Spy and Silent Wednesday of Holy Week/Staying home with hubby for The Triduum/125 calves with 60 more to go! - +JMJ+

Me and my nun on Easter April 4,2021. Yes, all we have now is snowbanks and ice on trees and each blade of grass on he edge of ditches are covered with ice.

 I was so excited to be having her home for a home visit at the end of April last year.  The real Hallel not the paper Hallel!  

Well, I thought my plans were set to be on the road now to join Nancy and Bill and their 6 in the morning to go to spend a couple days with our nun, Little Sister Hallel .   But alas they were fake after all.  I discovered that she will be so busy with a retreat of young adults, and I need to be patient and wait for hubby to go in a few weeks.  He has promised me that he will be sure to get down there for our usual overnight before he gets busy with spring planting.  Calving will have to slow down, too.  

Mary with her kids 2 years ago yesterday - April 4th!  Look how green and sunny and warm it was. The wind is roaring outside and it is only 26 degrees with ice and snow!  

Today is called Silent Wednesday because there is nothing written about what Jesus did on this day before his arrest and passion.  It is thought that after his journey for the Passover and arguing with the authorities, who wanted to kill him - that he rested on this day, so we are encouraged to join him.  These words from the Gospel today in Matthew 26 are Jesus speaking to us - "My appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate ..."  John 26  

Just spending time with Jesus today - I had a nice visit with my friend, Marie, when I delivered her MOW.  Then I returned home to have Tom come over.  But Ruth said that he would be able to stay with her.  So I had the special time of my rosary in my chapel on wheels and even more resting in the Lord after lunch - 8 of my 10 decades!

The LIGHT coming into The Church at the Easter Vigil!  Such beautiful image of my granddaughter Joy last year with her dad. 

I don't have new pictures for today so I am using these oldies but so wonderful!  Mary will be 17 this month - here she was 2 with one of those baby kittens that always are with us spring and fall and this year winter on the farm!  

Mary's Godson/baby brother, Thomas Robert, a week ago with this year's winter kitten with their eyes open to see the new world around them.  The cycles of life go round and round!  Mom has to put the basket of kittens in a room and shut the door as Tom can get a bit rough with them.

Tom is #7 and such a gift of new LIFE for our farm family including grandpa farmer Pat and I.  He spends a lot of time here with his old grandma, and I am so humbled by how much he loves me.  I am not used to so much adoration - that usually goes to grandpa.

My favorite subjects - Mary and Simon - our first grandchildren!  This was a great picture of the future farmer we have now.  Mary is a goat farmer! 

Another cherished picture with the 2 of them and they are throwing ground hay into the air - I call this one - "Celebrate!"  A bit premature with Holy Thursday and Good Friday before we come to Easter, but still a special one I have used numerous times on cards that I make!

I have this one on my wall here in my office, and Ruth has it in her home in her bathroom - it is so soft and gentle and sweet of our Simon!  

He will be off to trade school in Sioux Falls, SD next year.  So many prayers and hopes!  Simon is special in many ways with his wonderful voice that he uses as a instrument at mass, and that he faces the world with the disability of autism.  He is such a good and reliable farm worker for his dad and grandpa.  That is a special help and so appreciated.  Thanks, Simon!  

Rubber boots and Roger 2007 - Mary was 2.

Then the following year this girl will be off to find her way.  I know that the Lord has a wonderful plan for both Simon and Mary.  So many prayers and reminding them that they should look to the plan the Lord has for them.

It is also called Spy Wednesday as Judas got paid to betray Jesus and he was looking for that opportunity.  Covertly waiting to hand him over.  

Tom in the tub yesterday - there are certain ways to entertain the kids when they come to grandmas house.  I have not started water coloring with Tom yet, but it will happen.

Rain turning into ice on the trees, and thankfully not on the roads.

The wind is roaring and each branch is covered with ice as are the telephone lines and each blade of grass.  

6 year old kindergartener, Joy, fighting the wind as she comes up the driveway just now.  I took a picture from the camera that focuses on the driveway at the farm.  Yes, still a lot of snow!  

Every time I see that the meditation is Elizabeth Lesuer I am thrilled!  She is so inspiring and good to read.  

Well, worth the read!  

Receiving Jesus daily is something I have longed for.  I have my husband to thank as he told me I had to start getting exercise, and I found my Aqua Fitness at the Y!  It was at 8a, so I realized that going to mass at 7a would be even better!  And so it was and is!  Thank you, honey!  

A picture of Mackinaw Island now - so pretty but so wintry too!  

The Gospel today 

I always think of this picture when I come across the mention of the Cross becoming the tree of LIFE!  Hallel decorating the Cross in KCK at Lumen Christi after Easter 8 years ago.  I had gone down with Ruth and Paul and then stayed there by myself with The Little Sisters until Pat came down to spend a day and take me back home.  I love when the Lord spoils me and allows me to be a nun, which I discerned when I entered The Catholic Church when I was 20 years old!  My parents brought our family of 13 into The Church 51 years ago!  

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

We are loved with unconditional LOVE and Mercy!

Yes!  "Jesus and Mary, I love you.  Save souls."

Mom and I 8 years ago with lilacs.  How I miss my parents and the wonderful island of peace their home was in St Croix Falls, WI!  I still have them with me each day in my special prayer space, though.  

I sent an email to Hallel letting her know that I would wait to come down with her dad.  I sent along a picture of Tommy for her - "Hoppy Easter!"  

I am glad to be staying home with my hard working hubby at this super busy time of year.  I was just told that they have had 11 calves just today, and are up to 125 calves born!  They have 60 to go!  We have a family tradition of sharing The Easter Vigil and then going out to celebrate with a family meal at the only place in town open - Applebee's!  

Left for me by my mother - daily sharing by Pope Benedict XVI - she read it for 10 years and now I am my 3rd.  There is so much that it never gets old.  Today -- the washing of our feet!  

Dad's man, Brother Victor today speaks about how all a monk does is "effort"

Dad also left me his Prayer of The Church after being a Permanent Deacon in The Catholic Church for over 44 years!  He loved to underline, highlight and write words here and there.  I continue to sit at his feet and learn and pray with him!  LOVE!  

Lord, I long to share with you each step you take to my Salvation!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 34

Wednesday of Holy Week

 

I offered my back to those who beat me,

my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not 
hide my face from mocking and spitting. - Isaiah 50:6

 

"The humility of Jesus

can be seen in the crib,

in the exile to Egypt, in the hidden life,

in the inability to make people understand Him,

in the desertion of His apostles,

in the hatred of His persecutors,

in all the terrible suffering and death of His Passion,

and now ...

 

 

in His permanent state of humility

in the tabernacle, where He has reduced Himself

to such a small particle of bread

that the priest can hold Him with two fingers.

The more we empty ourselves,

the more room we give God to fill us."

St Teresa of Calcutta

Painting image:  The Flagellation of Christ - Guercino

Ten Ways to Prepare for Easter and Mercy Sunday - SpiritualDirection.com

Hannah Kerr - the Ordinary

Danielle Rose