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!
Monday of Advent/"Let us walk in the light of the Lord"/Night prayers with John and Jesus- "Good Morning!"
4 1/2 year old Joy Jean holding her new baby brother, Thomas Robert with their Aunt Little Sister Hallel. Joy; "I miss Aunt Hallel a lot. When will we see her again?" We do not know as she is now in France for the year.
I smile when I see her with them as I know that her prayers and thoughts are with our growing family in all our ups and downs. I sent this picture to her in an email to France this morning... I know that I am being naughty as we are not supposed to communicate during Lent and Advent... but a new baby could be an excuse.
A sweet kiss on his soft baby head from his loving big sister... he is going to allow her to grow in her love as she is now a big sister for the first time!
I asked Maria to send me a family picture with Maggie...
A pile of family on the floor in their huge library...
Nancy here to meet and hold new arrival, Thomas, with her family for the weekend. Now we pray for and await the arrival of Nancy's little girl in about a month - somewhere around Christmas for our additional "gift of LIFE." I can think of no better gift for Christmas this year! When asked what I want for Christmas - "Peace and New LIFE in our family to make our love grow more."
Thomas close to his baby cousin in the womb... They will be so close in age and grow up together along with Maria's Maggie Rose, who is 6 months and probably Birdie Barbara of John's, who is 1 1/2 years, too! We love our groups of cousins and how they are such wonderful friends to grow up with united by family!
Joy and I bought this after mass for Thomas - it is a crucifix with Holy Water in the little font to bless yourself when you enter their home. Joy blessed her baby brother the first time she met him a week ago after mass! So special!
Luke and Paul putting the sign on the barn with David and Mary helping them center the words - "Welcome Thomas Robert"
My house aglow with Advent LIGHT!
Today in Isaiah 2 - the final words are filled with that hope and prayer for us this Advent!
come, let us walk in the light of the LORD! Isaiah 2:5
Ready for the family after mass yesterday!
My JOY!
His future Godparents - 17 year old Simon, and 15 1/2 year old Mary! Pat speaks about how his oldest brother is Godfather to his youngest sister, and how it has brought them close over the years although they are maybe close to 20 years apart! Such a blessing for Thomas to have these two wonderful older siblings to look up to and to have their prayers and love for him. Faith being the glue that binds them together as they share his baptism into The Church!
LIFE is a gift and so much more precious than things - siblings make our love grow more, and share our lives with us on this journey of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT as we share Faith/Family/Farm!
Attended mass for a dear Birthright friend, and was very moved to see her son, Deacon Bruce with his son, Transitional Deacon Josh both on the altar with Fr Todd. Such a testimony of loving Jesus and His Bride, The Church!
Father and son, both deacons, and soon Josh will be a priest and his dad will call him Fr Josh! LOVE!
Gathered for prayer before our large meal of the families of our 2 oldest girls - 18 of us gathered in our home after sharing The Eucharist - Thanksgiving is what it means. I told my son-in-law that I could envision my parents and Saints gathered with us at the consecration when all bow and worship Jesus in his Body and Blood on the altar. Especially STJPII and St Teresa of Calcutta as they are fighting so hard to end the taking of innocent life by abortion!
Yes! It can border on wild and crazy, but mostly wild and crazy JOY!
Two tables to make room!
A true celebration when you can have pop for brunch! Grandpa spoils his beloved grandkids after sharing mass on Sunday at the 8a mass! Bill and Nancy stayed overnight just so that they could share in our celebratory Brunch, where grandpa takes groups of the grandkids for doughnuts, fruit, yogurt, and granola and beverage... while we make a huge pan of our farm eggs with sausage... yes, a joyful feast!
Thanksgiving Feast on the First Sunday of Advent!
HOPE fills us with LIGHT for the narrow path as we stagger down it carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross with heaven forever as our goal!
This was so good today in dad's Advent - Christmas prayer of the Church! Take the time to read it and you will be filled with all that JOY and HOPE and LOVE for The Church which we are blessed with as a part of Advent!
From a pastoral letter by Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop (Acta Ecclesiae Mediolanensis, t. 2, Lugduni, 1683, 916-917)
The season of Advent
Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced at last to see. This is the season that the Church has always celebrated with special solemnity. We too should always observe it with faith and love, offering praise and thanksgiving to the Father for the mercy and love he has shown us in this mystery. In his infinite love for us, though we were sinners, he sent his only Son to free us from the tyranny of Satan, to summon us to heaven, to welcome us into its innermost recesses, to show us truth itself, to train us in right conduct, to plant within us the seeds of virtue, to enrich us with the treasures of his grace, and to make us children of God and heirs of eternal life.
Each year, as the Church recalls this mystery, she urges us to renew the memory of the great love God has shown us. This holy season teaches us that Christ’s coming was not only for the benefit of his contemporaries; his power has still to be communicated to us all. We shall share his power, if, through holy faith and the sacraments, we willingly accept the grace Christ earned for us, and live by that grace and in obedience to Christ.
The Church asks us to understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts, bringing with him the riches of his grace.
In her concern for our salvation, our loving mother the Church uses this holy season to teach us through hymns, canticles and other forms of expression, of voice or ritual, used by the Holy Spirit. She shows us how grateful we should be for so great a blessing, and how to gain its benefit: our hearts should be as much prepared for the coming of Christ as if he were still to come into this world. The same lesson is given us for our imitation by the words and example of the holy men of the Old Testament.
Dad's teaching me as I sit at his feet now in his well marked and loved book of prayer after being a permanent Deacon in The Church for 44 years after he brought all 13 of us into The Church 50 years ago! I am over the moon blessed!
Fr Denny spoke in his homily yesterday that Jesus is coming into our lives and hearts now as he did historically and will come again at the end of time.
When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. Matthew 8
The Gospel today is our humble acceptance that although we are unworthy - Jesus in his Mercy and Unconditional LOVE and forgiveness comes to dwell within us and brings LIGHT into the darkness of our sins.
John and I shared our overlap of prayer last night/morning - John the last hour of Sunday and I the first hour of Monday. We share family needs and then end in prayer together. Take it to prayer is the only answer to much that we face in this life.
Finding the daisies in the ditch to remind us that Jesus is in control and blessing us even with those hardships and sufferings.
At the feet of Our Lady a tiny leaf from the hedge outside - our needs humbly placed in her arms as she is our Spiritual Mother and we bring her into our homes and we find peace with her there!
The person that comes after me always greets me with; "Good Morning." It seems out of place in the darkness of night at 1am, yet it is truth in fact.
Jesus, we are filled with HOPE and JOY at this Advent season where your wonderful Church guides us to celebrate your LIGHT coming into our world of darkness. May we die to self so that you may live in us and bring us into your Glory. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
My Most Cherished Cross, Patrick Verly! The Holy Spirit spoke through him at our marriage encounter - "The World needs LIGHTS." Open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS is the legacy that has carried forth now with our children.
Nancy and Bill in KC 5 years ago! Pat is asking if we might go for a visit soon! We love our family of The Lamb - our daughter, Little Sister Hallel, belongs to The Community of the Lamb and there is one foundation in the U.S. - in the heart of the poor in Kansas City, Kansas!
"Wounded, I will never cease to love." The motto The Community lives by and The Lamb of God shows us how to live this!
Our newest grandchild - prayers surround them from the moment we know that they are in the womb!
Thanksgiving on the farm 7 years ago! This is now Ruth's home and the wall is gone - it is open and wonderfully their farm house now.
LOVE this for prayer without ceasing throughout my day! Bless-bless, Barbara
Joy and JoJo are good buddies and share their group in the family with Evangeline Mary!
The two 9 year olds with Tom Tom... Berna and Rose are just 6 months apart and share their group with Patrick in Washington.
Simon leading the singing and Mary and David serving yesterday on the First Sunday of Advent.
Our Lady and Thomas in the light.
The reason for the season!
I pick up my beads and peace fills me!
Dad, Brother Victor, and Dorothy Day... a good reminder of her work for the poor.
Danielle Rose Blessings - Laura StoryEmmaus - Steve Green
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