Mother's Day on the farm - "You are pretty like a cow" Luke/selling mother's day roses/preparing to fly away/Birdie is one today!

So precious was the Mother's Day gift from 7 year old Luke Paul this morning after we had shared the 6th Sunday of Easter and our family breakfast.  Ruth read the poem inside and the second line was "Mom you are pretty like a cow" and took it as a total compliment of the highest order!  Both mom and dad knew that he meant a "show cow". 

So cute to see the special picture he drew of her complete with recalling that she has a shirt like that and she wears it when they go to Camden!

Our dear friend, Fr Denny, preaching all about JOY today at mass from the Gospel for today...

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  John 15

I would say that Father said the word JOY about 50 times in his homily and Joy on her daddy's lap took it all in with smiles!  I took some notes as it was so much wonderful Truth...

After mass Rose Again helped me sell roses for Mother' Day!  So special to be doing this after all the years that I sold them for Birthright by CCW!

Some of the pearls from Fr Denny today!

"Happiness is fleeting and temporary - Joy comes from God!  Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  Christian JOY comes from the presence of Jesus in our life!"

A beautiful blooming tree was over our heads on this cool Mother's Day morning!

"Look to Christ the source of our Joy.  We can have Joy even when we are suffering  Joy that surpasses all worldly pleasures sustains us through trials and hardships."

My lovely rose selling assistant, Rose Again!  

St Teresa of Calcutta - "Why are we so joyful in our work?  Because I see Jesus in every person that I help."

Joy suits her so much!  She has brought so much JOY into our family!  It looks like she is on the path to be a big sister. 

"Joy is the sound assurance that Jesus is in control.  We choose to praise God in all that comes to us in this life journey.  We find JOY if we trust that Christ is in control of all that comes to us - All things for God!"

I really needed to hear this.  On the way to mass I was telling Pat about how I am anxious about flying tomorrow and all I need to get done before.  Trust, Barb, Jesus is in control!

A pile of sweetness and a fruit parfait with red juice - a picture of JOY!

"Joy comes from the giver of all good things - Jesus!"  Fr Denny!

So special!  More of the poem - "You are hard working like a beaver."

The gift from the first graders at Holy Redeemer School!

In 3rd grade they made a hot pad for mom's coffee cup with a special reminder of her love for her wonderful mommy!

Beautiful sister-in-law, Angela!  We celebrated her soon to be daughter-in-law with a wedding shower with all the Aunts and many of the cousins with their daughters!  I am quite sure that Magdalene Rose Mary will be #58 great grandchild for my mom in 3 days!  

Angela watering the plants and giving the headstone a rinse this morning visiting my mother on this second Mother's Day without her!  Miss you and love you mom!  How I love to know of your more prefect prayers with dad from heaven!  I hope dad is treating you like the queen that you are!

Old and new family getting to know each other!

Angela and wonderful Kimberly, soon to join the Mrs Crosses!

2  of my sisters and nieces!

Nancy and her wonderful Aunt!

Nancy with 2 of her girls - JoJo will be 5 tomorrow and Birdie is one today!  Always a lot of JOY to share when you have such a big wonderful domestic Church/family!  Open to life and raising LIGHTS!

Happy Birthday sweet little girl!  We love you!  And it is the best to have a little namesake, who is so wonderful in every way!

Therese on her first Communion today - 6 years ago!  I will see her tomorrow as we share the excitement of her new baby sister arriving on Wednesday the 12th!  So much love and joy with her arrival and so many prayers since the moment we knew she was in the womb!

John and Bobbi at a wedding in her family yesterday!  So sweet!  Happy Mother's day to Bobbi, Ruth, Nancy and Maria and Little Sister Hallel, who is a mother to many that she encounters among the poor!

Such a sweet sharing by Brother Victor and dad with his praise to the Name!

Mom at a shower about 10 years ago... LOVE you mom!  

Ruth gives me the best mother's day gift of helping me to till and plant my garden each year!  Thank you!  Here she was showing Joy how to plant bean seeds.  "Do you know who taught me how to plant, Joy?"  "Grandma did!"  

Ruth has far surpassed me in gardening.  She lives the life she grew up with, but does a much better jov of it!  That fills me with wonder and nothing but true JOY!  Thank you, Lord, my our two wonderful mothers and now the daughters and daughter in law that are wonderful mothers!  Our Lady, you are the best mother of all and you share this journey with me.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Joy giving 2 year old Jude eating Icie lessons on the porch swing after working hard on grandma's garden.

Bright green springtime in a picture from my wonderful porch with memories of dad last year and this view we shared each day in our farm monastery.

Overnight guests were the best!

Up in the air dress for her birthday!

With lots of brothers and sisters - you have an instant party and when dad makes you a wonderful strawberry cake to share - nothing more special when you turn 5!  We love you Josephine Francis!  

JoJo!  We love you and happy Birthday - in 3 days you will have a new cousin's birthday!  Lord, you are in control!  Bless-bless, Barbara