Son and son-in-law time/John on stage - his favorite place over the years/Father's Day beam in the eye - John 13 years later!

 

Opening show of Cinderella yesterday with my son, John, who played everything from a giant to a towns person, and a court person.  Over the years John has loved the stage and theater was attractive for him to pursue at college until we talked sense into him about a poor future that would be.  

I shocked myself today realizing that Father's Day came and went with a lot of it spent with my son, and I did not have one memory of that being such a day of infamy for us.  It was the day 13 years ago that we first realized that John had brain cancer and all that followed leaving us with the new John!  A man of finding his faith along with ataxia and memory loss.

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

His Spirit Juice video gives you some back story that continues now with wife and children, disability and stay at home dad with an after school job at the Catholic School.

At 6'7" he made a realistic giant when surrounded by little children in the play's beginning.

John has played everything from Oliver at age 11, and one of the Greasers in Grease, and many times in the chorus or small roles which he makes memorable and funny year after year!  

The final scene - a friends son, brought all of his children 5 of them to be in the play with him and share the Joy!  I could see John doing that with his own kids over the years.  "I enjoy having something to do that I enjoy spending time on."  And we enjoy watching you over the years, too John!

Bobbi and the kids have been away visting family in New Jersey so they will have to go and watch their dad next week sometime.

John and I shared mass and breakfast with the family.  Then the play and went out to have some supper after.  Finally we shared Adoration in the middle of the night as we overlap from 11:30- midnight when my hour starts.  It must be a sign that  we are now getting away from recalling the cancer so much.  Even when we prayed together last night it never came up that this was the anniversary of our huge scary Finding John's Faith through brain cancer!  Time does have a way of changing our perspective on life and the ups and downs fade a bit into the sunset.

3 years ago in Kansas City - Son-in-law, Bill, was there doing some work for his job - Maria drove down to visit Hallel, who was here in the U.S., and I drove down with some of Ruth's kids and some of Nancy's kids to spend a couple days with Hallel and The Little Sisters!  

Bill just spent an overnight here with me and worked remotely and just left for KC to work remotely and help out a friend in need.  We shared meals and conversations.  John went with me to my swimmercize and came for breakfast with Bill.  An unexpected and good time sharing and catching up.  

I am excited to think that Bill will see Hallel and The Little Sisters while there.  We are all trying to find a chance to go down and visit with Hallel before she leaves for France for maybe years again...  John and Bobbi and the kids are going down mid July to share time with The Community and our Hallel! 

Susan/Hallel and Maria - 3 years ago in KCK - Hallel is meeting Hector for the first time.  Now she came couple months ago and met the 3 newest grandchildren including Maria's Magdalene Rose.

The end of April to May 1st - we gathered in the cold and the wet to share 4 days with our nun!  With her arms full of the new little ones... Maggie, Regina, and Thomas!

While we were at the play we got some pictures of Bobbi and the kids at the Ocean.  

What sand and super cute to see Birdie in the swimsuit Aunt Nancy got for her birthday.

Playing hard and happy!  Today they are on the road coming back home to Marshall.  John misses them!

Kids and sand on the beach is the most fun!

The pool at the farm is a hit on these brutally hot days with 100 degrees and strong winds too!  

Such a sweet girl - Joy Jean in her little Sister blue dress at mass yesterday!  

"I love to wear Little Sister blue!"

The team that fought brain cancer 13 years ago now at a new place of going forward down the path ahead and not looking back quite so much anymore.  It is a good place to be in - especially when we share those most important things in this world - Faith/Family/Farm!

The Gospel today was actually what brought me to recall about this being our 13th anniversary - the beam in the eye!  It was the Gospel just days after John's finding that there was something in the brain.  I had thought that an eye injury from years before when he got a stick in the eye - had flared up and was causing his double vision.   So when this reading came up just after... it was a powerful time to reckon with the Truth that it was instead brain cancer and we were in for the fight for John's LIFE!  

It is important to focus on the real message that we are to focus on our own faults and not those of others around us.  Lord, humble us and may we look to you for your unconditional LOVE and forgiveness!

Can't get enough of the Little Sister Blue!

Sharing the BLUE!

I always smile when I put on my blue thinking of my nun - "The color of the sky and the shape of the Cross - it reminds us of our goal - heaven!"

A sweet picture in Italy - LOVE!

Today in dad's office of Readings - Dad ended our evening prayer with this prayer from memory each night as we shared prayer together.  I was blessed with 6 months here in our "farm monastery" sharing his religious life - 44 years a Permanent Deacon in The Catholic Church!  We shared morning prayer with every Monday praying for all children, spouses, grandchildren and spouses - 34, and than great-grandchildren now up to 65!  First and Middle names!!!  

It sure makes me feel happy and right to do my litany of our entire families - 250+ during my Adoration hour - the first hour of Monday!  I don't do middle names, but I do name all!  I also pray for new LIFE in the womb from the moment I know they are in this world.  Currently just one that I am aware of.

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: The amazing story of the 13 becoming Catholic! 

This powerful verse certainly puts dad's love of The Name into a powerful LIGHT!  Hear our prayer, O Lord through our Lady.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

St Mother Teresa's words this day are speaking quite clearly to me as I have a new program starting with mass then time at the Y swim exercising.  As Son-in-law, Bill, reminded me that I am taking care of a couple most important things for myself all before 9a!  

Father's Day combined with Corpus Christi... special for John also as he had the Corpus Christi mass for his wedding weekend.  

Fresh cut flowers with my wall of family and a special poem for motherhood!  Also resting on a brick from our recent work done of the exterior of our beloved Holy Redeemer Church over a hundred years old.  My wall of family is very specially smiling on me after my special family times over these last few days.  They are always with me and lifting me up as we share our LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT received by sharing our Faith in Jesus, Mary and The Church!  Every day is a great blessing!  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 51 - 34 with us and 17 in heaven.

Faith and Family are so close to each other for me!!!

Salve Regina as sung by Hallel's  Community of the Lamb!  Each night before they go to bed -so beautiful!  John and I end our prayer on Monday morning with Hail Holy Queen!  How we love Our Spiritual Mother of heaven and earth!  Mother of God!!!

Danielle Rose