rowing across the choppy sea while Jesus is on the mountain praying, He comes to us!/A snowy message from France - prayers from our nun

I was overjoyed to get a email from a tired Little Sister Hallel last evening complete with pictures of a chapel they are constructing - she is in charge of construction as well as a few nights a week caregiver for one of the older sisters.  The big news was that they had gotten some snow, and a sister from Columbia had never seen snow before... "Today it snowed a little here. We maybe had an inch of thick heavy snow. A lot of it melted already. You can't imagine the joy of ls Natalia who is from Colombia. It was the first time that she say snow falling from the sky. She ran around all day long throwing snowballs and taking pictures."

It truly was a thick beautiful snow sticking to each small branch, too!  Snow is so white and beautiful to behold when it is newly falling.  Seeing it for the first time in your life must be quite something indeed.  Even for us, who have had snow all our lives, can still marvel at how beautiful it is.

Coming home from Nancy's on Sunday was so beautiful that I attempted to capture it through the speeding car windows as the sun set on the while landscape.  I know that  our family were thrilled to see show in abundance on their landing in Minnesota!

We are actually getting some rain today to glaze over our disappearing snow.  The hopes of a white snowy Christmas camp is looking to be less than wonderful here.  More time spent inside visiting and sharing and praying on the mountain as Jesus did today in the Gospel from Mark 6.

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd. 
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray.   Mark 6

As Joe and Maria drive here today they will see less and less snowy landscape.  Our fields are black once again here...

Yes, I am super excited about my family gathering, yet I am realistic that it will be a huge crazy zoo, too.  I am a bit nervous and anxious as the noise and mayhem get to me a bit.  I find myself clinging to my rosary beads and reminding myself "I can do this."  I can relate a bit to the disciples as they row against the choppy sea, and that Jesus comes to them across the waters as He cares and is in control!

When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. 
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them. 
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea. 
He meant to pass by them.  
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out. 
They had all seen him and were terrified. 
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” 
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. 
They were completely astounded. 
They had not understood the incident of the loaves. 
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.  Mark 6

I know that Jesus is in our midst and that I need not be afraid of him passing me by.  I told someone lately that all I want to do is enjoy every minute with my family around me.  She reminded me that I need to give the control over to my kids, and that is a good reminder.  Jesus will calm the choppy seas around me and if I am not afraid and trust in Him... I will find the joy of our coming together and sharing our lives and our faith as a family on the farm!

A very excited 12 year old, Therese!  They are on the road coming to be with us on the farm.  Many prayers for safety!  Bless-bless, Barbara

Today is the last day of the daily Advent - Christmas meditations by St John Henry Newman and dad embellishing much with his underlines and notes!  How I will miss this time with dad each day.  I still will have Brother Victor-Antoine daily and mom's Pope Benedict XVI...  

It was so interesting to read today about how Christ was acknowledged as a King only as an infant and youth up until he was 12 years old in the temple - then he took on the role of a servant.  St John Henry was a man of great depth and wisdom... I will miss him with me each day - reminding me powerfully of my father, who was also a man of very deep faith and who included me in a very personal way while he lived here for 6 months, and then with the blessings he left me in his daily office and readings.  I find myself speaking to him and thinking of him often throughout the day.  Marveling that our time came to an end, yet that it was such a special time for me and for him!

A miracle happened while dad was here with me!  My brother and his wife came to be with dad so that Pat and I could make a trip to KC with 2 of the grandchildren, Big Dave and Rose again.  While there the Holy Spirit reminded Little Sister Judith that we could bring Hallel for her home visit as she was due to come home every 3 years!  She had not seen her grandfather for 12 years... They were able to pray together and now Hallel has joy and peace knowing that she saw her grandfather a few months before he died and was sharp and prayerful.

A picture Maria asked for of Pat and I with Hallel and added my dad... making it that much more of a special gift/keepsake!

So great that dad could watch sweet baby Birdie grow up as she was born shortly after he arrived here.  

Happy Feast Day
Saint Andre Bessette C.S.C.
1845-1937
Feast day: January 6
Brother Andre, a French Canadian, came to the Brothers of the Holy Cross in 1870 with a note from his pastor saying “I am sending you a saint”. The Brothers are a teaching order and Andre at 25, still could not read or write and had stomach problems (that he had for his whole life). At the request of the Bishop of Montreal, he was ordained a consecrated religious Brother, and given the position as doorkeeper at the Notre Dame College. (A position he had for 40 years, perfect for praying with the people). He had a great devotion to St. and the poor and afflicted. In 1904, he started building the St. Oratory in Montreal with nickels and dimes he had collected. It was completed in 1955 as a basilica. Millions of people were and still are, cured through his prayers and the intercession of St. . Today Saint Andre Bessette is known as the “Miracle Man of Montreal”.

Showing us the importance of humility in our lives.  

 

Danielle Rose - the Litany of Humility