Mom's birthday on this 16th Sunday of Ordinary time - Martha and Mary Gospel/Military family safely here!

Half a year apart are these two with Regina a month younger than Tommy - our new group of little ones to grow up together!  Sharing a piece of an apple fritter and a touch of acknowledgement.  14 month old Maggie is walking now, and Tom is rolling and on the verge of crawling as he gets around on the floor.

 

Mom and I seven years ago.  How I adored having her with me, and lost her 2 1/2 years ago in a day.  Today would have been her 93rd birthday, and I had to smile when Father Andy preached about the Gospel today from Luke - Martha and Mary.  "How we pray that our dearly beloved dead are sitting at the feet of Jesus like Mary."  Yes!  I love to ponder mom and dad in heaven with Jesus, Mary and the Saints!  Also my sister and brother, children and grand-children!  

Mom with her beloved dog, Cody, in Michigan years ago.  Mom was a true dog lover and even begged dad in their later years to have a dog.  There is no doubt that her heaven will include having her dogs bouncing with JOY all around her!  

Mom and dad with Cody and Jake ... their last 2 dogs .  Before they had Sugar Bear and when we were small we had Tippy.

Mom as a girl and as a new mom with her oldest - me!  

My sister, Mary with my parents, who died just 7 months apart 2 years ago!  The heart rock was a gift to me from the military kids!  LOVE! 

Mom 2 weeks before she died!  We stopped in to see her and she was so good that day!  A precious keepsake for me!  

Sweet babies...

A picture on the wall of David's special toes - heart toes!

Special and unique - he can swim faster!  

Paul baling - no rain in sight and we need rain!  

So much hay through the summer.

Pat raking.

Some of the group in KC have left for France - Hallel will be leaving on July 22nd next week.  I am so glad that we got to see them a few weeks ago.  

Of course, grandma took many.  The military family arrived almost midnight and still were up and attended mass with the "family" this morning at 8a!  

Mary lectored for John as he had fake plans to be in KC this  weekend with Hallel and the Little Sisters and Little Brothers.  She did a very good job and even laughed with us when she said "elevated" rather than alleviated from illness.

Sweet Joy with her Micky Mouse ears...

Rose, Jude and Birdie went shopping after mass with Joy, grandpa and grandma - holy water is a good send off after mass.

Grandma was thrilled to get some wonderful smiles from the birthday boy - 14 and not too proud to smile for the camera on his birthday.

Joy gifted him with her crowns from Cinderella and he put them on for his sweet sister, who thinks so much of her big brother!

Therese and Tommy goofing around...  Never a dull moment when we have a house full of all ages of kids

Birthday cake - Rose doesn't like the blue nose.

My two 14 year olds - Therese in March and David yesterday  - they will now share 14 for 8 months!

Gathered around sweet Tommy for our birthday supper.  Happy 14th Birthday, Big Dave!

David stacking the hay we picked up yesterday - he is now officially unloading the hay wagons so that grandpa can rake the hay ahead of the baler and then they can pick up the bales and send them home.  This is a huge help!  Thank you, Dave!

David is a huge helper on the farm!  Thank you!!!

25 for breakfast this morning after mass.  Loud and lively with ages from 17 to 7 months - 16 kids!  

Joy, Jude and Birdie went shopping with grandpa and grandma after mass.  "I want doughnuts and eggs" reported 2 year old Birdie, and she ate 2 plates of doughnuts and eggs and yogurt!    How we love sharing our Faith as a family on the farm!  Nothing is better under the sun!

Jude watching the water truck used to fill up the pool on this hot day under the sun!  

Now Paul sprays all in the pool...  I am getting my suit on to spend some time enjoying faith/family/farm!  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 53 - 34 with us and 19 in heaven including my mom today on her birthday! LOVE you and miss you mom!  

Peter Mayer - Holy now

in honor of the holy water picture - "swimming in a sea of it!"