Watching me mow/Day at a time/Forgiveness of others and self/Ruth has 11/Mary my Mother!

 Ruth with some of the 11 kids that are under her care...Nancy and Bill are off for 4 days to Texas getting things lined up for her new venture in Evangelization or "converting the world" as Maria says about her ministry - https://catholicsprouts.com/

She is a finalist with Our Sunday Visitor with her family ministry - Domestic Church.  They are meeting with a video company for the next few days.

 George getting too much attention from sister, Josephine, who is 4 and her cousin, Joy, who is now 3.

 For a more peaceful place to sleep - George came home with grandma and great-grandpa and grandpa much later to sleep the night. 

Ruth reported that there would be 4 girls in the little girls' room and 4 in the boys room unless David slept on the couch.  I am sure on this beautiful day they are scattered around the farm outside.  I just talked to Pat and they are moving cows.

 Time out on the porch with books on a lovely evening on the farm.

Dad and I sit out here on our comfy couches and watch the clouds sail by as we share the rosary and chaplet at 3p every afternoon.  Dad agrees that being able to see so much of the sky is similar to being on the big lake here on the prairie when you can see in all directions without hills or valleys or trees all around you. 

 He didn't sit for very long to allow me to read books, but got distracted by the kitty, who kept his distance from a rough and tumble boy.

Great-grandpa watching Dr Pol, and George playing with his "brumm-brumm."

Dad is finding it more and more difficult to get comfortable due to the pain in his back.  We are trying all that we can think of and have a face to face meeting with our hospice doctor tomorrow at 1p.  My brother will be here to join in, and I am very excited and happy to have him here.  I am feeling a bit worried at this point as I see changes in my dad.

 A sight which signifies a real change for dad... resting on his bed during the day.  He has discovered that the pain in less when he lays down.  So we are thinking a hospital bed might come next. 

 George and the kitty along with my dad makes the evening a bit busy.  But in a good way!!  Dad and I missed evening prayer last night, because I took supper over for the huge gathering at Ruth's, and brought George back with me. 

We were able to pray together this morning - Morning prayer of The Church!  The JOY wells up in my heart, mind and soul!  The Feast today is one of the Apostles - St Barnabas!  Almost Barbara...

 I had my hour with Jesus at 4a this morning!  LOVE Our Lady at the foot of the Cross and under her Son!  How she is with me through my hour of Adoration as well as through my day of prayer without ceasing. 

Just in from the mower and I have "Hail Marys" always with me especially on the steep hills of the ditch - white knuckle time!

 Jesus in the tabernacle and the monstrance as I place our families individually in the monstrance with Jesus!  Over 250 including those that have died from our families and my 7 in heaven/losses.

 My most favorite statue of Mary- Immaculate Conception - always there for me in the chapel in the Catholic School since I married Pat 42 years ago in August! 

Each day we ask St Michael to cast into Hell, Satan and all evil spirits who prowl throughout the earth seeking the ruin of souls - Mary also is crushing the serpent/Satan under her heel.  It reminds me of 5 year old Dominic saying about St Michael - "Why didn't he just take his sword and kill him?"  Yes!  Mary is doing that for real!!!!

 Two stations that bring us to view Jesus with his Mother - What comfort and strength she must have given him to take his cross and proceed to die for us!

Dad's pain is in his left shoulder - Carrying his cross!

 Touching her Son with so much love! 

A new thing I am trying for my father, and it does give him some relief is Fast Freeze - a gel that I rub on his left shoulder and back.  I lay hands lovingly on my father often now, and to know that it is helping is an answer to our many prayers!

 After she stood and watched her Son of God suffer and die on the Cross - she held his dead body, wept and mourned and trusted...

 "Holy Mary, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death."

Ruth called to remind my mother on her death bed that she had prayed this innumerable times in prayer and now Mary was holding her in her arms and bringing her to her Son!

 Sunset picture of belly high grass with cows at sunset... a picture of peace and contentment. 

Dad does appreciate being in the peace and beauty of our prairie farm, and that gives me some happiness to have shared that with him for 8 weeks today!

 Grass in front of the barn is almost up to my shoulders!

Dad sat out in the porch in the sun for a while this morning.  I entertained him by mowing the lawn so that he could watch me.  Our TV took a hit with the storm, so we are down to Dr Pol, which dad does enjoy but not for the next few weeks!

Mowing on a beautiful day so dad can watch and getting everything nice for my brother to come and share some time with us.

The Gospel today is of forgiveness... Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5
I know that if we hold grudges and don't forgive that it hurts us more than the person we are angry at.  But the forgiveness I am struggling with right now is some things that I overlooked in the comfort of my dad, and it is hard to forgive myself for these oversights.  What is done is done, but it still makes me question why I didn't realize his TV should have been on eye level not on a dresser for instance...  Sigh.  As soon as I realized this was not a good thing... I put it down, but...

Jesus, how we struggle to love and serve you and one another without counting the cost.  I am weak and poor and am nothing without you.  May we die to self so that you may live in us and knowing that you have unconditionally loved and forgiven us - may we return that to those around us - most especially those the closest to us in our domestic Church/family.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

 This is the wind beneath my wings!  Seeing my father meeting and sharing with my domestic Church/family!  The King of our Cross Clan and the reason that every day in The Church for the last 49 years has been such a total gift - every single day!!!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html

 Now to share that with my Deacon Father for morning and evening prayer and rosary and chaplet - nothing can make me more happy and filled with utter JOY and gratitude!  Thank you, Jesus!  Bless-bless, Barbara

I am the lucky one to have this special time with my father sharing my home and my LIFE!  Faith/Family/Farm!

Danielle Rose -  Nothing compares to you

Danielle Rose - Give and Take

Hillary Scott - Thy will be done

O God beyond all praising