"Thanks for coming all this way!" "It's important." Bobbi/Girls celebrating LIFE and LOVE!/"cause no one to stumble"

Glowing beautiful Ruth with her Goddaughter, Birdie, after we shared mass together!  I was "sandwiched" between rows of people on both sides of me and No masks!  We are back  in force at mass now, and it is a true sense of one Body in Christ!

Pregnancy is looking wonderful on Ruth, and Joy speaks a lot of her new baby brother and being a big sister.

Karla requested this... the two Barbaras with our top knots!  We were to soon have a quick breakfast on Ruth's porch and then a carfull drive to Nancy's and on to the Cities for a baby shower!

Two for good measure!

Love to celebrate sharing our Faith/Family/Farm on this lovely wonderful porch!

13 month old Birdie and her mom, Bobbi, came for our 6 hours in the car, and 6 hours with family!  She stole the show throughout our time away.

Big enough to sit forward and watch movies with the bigger kids!  water and blanket made her feel big and special!

Farmer hubby Pat went along to spend time with Nancy's kids.  We also brought up two girls from the farm to share in our girl's day - Rose and Joy, and David to play with Augustine.  From Nancy's after throwing together a quick fruit salad, we loaded up their vehicle with 8 of us to head to the baby shower of Melissa!  So great to travel the hour and visit and share from the heart!  Nancy shared that her ultrasound will be on June 27th - lots of hopes, dreams and prayers for her new life in the womb!

We all crossed ourselves recognizing Jesus in the tabernacle of The Basilica of St Mary where Pat and I were married 43 years ago on August 3rd, 1978!  "Jesus is there!"

A carload of 8 Verlys arrived to our celebration of New life!  

Yes, she is so fun to have along!  She is starting to share in this woman and girl time that we have in our large families - we recently celebrated Kim with a shower for her upcoming marriage, and now Melissa, who is expecting her first child at the end of July!

Too fun to capture all of her faces of cuteness...

Bobbi and I shared that the women are truly blessed and lucky to have the honor of rejoicing in these occasions of new spouses and life coming into our families!  Truly a gift to be able to support and share!  Bobbi shared that she was thanked for our coming all the way from Marshall for the day..."It's important."  Was her wise and truthful answer!  It is very important to share our love and care for our huge families!

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
We cause no one to stumble in anything,
in order that no fault may be found with our ministry;
on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves
as ministers of God, through much endurance,
in afflictions, hardships, constraints,
beatings, imprisonments, riots,
labors, vigils, fasts;
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness,
in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech,
in the power of God;  2 Cor 6

St Paul gives us so much to live by here today in the first reading!  We are called to be patient and kind as the Holy Spirit calls us to be!  As I pray with my hubby every day - "May we return the unconditional love and forgiveness we have been given to each other and all those around us!"

Wonderful kids, great-aunts, and pets!  A day of beauty and great JOY!

4 year old Joy came along for the day- it sure is fun to see her growing up and spreading her wings!  

It said 99 degrees when we left for home, but the shade made it seem like just a comfortable day to be together enjoying my brother's home and great back yard!

My sister and her daughter, Melissa, beautifully pregnant with her first child!  Very exciting and such a happy time to share our rejoicing with them as new mom and grandmother!

All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
    break into song; sing praise.
R.    The Lord has made known his salvation.  Psalm 98 today!

1 year old Birdie and 4 year old Joy enjoy each other.

So fun to share this special occasion with my family - near and far!

Birdie got a lot of attention and was enjoyed by many.

Julie's home made a special place to celebrate with food and laughter and shade from the heat ...  Quite a few were missing, but our carload made for a festive time together as it is important to go that extra mile to see and share with family!  I don't think that I have seen Melissa for years, so it was very special time to be there and share in her special day!  

The words of St Paul reminds us that it is important to be there to show our love and support for those we are given in our families!  I and Pat and both blessed with huge families - of 140+ and 100+...It is important to "cause no one to stumble"  - we are often misunderstood and not appreciated, yet we are to continue to love and forgive!

These words of St Paul continue and there is so much here in 2 Cor 6!

with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;
through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.
We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful;
as unrecognized and yet acknowledged;
as dying and behold we live;
as chastised and yet not put to death;
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing;
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

Jesus, we trust in you.

Melissa, with her beautiful baby bump, with most of the girls and Julie - 2 girls left earlier, so that is a lot of girls!  

Here's to girls and the fun we have celebrating new life and the beginning of new life together in marriage.  It just seems like women are those that give birth and carry that baby for 9 months... so of course, we should celebrate that wonderful specialness that women are given.  With Marriage we are helping the woman make a new home for her husband and herself.  We make the home a place of peace and beauty!

From Maria on the 12th - Maggie's one month birthday!  Thank you, Maria!  Talk about making a home - Captain Joseph is deployed and has yet to meet and hold his new daughter!  Maria is holding down the fort at home with her well disciplined bunch of kids!

The kids were excited to meet Dominic's new birthday hamster! Happy 7th Birthday, Dominic Patrick!

These words from St Mother Teresa of Calcutta really echoed the Gospel today - "turn the other cheek!"

Gospel Mt 5:38-42

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
    An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”  

There is so much here dear Lord that I need to do better!  

A Poor Clare nun, Mother Mary Francis, shares it even more laid out for us!  Mary is so much my helper on this journey of staggering stumbling down the narrow path carrying/dragging my Most Cherished Cross!

Love this from dad and Brother Victor - with this hot weather - I am happy for the shorn sheep!

Son in law Paul and Simon helped me with my tomato fences - they spoil me!

I can water my garden,  O Lord, we need you to send bountiful rain to water our thousands of acres of crops!  Hear our plea, O Lord!  Bless-bless, Barbara

My tame wildlife - she eats 75% of my cat food.  I think she is nursing 4 little ones - I saw here with them in my garage the other night checking out the recycling.  They are super cute, but annoying at the same time.

Danielle Rose