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!
"I have given up everything to follow you." Hallel/She now has 173 sisters, 36 brothers, a dozen houses in 6 lands.../Birdie and gummies
Little Sister Stella with her parents and Little Sister Olivianna a week ago on our parents' weekend in Kansas City, Kansas. It was a powerful weekend of sharing the sacrifice we are called to make for our daughter's call to religious life.
The Gospel today is a huge coming to LIFE of Truth for me of the Lord indeed answering this message in a most powerful way in the life of our daughter, who left all behind - in many ways including her family! In other words the Gospel coming to LIFE!
Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
A picture taken off of a screen as we were watching some pictures of our daughters and their lives throughout the world. Our daughter, who is the 2nd American Little Sister, is living in Saint Pierre, France this year. She is in charge of her small group living in one of the communities. Their work is building and one night a week Hallel spends taking care of a Little Sister, who needs help to the bathroom and cares during the night.
Yes, Hallel left all behind including daily time with her family or even communication with her family. Yet, I look at all she has gained just as the Lord promised - "100 times more in this present age!" Including her sisters and brothers from our family - she now has 173 sisters, and 36 brothers, she has at least 12 Monasteries/Homes complete with chapel of daily worship in 6 different lands! Wow! That is 100 times more in my book!
As far as mothers and children - I know that Hallel loves to spend time with families everywhere they have lived including when she lived in Kansas City at the same time Naney lived there - "my kids are a magnet for me to get to see Susan/Hallel." Of course Mother Mary, Little Sister Marie - their foundress, who is still living and very loving towards her "children" - Little Sisters and Brothers!
My special sister/friend, Pat's sister RaTerra, is joining me at 70 today although with a leap year birthday it always feels a bit confusing. Through her friendship at the U of M - I later met her brother Patrick and as a city girl came to the farm 43 1/2 years ago!
7 years ago with Pat's mom on hospice in her home!
John called me to remind me to turn the calendar to March today. LOVE it Bobbi!!! Even added my sister, Mary, whose birthday is St Patrick's Day! She died of cancer at age 28 after finding her dairy farmer Gerry and having her baby girl, Audrey! Oh, Bobbi, you sure know how to pull my heart strings!
Some time with my namesake, Birdie Barbara, while her brother went to check out his cough with his dad. A little thumb sucker just like her 4 Verly Aunts before her.
A year ago memory of Simon and Mary leading singing at mass - sharing the gift of their voices to the Lord! Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; Psalm 98 from mass today!
Two years ago on Leap Year... 6 of the 10 siblings at a family funeral.
4 of my sibs using the gift of their voices singing at the funeral!
Pat and I stopped at my parents' assisted living after with flowers and food. Mom was so good that day and this picture of her happened to be a treasure as we lost her 2 weeks later. She fell before breakfast and broke her hip and went to be with Jesus and Mary by 5p!
Dementia was becoming an issue, but this day she was bright and wonderful and left Pat and I with such a fond last memory of mom and dad happily together in their new home - The Lodge of New Hope!
Birdie time!
"Bobbi curled her hair this morning and put a cute sweater on her." Yes!!!
Grandma got carried away and spoiled her with fruit snacks - "gummies!"
Who can resist those begging eyes and her sweet voice with so many words? "More gummies please?"
Lined up on the window sill...
Chewing on one...
I love you gummy!!! You make me smile inside and out!
Oh no, they are all gone!
Grandma will spoil me and give me some more! Yeah!!!!
Riding on the semi with cows on board.
Daddy!!!!!
It is now afternoon, and I am needing to finish this for today. It has been my JOY to recall how the Lord has blessed Hallel and her family with 100 times more than we could have ever had if we had not sacrificed with Hallel's "Yes." to her LOVE/Jesus Christ! When we do see her and get real hugs - they are so sweet after the time apart. Now with Lent starting tomorrow we are asked to not communicate with her and fast from letters or phone calls. Lent is such a powerful time and that fasting just adds to our sacrifice and embracing of our Cross as it becomes The Tree of LIFE!
Jesus, we love you and long to come closer to you over these 40 days. May we die to self so that your Holy Spirit may dwell in us and we may become more your hands and feet. May we give without counting the cost. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
When Pat's mother was on hospice and close to death - she had her family gather around her bed at night repeat this together! LOVE!
Nancy 2 years ago - it will be interesting so see if we get our crosses on our forehead this year - last year they just sprinkled ashes on the top of our heads in Pennsylvania.
How I hope we get our cross this year - I will keep you posted tomorrow!
Nancy 3 years ago with baby George at 2 weeks back at work on Catholic Sprouts podcast. Now baby Regina will be 3 months in a couple weeks! Open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS!
4 years ago - this girl is 5 now! JoJo - Josesphine Francis
Time in my chapel on wheels following Pat to get his tractor fixed, and now we already picked it up again - "It was a quick fix." I got most of my rosary said and we shared morning prayer together. It was a good time to share with hubby - My Most Cherished Cross!
Dad today in morning prayer! The verse that brought all 13 into The Church! LOVE!
Dad 2 years ago today! A month and a half later he came to live his last 6 months on the farm on hospice! I was allowed to share in his religious life sharing morning and evening prayer and 3p rosary and chaplet on the porch! I now have his prayer books and he liberally marked them to continue to share with me his JOY and LOVE for Jesus, Mary and The Church! Bless-bless, Barbara and the 48 today... 33 here and 15 in heaven including mom and dad!!!
Funeral flowers for Our Lady in mom and dad's place 2 years ago! Now she is in my home!
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