Ascension Sunday - 7th of Easter - Dominic's First Communion/Baccalaureate for Simon after family wedding in WI - +JMJ+

 

4 generation picture taken 3 years ago Ascension Sunday with my dad on the farm.  New granddaughter, namesake, Birdie Barbara just days old.  John has since added sweet Lucy Marie, who is now 4 months old.  

Yes, it was in the midst of Covid.  I am forever grateful for this most crazy time in our world as it allowed my father to come and live with me for the last 6 months of his wonderful life on hospice sharing his religious life with me all of those days!

Waiting for the wedding of our nephew, Carson, in the Wisconsin countryside - Hidden Meadow wedding site.  All of Pat's siblings - only missing one made it a very special time indeed.  The lilacs were romantically picked for me from the roadside while we were traveling the 4 hours from our farm to the wedding venue.  He stopped the car and went and picked them for me - knowing how I love them!  Thanks, honey!  

Pat and I traveled with these 3... Lucy is the most wonderful baby in all ways!  

The newly weds shortly after their vows - such JOY!  The service was very touching with a time where their families gathered around them and prayed over them - such a wonderful moment of family sharing their faith!  Nothing better!  

The kiss! 

A miracle - all but one of the 9 remaining siblings together to celebrate Anna and Carson becoming one.  Pat is the middle of 10 and they lost one brother  30 years ago in Montana.  

Home for a few hours and then up early to get to mass in Delano where 8 year old Dominic Patrick received his First Holy Communion surrounded by his family and extended family from the farm and from Pennsylvania.  How we adore sharing our Catholic Faith as a family!  

Dominic's family - next year Josephine will be having her First Communion... she is the first of 3 girls in a year - Evangeline and Joy will follow.  Such an important and wonderful Sacrament is the Eucharist!  Receiving Jesus Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity!  

Dominic's older brother, Augustine, serving with many other boys.  Fr Kyle says that the boys need to be considering the priesthood to serve.  So cool!  

Fr Kyle is amazing!  

Pat in his happy place - arms full of the little ones.  Tom who is 1 1/2 years old, and Lucy, who is 4 months.  Joy loves the little ones too.  How she loves to be a big sister to Tom!  

Ruth's 2 boys, David and Luke, sure are good buddies with their cousin, Gus.  This makes a grandma's heart happy to see them excited and enjoying being together.  It looks like we will have all 34 grandkids together this summer between June 18 to the 27th.  So many fake plans flying through my heart, mind and soul!  

"The Body of Christ, Dominic,"  Amen

Such a beautiful day and church and Sacrament to help him on his journey of Faith! 

Back to Marshall for Simon's Baccalaureate Mass at 6p at Holy Redeemer.  Simon was amazing at sharing his gift of his beautiful voice.  His solo at the Psalm was just wonderful!  

So cool to have all 5 priests on the altar - so wonderful for the newly graduated young men to see this wonderful option.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to have some priests from this great group.  

The official picture of 30 graduates. Simon has known many of them since Kindergarten at Holy Redeemer.  

Seeing double - both Ruth and Nancy have this large vehicle with their large families.   Pat and I traveled up and back to Delano with Ruth in her big van. 

Grandpa and Tom sleeping on the way home. 

Pat was my helper with getting my garden tilled, covered and even went shopping with me for tomato plants and peppers.  Then he got down on his knees to gently carefully plant them.  Thanks, honey.  Getting on my knees doesn't happen any more for this old lady with 2 knee replacements.  

"My mom always said that it was best to plant in the evening.  There is less stress in the cool of the evening."  It was close to dark when we finished up.

John and I sharing our prayer time in the middle of the night when he has the last hour of Sunday and I have the first hour of Monday.  The Lord made this happen - we did not plan this, but it was in the Lord's plan for our praying for our family each week.

We always end our time with the Hail Holy Queen shared and 3  - Jesus I trust in you.  

Salve Regina as Hallel's Community sings it each night at night prayer

Today is St Rita - John's favorite saint when he was a boy - "Read St Rita!"  She got a thorn from the crown of Thorns in the middle of her forehead - Patroness of Impossible cases.

Out helping hubby put in a fence this morning.  

Across the field from the farm.  The grass certainly has grown up to his knees!

You can see the corn coming up - today they are starting on the last few days of planting after the big rain gave them some time to put up fence and move cows and calves out to pasture.  Tomorrow this pasture will be ready for more to go on pasture.  Grandma will have Tom.

A fence is like a puzzle to put together.  My rosary passing through my fingers - praying for a young mother, who went in to discover that there was no heartbeat - her 20 week baby in her womb is dead.  This is what I experienced twice after John - William and Robert are buried at the cemetery.  Tears and the 2nd joyful speak of how this little one is surrounded by so many lives in the womb - Communion of tiny Saints!  

The bulls out on grass on such a wonderful breezy day.  Pat and Tom heading back to the yard for more fence posts.  

This has been here and there in the midst of putting in the fence, bringing Tom to my place, and trying to catch up on my prayers after many days away for wedding and First Communion in the morning and Baccalaureate in the evening.  Jesus, may I die to self so that you may live in me!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 34 plus many Little Brothers and little Sisters