Times with mom and dad/Creating with His Word/"God created man in his image"-"You have made him little less than the angels"

Dad sharing Jesus with mom on Sunday Feb 23rd last year.

A year ago I had no idea of the events ahead with my parents.  I visited them, including an overnight or two in their assisted living in New Hope.  I usually timed it so that I could take dad to mass on Sunday at Sacred Heart in Robbinsdale.  Mom was no longer up to making the effort, especially in winter, with her lungs very limited.

Today I looked back to see my pictures to help me in my memory of times spent with them as we are approaching the quick passing of my mother in a day after falling first thing in the morning, breaking her hip, and dying by 5p that day!  March 16th looms closer and closer.

"The Body of Christ, Nancy dear."  "Amen."

Even having dad here with me on the farm for 6 months starting a month after mom died... I still feel like it was too short and I miss them a lot.  I knew that I was the lucky one to have him here, and that I had been so richly blessed by the times I was gifted with my parents over the years since they moved back to our area especially.  It seems that about monthly I was able to spend some days with them in their cozy home in St Croix Falls.  Dad would spoil me with breakfast each morning and we would pray together the Office of The Church!  

Dad holding Jesus in the pix and praying mightily for he and mother.  I am eternally grateful to them for listening to the Holy Spirit in their lives and bringing us into The Church 50 years ago!  All 13 of us!

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

There can be no greater JOY for me than to share that Faith with both my parents with no reservations!  Now for that to carry over to our domestic Church/family which is now adding a new member this spring equaling 31!  It made total sense to add dad to our family picture on Labor Day weekend as he is my patriarch and lead me to the True Church, which our entire family shares with me!

The family pictures with dad - only missing 2!

With our 19 grandkids - dad knew of our new one on the way, and certainly is keeping her and ALL in his prayers with mom in heaven.  "Mom knows how to pray for us more perfectly now." dad shared just weeks after her passing, and true of him now, too!

Someday they will understand what their great-grandfather did for our family!  Pat had told his sisters years before we met that he would only marry a Catholic.  Knowing him now for 43 years, and what a determined man he is.  I know that his prayers were instrumental in bringing our Protestant family into The Church.  Recognizing that my dad was also a Protestant Minister!

https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

Barbara Lynn Luke the weekend before Marge's wedding, and met Pat for the first time. 

 I chose Luke for my confirmation saint as he was a physicain and I was to be a nurse, and I loved what he writes about Mary in his Gospel!!!  Her Magnificat is my hymn to be Humble woman of Christ - She shows me the way!  Our Lady - Queen of Heaven and Earth is with me always as I hold the rosary beads of constant Prayer!  

I will always remember the day of my confirmation in the Catholic Church.  It was a huge adult confirmation at the Cathedral in St Paul!  The Church seemed to be full of people, and such a stunningly gorgeous church it is with the huge statues, stain glass and all those things that take our hearts, minds and souls heavenward in a Catholic Church!  Our souls take flight!  I was in a long line heading towards the awe inspiring Bishop in his magnificent robes and tall hat.  Ahead of me walked my parents and the siblings around me that were old enough to be confirmed.  As we approached it became clear to me that he was laying his hands upon us to receive the Holy Spirit!  This had been done by my parents to me at 15 - 5 years before.  This was one of those moments when it struck me that this was truly the True Church, and they had it all figured out!  The Church laid hands on you to receive the Holy Spirit - you didn't have to travel to a Charismatic preacher to find this gift - it came as Confirmation!  Wow!  I look to the Church with no reservations - I am not a shopping cart Catholic - I love and believe all that the Catholic holds out to me as Truth!  It is the True Church and shows me the way to get to Heaven!
Taken from my sharing on the page devoted to my marriage motto - Open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS!

Dad and mom adoring Jesus in the host!  Jesus also comes to us each day in The Word of God!  Today we continue on in Genesis - the first book of the Bible... yesterday we started with God's Word creating the heavens and the earth.  Today we go to all the life of the world in the seas, skies, walking upon the earth and finally man and woman.  

There is so much that it is hard to truly share here and do it all justice.  I will share the words from Genesis and the What God says happens!

Then God said:
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
the birds of the air, and the cattle,
and over all the wild animals
and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.”

    God created man in his image;
        in the divine image he created him;
        male and female he created them.

God blessed them, saying:
“Be fertile and multiply;
fill the earth and subdue it..." Genesis 1-2

How Satan laughs that his lies about the world being over populated has been taken so seriously and given people the excuse to take their fertility into their own hands and limit their children.  I even was confused at our engagement encounter when all the others gawked at our desire to have a large family.  When I asked Pat - his immediate response was; "The world needs lights."  My fears blew away like smoke in the wind!  

If we are truly created in the image and likeness of God there is no room for selfishness and being "gods" ourselves as we take things into our own hands!  The Church teaches us the Truth and we follow after Jesus giving him our ALL!

Mary in her special knitch in their bookcase... now is here on my dresser after they came to be with dad.

Joseph across the way is also here with me now...

My mother found joy in Dr Pol, who is a vet from central Michigan.   A year ago February less than a month before mom died in a day.  I had no idea that my time in their new cozy home was drawing to an end.

Moving away from her home in St Croix was hard on mom, but Dr Pol brought a smile on her face.  I quickly adjusted to sleeping on the couch and walking across the hall to the dining room to share in their meals.  

How special we come to see we are today when we read the creation story and Psalm 8 which follows it!  Psalm 8 is one of those very special reminders of how LOVED we truly are!  If reading that we were created out of LOVE were not enough...

When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars which you set in place—
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
    or the son of man that you should care for him?
R.    O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
You have made him little less than the angels,
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
    putting all things under his feet.
R.    O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!  Psalm 8 - reminds me of dad's love of The Name!

My wonderful parents together for 70 years!  They were only apart for 7 months and now are on the journey to heaven forever together.  I continue to think of them daily and pray for them to see Jesus and Mary face to face!

Morning prayer with dad in his well worn prayer book left behind for me to begin and end each day!  My day seems to be off to the wrong foot if I don't get a chance to read with dad...  Today Dad and Tobit 13

And also Psalm 33 - dad truly does circle all the times that Holy Name is used!

The prayer cards for us from our father - reading this and then having his prayer book is such a powerful journey for me with each new day!

Jesus!!!  we love you with our all!  May we die to self so that your Holy Spirit may use us to your honor and glory and we may become your hands and feet and voice into the darkness!  Giving us the graces we need to bring forth the LIGHT of your Truth.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

From Brother Victor today - short and sweet about grace - "All is grace."  St Therese - a summons of light and love/enlightens and attracts.

Thanks dear Father for leaving me the pearls each day!  How I loved to sit at your feet and be fed, and so it continues after you have left this earthly world.  You keep my eyes on heaven - you and mother, and my 7 children, and 6 grandchildren, and my sister Mary and brother Lincoln.  Not to mention Pat's parents and brother.  Much pulling me to stay on the narrow path and drag my Most Cherished Cross with my eyes on being in heaven with you all, Jesus, Mary and All the Angels and Saints!  Bless-bless, Barbara

Casting Crowns - If we are the Body

How Beautiful is the Body of Christ - Twila Paris

Zach Williams