4th Sunday of Lent - Laetare/Rejoice - Mother Sunday! /Mass, Beautiful summary of the heart of salvation - John3:16, Farm breakfast, dump truck rides, photo book Joy!

After mass and breakfast at the farm we spent some time looking at some of Ruth's beautiful yearly photobooks.  Today we looked at 2006, the year that July 1st storm blew down trees and buildings, and 2011 and how I loved to see this one of mom and dad sharing at kiss at our family Christmas Camp 2011!  No greater joy than to "see" the love of your parents on which our entire family of 140+ is based.  

With our clocks going ahead this morning the sunrise greeted us and it was very impressive to see on the East horizon.

Reading the Gospel last night I was excited to see John 3:16 today!  Father Denny preached sharing that this was "a beautiful summary of the heart of Salvation." Pope Benedict XVI  He spoke about how if we gaze upon Jesus on the Cross we see "cruelty, violence, hatred, stupidity, injustice" - our sins taken to the Cross and how we are "recognizing the gift of salvation and wanting to be born again. Being born again is not a one time experience - I need to recognize my sins, be sorry for them and ask God's forgiveness.  Ask for God's mercy so that we may have eternal life!  Always continue that process of being born again."  Fr Denny standing under the Crucifix and focusing on Jesus there...

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, 
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish 
but might have eternal life.  John 3:16

God so loved the world - Jaci Velasquez 

I sang this to Pat as we hurriedly got dressed...Hubby and I shared our love for each other before getting up this morning for mass.. I shared with him how "special Sundays" gives me delight, as we rush off to share mass with our family!  I secretly smile at my handsome husband as he holds the little ones during mass, and feel the love well up within me for having such a wonderful man I can call my Most Cherished Cross which I embrace to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT - the one who has been my champion for LIFE and family.  I fall in love all over again!

Called to come to Jesus in the Eucharist!  He dwells in me!

Only one kitten survived from the 6 born- mother cat had them during the night out on the porch and they died of exposure.  One kitten is getting passed around a lot and cries for her mother when she is left alone.

Our wonderful caramel rolls were sold this morning as a fund raiser, so we enjoyed them at our Sunday breakfast at the farm.  We had them other times in the Church basement after mass, but not for the last year of the shutdown.  Maybe next fall we will get back to the social gatherings - now we are happy to share special family time.

Luke watching his dad out for a new calf on cow TV in the middle of the kitchen.

Visiting after the meal 

Mother and her kitten - this year she replaced herself - other years she has had 4... now 5-4=1kitten to spoil.

Speaking of mothers - today as the 4th Sunday of Lent is called Laetare or Rejoice Sunday also it is known as Mothering Sunday in Europe much like our Mother's Day.

 

A bit more on Lætare Sunday:

Lætare Sunday is also called Mothering Sunday in Europe, which is similar to the celebration of Mother's Day in the United States. The name Mothering Sunday came about after the Epistle of the day from Galatians 4:26, which states, "But Jerusalem which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all." The Epistle calls Jerusalem the mother of us all and this Sunday all mothers, the Blessed Virgin Mary and especially “mother church” are honored. People frequently try to attend Mass at the nearest cathedral, their mother church.

 

Tradition also holds that on Lætare Sunday, English children who lived away from home returned to visit the church in which they were baptized or raised. Children also visited their mothers, bringing flowers or a type of fruit cake. The occasion led to the old saying, "He who goes a-mothering finds violets in the lane."

Rose and Luke were very good to the little ones - Jude will be 2 in 2 weeks and Birdie is 10 months.

Luke started giving dump truck rides to Birdie...

"Luke goes fast!"

Then it was Jude's turn!  Thanks, Luke!

A picture of a scrap book picture of John with a calf at the State Fair 2006

Simon as a bumble bee 2006... now Joy 15 years later!  

My parents visiting Ruth's home with baby Mary... she will be 15 in a month!  This is now my porch and dad and I sat and looked out on this view for the 6 months he lived here as she said the rosary and Chaplet at 3p and watched a growing season on the farm.

In Ruth's home in 2006

Special to find out the dad blessed this home 15 years ago.  Then he came to live his final days here... The Circle of life and faith lived out.  

There was no way that dad could have known that someday this would be his home for the last 6 months of his long 95 1/2 year life.  He did, however, prophecy when he said to me 20 years ago..."If anything happens to your mother, I will come and live with you, Barb." How that filled me with peace and contentment as I drove dad the 3 hours here on April 16th, 2020.  We prayed the rosary on the way and then dad fell asleep till we arrived on my farm.  The next day he went on hospice for the next 6 months as he modeled a "natural death."

Momma kitty and the one kitten getting special attention from Rose and Jude.

Ruth's beautiful photo books for 2006 and 2011... 

Luke brought up a mountain of toys for the little ones - of course they both wanted the same toy.

Pat took me to see the horse barn a mile away that we are using to put our first 30 cows and calves inside with the snow coming tonight.  I think we are up to 20 pairs now.

Comfortable and cute in dry bedding inside.

Jesus, You so loved us that you died on the Cross suffering all the pain and degradation that humanity could place upon you... all our sins!   May we come to you and be born again as you love and forgive us unconditionally.  May we then return that love and forgiveness to all those in our lives - especially those the closest to us that we treat the worst.  I long to die to self so that you may live in us.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen

Grandpa and bumble bee Joy by the big picture window looking out on the garden, field and apple trees - where Ruth grew up and now where she is living the life she grew up with, and doing a much more wonderful beautiful job of it!  I am humbled and overjoyed to have this young family now living and loving the farm life!  Bless-bless, Barbara

Danny Gokey