Prayer from the beginning to the end-St Teresa of Avila/Jesus - " the one who fills all things in every way."/Tom and Joy means happiness

Trying to capture the sun shining on the golden leaves out our bedroom window and door...  Open the door and put my mom's chair there with 5 year old Joy and her baby brother, 10 1/2 month old Tom with the stray cat that has adopted us. 

 I had the happy time of also being able to do Kateri braids for Joy.  I explained that ever since I had my 4 girls - I love to do little girls' hair!  St Kateri was an American Indian Saint hence Indian braids as opposed to Bernadette braids which would be French braids of course.

How I adore my photo shoots... This is the chair from my mother that I have 2 matching in my bedroom and I sit in them to do my morning prayer with the many prayer books that my parents left behind for me! 

 I am so blessed with this answer to my heartfelt prayers that in my retirement that I can have time to pray and time to write.  I burn to share from the many blessings I am given each day by The Catholic Church, prayers, Saints, Jesus in The Word and Sacrament of the altar -  His Body and Blood, Mary, the Mother of God... too much each day!!!  

Tom sure loves to have his wonderful sister here today sharing time with grandma!  

St Teresa of Avila - a doctor of The Church has her feast today.  How I loved to read her motto to live by - "the work of prayer is the beginning and the end of all spiritual life."  I LOVE my day filled with constant prayer through Mary to her Son, Jesus!  

Ignatius came in for a visit since I had the door open for pictures in my bedroom - mom and dad's statues of Mary and Joseph looking over her shoulder.  I am have so much of my parents all around me... and it brings me peace and JOY! 

 I am approaching the 2 year anniversary of my dad dying here in my "farm monastery" after living his last 6 months of life on hospice here and sharing his religious life with me - a Permanent Deacon in The Catholic Church for 44 years!

Now outside in one of my porch chairs out of the sunlight.

Yesterday was National Dessert Day - so I made some apple Kuechen for after school snack while Ruth and Paul and Pat were helping Doc Brockway with Preg checking about 90 cows.  They are doing the other 60 this morning.

Sunrise on the corn field and the cows out on pasture till the snow flies.

That is one super snuggly kitty!  He loves to be in the house, held and purrs like crazy while he rubs on you, right Tom?

Grandma having too much fun!  

Joy found one of the halos we used at VCC - Verly Christmas Camp last year for the Live Nativity.  It is right that this sweet boy should be wearing it - he is a true angel for his old grandma!  

My mother's chairs back in my prayer space with Joy talking about the words in the mass for The Eucharist - "Behold the Lamb of God.  Behold he who takes away the sins of the world."

"Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof (Ruth), but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."  

Outside with the 100+ Cottonwood tree golden the the sun and the golden field of harvested corn across the road as a fall backdrop.

Grandma took many!  The words of St Paul to the Ephesians today in the first reading - there is so much here!

Brothers and sisters:
Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and of your love for all the holy ones,
I do not cease giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead
and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the Church,
which is his Body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.  Ephesians 1

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.  By Michael W Smith seems appropriate here

The statue of Mary in the sunlight...

Sweet Joy - no better name for this loving and happy girl!  She comes running out of the house to give her old grandparents hugs galore!

Tom loves his big sister!  She makes him giggle and smile with great happiness!  How I am blessed with so much Faith/Family/Farm and the words from St Paul today ring like a bell for me - "And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the Church,
which is his Body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way."

Yes, Lord!  How I am filled with the fruits of your Spirit as I begin and end my day with prayer and all time in between - praying without ceasing.  Filling all things in every way!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and all

Home swim meet - borrowed some pictures.  Granddaughter Mary Lanoue swims with the team

Preparing to compete!  

Memory from 10 years ago - Patrick in NICU and getting better every day after a traumatic birth!  So many prayers for him!

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: The story of little Lamb - grandson Patrick 

"He got big over the summer!"

Dad today in the Office of Readings - St Theresa in her own words!  

My parents brought the 13 into The Church 50 years ago and each day is a gift to me!  

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

St Mother Teresa of Calcutta today - greet all that comes to us with a smile!  

Dad's man, Brother Victor, has some sweet words of St Teresa today!  LOVE!  

Danielle Rose - so good and amazing 

Francesca Batistelli