Simon to the rescue with St JPII/Walking in his ways - Choose LIFE!/lose our life to save it! - +JMJ+

Oldest grandson, Simon, gave me the sweetest smile as I was so excited to see him wearing this Confirmation present!  Simon chose St JPII for his Confirmation Saint a year ago at his Confirmation, and this sweet shirt was a gift.  Simon and I are experienceing our 4th day after sharing a Together Encounter Christ retreat together over the weekend.  It has given us common ground of Faith and Family plus Farm!  

Simon came over in the tractor to help get us out.  We had a couple feet of snow and there was no way for Pat to get out to go to the farm.  Simon to the rescue!  

Coming in through the garage.  He told me that he had to ask for Monday off from school to attend our TEC retreat.  "The teachers were all really nice and told me that they would give me my homework when I get back.  But I haven't even gotten to my 4th block class as school was called off at noon on Tuesday and now we have had 2 snow days."  He did appreciate being able to sleep in these days though.

The TEC trailer parked and snowed in... Simon in snow up to his knees after grandpa took over moving snow with the tractor.  

Action shot with the snow flying - the tractor must have been toasty warm for him to not have his jacket on.  

Pat taking over the moving of a lot of new snow!  

Simon making a path in the blanket of new snow keeping us homebound this morning.  It's sure is beautiful, but  now the work begins on the farm with giving the cows and calves dry bedding from corn stalk bales to lay on and rest after standing up through the storm.    Also get the snow out of all the feed bunks so that they can feed them more than snow.  Simon will be out there with Pat, Paul and the older kids!  

Pat behind the wheel pushing up mountains of snow.

Up to his knees!  It is hard to believe that we had such a wonderful window for our 3 day retreat and time to all get home safely.  I walked outside in 30+degree weather and no jacket and the snow melting on the weekend.  Thank you, Lord!  

Had to snap one from the door in our bedroom this morning - so pretty!  

Our Lady of the snows in our front yard.

Simon's younger brother, Luke, 9 years ago when he was 5 months old with a new calf.  

Momma cow smelling him through the fence 9 years ago.  Simon was 9 as now he is 18, and that is the age of Luke now.

"Be not afraid."  St JPII

So much today in the Word of God for mass.  7a Mass was canceled this morning due to the snow, but I love to still read the readings in my Magnificat.  So powerful is the first reading from Dueteronomy 30\

 I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous,
and the LORD, your God,
will bless you...I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse.
Choose life....  Duet 30

How I agree whole heartedly with God asking us to Choose LIFE!  How can it ever be anything but this TRUTH that ALL LIFE is sacred and to be protected and cherished no matter the cost?  Lord, hear our prayer that many may see your TRUTH - LIFE is Sacred!  

From Maria today in Charlottesville, VA - bare feet and green grass and 80 degrees today - "I have all the windows open to air out the house!"  We all have snow days and Maria's homeschool is taking the week off, too.  "Therese has a week off from Catholic High School on line, so we all took the week off."  Reported Maria this morning.  She also reminded me that she and baby, Maggie, will be flying in for her Goddaughter, Mary's Confirmation on Sunday March 5th!  So excited!!!  

Nancy's picture out the patio door today - they are having a snow day from St Maximilian Catholic School in Delano, MN.
 

My cat Ignatius sunbathing with Our Lady, Jesus and a huge snowbank.

The picture of warmth on a snow day...

A picture I took from the barn camera of Simon and Pat bedding the barn for the 7 new moms with their baby calves.  Doing the work to feed the world.  As I said - Simon shares not only Faith and Family, but also Farm!  

Pope Benedict XVI with me every day from a daily meditation that my mother left behind for me.  LOVE them both.

Dad today in his Prayer of the Church for Lent- Dad liked this prayer and points it out to me, too.  Thanks, dad.  I love and miss you, too.  It is so wonderful to have you with me each day in your well worn prayer books you left for me.  How I love to continue to sit at your feet and learn from your LIGHT and wisdom.  

Simon cleaning off the steps from the house.  

The Gospel from mass today was such a beautiful gift also!  

Then he said to all,
"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?"  Luke 9:22-25

Yes, we are called to die to self so that the Holy Spirit may dwell in us and we can be his hands and feet and voice!  Lord, hear my  prayer.  

We so love our young farm family on the farm and all they willingly and cheerfully do to make it run.  We will be starting to have our 150+ calves born in a few weeks and Simon and 14 year old David will be out bedding every other day or so.  Mary will be caring for the goats along with 10 year old Rose, and 5 year old Joy.  

15 month old Tom will be out in the shop enjoying farm life now that he is walking.  Grandpa says that they all want to "watch Tom."  They have put lawn chairs by the goat pens for watching them as they kid- have their babies!  Never a dull moment on the farm with so much LIFE all around them.  "Choose LIFE!"

The pile was starting to melt, but now is higher than ever.  

So appreciate sharing our retreat and now our 4th days after!

I just realized that I can rewatch the Baptism as it was taped of Lucy Marie's Baptism during the 5p mass on Saturday night.  I took pictures off the screen as they were so good... so here is the taped mass including her glorious Baptism!

Saturday, February 18, 2023 - 5 p.m. Mass at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church - YouTube

Blesssing the waters of the font off the screen in front of church.

From the screen

Both Rose and David serving in this one.  David is their Godson.

My perspective...  I am excited to watch it all again!  Father did a wonderful job - leaving nothing out. 

Grandpa joining our 7 grandkids in Charlottesville with plain oatmeal for breakfast during Lent.  Those kids sure do their sacrifices/penances during the 40 days of Lent.  Maria usually makes a crown of Thorns out of dough and puts toothpicks in it to be pulled out as they do kind acts or acts of penance.  Lent is a big deal for our kids and their kids!  

Lord, thank you for sharing our Faith as a Domestic Church/family and with our TEC family and our Family/Community of the Lamb.  WE love The Church!  May we die to self so that you may live and move in us.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen

Sweet boy Tom is walking and love his wheels... Brumm- brumm

Grandpa says that they all want to watch Tom- sit on the 4-wheeler in the shop while the others are actually working.  He is such a blessing and sign of New LIFE for our farm!  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 34 plus our TEC family and our Family of the Lamb with hundreds of Little Sisters and Little Brothers!  

  This holy man fought to the death

for the law of his God and

did not fear the words of the godless,

for he was built on solid rock. 

(Today's Liturgy - Entrance Antiphon)

_______________________________________

 

 Collect (Today's Liturgy)

 

God of all creation, who were pleased

to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp

a place in the company of the Martyrs,

grant, through his intercession, that,

sharing with him in the chalice of Christ,

we may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

 

 St Polycarp of Smyrna

69-155 AD
Disciple of apostle St John

Friend of Ignatius of Antioch

Apostolic Father

Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr

Exemplary in catechesis

Feast Day - February 23

 

Polycarp was denounced to the government, arrested, and tried on the charge of being a Christian. When the proconsul urged him to save his life by cursing Christ, he replied: “Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”

 

Earlier, in a Letter to the Philippians...

 

“Stand fast, therefore, in this conduct and follow the example of the Lord, ‘firm and unchangeable in faith, lovers of the brotherhood, loving each other, united in truth,’ helping each other with the mildness of the Lord, despising no man.”

 

And wrote on another occasion...

 

“If we pray to the Lord to forgive us, we ourselves must be forgiving; we are all under the eyes of our Lord and God, and every one of us must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, where each of us will have to give an account.”

 

Click here: St. Polycarp - YouTube (2 mins)

Click here: Polycarp - YouTube (3:20 mins)

St Polycarp, pray for us!

Will Morrison - So will I

Beautiful things - Michael Gungor

Danielle Rose - Hail Holy Queen