Baptism weekend for George in KC with Archbishop Naumann/my hero/Reconciliation/Humility!/Adorable moments on the farm

Joy meeting her first calf in Calftopia with the kindly help of her dad last evening.  There is an electric fence between them and the cows and calves behind them and the mother of this new baby has been put out to eat giving them to opportunity to spend some time with this newborn in the sun.

Pat described how big sister, Rose again, showed her 5 year old brother, Luke, how to get into Calftopia with the newborns and their moms.  By going in a bunk and over a cement wall and therefore miss the big possessive mom cows when they are put out to eat.  Free time with the calves which is special as they are calm and relaxed with the kids.

Trying to feed it a corn cob which is found in the corn stalk bales they use for bedding.. LOVE!

Such a powerful reading to have for the Gospel today!  The Prodigal Son!  It brings to mind a book I read in the last few years called Prodigal Daughters by Donna Steichen.  It contains 17 women's stories of coming back into The Church after leaving in the turmoil of post Vatican II and the coming of New Age  and the confusion of the Hippy Movement.  This is very personal to me as the person responsible for my life on the farm.. Pat's sister, Marge/RaTerra, went away from the Church and to New Age at the time that I came into The Church with my entire family 48 years ago!  I shared this book with her... never to be opened, but I continue to pray for a way to help her to come back to the Truth!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

A classic picture of our family shortly after we entered The Church... all 13 of us!  Taken at "the farm" in Milltown, WI... a building site my parents bought to get us out of the City for the summers to make livable and have a garden.  My parents always were asking the Lord how better to protect us and bring us to Faith. How I love them for that, and thank God every day for Jesus and His Bride, The Church in my life!  I am overwhelmed by his LOVE and Mercy and graces each day!

A call to my parents to check on them as they were both under the weather a week ago.  They sound better, and their house was filled with family there checking and helping them.  They live close to many siblings and their families, which is so good now as I am busy with the farm/calving.  I realize that I live the furthest from them at 4 hours away is kind of miraculous that of all of us 10 remaining kids live that close to mom and dad!  Considering how spread out my family is... this is really quite wonderful for them.

Joy will be 2 in a week... she is a ray of sunshine in our lives.  But she also has gotten the name "Ginger Snap!" when she voices loudly her wants and frustrations with her sibs.  Her red hair does predict that she will be feisty from times to time, but then all of us have that too and not the red hair to go along with it!

Reading the Gospel last night and this morning with Pat - The Prodigal Son - really makes me wonder how hard it was for the wayward son to come and say those words to his father... it took getting to the point of starvation for him to fall on his knees and beg for forgiveness...
"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."'  Luke 15

Waiting outside the confessional for reconciliation... I have that sinking feeling of shame and am humbled by my sinfulness, which when spoken is so hard and yet so good to get out in the open! Why keep it in the dark, because God sees it anyways?   I need to own up to it, and hear Him say to me "this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.'  

Sin separates us from Jesus, and that is dark and lonely when He stands there with His love scarred hands wide open to forgive us and give us the graces we need to return that unconditional LOVE and forgiveness to all those around us.. most especially those the closest to us that we treat the worst/ in our domestic Church/family.  The words from the Psalm at mass today tell us how far he takes our sins and gives us peace...
"As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.

R. The Lord is kind and merciful."  Psalm 103

Casting Crowns - East to the West

 A recent picture from Nancy of 6 year old Bernadette napping with her baby brother.... Love!  Lots of thoughts heading their way this weekend as it is Baptism weekend for baby George!  He will be baptized tomorrow by Archbishop Naumann, who is responsible for bringing The Community of the Lamb here to the U.S. in Kansas City!  He is my hero as now Hallel has been able to be close to Nancy, who lives just 20 minutes away, and for us to see often and get hugs!

Archbishop is also head of the Bishops Pro-Life Committee, and is a lighthouse on the shore for all of us!  He is a voice of Truth in all matters of LIFE!  He is my hero!  How I would love to be there for this occasion, as you can imagine, but yet it is so great to be home after so long away!  Even my mother understood that I am needed and wanted at home now.  I love to spend time with them, but that will have to wait a while in the future.  They are cared for by others in our large family!

5 week of George, admiring his wonderful mother, while she prays at Lumen Christi/LIGHT of Christ monastery of Hallel's Community of the Lamb in the heart of the poor in Kansas City, KS!  Always love Jesus and His Bride, The Church, our sweet George Blaise!  Hear our prayer!

Jesus, how we marvel at the wonder and wisdom of your Church!  To give us all that we need to follow you with forgiveness of our sins in the confessional... you run to us and embrace us and speak the words of forgiveness and send us forth forgiven and washed clean.  We are humbled and die to self so that you may live in us.  Come Holy Spirit bring us ever closer to loving and serving you in others without counting the cost.  "Wounded, I will not cease to love."  The motto of The Community of the Lamb and for us to embrace and live by.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen

 Archbishop Naumann in the Grotto of The Nativity of Mary and Jesus on the occasion of the blessing of The LIGHT of Mary, the Mother of God Monastery of the Little Brothers of the Lamb in early November.  Now both The Little Sisters and Brothers have put down roots in the heart of our country!  Their prayers and presence and sharing of Jesus in Word and Sacrament is so needed to turn back the culture of death/darkness with the LIGHT/LIFE/LOVE!  Bless-bless , Barb and growing family

My hero, Archbishop Joseph Naumann!  He blessed this grotto that it may be a place of miracles and healing and that many may come on pilgrimage here to meet Mary and Jesus with their arms wide to comfort and to heal.  Yes, Lord!

Soon to be a father... Welcoming baby Verly any day now.  Many prayers and excitement is building for grandchild #18!

Danielle Rose - the Litany of Humility

Danielle Rose - See you in the Eucharist

Today, pray for the defenseless children who cannot defend themselves.

But also pray for the mothers who believe they have no other options. Pray that community would surround these women and care for them and breathe truth, grace, and hope into their lives.




 
THE LITURGY IS NOT THE PLACE TO PROMOTE MY CULTURE

“I am an African. Let me say clearly: the liturgy is not the place to promote my culture. Rather, it is the place where my culture is baptised, where my culture is taken up into the divine. Through the Church’s liturgy (which missionaries have carried throughout the world) God speaks to us, He changes us and enables us to partake in His divine life.”

~ Cardinal Robert Sarah

"The only One necessary to have

to be content

always

is to have our Lord."

 St Turibius de Mogrovejo

Nee Spain ~ 1538 - 1606

Layman to ordained Archbishop of Lima! (see YouTube below)

Started First Seminary in the Americas

Patron: Peru, Latin Am. Bishops, Native Rights

Incorrupt

Feast Day - March 23