, The Church and every single Truth that the Church give us... no shopping cart Catholic here!  I love, love, love The Church and follow all the teachings with my entire being!

 A selfie with Jesus in the monstrance in the Adoration chapel - the best hour of my week!  Sitting at the feet of Jesus!

I know that to many I appear to be judgmental and "casting stones" at others when Jesus forgave.  It is humbling to be looked upon that way and I accept it for what it is.  But I will not suppress the Truth about the value of every life in order to not hurt feelings!  It is something that I know to be true with every cell in my body, and I will not be forced to not speak up for those that do not have a voice.  Jesus, healed and brought back to life those around him and shared LOVE in healing and mercy.  Today he sent out the 12 to share the Good News and to minister to those in need.. to me that it families that are under attack and the unborn!

 I am promoting that they allow Our Lady to enter their homes as she was given us by her Son at the foot of the Cross and we are to bring her into our Homes!

 The marker for our grandson, Maximilian, who was lost at 20 weeks... stillborn!  Nancy encountered Mary in her pain and suffering during his delivery!
https://catholicsprouts.com/mary-is-real-and-she-loves-you-2/

I was allowed to experience Mary.

Thanks to all I had been taught growing up Catholic, I knew to call on Mary in my pain. I began to pray the ‘Hail Mary’, aloud and silently, and when that seemed too much, I fell into simply saying her name. “Mary, Mary, Mary,” and as I did, I could feel her presence in that room. She did not come gradually, but suddenly and all at once, as if she had been just waiting for me to call.

Thinking back on those moments I can visualize exactly where she was standing in the room, just to the right of my bed, looking directly at me.  I never doubted that she was really there, right there.  But more than anything I remember feeling a deep stillness emanating from where she stood. I knew she was there gazing on me with love.

My experience of Mary was really quite simple. There were no bright lights or premonitions or words from heaven. Just a feeling of peace and love, and the comfort of knowing that she was there and she loved me.

The weeks and months following the loss of our little Maximilian have been difficult, and I expect more struggles as we attempt to get pregnant and once more open ourselves up to the pain of loss. But the gift Mary gave me in that hospital room has endured. I no longer feel her presence as strongly as I did that day, but I am left with the knowledge of who she is.

And I can honestly say that I know Mary now. I tasted her love for me. I was able to touch, for just a few minutes, her tender hand and I know now that those same hands are holding my little Maximilian up in heaven.

The knowledge that Mary is really there has changed everything. I cling to my Rosary and attempt to carry her with me everywhere.

And not just that, it has set me on a mission.

It breaks my heart to think that so many people face pain and suffering without Mary at their side, especially when she is so willing to fly to their side, if only they call. So, I am on a mission to increase Marian devotion through the Rosary.

Nancy

 Years ago visiting Hallel with John and sharing time with Archbishop Naumann, who brought The Community of the Lamb to the U.S.!  Nancy has shared that he will baptize their son, #5th child, as he will baptize #5 and over as he wants to promote openness to LIFE in families!  LOVE!

 Pregnant with my first child.. with my sister Mary, who died 32 years ago from cancer after she married her farmer and had a 20 month old daughter, Audrey!

Mary's husband, daughter and granddaughter last week at the funeral of Gerry's dad, who stepped in and helped raise Audrey when she lost her mother.  The roots run very deep for family... loss brings us to the Cross and through the Cross we find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!

Jesus, how we love you with our all.  Our plans are not yours, and we trust in you and know that we are being given the path we need to come to dwell with you forever in heaven.  Our family there keeps our eyes and hearts set on coming there to dwell with Jesus, Mary, the Saints, our 7 little ones, our 5 grandchildren, my sister Mary, and many others that have gone before us and for whom we pray with each day!  Jesus, we are yours, and we long to die to self so that you may live in us.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

The Community in November as they dedicate the Little Monastery of the Little Brothers... The Light of Mary, the Mother of God!  Archbishop Naumann is such a blessing to this country and our family to allow our daughter to be living only 7 hours away and only 20 minutes from Nancy and her soon to be family of 7!  I will be there in less than a week to see both of my daughters and their family.  bless-bless, Barb

The farmkids out helping feed our cows and calves... all that snow has to be cleared out first!  Paul wrote this; "The kids have decided they’d rather diagram sentences and conjugate verbs instead of more snow days!"



“There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us."

– Pope St. John Paul II

John burns to set the world on fire with The Truth of His healing and forgiving LOVE!

Litany of Humility - Danielle Rose
May I welcome opportunities to be humbled!

Danielle Rose - True love/The Cross!