Leaving for TEC retreat/Baptism weekend for Lucy Marie - Our 23rd grandchild to enter The Church!/"take up his cross, and follow me." - +JMJ+

Bobbi sent these and I call that a sweet small smile on Lucy's face as her big brother, Jude snuggles her this morning.  The excitement is building as family is arriving from coast to coast to gather around Lucy Marie on Saturday night for her Baptism!  

Another bright sweet smile!  Lucy is our 23rd grandchild to enter The Catholic Church through Baptism!  

Changed Forever: The Sacrament of Baptism by Fr. Mike Schmitz - FORMED  Here is Fr Mike speaking on Baptism 

I love her smile here too with some open mouth!  With big sister, Birdie Barbara.

Granddaughter, Mary, on the bus on the first leg of going for Speech at Harvard in Boston.  I informed her that I was born in Boston while my dad was in Seminary there.  I lived there for the first couple years of my life and my sister, Marty, was also born there.

Major Joseph and his military family are taking advantage of a long weekend and are visiting nephew, Sam Cross, in Maryland!  Sure to love to see them having family time!  

They have 5 children plus our 7 grandchildren = 12!  It should be a wide and crazy fun time!  I sure love to see them together!  

I am sharing quickly here today as Pat, I and grandson, Simon, are soon to leave for 3 days away at a Together Encounter Christ retreat in New Ulm.  Yes, Pat and I will have to come back for the Baptism tomorrow night!  So many prayers and packing air mattresses, bedding, towels, clothes, letters, Bibles, and it takes a lot of time and energy, but so worth it!  

Tom here yesterday is officially walking now!  It is so fun to watch him now playing with the duplos and building things!  

He is such a sweet and loving boy for his old grandma!  HE is such a gift of NEW LIFE for our farm family and grandma and grandpa are happily included in that!  

I love how his face lights up when he looks at me!  

He loves his wheels and is constantly making a "brumm-brumm" sound.  

The classic little boy pose with something that rolls on wheels!  

Just back from praying for Fr Denny with 7 Sisters at the Adoration chaple.  I prayed the sorrowful mysteries on the rosary for Fr Denny - the 5th mystery - The Crucifixion - may we die to self so that you may live in us!  

The Gospel today is exactly this from our Lord to us!

Gospel Mk 8:34—9:1

Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the Gospel will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life?

I am giving Church, People of God talk on Sunday.  I am very excited as The Catholic Church is my greatest love only after Jesus and Mary!  I love everything about The Church!  I love Jesus in Body and Blood and Word every day!  I love The Saints!  I am overwhelmed with all that I am given for every day of my journey down the narrow path every day!   

A picture from our barn camera - Cow TV - I think we have 5 baby calves now!  All are healthy and doing well.  Thank you, Lord!  So many prayers and surveillance from the house by Ruth and Paul and family!

Pope Benedict XVI today writing about The Church!  He is such a model of LOVE for The Church for me every day, too!!!  

Thanks to Brother Victor today I will share some quartets...

Jesus, I lay all at your feet and long to totally die to self so that you may use me to do your work and share your LIGHT.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 34

Danielle Rose - The Saint that is just me

The song for my talk - we are all called to be the Saint that the Lord wants us to be!  

Beethoven Quartets