Listen to my "cry"/"Uniting my blood with that of the infinite saving blood of the Lamb" dad/Isaiah 55:1/our 6th anniversary on the farm!

Such a powerful symbol of my father's failing health and strength that he had the hospice aide comb his full head of hair after his shower this morning!  He has a ritual of carefully combing his hair before he puts his cochlear implant on his head.  Very weak this morning he sat on his walker and had the aide help him.  

His first day using oxygen was very striking for me to see this other sign that we are approaching the end!  He persevered in saying the rosary with me at 3p but his shortness of breath and "fuzzy" thinking due to loss of blood was quite evident to me.  

Mary, Joseph and Jesus watching over him is so powerful!  These statues were gifted to him as he left his deaconate work in Manistique, MI - St Francis de Sales Catholic Church-  due to health reasons and moved to be closer to family in St Croix Falls, WI.  How I loved my time with both my parents there - just 4 hours away not 11!

Deep in prayer of the rosary and the chaplet - we do our work of prayer every day, and it is our JOY!

Today marks dad's 6 month anniversary of living here with me on the farm! We are unsure but it looks like we could be getting to the finish line sooner than we thought.

Dad and I praying after breakfast this morning.  Mom's prayer book and the Magnificat are important to us as we share the morning and evening prayer of The Church as well as the readings from mass each day together!  Dad has allowed me to join him in religious life as a permanent deacon for 44 years.  A sister in-law calls our time here together a peaceful prayerful farm monastery.

John joining us for morning prayer on Sunday and mom is always there looking on and with us in Spirit!  We ask her to help dad, whichever way that may be... getting better or coming to join her.

As we prayed the office this morning we arrived at the Reading for today - Isaiah 55:1!  The verse dad read while on an Ignation retreat where the Holy Spirit led him to come into The Catholic Church with his entire family... all 13 of us!!!

https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html

I was a puddle of tears and dad had to read it aloud as we prayed together!  How I wept, and when he finished reading it he said;  "Thank you, Lord for your Church and the Sacraments that are so beautiful and glorious and we love!"  

So powerful and REAL as just yesterday Fr Denny came to our home and heard dad's confession and gave him the anointing of the sick!  

Reading the Word to us from St Matthew - dad said "Amen."   As he read the scripture verse from our conversion story - the tears flowed with gratitude and love and so much appreciation with each day of the 49 years since we came into The Church... the next words from the Responsory was "Listen to my cry..."  How meaningful was that under the circumstances that we both had to chuckle as I wept/cry.  

Anointing with the blessed oil of healing.  At 95 1/2 that means many things, if the end is near it will be welcome!

Adding to the power and emotion of this morning prayer together was my dad uniting his bleeding, which is what we are dealing with to that of our Lord on the Cross!   "Uniting my blood with that of the infinite saving blood of the Lamb."   How I wept more at this sweet prayer to Jesus on the Cross!  

I just called the Little Sisters and Brothers of the Lamb to be praying for my father at this time.  They will call Hallel in France, and let her know that her grandfather needs her prayers.  How we depend on those of our nun as she spends 2 hours a day adoring Jesus in Adoration and also receives Him in his Body and Blood and Word of God!  So powerful and so comforting to have her aware and praying!

Anointing the palm of each hand...

Father broke the host in half so that dad and I could each receive Jesus.  

Food for the journey!  As dad prayed this morning in gratitude for the amazing help we are given as we stagger down the narrow path carrying/dragging our most Cherished Cross!

The glow of golden fall outside his peaceful haven in our home!  We shared with Fr Denny how providential this has all been - Ruth and Paul added on this wonderful huge bedroon with an adjoining bathroom, and now we live here and were able to offer it to my father for these 6 months.  Perfect!

Watching the mass this morning in Fatima on the anniversary of the miracle of the sun.

Our spiritual with us each day!  St Ignatius, Blessed Solanus Casey, and mom in heaven looking out for us.  We are currently dealing with the thought of going off hospice to do some aggressive procedures on dad.  The thought of losing hospice has me sad and worried.

Jesus, we trust in you to guide and direct us as we look to you to show us how to stay on the narrow path to the final destination.  Keep dad safe and at peace.  Amen and Hallelujah

Also St Pio is with us each day of this journey.  So much help as we look to Mary, the Mother of God with each "Hail Mary" spoken and in our hearts, minds and souls.  Bless-bless, Barbara

Danielle Rose is amazing!

Zach Williams