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!
4 1/2 hours from when I left this morning and returned this afternoon! Dad and I had a procedure in Sioux Falls and all went smoothly except for my father being under the weather in his stomach. We are hugely relieved to be back home!
Right behind us were Ruth and Joy to do the egg hunt! They found them in the wall of my barn! It's fun when you find them, but frustrating when they disappear in plain sight!
The egg mystery is answered for today, but tomorrow they will probably lay them somewhere else. We have plans to coop them up with a net so that they have to use the chicken house to lay their eggs, and make our egg hunt easier.
Ruth sure loves her little sidekick Joy sharing their work. Today they worked in the garden cleaning out old sunflowers, basil and Joy is learning from her mother to love all things farming!
A chicken that they can pet.
Joy's turn to pet the chicken. This reminds me of chicklet, a small red chicken that was Ruth's pet when she was about Joy's age! Now to see her with her little girl, so much like her in how she loves her life on the farm... nothing better!
Dad and I had to go for our every 2 month trip to Sioux Falls today. It was reassuring and special to look into the atrium and see the Sacred Heart of Jesus with the wall of ivy behind... reminding us that we are in one of those great Catholic hospitals that minister to those in need and uphold the values of LIFE of The Church!
Dad waiting outside radiology...
As we traveled for an hour and a half through farm country it kind of is amazing to know that my father is here! My parents lived in Colman, SD for 3 years so they did know this part of the country from that time. Dad had prophecied that he would come and live with me if anything happened to mother. She died in a day on March 16th and on April 16th dad moved here to the farm! Still seems crazy when we pass through Pipestone second hand store where they got the bedroom set that they had in Michigan and was left there for the new owners!
The duo of Barb and dad... and Jesus loving us with his Sacred Heart brimming with love for us in our weakness, illness and need!
It was a quick turn around and we were back on our way home! It was a beautiful day indeed with the fall colors, ripe golden fields, bean mountains at all the elevators along the way, white puffy clouds in the blue sky, and my rosary in hand and for the last half hour Christian music playing to make my heart, mind and soul soar as I lifted up my children and their families, husband, Godchildren, Pat's family and my family and our beloved Church! My chapel on wheels is my JOY!
Dad trying to rest with the golden corn fields flying by.
The Gospel today is Jesus talking to us about how we are to leave all behind to follow Him! The part of about putting your hand to the plow especially spoke to me as we are in the midst of our fall harvest with my hardworking husband, son-in-law, brother-in-law and family members! It also speaks to me of this commitment I have made to my father to be here for his final journey in this world as he walks into the sunset of his life with the help of hospice and me. There is no turning back and I am to take one day at a time with him as we do our work of prayer with each new day!
As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
A memory from 5 years ago when John was a Youth minister at a neighboring Catholic Church... How he has always loved his family around him to support all that he has done! Continuing to pray for the plan the Lord has for him to be revealed. Jesus, we trust in you. Bless-bless, Barbara
Me and my namesake on Sunday - Birdie Barbara is soon to be 5 months already!Wow! I just heard this for the first time in my chapel on wheels! Wonderful!
Family making our night brighter with wonderful food and conversation! Even my husband was able to get away from harvest to join in, and we had mom in a place of honor with her wonderful picture taken just 2 weeks before her quick passing in just 10 hours.
Each day she joins us in prayer and today was no different! We had a special intention for a member of our family this morning, and candle lit and Mary and Jesus and Mom all there with us in our prayer work!
Today the first reading is the book of Job! We start with this wonderful man of Faith and his blessings that are suddenly taken from him as a test of his love for God. Even his house full of children are killed when the walls of the house they are gathered in falls on them! His amazing response!
“Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!”
In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God. Job 1:22
August 30th, 2019 was mom and dad's 70th wedding anniversary and we were in the midst of doing our 4 person rotation to help mom and dad stay at home for 2 months!
Another thought that came to dad and I this morning as we shared breakfast and prayer... it was a year ago the big change happening of their moving into Assisted living at the beginning of October!
How I loved every minute I had with them mid week for 8 weeks! I miss my mother sorely, but we feel her presence and intercession from heaven in our daily journey - now into 5 1/2 months!
As dad and I were sharing the meditation from the Magnificat today about the suffering of Job only making sense in sharing that of Christ's for us! Dad pointed out that the day of mother's passing when she fell in front of him in their assisted living and called out to him; "Robert help me! I am in terrible pain." She then said the same thing to my sister, Paula, who met her at the hospital and was with her through the day. And to me; "Barbie, help me I can't breath and I am in such pain!" Dad pointed out that her day of suffering was definitely placing her in the presence of Jesus on the Cross and sharing with Him in that sanctifying grace in her final day on her way to join Jesus and Mary and the Saints in heaven forever. Truly Jesus in crucifixion was unable to breath and in excruciating pain!
Dad is an amazing bouncing ball that lands on his feet over and over! We can only take one day and a time, and when he suffers he knows that he has some things he can do to help, and one of them is to unite his suffering with that of Jesus!
One of the last roses from my mother's garden! She was always making beauty happen in her yards, gardens and homes! Reflecting her inner temple filled with the fruits of His Spirit that dwells there! In morning prayer today dad pointed out...In your goodness pour out on us the fruits of your Spirit, – patience, kindness and gentleness. Preserve us in your ministry, Lord.
Dad pointed out that I could take a lesson in gentleness from the Holy Spirit and my mother, who adjusted to praying with my father for 43 years as they shared morning and evening prayer as a Permanent Deacon and his wife!
Mom's dementia made this a rare happening in those later months! I was so blessed by her sharing with us and now I use her well worn prayer book with my father morning and evening and find such a blessing there.
These 22 weeks of having him here in my home from hospice have been for the most part good. There are some of those personal quirks of each of us that kind of push our buttons - it is always the sad truth that with those you live the closest with and love the most - you knee jerk and treat the worst! May we find the fruits of the Holy Spirit there in our domestic Church/home to allow us to return to those the closest to us what Jesus pours upon us - unconditional LOVE and forgiveness!
Dad leading us in prayer a year ago in their home. Such a gift to me to have so much wonderful time with the 2 of them here! How my mother fought to stay here in her home! Dad said that we could not continue with the winter coming to do our rotation and the rest is history! Assisted Living October - April 13, mom's passing in a day on March 16th and now entering our 6th month of dad living with me on the farm!
This still happens on a spiritual level! Dad here in his jammies after breakfast and some days in his beloved chair due to pain in his shoulder! And mom joining us from heaven! Many days dad will look at her picture and give her a blessing and say; "Help me Nancy this day!"
My sweet mother, who I miss so much! She suffered for the last few years with head pressure and increasing dementia! For a woman, who was a wealth of intelligence and wrote volumes including a complete Bible study of the Bible... such a cross to bear and united that suffering to that of Jesus!
The website with her works of sharing The LIGHT with the world, as well as dad's work with alcoholics!
A memory of Joy Jean from 2 years ago. She continues to share her name with all around her - the epitome of JOY!
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Luke 9 today!
So true - Joy is #6 and a bit of surprise, but what a gift she is to all of us! How her parents and siblings rejoice in her and with her!
Dad and I at prayer this morning with mom, Mary and Jesus!
Lord, may we embrace our Most Cherished Cross and unite our suffering to yours to find LIFE/LIGHT/LOVE! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Lourdes candle lit and uniting our prayer for safety and healing from Our Lady of Lourdes! She is so important to us on our journey of healing along with Blessed Solanus Casey, St JPII, and many others! Bless-bless, Barbara
The story continues with wife and 2 gifts of sweet babies!
A week later with her white bow in her hair - Rose Again has her 3rd Communion today at mass! As she walked forward her mother was giving her some coaching now that a mask is involved about when to remove it so that she may receive Jesus.
Why 3rd Communion? Because she had school mass this week at her Catholic School. Such a blessing for our grandkids to receive Jesus often and with their families and also at their Catholic Schools! The Best! Yes, last week was thrilling to have Rose now taking Jesus in Communion, but today just rang like a beautiful bell in JOY for her to now twice a week at least come to Jesus and take his Bread of LIFE into herself!
Last Sunday was First Communion Sunday with 3 priests and 3 of Rose's older siblings serving! So beautiful to know how important and special this is for us to daily be given Jesus in his Body and Blood to feed us for the journey down the narrow path!
Rose's first Communion on such an unusual time in this world. Thankful that although it was postponed that it now has happened and that Rose will cherish and hunger for her Lord even more after waiting and anticipating his LOVE for her alone!
Our 3rd grandchild this crazy year of the epidemic to have her First Holy Communion in the True Church that we all LOVE with our total devotion - sharing our Faith as a family is my greatest and most prayed for JOY!
Grandpa carrying Birdie out of mass today! It was delightful to have Ruth and John and their families join us at mass - the highlight of our week!
Then we gather at my farm for a shared breakfast with great grandpa who lives with me now for 5 months +.
It was cool today, and the egg hunters came up without the eggs! It looks like we are going t have to put a net over the top and keep them cooped up!
Barbara with her namesake Birdie Barbara as I near 69 and she nears 5 months - October 6 for me and October 9th for her..."Her holding my finger like her likes me. Like her likes me a lot!" A famous quote I made about the sister just after me, Martha!
Pat and I at Christmas 1984- with our 3 oldest girls! John was over and we were thinking that except for a lot more hair that Birdie looks like a Verly girl, which she is the first official Verly girl since the originals that have now all changed their names with marriage!
Christmas 1982 and Nancy is the most like Birdie with that patch of hair that looked like a fur cap on her head.
Baby Nancy at about the same age as Birdie is now . We are reaching for baby kitties...
At Christmas of 1982 Nancy would have been 8 months, so we will have to compare this to Birdie right around Christmas, too!
Out for breakfast as the centerpiece on the table! At right around 5 months they start getting interested in food. Maybe grandma will be feeding her applesauce soon! They grow up so fast.. we don't want to push it. Just enjoy her littleness!
My first Verly girl! So much like her aunties, dad and some of her cousins look like their moms!
My amazing 5 out from Hallel's birthday last week with Jesus and Zinias from my garden. I am so very warmed inside by my kids and all that they are doing in this world to promote The True Church and The Faith we share in Jesus, Mary and The Church!
Father Denny's homily today on the Gospel of the father asking his 2 sons to do work for him - one said "yes" and didn't do it, and the other said "no" and did! May I do a better joy in meeting my commitments and work for the Kingdom! May my actions speak volumes of my Faith/Family/Farm!
We have now started to combine corn! Pat coming to share the process with my sister and her husband, who came down for the afternoon yesterday! How we love to have family come and give my father some time and attention!
The combine topping it off...
Combining and dumping in the grain cart at the same time! On the fly!
Traveling at the same speed is necessary.
A stop over at Ruth's to get some tomatoes, beets, peppers and of course to check out the cat and...
The basket of fall kittens - the white one is the special one that has grey ears like a siamese kitten!
Sharing a meal even with hubby! The corn plant broke down so we got to share supper with him! The Lord's ways are mysterious! Bless-bless, Barbara
Ruth not happy with my recording her explaining some new opportunities that could opening up for our Community in the way of Natural Family planning! I was amazed to hear about the call she received this week after I had been praying specifically about her Creighton Model work when I do her decade of the rosary each day! How the Lord is at work answering our prayers when his Beloved Mother brings them to Him as we pray our rosary each day! Wow!
Jesus, I fall on my knees in amazement and gratitude for your work all around me! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
