Mary at State Speech, now Prom Mary and Simon/St Catherine of Siena/His Flesh and Blood - real food and drink! - +JMJ+

Moments ago Ruth sent these of their 2 oldest dressed for Prom!  Simon a senior and going with Mary's friend, and Mary, is a Junior, going with a group of friends.  .

So fun to see them looking happy and excited.  Generally I dislike the whole prom idea, but Simon is going with a lifelong friend of Mary's, who has a younger boyfriend.  A perfect comfortable date for Simon.  And Mary is going with a group.  Talk about fun and relaxed!  Her Aunt Susan/Little Sister Hallel went to prom with a group on the MAT Bus!  I think they had the most fun of any there all paired up with dates.  

Fun or what?  Feeling on the top of the world after placing 4th in State Speech with her humorous speech about Tammy the Middle schooler that is part TRex.

Looking at the world through rose tinted glasses!  Have fun Simon and Mary!  

Holy Redeemer girls posing before prom.  

Now the boys from Holy Redeemer - Simon's hair doesn't blow in the wind - it is too thick.

My two youngest grandchildren - #23 and #22 yesterday morning.  John off to the State Speech meet with Mary and Nancy unable to get a flight home from Denver.  I took advantage of having them together to record holding hands and smilng for old grandma.  

Now 4 year old George joins them.  Soon George and Regina were on their way to the Cities and home with Ruth and Paul as they drove up to support Mary at State Speech.  

The girls and Ernie

I sure am missing them today.  Lucy was such a good girl for grandma too.  

No doubt they will be best buddies over the years of being cousin friends.  They are 13 months apart and that will ge shorter and shorter as they grow up.

Wonderful news while we were out for supper!  Mary broke finals in humorous at State Speech!  

Love to see 3 of our kids there for Mary- John her coach, Nancy a former coach for Marshall Speech, and she was also John's speech coach in high school, and Ruth the wonderful mother of Mary and #! supporter!

Such a hard earned award for all her hard work!  Congratulations Mary on taking 4th place at State with your humorous speech!  

Wow!!!  Mom and dad are so happy for you - you earned it!  

4th with JOY!  

Fellow teammates happy for her.  

A year ago today we had the JOY of having our nun here for family time.  Maria and her 7 flew in from Fort Lewis, WA and Nancy came down from Delano!  We had all our 22 grandkids together for the days she was here.  She met the 3 new little ones!  Such a great wish of mine.  We have since added new little Lucy Marie, who is now 3 1/2 months.  Hallel has yet to meet her, so... I am hoping and praying that it can happen soon.  

Supper the night before they left for home. We miss their sweet happy faces.

Grandpa helping George - grandpa pop for chicken nuggets.

Time with the kitty.

They were very gentle and he liked it.

On grandma's swing on the porch on a nice evening.  

Blue

3 years ago when my dad lived with me for the last 6 months of his life in my "Farm Monastery."  3 year old Joy in sundress and boots and feeding a bottle calf with great glee- JOY!  

The two youngest grands on the couch yesterday.   

Feast of St Catherine of Siena today - she is a doctor of The Church!  

Our best weapon - the Rosary!  

Lord, hear my prayer!  

LOVE this so much!  With my 2 oldest grandchildren ready to head out into the world - This is the Truth I long for them to embrace as they go forth!  Asking for the Lord to reveal his plan for them, and then they truly will set the world on fire!  

Another gem for Simon and Mary and each one of us as we face what comes with each new day!  

We have been reading John 6 this week and how Jesus tells us without a doubt that his Flesh is real Food and his Blood is real drink!  

Luke heading out with his dad to stretch fence line - miles of it!  

Memory of Rose 8 years ago with a baby kitten - such a soft sweet picture! 

Pope Benedict XVI today is wonderful!  

Dad's Bible - John 6 - the meat and potatoes highlighted as dad brought us into The Church 51 years ago after reading Isaiah 55:1-2 which is very Eucharistic - "Come to the water and never thirst..." 

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

"My flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed."  John 6:55  How can this be overlooked and down played?  The Catholic Church gives this to us every day, and we than can take Jesus forth into the world - LIGHT into the world!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Office of Reading today - written by St Catherine and underlined by dad - lead me ever deeper.  I am so blessed to have his prayer books - well loved and marked led by the Spirit!  "You have made me a new creature in the blood of your Son."  

"The food of Angels ... in our hunger you are a satisfying food."  St Catherine and dad  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 34 plus hunderds of Little Brothers and Little Sisters

"Love does not stay idle."

 St Catherine of Siena, Letter T82

 

Precious Blood,

Ocean of Divine Mercy:

Flow upon us! 

Precious Blood,

Most pure Offering:

Procure us every Grace!

 

Precious Blood,

Hope and Refuge of sinners:

Atone for us! 

 

Precious Blood,

Delight of holy souls:

Draw us! Amen.

 

Prayer of
St Catherine of Siena
Italy  ~ 1347 -1380
Doctor of the Church
Reformer, mystic, writer
Third Order Dominican
Incorrupt
Feast Day - April 29

 

 "I treasure your knowing how to give

the world a kick." -  St Catherine of Siena

"Be who God meant you to be and you will

set the world on fire." - St Catherine of Siena

"Proclaim the truth and do not be 
silent through fear." - St Catherine of Siena

Same Power - the Holy Spirit

Will Morrison - So will I

O God beyond all praising.

 

Philip proclaimed Jesus to him "...my Flesh for the life of the world."/Acts 8 and John 6 - Little companions day 4 - +JMJ+

Grandma is going over the top with photo shoots of my little girlie, Regina Maria/Queen Mary.  A mirror reflection of her with the statues of Mary and Joseph holding young Jesus now in my home after both my parents died in 7 months in 2020.  

I found these pink pearls with some costume jewelry from my grandmother, Gina' great-great grandmother.  She was so petite and loved to wear pink too!  

Up dressed and ready for the day complete with topknot.

Grandma has a definite problem with taking too many pictures...

Supper last night with grandpa covered in corn dust from loading corn.  

They play in the tub while grandpa takes a much needed shower.  This is my last day with the 2 kids, and they have been very good for their old grandma.  Tomorrow they will be on the road early with mom, and then I will have baby Lucy for the day.  It has just turned out to be a grandma week.

When I am blessed with 23 grandkids - I guess that I will have lots of times to be a grandma and help out.  Yes, it is challenging but to see them come to me and want to snuggle and read books is a very precious time for me.  I am very humbled when they prefer me to my baby loving husband, who always has the little ones adoring him.  Gina did that last night when we gathered to share night prayer before bed.  She came to grandma and snuggled in my arms - so peaceful and loving!  

3 years ago - Jude at one in his dad's big (13) blue shoes!  Little kids in big shoe pictures is one of my favorites as it speaks of how they admire and love their parents. 

Paul sent these of farmer Tom out checking on the calves.  Grandpa went to get him to come outside with them and they couldn't get him to go back in the house with mommy.  Loving the farm life, and how we are grateful to have our big wonderful farm family on the farm to help to feed the world.

What do you think buddy? "They look good and healthy to me."

Talk about 2 peas in a pod!  These two sisters 3 years ago - Therese was 12 and Evangeline was 3.  Soon they will be here in Minnesota for some of the summer, and then they will be moving with their 5 other siblings to Leavenworth, KS.  So exciting to have 2 of my girls just half a day away from here.  Expect me to be there often to share in their military/religious LIFE!  

LOVE!!  

I painted this on fabric the year Ruth graduated High School - 1998.  It is on a quilt Ruth made for me that year and it is now on my bed.  

3 year ago on this day - they were planting corn and dad and I were sharing his religious life with morning and evening prayer and Rosary and chaplet on the porch at 3p.  My dad celebrated his 44th year as a Permanent Deacon in The Catholic Church shortly after he came to live with me in my "farm monastery."  Mom and dad brought all 13 in our family into The Catholic Church 51 years ago, and each day since has been a gift!

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

Today both readings from mass are so wonderful!  They are read throughout the world in ALL the Catholic Churches  - whether it be a tiny church in Africa or St Peter's Basilica!  That makes those words so powerful indeed!!!  Today from Acts 8 - the sweet story of Faith - Philip and the Eunuch coming to Faith!  Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said,
"Do you understand what you are reading?"
He replied,
"How can I, unless someone instructs me?"
So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.
This was the Scripture passage he was reading:

Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will tell of his posterity?
For his life is taken from the earth.

Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply,
"I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this?
About himself, or about someone else?"
Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage,
he proclaimed Jesus to him.
As they traveled along the road
they came to some water,
and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water.
What is to prevent my being baptized?"
Then he ordered the chariot to stop,
and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water,
and he baptized him.
When they came out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away,
and the eunuch saw him no more,
but continued on his way rejoicing.  Acts 8

It is all too beautiful to leave any out!  How glorious to come to know that what Isaiah had foretold happened and that God is dwelling among us in his Son, Jesus!  

Mom and dad's prayer books - which are now mine and I use them every day - joining in prayer with mom and dad in heaven with all the angels and Saints!  

In their Assisted Living the month between when mom died in a day and dad came to live with me as they would not take him back after he had a procedure at Veteran's Hospital on his kidney.  Covid did not have anything to do with their deaths, yet I have covid to thank for my father coming to live with me on the farm!  He had always said that if anything happened to mom, he would come and live with me on the farm, and so it was!

Ruth and Paul added a large bedroom with a walk in closet right off the bathroom.  It was perfect for my father to have his own space when he came to live with me.  He was admitted to hospice the day her arrived and his every need was taken care of.  The 4 poster bed was my parents when they were first married - it was an antique then, so now after 70 years of marriage - very old and special.  It is a double bed and Pat and I still sleep in it every night.  

Now the amazing Gospel for today as John 6 continues deeper and deeper!  Jesus shares with us the Truth about the Eucharist He is leaving to feed us and quench our thirst for ever!  

"...Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world."  JOHN 6;44-51

When Philip shared Jesus with the Eunuch - he then would receive Jesus here with him in Word, Body and Blood!  We are filled with Jesus and the Holy Spirit = God with us!

3 years ago - dad got to watch an entire growing season on the farm!  The field we watched from my porch being worked and planted shortly after he arrived on April 16th.  This year is much later, as we are still waiting to get into the field.  It was a great joy to share this with him.   He was alert and sharp right up until the end on October 23rd, 2020.  The crop was harvested, the land worked and we even had our first snow before he passed.  

George 3 years ago on his Feast Day of St George, which was on Sunday, getting his happy meal to celebrate.

George and Gina during their time here with grandma - they are so loving towards each other!  Gina just got up from her nap and when George saw her he just squealed with delight- "Gina!"  

Loving brother and sister is a beautiful sight.  

3 years ago - it must have been one of those windy days like today!  Rosary in hand as dad shared the rosary with me! Praying for his family... using the rosary and the litany of family including first and middle names!

At the end of prayer these days dad will start with the Prayer of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by memory and then includes the Armor of Christ Scripture from Ephesians 6:10-18

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

He then finally ends this wonderful powerful prayer with the prayer to St Michael the Archangel defend us in battle against the wickedness and snares of the devil... how we need that protection!  Thanks, dad!

Back to today... tomorrow i will have Lucy to do a photo shoot with.

Reflecting on this crazy lady always with her phone in my face.  

The topknot came out before her nap...

Riding up and down in great-grandpa's chair.  Regina came after dad was gone, but no doubt he prays for Regina Maria - first and middle name in heaven.  Such a wonderful blessing upon the 140+ in dad's huge family!  Thank you, Lord.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 34 in our domestic Church/family.

 This is My Body.  This is My Blood.

 

 

"My soul, stop here and go no further. 

Believe as simply, as forcibly as your Savior

has spoken, with a submission

that corresponds to His authority and power. 

Once again, He wants to see in your faith the same

simplicity with which He has spoken these words. 

In the ancient rite of Communion, the priest said,

"The body of Jesus," and the

faithful responded, "Amen," or "so it is," and

"The blood of Jesus Christ," and the

faithful responded, "Amen," or "so it is."

All has been accomplished.  All has been said.

All has been explained.

I am silent.  I believe.  I adore."

 

Bishop Jacques-Benigne Bossuet (+1704)

Same Power- Jeremy Camp

Danielle Rose