The Pat and Barb Verly family and their 5 children, in laws and grandkids along with many prayer warriors have been drawn together by John's cancer... sharing daily for 8 months started this blog- Family Soul Story - Our faith, family, farm and now our cancer journey called HEALING have colored and deepened our world. WE continue to share and depend on the support of our prayer warrior community, that has lowered us into the Lord's presence for His healing!
My father with our oldest, Ruth, at CCC (Cross Christmas Camp) this last December. Today is a huge feast day for my father and our entire family as it is the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola (1556).
I being the oldest of 11 and our family reaching around 140 now with a new life joining us today! My sister Mary's daughter Audrey having her baby girl today, and 3 more coming in the next months, too! My dad was on an Ignatian retreat the summer of 1971, and was reading Isaiah 55:1-2..
Isaiah 55:1-21"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Mom and dad in their prayer space... St John of the cross and Gospel looking on and on the coffee table just a bit out of the picture sits an icon of St Ignatius of Loyola, who developed the Spiritual Exercises, a silent retreat my parents were on when the Holy Spirit told my dad to come into the Church with his family of 13! He was a Protestant minister at the time! https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html
How I love to share the office with my parents! My father not only left the Protestant ministry, but became a Permanent Deacon with the first class in the Archdiocese in Minneapolis/St Paul! As a deacon he does morning and evening prayer of The Church as do priests and religious.
I wish I knew the exact date of my father's conversion on the retreat at the Cenacle Convent in Wayzata, but it was summer 48 years ago, and I was in a Christian Commune in Colorado thinking about being a nun at that same time. My mother had a devotion to Mary, so for her this was an answer to prayer. Where can you find a home if you have a love for the Mother of heaven and earth? The True Church!
My father is still a preacher and teacher of the Faith! He is now 94, but brims with wisdom and love for Jesus, Mary and His Bride, The Church!
I love to sit across from him, at his feet, and have him teach me and share with me his pearls of wisdom! I am eternally grateful with each new day filled with more than I can ever fully take in - swimming in an ocean of Truth through The Church! For my father to act on the Holy Spirit's direction here... my whole life became alive with LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!
Dad meeting Leo last year... in a few days he will be meeting our 2 grandsons, George and Jude! We are celebrating our parents' 70 anniversary, mom's 90th birthday, and I am adding our 48 years of being Catholic, which to me is the most precious pearl of great price indeed!
I think that you are gathering what the Gospel is today... Matthew 13... Jesus said to his disciples: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."
I find in The Church the Kingdom here on earth! How I am wanting to sell all and live there always and forever!
Another new member of our huge family - John's bride, Bobbi, and then they welcomed their new son, Jude, at the end of March!
I am super excited for mom and dad to meet Jude for the first time in a few days. I am praying without ceasing for nice weather and my parents to be healthy and happy to join our huge family celebration just a few blocks from their home!
How I cherish each time I can spend with my parents still together in their own home together. Talk about a small slice of the Kingdom of heaven to be able to have relaxing peaceful times with them! I am so grateful to my husband for allowing me to travel the 4 hours and spend days with them!
Mom and my sister, Paula, who is their medical help through these rough late years of life!
Their home filled with LIGHT of many icons including our huge St Ignatius, whom we pray to today for all those in our huge family that have left or are distant to The True Church!
Praying for The Family is what we know and depend on in this journey of Faith and Family!
LOVE sharing with mom with her dementia each visit like the old times covering so many topics from our family is most precious gift to me!
The Statues gifted to my parents when they left Manistique, MI where my dad last was active as a deacon! He married us, baptized our kids and even preached at the kids' weddings! Evangelizing the True Faith!
The relic of Blessed Solanus Casey, which was brought to John for prayer in the aisle of the Church here in Marshall during the 8a mass 10 years ago! He is huge for us in thanksgiving for John's healing and his feast day was yesterday. St Ignatius and Blessed Solanus, Pray for us and help us on this journey as you already have! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Today this sweet girl is having her second daugther! Many prayers for her! She is here with her dad and daughter a few months back. Her mother was my sister, Mary, who died 33 years ago of lymphoma. I know that Mary is with Audrey and her new granddaughter today! Bless-bless, Barb
A day late, but still big in our hearts! On the Feast of Blessed Solanus Casey we ask you to pray for his Canonization. O God, I adore You. I give myself to You. May I be the person You want me to be, and May Your will be done in my life today.
I thank You for the gifts You gave Father Solanus. If it is Your Will, bless us with the Canonization of Father Solanus so that others may imitate and carry on his love for all the poor and suffering of our world.
As he joyfully accepted Your divine plans, I ask You, according to Your Will, to hear my prayer for… (your intention) through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Blessed be God in all His Designs.”
Blessed Solanus Casey, pray for us!
Thank you, Blessed Solanus and Our Lady of Lourdes and prayer warriors and... John is cancer free for 10 years!
Danielle Rose - The Saint that is just me
Another one who loves The Church... she writes her music in front of the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration!
A prayer by St Ignatius from the Meditation of the Day Eternal Lord of all things. I make my offering, with your favor and help. I make it in the presence of your Infinite Goodness, and your glorious Mother, and all the holy men and women in your heavenly court. I wish and desire, and it is my deliberate decision, provided only that it is for your greater service and praise, to imitate you in bearing all injuries and affronts, and any poverty, actual as well are spiritual, if your Most Holy Majesty desires to choose and receive me into such a life and state. Amen St Ignatius of Loyola (1556)
I loved finding some great pictures from a month ago on Maria's blog this morning! How we were blessed with meeting the newest members including her son, Hector, for the first time!
Holding our youngest baby boy, Jude, who is 4 months now. Maria was in John's wedding a year before and now both Maria and John have new baby boys! She spoke about how much she loved to meet their growing family, and so we are all filled with wonder and awe at the hand of the Lord in answering heartfelt prayers by John and Bobbi to find a Catholic spouse, but also to give them a family. The Lord is good and his kindness to a thousand generations as he promised Moses in Exodus today!
Maria with her Goddaughter, Mary Angela, spending some face to face time sharing is the best!
Mary had a powerful experience at Beloved girls camp at Schoenstatt last week!! Today Simon goes for the boys camp called "Greatness", grandma will be praying for him to see God in the column of cloud at the door of the tent. I was very impressed in the first reading where all the people stood at the door of their tents in recognition of the presence of God in the column of cloud that covered the entrance to the meeting tent after Moses entered and spoke with God face to face... We too recognize the presence of the Lord in His Word and in the Body and Blood of the Eucharist. Is there any more powerful times as when we see him present in the tabernacle or in the monstrance in Adoration? He is present and in our inner chapel we speak to Him face to face!
Her arms around Godson, Dominic Patrick!
Another place where we can gaze into the unconditional eyes and heart of our God - Moses stood there with the LORD and proclaimed his name, "LORD." Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out, "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, continuing his kindness for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin;..." Exodus 34 Yes, we can enter the confessional and lay our sins and burdens before our Lord and His words come to us from the priest telling us that we are forgiven and to go in peace to love and serve the Lord! My Most Cherished Cross getting to know Hector and make him smile and laugh! There can be no pricetag given to family time, and we strive to make it happen even when it is a challenge - like traveling 2 days one way! Pat has fake plans to try to get out there with grandkids in tow before school starts. Time will tell and we depend upon Mother Nature, too! Love to see this! The 18 eating our homemade tomato soup. Ruth got her first tomato already so before we know it we will be making first spaghetti sauce, and then tomato soup to feed our 7 families!
Hector yesterday... he is now 4 1/2 months old... finding his hands! Pondering and praying showing that he will be a thoughtful man of God!
George is a month older and starting to look for food. Berna feeding him mashed bananas. Not sure if much is getting in his mouth...
Jude is the youngest at 4 months and has found his toes...
Also rolls from front to back and back to front and plays with toys. Hopefully the three boys can get together for Christmas somehow and by then they will probably be crawling in three different directions. One thing for sure, if we can keep them side by side... they should be sitting up together. A grandma can dream!
You can tell that sweetcorn time is late this year with all the pictures coming up on my memories. This one from 4 years ago in my old kitchen on the farm is especially poignant. What a difference 4 years makes with the crazy late spring and summer, but also to know that this is now Ruth and Paul's bedroom and bathroom! Also John now is a husband and father! Hector started with one finger a month ago and now it is his entire fist! He sure is a wonderful sweet boy as are his cousins. We thank the Lord with each new day for our "3 healthy happy grandsons."
Nancy's deck in Delano with the table which Ruth and I both have ready for meals outside. We are excited to see it first hand this weekend when we are there for an overnight and Pat seeing their new home for the first time, and the next day sharing mass with them in their new parish. Then we will be heading up to St Croix Falls, WI for my parents party celebrating mom and dad's 70th wedding anniversary and mom's 90th birthday! They will be meeting our two grandsons, Jude and George for the first time!
The Bandzuches are getting to know their area with gusto! They went to the county fair last weekend and Berna got close to this cutie. They are 2nd hand farmkids, so 4H could be in their future. My dear mother posing with Maria - a pretty good one indeed! I was so happy that Maria stopped in to see mom as she traveled from Wisconsin time with Joe's parents to come down to the farm! Love this of my mom with the 6 and she did meet Hector, too!!! Dad was in the hospital at this time, but he told me that he had bought ice cream sandwiches for the great-grands in case they stopped in. They did! My brother Dan's wife... our amazing Aunt Angela put up Maria's bunch and fed them! She sewed Maria's wedding dress and is always there for us and any of our kids! How we love her beautiful home and hospitality! She is beyond amazing! Another reminder of how much we are loved and need to return that love to all... Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. R. The Lord is kind and merciful. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Psalm 103 from mass today.
Holding a kid bouquet - even Hector is happy to be with Aunt Angela/Chacha!
Lord, how we are loved by you and forgiven of our sins and weaknesses if only we give them all to you. Why do we think that we want to hide them from you, when you know them already? You are there with your arms wide to hold us close to your heart burning with love for us. Jesus, may we die to self so that you may live and breath and touch those in our lives with the same love we have been given. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Love this so much as Hallel is sharing in our lives more now that she lives in KC for the last couple years! We were blessed with living with them while we visited and shared in cooking, washing dishes and drying them... eating with The Community and how can that be silent with 9 kids? Not!
In a year I am fake planning for a home visit to the farm for Little Sister Hallel and the family all around her! Family sharing Faith on the Farm - my small slice of heaven! Bless-bless, Barb with my domestic Church/family here and in heaven!
The big table with The Community of the Lamb - always welcoming and room for more!
Casting Crowns - the East to the West
Danielle Rose - If I touch him
Peter Mayer - Holy Now
I followed my mother-in-law's advice and took a pail and knife to the garden.. it should have been 2 pails and I ended up putting the overflow of beans in my smock pocket...
What is that strange round thing?
It was growing on a cucumber vine, but...
It had the shape of a pepper, and about a foot away was a jalapeno plant. Could it be? A cross of a cucumber and a jalapeno? Yes! It is sweet and juicy cucumber with a bit of heat from the jalapeno... Yummy!
A mother nature curve ball that is kind of special indeed!
Pat and I sitting at the foot of the Cross on the hill in the Green Cathedral a year ago watching Hallel take her final vows. I am going back there today as it can never be shared too much!
Hauling bales is the name of the game these days. The rain yesterday allowed us to hold off for a day, but with the sun out today haying is on our minds.
With August just days away... I am strongly reminded of our excitement and anxiety building a year ago with haying, county fair and the day after the fair... off to France for Hallel's final vows! The mountain of 18 of us including our 4 married children with spouses, and 8 of our grandchildren with 3 additional in the womb! Also 2 of my brothers and a sister-in-law made the huge effort to share in this most amazing time for Hallel!
Announcing the our parish community of this huge moment for our family as our Little Sister Hallel/Susan promised to be a spouse of Christ unto death.
Once we were on our way... we could relax a bit and trusting in Jesus allowed us to move the mountain to France. That passage in the Gospels about having the faith to move mountains just came to life for me.
Our first morning in France in Fanjeaux… a quaint medieval town and a memorable stay in a very old house there in the midst of their summer festival which would begin each night about when we were going to bed and last into the wee hours of each morning with rock music and a food truck which served "The American" - a loaf of French bread with a long large hamburger and topped with mayo and French fries! Grandpa would buy one lots of nights to share with the grandkids. Only warm loving feelings of our days in Fanjeaux!
When in France and your names are Bernadette and Mary French braids are in order and how grandma loves doing girls' hair!
The huge window overlooking the tile rooves of our ancient village Fanjeaux! We were told later that the weather predicted rain, but the prayers of the Community brought us mild warm sun to light our day celebrating with Hallel!
The 20 on the hillside of the Green Cathedral with to roof of branches of the trees, icons in the trees, and stain glass made by the sunlight through the leaves and branches!
Big Dave and Augustine frame the Community gathered around Hallel and the 9 others speaking this vow to their spouse - "I promise unto death." With my own anniversary of my Sacrament of Holy Matrimony just days away... I am reminded that this too is my promise to my Lord and my spouse, Patrick.
The first reading from I John 4 today for the Feast of St Martha - Happy Feast day to my sister today, Martha/Marty! Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God...Beloved if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another , God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us... God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
The 10 Virgins with their lamps lit!
Yes, love is hard and demanding and we fail constantly, but for Pat and I we have found help to include Our Lord by starting the day with morning prayer in the Magnificat and sharing the readings for each day beginning the night before.
Our feast after Hallel's vows... all I could do was look around and take it all in that all of my children could be here to experience the life of Hallel with her Dominican offshoot... Community of the Lamb!
Dappled sunlight as the trees around give some shade on our meal. Hallel aglow with her Lamb which signifies her final "Yes!" to Jesus and pledging her undying love to him to her death and entering of eternal LIFE!
John 11 today from the Gospel of Martha and Jesus speaking about our Faith and Eternal LIFE for which we all strive and yearn! Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” John 11
Even without knowing that Jesus meant to raise Lazarus for more time here on earth... for most of us these words are so powerful and how we cling to them for our own salvation and longing with our entire heart, soul and mind for that promise of our living with Jesus, Mary and all the Saints in heaven forever! Lord, how we cling to your promise of eternal LIFE!
The sight that filled me with so much JOY! Hallel with a sister on both sides experiencing her beautiful humble life in France!
The table of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT served with love filled with me with so much thanksgiving to the highest heavens. Thank you, grandma Anne, for making a way for all of us to be there for Hallel on this her wedding day. We know that you were with us in Spirit and in Truth!
LOVE to relive the smiles and JOY!
It is the first part of "Hallelujah" and means that Hallel - (Judaism) a chant of praise (Psalms 113 through 118) The Hallel Psalms also include Psalm 145- 150 and are filled with Praise to God - "Every time someone says my name they are giving all the praise to God!"
The tweenage girls were deeply touched by this time!
The dessert parade of youth with flowers, streamers, fruit and French pasties reminded us of this most special occasion and that we were sitting in the foothills of the Pyranees in Southern France with The Community of the Lamb!
Pat and I later in the week after sharing Adoration with The Community... I can't get over how much we have changed from that awful picture in the airport as we were leaving. It seems that the Face of God has shown upon us, and so it was true!
Pat holding Hallel's Lamb with the circle it was cut from and given to her parents - Pat and I..."Wounded, I will not cease to love." the motto of the Community and of the spotless Lamb, which was sacrificed for us. He than asks us to follow his example! So hard to do, but the only way we can truly live out those vows to our spouse. "I promise unto death."
Those huge hard working hands!!! They can be gentle and loving towards me over these 41 years and the way I love them most... when they are lovingly cradling the babies - ours and now our children's! He is my champion for LIFE and family!
The sunflower fields that surrounded us... I fell on some thorns getting to them, but still did the selfie blood and all!
With our centerpoint, Hallel , we were 19 of the 29 we now are... of course, I need to add the 3 in the womb and hence there are truly 22 of the 29 here! LIFE is real and no matter how small we love all LIFE from conception to natural death!
Jesus, how you shared the Truth of Everlasting LIFE with St Martha in your Gospel of Truth today! How we hold onto the LOVE we are given and although we are wounded often usually by those the closest to us... we need to never cease to return that pain and hurt with unconditional LOVE which we have first received from you. We cannot do this on our own! May we die to self so that your Holy Spirit may be alive in us and fill us with that ability to LOVE no matter the cost. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
The church next door to our ancient house in Fanjeaux - it's construction started before Columbus discovered America! In awe!!! Bless-bless, Barb
Mary modeling our place in Fanjeaux - the partyers were right outside that window while Pat and I tried to sleep - we could not understand the French, but the laughter of boys and girls we could understand as they strolled around town at all hours of the night. It added our amazing adventure and I slept surprisingly well!
Heading out to the garden with "Hail Marys" as my companion.
John had been to France 2 times before, and a huge part of his healing from brain cancer is all tied into those trips including time with Our Lady of Lourdes!
This time he brought his wife and son in the womb!!! Only married 2 1/2months a year ago! Hallel had not been able to attend their wedding, but they went down to see her just a few weeks later and shortly before she left from KC to France!
Our 5 kids with their spouses... Jesus is there with Hallel! The best!!! " I promise unto death!" is true for all of us!
Danielle Rose - Pursue me
Danielle Rose - Nothing Compares to you
Danielle Rose - True love/the Most Cherished Cross
