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!
No one has ever seen God except in LOVE!/Also LIGHT and LIFE = all in Jesus, Mary, The Church
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
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