Picking up bales on Hwy 59 - Prayers for safety/Red for martyrs at mass/The paralytic from Matthew

Sitting at an inner section I watched as Paul loaded Simon pulling a wagon with the tractor down the side of Hwy 59 at a busy time of evening - 6p.  Cars go by from both directions at 65 miles an hour, and my anxiety goes up.  I was called upon to help pick up bales for the first time, and many prayers for safety!

Our bean field looking good and Ed's farm across the road.  Paul picking up the bales to put on Simon's wagon as traffic flies by.  Paul is wonderful to work with and talks to us on the phone as he works with us step by step to get the bales safely picked up.

Repeating Hail Marys, and did I mention that there are many trucks coming from Marshall and going to Marshall.  When they fly by in both directions - you can feel that you are jolted.

And then there was the hot dusty wind!  The wind of the prairie stirred up dust indeed.

Loading a bale on the big rack that holds 13 bales.

The grain bins on the left in the distance is where Pat and I lived with our first 4 girls on Highway 59!  Many fond memories of our nest years there.

I enjoyed having this perspective of picking up bales along Hwy 59 at the end of June 2022.

Pat taking 2 bales off the rack at a time to put in our bale pyramid at the farm.

Official selfie of dusty hot and windblown Barb after being very nervous picking up bales on Hwy 59.

Jumping in the pool was inviting, but I just washed off my arms and face with the cool water instead.  I think bales make a pretty backdrop for this old worried farm wife.  I am so much of a city girl at heart, that I do worry more than my daughter and her kids, who have grown up on the farm and are inherently used to living and working on the farm.  Still prayers for safety for ALL!

When I got out of the pickup - I was right by the 4th Station of the Cross - Jesus meets his Mother. Obviously it was made in 2204 - so is 18 years old and has been on the tree through all types of weather including winters!

 Maria made these stations of the Cross when she came home after discerning a call to be a Poor Clare nun.  The Lord's answer was "not for you, Maria."  Now she is married to Major Joseph and they have 7 children in the military.

Another day of red vestments for the First Martyrs of the Roman Catholic Church.  They speak of shedding of blood for our Lord, and "Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.  Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb."  The Lamb that shed it's blood for us! 

The Gospel today is a very special one to me each time it comes up.  It recalls the way John was lowered into the presence of Jesus for healing by our prayer warriors 13 years ago!  Jesus found his Faith through brain cancer, and is now the New John!  

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: John's cancer stories

His Spirit Juice video made in Chicago some years ago - his story continues now with wife and children!  

Those that attack our Church - the True Church instituted by Jesus to St Peter, the first pope and certainly not perfect.  It hurts to have those close to us attack The True Church that I love with my ALL, and I know with Pope Benedict - that Jesus will not abandon His Church!  

My mother has this folded in her daily meditations by Pope Benny and how she loved to have this reminder when she was under attack also.

6 years ago memory of the girls minus Hallel in Rome and John at Catholic Heart work camp.  We were expecting our 14th grandchild here.  Now we are expecting our 23rd!  LOVE our family motto of being open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS!  Thank you, honey for allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our domestic Church/family in line with the teachings of The Catholic Church - each marital act needs to be open to LIFE!  

God’s love for us is free, total, faithful and fruitful (life-giving), and the couple’s love for each other should be all these things as well. In fact, these four aspects of love – free, total, faithful, and fruitful – are mirrored in the vows & promises that a husband and wife exchange during their wedding.

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: Our marriage stories - "The world needs LIGHTS!" 

This is right outside our bedroom window and a sweet singing bird has built a nest there... too cute and I knew that the lovely singing was close and special.

Sitting on her nest and singing so joyfully!  There are mulberry trees all around her that give her so much food - no wonder she is happily singing for happiness and sweetness.  

They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.  Psalm 19 has some sweetness in the Lord's judgments even in our lives.

My brother, Dan and his wife, Angela, share back and forth the blessings I am given every day from our parents in the prayer books they left behind.  I shared this with Dan today as it was a prayer that dad had memorized and that we said together each evening after we had shared evening prayer of The Church after supper.  Oh, dad, I love you and miss you, but I am so happy to continue to have you guide and direct me as I sit at your feet! 

Now dad's man, Brother Victor, finds God all around him - out in the fields with God.  So true of our farming way of LIFE - not just a job but a LIFE!  

The martyrs died for Jesus and The Church!

The Michigan memories are coming as this is the weeks that our family would spend at the Lake!  7 years ago at Hereford and Hopps 

Luke and Dominic 7 years ago.

Mary and Therese with a bouquet of wild flowers for the table.

8 years ago - Luke and Patrick.  I am thinking that baby Luke looks a lot like his baby brother, Thomas Robert.

Sweet boy Tom!  

Jesus, hold us close to your heart burning with love for us.  May we die to self so that you may use us as your hands and feet and voice of Truth.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 51 - 34 with us and 17 in heaven.

Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;
for praise is fitting for loyal hearts. - Psalm 33:1

 

 

 

"Jesus, for You I live.

Jesus, for You I die. 
 Jesus, I am Yours in life and death."

 

 From Reflections and Prayers

for Visits with our Eucharistic Lord,

John J. Cardinal Carberry

 

 

FEAST of the First Roman Martyrs ~ JUNE 30

 

 The First Martyrs of the Church of Rome were Christians martyred

in Rome during Nero's persecution in the year 64.

“This dreadful conflagration continued nine days; when Nero, finding that his conduct was greatly blamed, and a severe odium cast upon him, determined to lay the whole upon the Christians, at once to excuse himself and have an opportunity of glutting his sight with new cruelties. This was the occasion of the first persecution ...

Nero even refined upon cruelty, and contrived all manner of punishments for them that the most infernal imagination could design.  In particular, he had some sewed up in the skins of wild beasts, and then worried by dogs till they expired; and others dressed in shirts made stiff with wax, fixed to axle-trees, and set on fire in his gardens in order to illuminate them.  This persecution was general throughout the whole Roman empire; but it rather increased than diminished the spirit of Christianity."

 

A. Wright

A History of the Principal

and Most Distinguished Martyrs

The First Holy Martyrs of the Roman Church - YouTube

 

Torches of Nero ~ Henryk Siemiradzki

 

Holy Martyrs of Rome, pray for us!

Danielle Rose

Zach Williams