The Pat and Barb Verly family and their 5 children, in laws and grandkids along with many prayer warriors have been drawn together by John's cancer... sharing daily for 8 months started this blog- Family Soul Story - Our faith, family, farm and now our cancer journey called HEALING have colored and deepened our world. WE continue to share and depend on the support of our prayer warrior community, that has lowered us into the Lord's presence for His healing!
Thumbs up as John is being discharged and they can have some food to celebrate. Bobbi reports that John was "a trooper - a great patient!" "I think that I don't see double anymore", and the grid is now officially off of his glasses. It appears that having racoon eyes from bruising is not going to be a problem either. He only reported that there is some irritation in his eyes, but that would be understandable considering that his left eye was straightened back to normal.
The before picture just before they took him back for his 2 hour surgery. He admitted that he was worried about what lay ahead, but all of the prayers surrounding him brought a lot of peace and allowed him to trust in Jesus being in control in this midst of this storm...Casting Crowns - Praise you in the storm
Pat picked me up to get a vehicle home, so I just kept on going to spend my hour praying at church for Fr Denny with 7 Sisters! I knew that he would not mind if I also prayed for Fr Mathias - a young fellow priest that is critically ill!
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST For Father Mathias Thelan - St Patrick's Brighton Received Wed. April 28 at 7:50 pm
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST
Just heard Fr Mathias has a pulmonary embolism right now. Please spread the word asap and pray. He needs prayers now. Thanks prayer warriors!.
We are Storming Heaven with Prayers, Father Mathias You Are a Dear Friend of Ann Arbor 40 Days For Life 365!
This email is being sent as a courtesy from Pro-Life Action Network Inc
Pro-Life Action Network Inc - The Ann Arbor Life Chain and 40 Days For Life Ann Arbor People
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
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I sat by St Joseph with my patron Saint, St Luke overhead! This is the year of St Joseph and my son-in-law, Captain Joseph is very concerned for the wellfare of his dear friend, Fr Mathias!
While I was praying for these two amazing priests of our Lord, I received this from my sister, Angela, who is praying at my parents grave while she plants some perennials to beautify this sacred spot!
I shared with my brother the meditation we both read in the Magnificat for today. The Gospel is every word a pearl of great price ending with one of my father's most favorite verse...Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14
St Pius V today and he was Pope during the Council of Trent where this Catechism is from. So powerful is this about our mansion that awaits us in heaven - that was also part of the amazing Gospel today! Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?...John 14
I told my brother that I can picture my parents in the mansion we lived in here in Minneapolis on Fremont in Kensington by Lake of the Isles, but that it would have to be on Lake Michigan to be truly heaven for my parents! Yes, that is our idea of heaven for me and most of my grandchildren with fake plans to get back there this summer. Fake plans indeed is how we roll around here on the farm and with the military too!
Joy picked a bouquet out with her mommy today... so reminiscent of my own girls and....
we think they are sunny and special and make your nose turn yellow, too!
Sunshine bouquet and so big and healthy!
She gave them to grandma and they make me smile on my table... it has been a number of years since I was gifted such a sweet special bouquet! Yes, that is my second meal of wonderful fresh asparagus and the paver is one of the special gifts given me by John years ago with all my children on there... all 12! 5 here with me and 7 in heaven!
Therese with her Godfather, Fr Mathias, last summer. I asked Maria how she is doing, - "She is praying but not emotional about it." That is called the trust of a child like Faith!
As I was praying for Fr Denny I do the office of Readings for the day and Morning prayer, as I know that I am joining with Fr Denny and all priests and deacons. Today as I was reading Psalm 78 these words spoke to me as there are 2 in the womb that I am praying for - and Therese's baby sister is very close to joining us on May 12th...
He gave a command to our fathers * to make it known to their children that the next generation might know it, * the children yet to be born.
They too should arise and tell their sons * that they too should set their hope in God and never forget God’s deeds * but keep every one of his commands:
Yes! My constant prayer is that we can share our faith as a family with each new member!
Prayers continue to Blessed Solanus Casey, who was a miraculous humble healer in our time! Maria said that we will only get few and far between updates due to covid and no one allowed to visit Fr Mathias - continued prayers needed for this special priest!
Lots of JOY from dad's man, Brother Victor, and his sharing about monastery gardens! Ruth and I are planning to plant ours next week! I sure appreciate Ruth and her tribe of kids coming and giving me the best Mother's Day gift an old woman could ask for! There is something very wrong about getting older and not having helpers any more.
Joy's bouquet of sunshine! And my wall of family that truly is my JOY in life - sharing our Faith/Family/Farm!
Jesus, our prayer is with each breath that we take and every beat of our hearts with the needs of family and friends! "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, we trust in you." Amen and Hallelujah
Rose again turns 9 tomorrow! These two girls share a room and Rose looks after her little sister very sweetly! A big day of party on the farm is planned with friends and family tomorrow. We love you Rose so much!
In honor of Rose's birthday tomorrow I will share the great story of "Rose Again".
When Rose was about 4 we were going out to eat at Applebees after the Easter Vigil at about 10p. This was our tradition since Pat and I would work with RCIA and were involved in the new members coming into the Church. As we were waiting for our food Rose got excited and said; "I heard my name! I heard my name!" "Where Rose?" we all asked. "Jesus Rose Again!" We all were so filled with wonder and awe to know that she was listening that closely and certainly did hear her name! For a long time after grandpa would say to her; "Are you Rosie toesie?" "No, Rose Again!" We still tend to smile and look at her when we say the Creed, and call her Rose Again with great fondness! Bless-bless, Barbara and Rose Again and Joy!
Danielle Rose
Danny Gokey
Praise be to the LORD... the LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy,
and I will give thanks to him in song. - Psalm 28:7
"The liturgy is, above all, adoration.
The Church is the work of God, God's action; it is recognition of what God does for men.
And the adoration that the liturgy expresses,
especially the Eucharist,
is the acknowledgment of God, thateverything comes from Him,
John called first thing this morning requesting that I ask for prayers for his surgery tomorrow here on my blog. I have had life interfere a bit, but I am determined to get this request out there. I picked this picture to start with as it shows the grid he has to see without double vision that is attached to his glasses. After having whole brain radiation to stop his brain cancer from growing, he now has a damaged nerve going to his left eye, and they will do surgery tomorrow to straighten his eye - correct the damage.
John is meeting with the doctors for a preop this afternoon at 2:45p and then they will call in for the time of surgery tomorrow. I will keep you posted.
Birdie pie playing with my wooden Eucharist yesterday just seems like a special prayer lifted up for her special daddy. They will be spending these next few days with the other grandparents, and as I told John today - "Your kids are wonderful! After this past month of having them I think that is quite a statement!"
Blessed Solanus relic that now dwells here with me as both my parents have passed in the last year, and Lourdes water and blessed candle. So wonderful to have such powerful prayers and intercessors with us on our journey! Including all of our wonderful prayer warriors... we depend upon PRAYER and it lifts us up!
John's story continues with correcting this weak eye as a result of whole brain radiation 12 years ago! He is asking for your prayers to be the wind beneath his wings!
Psalm 89 today
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. or: R. Alleluia.
John certainly has much to praise the Lord for in his healing, and he continues to rely on those that keep him in their prayers!
Another prayer need coming to us with great urgency! Fr Matthias, a dear friend of Maria and Captain Joseph and Godfather to Therese! He is in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism and is in critical condition. Prayers specifically to Blessed Solanus Casey - to the relic must be there along with Our Lady of Lourdes and water from the healing springs, and Our Lady of Medjugorje, gifted me by John years ago. Mom and dad and their blessed statues watching over us in our deep prayer needs!
The beads passing through my fingers and prayers without ceasing today!
Fr Matthias certainly lives out the saying from St Catherine of Siena today...
"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire!" His yes to the priesthood and work in The Church with Encounter Ministries.
Last year Therese and her dad were able to see him and spend some time with him. He is in the Lansing, MI diocese.
Mom and dad joined in our more prefect prayers from heaven!
They rushed the relic to pray over John with as he faced his whole brain radiation in December of 2009... the week of prayer was happening at that same time - all 168 hours with at least one person praying! We also heard from Bishop LeVoir on our Caringbridge site reminding us that at difficult moments not to despair, but repeat these words - "Jesus, I trust in you." How we cling to that then and today!
I reminded Therese to get some Lourdes water, which we all have in plentiful amounts after visiting Lourdes when we went over to France for Hallel's final vows in 2018 - on Bobbi's birthday 8-17-18 we were at Lourdes!
To pray to Our Lady for her Godfather with that miraculous water! When John bathed in the waters in August 2009 and asked them to pour water over his head, "because that is where I need the healing." John fell head over heels in love with Our Lady and continues to this day. I know that he will find comfort in her holding him close to her Immaculate heart filled with love for her Son, and taking John and Fr Mathias to Jesus for healing!
A crazy picture of LIFE taken on Easter Sunday! They have lots to smile about and together they are facing this next step in John's journey of healing with the help of prayer and Blessed Solanus Casey, the humble healer of our time, and Our Lady of Lourdes!
"Jesus, we trust in you."
Captain Joseph is deployed now and his deep concern for his friend, Fr Mathias is especially hard. WE have Joe in our prayers each day, as he is away from his family and will not be here for the birth of his 7th child on May 12th. Such a crazy time and so many prayers needed with each beat of my heart and every breath- "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus..."
Wearing ball caps like their dad... They have special time with dad each day as he does their day care until he goes to work at the afterschool program at the Catholic School!
Sweet 2 year old Jude got grandma to lay down with him each day... so sweet with his hand on me.
We definitely got to know each other a lot better.
How we loved to have the sun come out and play outside - this view reminds me of my dad and I sitting here in prayer each day for 6 months! At 3p we prayed the chaplet of Divine Mercy and the rosary together in our prayer monastery on the farm!
Birdie looking for her brother...
There he is!!! They delight in being close to each other. Birdie is so enthralled with her big brother just 13 months older than she is.
Together in the sunshine with the green plants coming up...
Rose Again 6 years ago with a sweet soft baby kitten! Rose will be 9 in 2 days - May 1st! She is one of my Verly girls that look like her mom, Ruth, and her Aunts.
Pat in his office - his Kitty Cat Payloader. I got a call to watch a gate while he fed hay today, so...
I had to snap a few pictures of the cute farmer hubby - Chief Broken Wing and some calves enjoying the sunshine.
Dad and Brother Victor today - writing about the monastery garden as it is looking like I need to get my planted soon. I love that Ruth and the kids help me out! It is usually my mother's day gift and there can be none that I appreciate more now that I am older and have no helpers on hand here with me...
Out to get the mail with Jude and the stroller.
Surprise to us! 30 broilers that no one wanted... I guess chicken is on the menu in a few months!
LOVE Pope Benedict XVI thanks to mom today about the Good Shepherd... LOVE!
The Gospel continues with St John today - John 13
"...Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
This is very true of all priests, who are Christ in our lives as they bring to us HIs Sacraments - His Body and Blood in the Eucharist each day! Such prayers we send up today for his priest sent by Christ, Fr Mathias!
Jesus, please hold Fr Mathias and John close to your heart burning with love for them. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
She will be one on Mother's day - May 9th! She is my namesake - Birdie Barbara, and grandma will miss her today... She is such a sweet and happy girl!
Grandma's clothes - I can't resist that baby section!
I needed milk today and a Birdie outfit - coming soon when the summer heat makes this look appropriate! Bless-bless, Barbara .... I should have gotten a size 0-3 months for granddaughter arriving in 2 weeks! Can't wait to meet Maggie Rose!
