Family prayer/generations of Faith and Family/"O searcher of heart and soul, O just God."Psalm 7

What a special beginning to the day!  Sharing the morning prayer of The Church with my deacon father and my mother... they in their well worn prayer books and me using the ap on my phone - ibreviary   After of 40 years praying daily as a deacon morning and evening prayer... dad said that doing the Saturday office together out loud breathed new life into the well worn words and psalms

I found the Psalms quite glorious, too.  I especially rejoiced in the words of Psalm 8...Your majesty is praised above the heavens; on the lips of children and of babes you have found praise to foil your enemy, to silence the foe and the rebel.
After weeks surrounded by many children including newborn babes... I do see the beauty of LIFE and how it speaks into the darkness with the Truth of how we gain LOVE and LIGHT in this world if we are open to LIFE in our domestic Church/family.

Our Family hero St Ignatius icon is in my parents' home as attending one of his silent retreats led my parents and eventually all 13 of us into The Church 48 years ago!  I love this quote of his …"We are created to share in God's LOVE and LIFE for Eternity!"  Yes!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html

Praying with Jesus yesterday here... I was able to pray with a sister for the hour and be there for Benediction... thankful for this young priest, who keeps Jesus alive in the Eucharist for us!  May many more hear the call and answer a resounding "Yes!"

"The bountiful Giver himself is present,

the divine gifts are set before you,

the sacred meal is ready, the life-giving wine prepared.

The King of glory summons you;

the Son of God receives you; God Incarnate Word invites you. ...

Our spiritual journey has now brought us

to the most exalted of the life-giving mysteries,

and the Lord has set before us gifts no words can describe.

Let us all meet together then for the sacred meal,

all of us who rejoice in these inexpressible delights and who,

as sharers in the heavenly calling,

willingly put on the wedding garment of undefiled faith.

Today Christ is our host,

waits upon us,

Christ who loves us refreshes us."

Theophilus of Alexandria

Such a pleasant Friday evening with my parents... mom and I made supper together in the kitchen and admired a cardinal out the window and the buds on the lilac bush.

My mother raised 11 of us and never asked us to help out making meals with her.  She always felt that it was her job and not her kids.  So to cook together last night was really a first for this almost 70 year old woman.  Yes, I have cooked for them, but rarely have we been there working together on our meal.  It was fun!

My father has learned from his son, Dan, that it is a good thing for the man to then do the cleanup and unless he is not up to it... Dad always does that in a most fastidious fashion, so they have found a happy love and service one to the other.  Mom cooked our wonderful fish and fried potatoes, and dad did the clean up after we put the left over food away.  All is well here if you see dad at work in the kitchen after our meal shared in the dining room.

Another sign that all is back to normal around here... my dad at work making me my breakfast after we shared prayer together.  Mom says that dad spoils me and I love it and agree that it is very true.  She also says that dad is so much like his mother and sister, who are always up serving others.  That is a wonderful thing and very much the servant that the Lord asks of us to one another!

Jesus, I am so lifted up by my time here with my faith filled parents!  So much peace and contentment for which I thank you Lord.  We know not how this will all work out and know that there is an end coming as they are now 94 and soon to be 90.  How we praise you for each precious time I am given with the two of them still loving and serving one another in their own home!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen

This arrived here in the mail!  Another new little life coming into The Church with so much excitement and JOY!  He will be baptized during the Easter Vigil!  That has always been a special family time sharing the Vigil since we worked with those coming into The Church years ago.  Nancy will be coming from KC as she is Godmother, so it will be a wonderful time to celebrate our Saving Resurrected Lord! Bless-bless, Barb

4 years ago Easter in KC with Hallel home!  We will have to go down there for the second Sunday of Easter instead.