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!
‘You must be born from above.’/Heaven awaits us in the mass - Bernadette's First Holy Communion!
Bernadette receives Jesus for the first time on Divine Mercy Sunday in Delano from her Godfather, Father Ben, who traveled from the Saint Cloud diocese to assist in this very important and lifechanging and life-giving event in Berna's life!
As we are reminded by St Faustina - she is receiving Jesus's Body - The Body, Blood, soul and Divinity, and this picture taken by her Aunt Ruth is absolutely filled with such heavenly beauty!
"Our whole life gets caught up in the Massand becomes our participation in the Mass. As heaven descends to earth, we lift up our earth to meet it halfway. That's the splendor of the ordinary: the workaday world becomes our Mass. That's how we bring about the Kingdom of God. When we begin to see that heaven awaits us in the Mass, we begin already to bring our home to heaven. And we begin already to bring heaven home with us. ...
We were made as creatures on earth, but we were made for heaven, and nothing less. We were made in time like Adam and Eve, yet not to remain in an earthly paradise, but to be taken up into the eternal life of God Himself.
Now,heaven has been unveiled for us with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nowis the Communion God has created us for. Now, heaven touches earth and awaits you. Jesus Christ himself says to you: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me' (Rev 3:20). The door opensnowon the marriage supper of the Lamb."
Dr Scott Hahn
FromTheLamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth (1999)
Recommended!
Surrounded by her wonderful family yesterday! Augustine received his First Communion just as the pandemic was locking down churches - Father had him come forward at a regular daily mass with no forewarning to receive Jesus! His wonderful suit and joining in the party we were allowed to have for Bernadette yesterday... we have much to celebrate!
It was so wonderful to be able to share in the mass with Bernadette a year later as last year we could only see a picture of Gus receiving in his super man sweatshirt with total surprise and joy on his face as it was such a puzzling and hard time.
This girl has her mom's and grandpa Pat's dimples and they sure make her JOY evident and how we love them and her!
Pondering this special moment when her Godfather, who is a wonderful priest friend of Maria's, as they studied in Rome together and were in the same class at St Thomas Catholic Studies. "Jesus, we trust in you." Divine Mercy Sunday truly casts Heavenly LIGHT upon this moment.
2 year old George with his old cripple grandpa... how he loves the old guys and they him! He is risen indeed!
The Gospel today speaks of the Holy Spirit that takes us away from our earthy life and allows us to share in His glory and Truth!
Today to Nicodemus in John 3
Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
After sharing in this mass win which heaven comes down to earth... the winds of The Spirit fill us with JOY and fill us with LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT/Jesus with us! Sharing our Faith as a family is our greatest happiness and how we share that LOVE for Jesus, Mary, the saints, and The Church! No reservations and we love the Crosswinds that carry us forth to love and to serve without counting the cost!
George sat with grandpa and was very good for him as his sister had this huge step in her life of Faith!
Best cousin friends and both 8 for another month until Rose will be 9! Rose had her First Communion on Sept 20th, after waiting 5 months due to the pandemic.
4 year old Joy - as we traveled together Joy would sing as we passed trains - sweet happy joyful songs! "Joy certainly is the right name for her." mom shared. We all agree - especially her two old grandparents! Pat will go into the house first thing when he gets there and Joy will run up to him with open arms and a huge smile - "grandpa!" A big hug sends grandpa off with a happy smile for the day... well, we would like to have that happen anyways!
Such a joyfilled backdrop for these two! Ruth with her youngest
These two are such a sweet loving pair! It seems that Joy is embracing the life that her mommy shows her so beautifully- the life Ruth grew up with is the life that she has and does a much better job at than her old mother! What JOY to see this so close at hand with our young family living on the farm and loving the farm life!
Time around the fire pit in Delano... the two Elsas come to visit - 4 year old Joy and Josephine!
So fun to see these two being cousin friends like lots of their siblings
The two that stayed behind to care for the farm - sharing father and daughter time at mass and going out for a nice breakfast! Close family one on one time is a special gift and very special when you have such a big busy family! The fact that times like this are rare make them so much more special, right?
As soon as we got home last night - grandma had to meet Mary's new kids! This one has such a cute dappled sweatshirt with white pants.
Adorable Joy with a heifer bottle calf in her pretty Easter dress and rubber boots! A grandma's dream come true!
Yes, we called her Anne of Green Gables yesterday - she even has sunkissed freckles on her tiny nose! Ready to bring mama kitty in to care for her one kitten.
Dimples and Father - always love Jesus and put Him first in your life and all the rest will fall into place! Truly - "Jesus, we trust in you."
Her grandma, Bubba, from Pennsylvania with the help of Berna and her siblings made this work of art for our special day! So yummy!
Bernadette's Godmother, Aunt Amy, recently passed away from pancreatic cancer after 1 1/2 year battle. Bernadette was there with her family, and how Berna mourned the loss of her beloved Godmother! The bracelet is one of Amy's and brought her close to her on this special day. We all know that she was with her in spirit and in Truth!
A random joyful picture in The beautiful Church we joined together in worship in!
Ruth and Berna making punch... Ruth reports that there is a bed in Rose and Joy's room that they call Bernadette's bed. She fits right into their family and how Berna loves to come down to the farm. When we were leaving yesterday, she climbed in the car only half joking that she wanted to come home with us! LOVE how close our families and grandkids are to each other!
Pink is pretty with her beautiful dress... Party time!
Our oldest grandchild, Simon, is now 16 and a very cautious driver. Nancy is his Godmother, and keeps him in her prayers. Simon does well with his diagnosis of autism since preschool screening. The only time I have really seen Ruth break down in tears. He works hard and willingly on the farm - his old grandpa appreciates that a lot, and takes him to Dairy Queen from time to time to get him a cement mixer to show his thankfulness. We love you, Simon!
The two Elsas on the trampoline after the boys were chased away.
A better look at the day old baby goat. Mary has had 3 goats kid and has 4 kids so far. Her first kidding in her goat farming career!
Joy and crying baby goat - kid!
Heat lamps as the weather is cool for these newborns.
5 bottle calves - all heifers keep Mary and Rose and Joy busy - along with 2 bottle goats!
Joy helping out with a huge bottle under each arm!
Jude checking it out the other day...
Jesus, joy fills us as we continue now into the second week of Easter! As the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples today in the first reading we are filled with your Spirit as we stumble down the narrow path carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross and following you to heaven forever! Thank you for giving us a taste of heaven each day that we are blessed to come to receive you! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah!
So blessed to share time adoring Jesus with son, John, in the middle of the night. We overlap at midnight and placed our petitions in the monstrance with Jesus for about 20 minutes - so powerful and special to sit and speak our hearts out to Jesus there with us! The Spirit at work in our lives, families, country and world! Then I love to put all of Pat's and my families in the monstrance with Jesus one by one! Over 250! Bless-bless, Barbara
Joy loves the life she is blessed to grow up with!
Augustine and Bernadette sharing the party as we celebrate the two of them now coming to the Lord's table!
St. John Paul II once said:
“Those who sincerely say ‘Jesus, I trust in You’ will find comfort in all their anxieties and fears. There is nothing more man needs than Divine Mercy—that love which is benevolent, which is compassionate, which raises man above his weakness to the infinite heights to the holiness of God.”
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