O the great mystery of this marriage- Jesus the Bridegroom and The Church, the Bride!/... Come to Mary- to believe in Him/Happy Birthday Jude!

5 years ago today was Easter Sunday!  It marks the change we made moving off the farm and having our daughter, Ruth, with her family move on our busy farm place!   We had moved on Good Friday, 2 days before, so this Easter picture/celebration was brand new as Ruth had a vision and had remodeled the home that she had grown up in - now making it hers.

Last evening Jude came out with mom and dad and sister to the farm and in the same spot - in front of their huge patio door - his cousins and grandparents sang him "Happy Birthday!"  He has now joined his other 2 cousins and the 3 of them are all 2 for close to a year together as they are all only 6 weeks apart!

A poster overhead made by Rose and Joy and the tractors by cousin, Luke!  

When you have 6 cousins on the farm and a sister only 13 months younger - it makes for an instant party on the farm!  Happy Birthday, Jude, we love you!  

Jude not too sure what to make of all this.  

Grandma had fun with his card and mom and dad thought that his photo shoot were some of the best pictures of their sweet boy!  How I love my pictures! It takes a bit of effort, but they quickly learn that you had better give in to grandma as she is very determined when it comes to pictures. 

Our Marshall grandkids all the way from 16 to 10 months...LIFE doesn't stand still.  And time certainly flies when you are having fun!

Birthday boy at the head of the table... looking out on the farm yard.  We had at least 8 calves yesterday, and are quickly approaching our half way point of calving.  They add up quickly when you have those big days - 

at one point Pat went out and there were 4 calves within minutes of each other.  A traffic jam of getting them penned up and helping the new calves to nurse on their mothers.  It was good that the kids were home from school yesterday and could give their old grandpa a hand.  

A special hour of peace and light praying for my priest, Fr Denny, with 7 sisters yesterday afternoon.  I love to sit by Our Lady of Guadalupe as she stands at the foot of the Cross and takes my petitions for Fr Denny's ministry to her Son.  

It was a joy to share my time of prayer with Pat's cousin, who was there doing the Stations of The Cross.  We had a brief visit and both shed tears at our recent losses, yet knowing that they were ready "spiritually" to go to be with Jesus, and are now praying for us "more perfectly" from heaven.

Also blessed by the singing of Angels as Dana and LuAnn played and sang together!  My hands were lifted up in prayer as they filled The Church with love and praise of Our Lord and Savior!

Oceans - Hillsong

You are Good

Love the bare feet!!!  I tried to put socks on him, but that he wouldn't go for... he was right - those are beautiful perfect feet... you are a perfect work of art and LIFE!  How we marvel at the wonder of creation and how we are loved by The Holy Trinity!

Just back from mass and Reconciliation this morning... so filled with being humbled yet loved unconditionally and forgiven.  

All I could do is giggle at how sweet and wonderful he was for grandma dressing him and putting him on the table in front of the banner his mom had made for him!  Such a gift from above!  Jude we love you so much!

Gifted to him by his other grandpa, Dale, who helps John with his daycare while John goes to work.  Jude has seen grandpa Dale, Papa, drive this same skid steer when he does his sheep chores on their farm.  Such a lucky and loved little boy!

Warm light and smiling Jude in blue!

Sitting by Mary - Jesus is here in the tabernacle!

Talk about WOW!!!  This written by St Quodvuldeus is amazing!  How he envisions in such a powerful way of The Church coming from the side of Christ on the Cross - Water and Blood gushed forth when the lance pierced him - Baptism her bath, and The Eucharist her dowry!  Oh the great mystery of this marriage!  How great the mystery of the Bridegroom and the bride! ... From the Bridegroom, the bride is born.  As she is being born, she is immediately united to him.  At the very moment her spouse dies, the bride marries him....  At the moment he is raised above the heavens, she is made fruitful throughout the whole earth.

This saint gets it!  He sees the union of Jesus to His Church - a marriage that it not to be divorced one from the other!  It makes me rejoice in my heart, mind and soul that my father and mother brought our family into The True Church 50 years ago!  The JOY has never dulled or been lessened - each day has been a gift to me!  

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: The amazing story of the 13 becoming Catholic!

Here we go!!!  Palm Sunday tomorrow and Holy Week begins - having confessed my sins and forgiven I now can feel the excitement building in me!  

Jesus, I am so unworthy of your unconditional love and forgiveness.  May I die to self so that your Holy Spirit may use me as your hands and feet and voice.  May I serve without counting the cost and embrace this truth -"Wounded, I will never cease to love."  Following the example of the unblemished Lamb - who went forth with not a single word of anger or dissent.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen 

Five years ago today, on Easter Sunday, EWTN Foundress Mother Mary Angelica, PCPA entered her eternal reward. We, her family, will continue to celebrate our Mother’s life and legacy with special programs, devotions, and Holy Mass.

See the full schedule here: http://bit.ly/EWTNtv

Mother Angelica, we pray that you are enjoying the sublime destiny desired for you by God! May your soul, and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.

I lack in doing more for others!  I am a poor servant.  Help me Lord to do better!

I think this is the one that Dana sang with LuAnn while I was praying... "You are Good, good, Oh oh"