Anticipation building to see 3 of our daughters!/Being the oldest - the Passover is close to me - +JMJ+

Today is this guy's birthday #42!  Happy Birthday, Paul!  Last night after sharing the rosary for Fr Tony at the church with Pat and the farm family - we were given a tour of the "Brick House Apartments."  The sheet rock is up on a couple of the floors, and we can visualize the apartments now.  Wow!  

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So much LIGHT in this bedroom of one of the two bedroom apartments! 

Look out the windows to see Holy Redeemer right there!  It is such a thrill to me.  

The goal is to have it ready to the point of college students moving in when SMSU starts up in August!  "We might have a few things to finish up like trim and stuff, but it will be livable for them." reported Ruth and Paul.

Maggie up to eat in Fort Leavenworth, KS last night.  

We are getting things pulled together today to hit the road tomorrow and see 3 of our daughters and their families!  

Gathered around the supper table on base in Kansas.  

We plan to leave tomorrow and meet Nancy's family at the fair in Howard Lake - Wright County Fair!  Then we will have supper with some of my siblings in SCF, WI and spend the night there.  After mass the next morning in Taylors Falls, MN... we will hit the road for Kansas to see our military family in their new home and our nun at Lumen Christi/LIGHT Of Christ in the heart of the poor in Kansas City, KS!  

Tom with rosary beads as we gathered in the Big Church for praying the rosary for the health of Fr Tony, our priest, who is battling cancer in Saint Cloud.  

The farm family filled up the row behind us and Tom joined us to pray together with many gathered together each Thursday night at 7p. Lord and Lady hear our prayers for Fr Tony to be healed and given the strength he needs for this battle!  

The prayers of children are powerful indeed!  I was so moved to see all the kids kneeling with their rosaries in hand... an entire row!  

The open brick was uncovered by Ruth's hard work and will be in the kitchen with counter and sink and cupboards underneath!  

Apartments above the Wooden Nickle and there will be outdoor space for each apartment, too.  

Wonderful light from the new windows!  They took it down to the bare walls and so everything except the exterior brick structure is new!  Electrical, plumbing, walls and windows!  Amazing!  

Pat went with me to mass this morning, and the first reading hit me personally in an unusual way.  It is the story of the Passover where the Israelites each had a young sheep or goat to kill, eat and put the blood on the doorposts in Exodus 11.

"This is how you are to eat it:
with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand,
you shall eat like those who are in flight.
It is the Passover of the LORD.
For on this same night I will go through Egypt,
striking down every first born of the land, both man and beast,
and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt—I, the LORD!
But the blood will mark the houses where you are.
Seeing the blood, I will pass over you;
thus, when I strike the land of Egypt,
no destructive blow will come upon you..."  Exodus 11

You see... I am the first born of my family with 10 younger siblings!  Being protected and chosen means to much to me!  Thank you, Lord and Lady!  I do know that I have been chose and set apart in my Faith journey!  

Ruth does so much!  I just can't wrap my head around this kind of a project that Ruth and Paul tackle head on.  With her family of 9 and her huge garden and all that is happening on the farm!!!  Too much in my book!  

On the 3rd floor the studio apartments will have the brick walls for their living space - bedroom and living area.  

These will be cute and special for some  young college students.  The floors will be refinished and the spots filled in where their were walls before.  

So much character.

Tom had fun hiding in the closet in the studio apartment.

Praying for Fr Denny with 7 Sisters today with a man praying to St Joseph.

And Our Lady to Guadalupe.  We are also excited to go and visit the nun that is close to KCK and is incorrupt.  

'Modern-day miracle': Catholics flock to rural Missouri to witness 'incorrupt' nun | Fox News  

Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster

One thing we know for sure - it is hot and humid in Kansas!  Maria sent these of the kids getting cool in a big clothes basket!  

4 year old Hector.

On the grill!  

6 year old Evangeline 

Maggie - grandma better find a splash pad on base!  One special time we are looking forward to is bringing our nun, Little Sister Hallel, with us to spend a day with our military family!  I am over the moon excited to have that level of family time together with two of our daughters!  

Ruth's garden is going bananas!  

That's a big zucchini!  Cake and bread are on the menu right? 

Tom and Joy have been spending a lot of time with grandma since they got back from vacation to Washington DC!  

A memory for 12 years ago in Michigan. I shared that Pat and I with his mother and John were on our way to Saint Pierre, France in 2011 for Hallel's first vows!  7 years later in August 2018 we moved the mountain and 21 of us with 3 in the womb = 24 went to France for Hallel's final vows - "I promise unto death."  

Lettuce and beans from my garden - will be taking some for the girls!  

Also in June of 2018 - John and Bobbi were married on the Feast of Corpus Christi!  Nine months later we added the 3 little boys in 6 weeks and since have added Birdie, Tom, Regina, Maggie and Lucy!  That is now 23 grandchildren and 3 of them belong to John and Bobbi!  

The sheep looks to the shepherd!  

Please Lord and Lady - may LIFE be protected and cherished from conception to natural death.  

LOVE her and she is with me each day of my journey - praying without ceasing!
Walking pigs for the fair years back - this year no pigs but just beef, chickens and goats.  That is plenty!  

Rose with her steer, Robin!  

She loves her some Robin Hood!  

Help walking from dad and Clint. 

Tom showing his dimples and pushing grandma on her porch swing.  

Joy always wants a tea party on the porch.

Tom sure loved his tea party cup and spoon and saucer.  

Conversation is part of the fun.

The neighbor cat, Riley, came over for some belly rubs from the kids.

Tea time and pet the kitty time...

So sweet!  Nancy sent this - Josephine's art work with her and her two cousin friends together in the tree house with their own hair colors.  

Taken last week when we had all the grandkids together!  White Tshirt pictures!  Evie, Joy and JoJo are all within about 10 months from each other, and good friends!  

The 11 granddaughters

The 12 grandsons

Pat and I with our 23 grandchildren - a picture of LIFE!  Lord and Lady may you always be loved and followed by each and every one!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and all

David's cow- calf pair getting washed. - Simon helping out and he will show too.

Missing Michigan - the Mackinaw Bridge sigh!!!  

I was sharing with Little Brother David's mother yesterday, and discovered that he and the other Little Brothers were hitch hiking to Champion, WI.  Last night he showed up at his home near St Louis!  Jennifer, his mom, shared this wonderful picture with me.  

Why Champion, WI?  That is where the only Apparition of Mary in the U.S. happened!  A Belgian imigrant - her name - Adele Brise (Brice).  

The Apparition

While walking along a trail in the woods, Adele saw a lady dressed in white, standing between two trees believed to be a maple and hemlock. Although the mysterious woman stayed silent, it left Adele wondering what sort of encounter it may have been. When Adele told her family, they believed her but thought perhaps it was a soul in purgatory visiting this earthly life asking for prayers.

A few days later, on what is believed to be Sunday, October 9, 1859, Adele walked to Mass with her sister and a friend. The church was 10 miles away from home, but Adele made the journey every Sunday, no matter the weather. Along the same path, Adele saw the mysterious lady standing in the same spot between the two trees. However, Adele being the only one to see her, she and her companions continued their journey to Mass.

After Mass, Adele spoke to her parish priest, and he instructed her that if the lady appeared to her again to ask the question, “In God’s name, who are you and what do you want of me?”

On her journey home, Adele saw the lady for the third time. As she and her companions approached the hallowed spot, Adele could see the beautiful lady, clothed in dazzling white, with a yellow sash around her waist. Her dress fell to her feet in graceful folds. She had a crown of stars around her head, and her long golden wavy hair fell loosely over her shoulders. The lady had such a heavenly light around her that Adele could hardly look at her face. Overcome by the light, Adele fell to her knees and said, “In God’s name, who are you, and what do you want of me?”

The lady replied, “I am the Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners, and I wish you to do the same. You received Holy Communion this morning and that is well. But you must do more. Make a general confession and offer Communion for the conversion of sinners. If they do not convert and do penance, my Son will be obliged to punish them.”

Adele’s companions, unable to see Our Lady asked, “Adele, who is it? Why can’t we see her as you do?”

“Kneel,” said Adele, “the Lady says she is the Queen of Heaven.”

The Blessed Lady gazed kindly upon them, saying, “Blessed are they that believe without seeing.” Then, looking toward Adele, the Queen of Heaven asked, “What are you doing here in idleness while your companions are working in the vineyard of my Son?”

“What more can I do, dear Lady?” asked Adele, weeping.

“Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation.”

“But how shall I teach them who know so little myself?” Adele said.

“Teach them,” replied her radiant visitor, “their catechism, how to sign themselves with the sign of the Cross, and how to approach the sacraments; that is what I wish you to do. Go and fear nothing, I will help you.”

Then, wrapped as it were in a luminous atmosphere, Our Lady lifted her hands as though she were beseeching a blessing for those at her feet. Slowly, she vanished from sight, leaving Adele overwhelmed and prostrated on the ground.

This was the simple beginning of Adele’s mission to become a teacher for the Lord and the Blessed Lady.

Go and fear nothing…

 

"The [Eucharistic] Visit is the practice which guides

and influences our whole life... It draws together the fruits

of all other practices and brings them to fruition.

It is the great means for living Jesus Christ. 

It is the great means for putting adolescence aside

and forming a personality in Christ. 

It is the secret for our transformation in Christ.

It is experiencing the relationship of Jesus with His Father

and with humanity. It is the guarantee of perseverance."

 Bl James Alberione

 

The Eucharistic Visit

 

The Visit is a meeting of our soul

and of our whole being with Jesus.
It is the creature meeting the Creator;
the disciple before the Divine Master;
the patient with the Doctor of souls;
the poor one appealing to the Rich One;
the thirsty one drinking at the Font;
the weak before the Almighty;
the tempted seeking a sure Refuge;
the blind person searching for the Light;
the friend who goes to the True Friend;
the lost sheep sought by the Divine Shepherd;
the wayward heart who finds the Way;
the unenlightened one who finds Wisdom;
the bride who finds the Spouse of the soul;
the “nothing” who finds the All;
the afflicted who finds the Consoler;
the seeker who finds life’s meaning.

Bl James Alberione (+1971)

Danielle Rose