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!
Jude and Birdie - filling the gap/Witnessing a Community "of one heart and one mind"/Eternal LIFE from Jesus raised up
So special from Nancy of her 5 kids before going to mass to celebrate Bernadette's First Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday! Little George looks dapper and cooperative and how he is growing up before our eyes.
A year and a half apart and a year apart on their First Communions. Augustine was just as the pandemic was beginning and so this suit and party was to be shared with his sister on her big day. Always hold Jesus in your heart and come to him each week in the Eucharist because you want to with all your heart, mind and soul! As your grandpa Pat says; "Be one of those that wants to come to Jesus and to mass and not one of those that feels that they have to!"
Jesus is there loving and forgiving you unconditionally Berna!
"The altar reminds us of the remoteness in which He lives
"beyond the altar,"as we might say, meaning divine distance
or"above the altar," meaning divine loftiness, both to be
understood of course not spatially, but spiritually."
Romano Guardini
"Possessing this treasure of holy Mass,
hope breathes again;
and if we but throw it not away by our own mismanagement,
we have holy paradise within our grasp.
Well may we, therefore, kiss our altars,
perfume them with incense and holy sweets;
and, what is more, honor them with the utmost reverence
and awe, since through them there cometh so much good."
St Leonard of Port Maurice
Hallel 8 years ago on her home visit with the 9 grandkids. Soon we will welcome our 20th grandchild! I am in the process of getting my ticket to fly to Fort Lewis Washington to be with Maria as Captain Joseph is being deployed next week.
John was in seminary 8 years ago and assisted Fr Kucera at mass for our family and the Sisters of Mary the Morningstar in Ghent. When we consider the years that Bobbi prayed and waited for John and all that he experienced... her prayers are very powerful indeed! "He won't die from brain cancer because I am going to marry him. He won't become a priest, because I am going to marry him." Each step of the way she trusted and asked St Therese to send her a rose...
Here is there story...After being classmates for all 13 years for them to come together 10 years after graduating is kind of special. She shared to the 300 family and friends gathered at the reception in her sweet humble way about how John Verly popped into her head and heart when they were seniors in HS as her future husband. Time and time again the same answer came to her through prayer and roses from St Therese and opening her eyes to see him right in front of her at WYD in Australia... When we consider what John experienced over those 10 years... brain cancer, seminary, girl friends, ups and downs and how disheartening it probably was and how powerful her prayers were for him!!!! Amazing!!! And how patient and trusting and prayerful and waiting and praying for John, this sweet girl was!
Birdie will get to know grandma's house really well as I am doing their fill in the gap daycare between when John leaves for his job at the Catholic After School program and Bobbi gets back from her job at Thrifty white drugstore as a Pharmacy TEC.
A bit of PBS to fill in the pre nap time and toys...
A picture of Bobbi with her dad before her wedding was in hand by Jude and Birdie while they were here.
I am sure that these two are such an answer to prayer for both John and Bobbi on their wedding day! Being a bit older and some challenges they faced it was uncertain that they would be able to have a family... Two babies on their second anniversary was the answer! Thank you, Lord!
Grandma's box of toys are still new and interesting, and are exciting for them to find, too.
My mom's chair turns in circles and also I used it to rock Birdie to sleep and pray my rosary at the same time. I currently have a cold, so grandma needs her rest just like the kids - I did manage to get them both to sleep at the same time.
Jude in the bottom bunk in my wonderful bunk room, and Birdie up in the quiet up stairs in the crib that stays us and available for the babies that come on a regular basis to spend some time in grandma's house. Just a week ago George used it for a couple nights! LOVE that about my big wonderful home - it's big but it fills up regularly!
Birdie in front of the Easter tree with a picture of mommy. They did really well leaving it alone, except Jude would stick his fingers in the water for keeping the tree alive and putting forth leaves.
A photo shoot of 11 month old Birdie in front of Easter Tree 2021.
The first reading today sounds too good to be true with the community of Believers sharing everything they posses - sell it and put it at the feet of their leaders.
The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the Apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need. Acts 4
In a religious Community as our daughter, Susan/Little Sister Hallel, is in The Community of the Lamb... they take a vow of poverty and leave with a small bag of belongings like underwear and toothbrush and leave all the rest behind. No possessions to speak of - a habit for good and a work habit, socks and sandals.
Pat had an investment for the kids college and to get a start in the world, and Hallel's was accumulating over the years - we would mention it to her, and she would say "wait." After she took her final vows in France in August 2018, she then told us it was time. Just as the Community of Believers placed all they had at the feet of the Apostles - Hallel gave it to her Community and it was dispersed to some of those Communities around the world that are poorer than most as in Buenos Aires. It also went to help with some construction going on in their Home Base in Saint Pierre, France.
Yes, we see that this Community of the Lamb can live out this lifestyle where if you try to do this in governments like Communism - it fails because it takes away the will to work hard - it takes Christ to look upon on the Cross and Eternal life as our reward to allow us to give our ALL!
Love the topknot and the smile!
Yes, in the Gospel today from John 3 continuing with Nicodemus and the Holy Spirit... We are told of how we are to not only look upon Christ raised up for our salvation on the Cross, but also take up ours and die to self and follow after Him to stagger down the narrow path carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross with Eternal LIFE as our goal!
"...And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3
If we believe in Jesus - He tells us that we must take up our cross and follow after him!
The sweetest smile of all!!!
Jesus, how I long to get all the distractions out of the way and be totally yours! May I die to self so that your Holy Spirit may use me as your hands and feet and voice of Truth! May I love and serve without counting the cost. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Grandpa and Joy sharing a blanket on the trip up to Berna's First Communion on Sunday. Pat is starting to get impatient with his arm in a sling to heal. Lots of prayers for patience on both of our parts. Bless-bless, Barbara
My Most Cherished Cross loves ALL LIFE! Thanks to him we have the motto our family lives out... Open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS!
Lord, help Pat to heal and to be back to his normal self with patience and physical therapy and patience. Amen
“I am Love and Mercy Itself. There is no misery that could be a match for My Mercy, neither will misery exhaust it, because as it is being granted – it increases. The soul that trusts in My Mercy is most fortunate, because I Myself take care of it.” – Jesus to St. Faustina
Every day, not just on Divine Mercy Sunday, pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m. ET!
No comments:
Post a Comment