Thoughts of the Inland sea/storms of life within and giving the control to Jesus

 Mary and Joseph sandwich about 4 years ago.

 Nancy and Maria's kids together in Missouri about 4 years ago.  Nancy was living in KC and Maria in Fort Leonardwood. 

A very twisty turny up and down trip from one place to the other.  Maria has added two since as has Nancy.  And both have moved also - Nancy now lives by the Twin Cities in MN.

My sister, Mary, and I on the beach of Lake Michigan almost 50 years ago!  Growing up in Flint, MI til I graduated high school in 1969, we would spend much of our summers at the lake.  Getting the huge family out of the inner city for the summers.

 The end of June and the first week of July were my weeks in Michigan, and we are finding our thoughts going there with the reminders of my sister, Mary's death on the 3rd of July coming up in a few days.
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html

Sugar sand and water so clear that you can stand with water to your shoulders and see your toes!  How I miss my time there.  We were blessed with time there since my parents built a vacation home/retirement home in 1997.  Up until 3 years ago when we sold our cabin in Manistique,MI.

My wonderful parents 4 years ago.  They were together in their Assisted living up until March 16th when mom died quickly with a fall in the morning and then passed away by 5p.  They had celebrated their 70th anniversary on August 30th!

The big lake at our Manistique cabin.  We just got word that the sand is washed away again and the beach is totally rocks!

 The path to the lake - my brother hauled sand to make it soft sugar sand underfoot!

 Long for this and miss it terribly!

Now I have many places to visit and Michigan is a place of the past.  Rose and I had fake plans to go to Michigan for a visit this summer, but the Lord intervened with a more important job of caring for my father on hospice in my home.  There are times when that gets to be stormy, and we are tossed by the waves, but we give control over to Jesus!

As he says to us in the Gospel today - He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

Matthew 8

 Loved to put my feet in the water as the waves lapped the shore.  Usually I would be watercoloring to capture my time!  We were surprised for our last few years there with a sand beach!  But we are informed that now the the beach is gone and the rocks are what is left.

It is quite something to see the forces of nature at work - totally changing the landscape from one year to the next.

 Such a wonderful peaceful beautiful family time shared here.  Now all I long for is that my family could gather here together for a week this summer. 

I am planted here with my father living with me, and he is on hospice and we are not getting out much.  It takes so much out of him to leave the house for anything, so people need to come to us.

 Rose and the lake 6 years ago...

LOVE the sweet smile and that Rose Again and I now share a love for Michigan after she grew up going there in the summer much like I did.  That big inland sea gets into your blood.  Those small mud puddles of lakes in Minnesota just don't cut it, right Rose?

 Walking out to the lighthouse was our way of saying goodbye to our time in Michigan!  Rose was just starting to walk holding onto mom and dad's fingers!

 Time on the beach with grandpa Pat, who would get away from the farm for some days with the family on the inland sea, Lake Michigan!  Precious - baby Berna is just about 6 months old

 Wouldn't that cool lake feel wonderful during this horrible humidity?  Yes!

 This is how the beach looks now we are told. 

The sand comes and goes, but the rocks are there whether they are visible or not. 

Lord, we look to you to guide and direct us according to your will.  May we die to self so that you may be in control of our lives and we may serve without counting the cost.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara

Dad in his "Church chair" praying for the 140+/St Peter and St Paul pillars of The Church!

 A few short months before mother died in a day... she was no longer able to join dad and I for going out to mass.  Father would wear the pix around his neck and have Fr fill it when he went forth for Eucharist.

Dad would then sit in his chair in their Assisted Living home and read the Gospel to mother and then lovingly place Jesus on her tongue!  Sharing profound LOVE for Jesus and his Bride, The Church, with his wife of 70+ years!

 "The Body of Christ dear wife of mine."

This morning dad and I shared with deep faith the beautiful Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul today!  How I love to share in my father's ordination as a Permanent Deacon in The Catholic Church!  I, who discerned a call to be a nun which led me to proclaim with excitement and Truth that "I want to be a nun, so yes I want to be Catholic."  When my parents asked me 49 years ago if I would join them in coming into The Church!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html

 Jesus in his hand as he prays for he and mother a few months back.  Mom has been gone now for 3 1/2 months, and today as we ended our prayer we knew her more perfect prayers were joining ours from heaven!

Dad in his "Church chair" which he called it this morning as we went there to continue our prayers for our family - now 140+!  He accidentally called it that, but I thought it was very much true as we spend time together praying for each by first and middle names on down the list - yes, it takes us about half an hour, but dad will not miss his Monday lifting up of each one!

 To see them deep in reverent LOVE for Jesus in the humble form of bread - "I am the bread of LIFE!"

 Another time that dad ministered to mother on a Sunday.  Dad is now to weak to get out to mass after a few weeks of joining us.  Now my Eucharistic minister brings Jesus to my father!

 Mother deeply loved Jesus and His Bride, The Church!  How dad and I find comfort in knowing that her faith has not shaken and she is now dwelling in heaven and adding her prayer power, made more perfect by living in LIGHT and Truth, is uniting with ours.

Day and after day she is with us on this journey called dad on hospice and walking into the sunset of his life without mother physically here with him, but definitely more perfectly with him in Spirit and in Truth!

 Pat in the occasion of Birdie's entering our family as #30 bringing Jesus to my father about 6 weeks ago now.

 Dad in his Church chair now on the receiving end in such a short time.  We take one day at a time around here, and are so grateful for hospice helping us on this narrow path journey as we carry/drag our Most Cherished Cross and follow Jesus!

Today we read about St Peters and St Paul and how they followed Jesus in LIFE and in death to LIFE eternal!
St Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4
"I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance..."

As dad and I read morning prayer in the prayer of The Church, I felt that this antiphon was very true of my wonderful holy humble prayerful father..."God’s grace in me has not been without fruit; it is always at work in me."   When I consider how his listening to The Holy Spirit has led me to The Church is foremost for me, but also how he supports that with prayer for his family even from his Church chair now at 95 years old and on hospice!

 Receiving his LOVE/LIFE/LIGHT/Jesus with Luke and Joy looking on!  How we are very serious about sharing our Faith as a domestic Church/family with all 30 and always room for more!  Sharing our Faith with JOY!

 Dr Pol and my parents statues of Mary and Joseph a few months back.  No longer is this there home, and now my father lives with me on the farm!  We are into our 11th week, and we take one day at a time.  Seeing this makes me sad that we could not share with them more time together here, but the pandemic and mom's fall and dad's health and doors closing and opening ended this 6 month home for them!

 Dr Pol made mom smile, and that filled me with so much peace and happiness that she had a friend to share her love of Michigan and animals - most especially big dogs with!

 The Statues are now with father watching over his "church chair" in his room in my home on the farm!  Mary using dad's Twins mask as a shield in this crazy time we find ourselves.  Joining us in prayer for his family with "hedges of protection" placed around each one - all 140+!

 First and middle names in deep prayer as he places them in the arms of Mary and Jesus and Joseph and Blessed Solanus Casey, St Ignatius. St John, St Peter and St Paul and on and on!

Today in the Gospel our Church is begun with the Faith of St Peter!
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16

Dad reports to me that mom, with her dementia over these last years, would ask him where this verse would be found... Matthew 16!  She knew that the Church would never fail or be lost as "Jesus will not allow His Church to sink!  He will not abandon his Church!" Mother, who is now in heaven helping Pope Francis.

As dad and I prayed this dark morning with threat of rain.

Accolades to his fatherhood - how we all depend upon his prayers for us!  Today he personally prayed for the evangelization I attempt at this blog, and that was a gift to me!  Also my daughters work in sharing the True Faith.  Thank you, dad, we have it all to owe to you!
catholic sprouts

Coffee, breakfast, St Peter and St Paul, Prayer of The Church!  Nothing more wonderful under the sun or the clouds!  The prayer shawl is truly that!

Out on the porch yesterday sharing the Glorious Mysteries under the afghan Ruth made for them in Michigan years ago... now it covers him while we look out over the prairie Panorama before us!

Pat answering dad's questions about farming and sharing an ice cream bar.  LOVE!

My Most Cherished Cross administering Jesus to my father!

Food for the journey - today it is shared all over the world as we have The Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul - A huge Holiday in The Church!!  How we rejoice and PRAY without ceasing!

Jesus and Mary, the Mother of God, we are filled with JOY as we are blessed with sharing The Truth, the Way and the LIFE! Your Church is such a gift to us with each new day.  I am so grateful to share this time of religious life with my King of our family, my dad!  Bless us with your Truth and give us answers to our many prayers lifted up to you for our huge family.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Going to mass in his Church chair yesterday!  Bless-bless, Barbara

Danielle Rose - True love
The Cross

Danielle Rose - Small things with great love

Danielle Rose - the Saint that is just me

Dying to self so that Christ may live in us/Farm family back!/Dad does mass at home

 I think I love my husband the most on Sundays!!!  Bringing Jesus to my father, who is too weak to make it out to mass after a fall last week.

I love how my big hunky farmer loves The Church so much that he wanted to show it by becoming an Eucharistic minister years back after making a number of TEC retreats and wanting to put his Faith into practice.  We also started praying together morning and night with The Magnificat which has also the readings for mass each day.  We adopted the practice of our Little Sister Hallel's Community of the Lamb of beginning the night before reading the Gospel for the next day!  The excitement builds in anticipation - what will it be?  Always a blessing!

 Another beautiful sight is my big strong husband holding and kissing and caring for his grandchildren during mass.  They are so good for him as he holds them in his huge hands and arms.  My heart swells with love as I ponder how he has led our family in the Truth of being open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

 Jude is 15 months old now, and smiled at grandma and grandpa when we came into mass this morning.  He was peaceful and content with his grandpa Patrick.

Pat has always wanted to share mass as a family even with a newborn.  We never went to mass in shifts, but would go as a family and share our worship with JOY!  Never complaining about this or that, but always supportive and encouraging to his kids and wife.

Baby Birdie found a good resting place in grandpa's huge arm for part of mass.  Sitting together as a family makes him so happy!  Sharing our Faith as a family is our greatest JOY!  

Birdie is 7 weeks old and her baptism was about 4 weeks ago now... the second reading brought to me so powerfully about how we are to embrace that Baptism into The Church and are asked to allow that change to change us into True followers of Jesus by dying to self so that he may live in us!

Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life.

If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.  Romans 6

 How does a little one like Birdie follow her Jesus?  By having parents that share their faith with JOY and bring her to the Sacraments as they have done in her Baptism at age 3 weeks! By worshiping each week as a family - "The have tos and the want tos."  Pat will describe those that are back at mass - we are the want tos!!!!  This is our greatest JOY of sharing our Faith as a family!  No reservations we love all that Jesus and his Mother and His Bride, The Church asks of us!

 The farm family back to worship with us at 8a mass even though they didn't arrive to their own beds at 12 midnight.  That is being devoted to Faith and Family!  How we love to worship together especially after we had that time away due to the pandemic!

 3 year old Joy back from their 10 days away filled with family time and adventures!

 Yesterday at Mount Rushmore on the journey back from Washington...

 My father is weak and we decided that the effort of going out to mass was more than he can manage now...  Our porch breakfast is now here at my porch as we needed to get back here for my father's needs. 

Birdie comes to say "hello great grandpa!"  It was cute to see Joy and Luke come in and excited to see my father.  He has become a familiar resident of our farm home.  I am grateful for the time we have had together and for him to know my kids and grandkids as much as he does now.  It is also great that he has his own space and can find his chair and peace and quiet away from our craziness.  He has been here for 10 pretty good weeks with the amazing help for any needs from hospice and The Veterans Hospitals!

 Sharing the JOY of family after sharing time with Jesus in His Bride, The Church!

 We got to see vacation pictures and then Ruth left with kids to spend some time with Nancy while she returned their rental car in the Cities.

 The most beautiful center piece was Birdie in our infant seat!  She loved to look around and kick and move her arms, and we loved to have her peaceful and content and taking in all the smiling faces around her!  How we love our Sunday porch gatherings after receiving Jesus, which we missed so much those months of distancing and staying at home.

 It was wonderful when dad was well enough to join us at mass, but we are in a different place now and that works out too!  Dad watched mass on EWTN and Pat gave him The Eucharist just as those on the TV were coming forward.  Perfect timing is the Lord's!

"The Body of Christ!"

 Soon we will do our rosary and chaplet at 3p... Mary is our companion through our journey called dad on hospice and walking into the sunset of his life with the help of mom's more perfect prayers from heaven.  LOVE it!

 Gifts in the mail from a relative that works for The Twins!  Hubby and dad are getting excited for the season to finally start!

 Thumbs up!

 Out laws

 Oh the mask pictures that are shared these days.  Kind of a crazy time in this world!

Birdie has never worn a mask and that is saying something!

Jesus, we long to be totally yours and that you may live in us and use us as your hands and feet!  Your Word today in the Gospel says is all!!!
 whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  Matthew 10
Yes!  We want to give without counting the cost as we are filled with your Holy Spirit and it has made us anew!  Ready to die to self and allow you to work in us!  Jesus, we trust in you.  May we also -  whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because the little one is a disciple—
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

Lord, how we long to share our Faith with JOY with the little ones we have been given - raising LIGHTS for the world!  Bless-bless, Barbara

My grandson, Patrick, whom I baptized in NICU after being born dead and brought back to life!  Miracle of so many prayers!  A LIGHT In this world indeed!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-story-of-little-lamb-grandson.html

How I love this!!!

More priests .... on the way!

Danielle Rose - See you in the Eucharist 

Danielle Rose - Nothing compares to you

O God beyond all praising