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!
A day of healing and prayer/Reconciliation - "present you holy and without blemish"/4th and 5th station and piano and voice
Gathering in KC 5 years ago for Labor Day weekend we had just shared mass as a family on the day that St Mother Teresa of Calcutta was Canonized! Her feast is tomorrow! I am over the moon excited!
We have since added 8 since this, and 2 more to join us soon!... John has added wife, Bobbi, and 2 little ones, Ruth has added Joy and now a baby boy in November, Nancy added George and a baby girl around Christmas, Maria has added 3 - Evangeline, Hector and Maggie Rose! Each new life brings us more LOVE!
After confessing my failures yesterday - this is so important to me to remember - I do nothing without Christ, who strengthens me!
Time with Jude and Birdie while I waited to pick Mary up from swimming. Birdie got into my purse and surprise!!! Many rosaries! 2 1/2 year old Jude in his overalls and Birdie in her strawberry top!
Always love Our Lady, Jude! She is the best mother of all - Mother of God and heaven and earth!
Jude used it to swing around and grandma reminded him that it is the best weapon we have against evil and sin!
I had some time in church to prepare for my reconciliation and the 4th station of the Cross beckoned me! There was music practice going on, so it felt more prayerful to sit further back.
Jesus meets his mother on the way of carrying his Cross to his torturous death. Her pain and His suffering are so immense at this point. So much pain and sorrow - it reminded me that this month of September is devoted to Our Lady of Sorrows, and how appropriate that is!
The actual feast day is on Pat's birthday, September 15th, but so special and powerful to know that the entire month is devoted to how she can be with us in our suffering and pain and devastation!
Saturdays are devoted to Mary, and I love this reminder of how we are loved and cared for and brought to Jesus by "the Best Mother of all!" John and I agreed when he said some years back and other times since.. "Mom, there is a better mother than you." "Yes!"
After Reconciliation I went to do my hour of prayer with 7 sisters in the Church. At the same time a grandmother and her granddaughter were practicing their music for a wedding that is today. Grandma playing and granddaughter singing with a most beautiful voice. I was lifted up when they sang - Ave Maria! My prayer was accompanied by piano and voice and this time I sat by the 5th Station - Simon helped carry the cross.
Filling the Church with our family after the first ever Verly Christmas on the Farm in January!
All except Hallel, whom was added later for my wall! How we love and support each other as we share our Faith as a family! A friend commented "you fill up the church!" Yes! How we LOVE Jesus and His Bride, The Church, with no reservations!
Pondering oldest grandson, Simon, and how he willingly helps on the farm.
Reconciliation was hard but so powerful and I was washed clean! Reading the first reading today from Colossians means so much to me today after receiving this Sacrament for the first time since November. Yes, I should go more!
Brothers and sisters: You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds; God has now reconciled you in the fleshly Body of Christ through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him, provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.
There it is!!! Jesus with the love of his Mother and the help of Simon along the way... gave us our Church with the Sacraments and the way that we can become "holy, without blemish, and irreproachable" before the Trinity - Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit dwelling in us gives us the strength to persevere in the faith - grounded in the HOPE of the Gospel! Yes, Lord!!!
My two sweethearts get the message that grandma loves her rosary and it is always with me - the best weapon against evil and Satan, who attacks us.
Hope given us by the Gospel rang like a bell in morning prayer this morning! We say The Canticle of Zachariah each morning together Pat and I in Morning prayer..."The Dawn from on high shall break upon us and shine on those who dwell in the darkness and the shadow of death and guide our feet into the way of Peace." Luke 1 So much HOPE and Truth!
Today from my dad in his well worn and used prayer book as he was a permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church for 44 years! My cup overflows by his still sharing with me the beauty we share in The Catholic Church, which he brought our family of 13 into 50 years ago!
"Our very existence is a gift from you; to you we offer all that we have and are." Yes! dearest father! I am so glad that you did not hold back your joy and wisdom at seeing The Truth that can set us free!
Rosaries for All!
Such a day of healing and PRAYER! I am overwhelmed by His LOVE for me! I am unworthy and humbled!
Due to a super crazy week - I was unable to spend my time reading my wonderful prayer books left me by both of my parents, who both died last year 7 months apart! It was such a blessing to read my mother's daily prayer book by Pope Benedict XVI, which she read 10 years over and over.
From "I" into 1 in Christ!
Then from my dad today and his man, Brother Victor! How I love to spend time each day in prayer in my inner chamber/temple filled with so much LIGHT! These words brought tears to my eyes and JOY to my heart! - it is truly "the door of the Kingdom of God!"
The entire sharing today was a delight! "There is one point where God communicates with us, and that is the center of our own souls."
Birdie Barbara finds the St Barbara prayer beads given to me by John, the best gift giver ever! St Barbara pray for us!
Jesus, how we long to take that time to pray, and enter the door into your Kingdom in our inner temple chamber. May your LIGHT/LOVE/LIFE flow around us and through us so that we may die to self and allow your Holy Spirit to use us as your hands and feet and voice to share your Wisdom and Truth! You are the Way, the Truth and the LIFE! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
A new kitten to replace my lost Cornelius... this one is Felix and has been rescued from the dog on the farm. He seems to be fitting in well with the other kitten as a companion to him.
Pat had a "hard day" getting the newly weaned calves comfortable. "They were all laying down so comfortable on the fresh bedding Simon and I put down for them. They were exhausted after being weaned off their mothers and then the rain."
A picture of contentment... taken by Simon.
A picture of our Big Lake - we see God's beauty here, along with many family memories. Some of my grandchildren long to return and I thought we might make it this year - now summer is gone and so it is something we could try for next summer. Fake plans are what we have around here with farm life and a daughter's family in the military. It is all in the Lord's hands, and we trust! Bless-bless, BarbaraMorning has broken
While I prayed in church - suddenly this was played on the piano, and brought my mom's arms around me - this is the song she chose for her funeral mass! LOVE!
O God, beyond all praising! Mom's other hymn and one that touches me deeply!
Danielle Rose - wrote songs based on St Mother Teresa's sayings - Small things with great love!
No comments:
Post a Comment