Farm Sunday - 15th Sunday of Ordinary time - May we all be fertile ground/Big Dave is 15 in Washington DC - +JMJ+

Here is the birthday boy - David Lanoue on his birthday in Washington DC today!  What a memorable birthday by the Washington Memorial monument!  It looks like a hot day there.

Farmboy David - we call him Big Dave as he is the older by a year and a half from our other grandson, David.  He is 15 today on this 15th Sunday of Ordinary time!  Happy Birthday Big Dave!

We celebrated an half inch of rain a couple days ago - totally unexpected as the skies opened up overhead with no warning.  

So much in the readings today - all the readings are about farming!  Isaiah 55 just a few verses from where my dad was reading when the Holy Spirit told him to come into The Catholic Church with his entire family - all 13!

Reading 1 Is 55:10-11

Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it. 

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

Lucy was such a good and happy girl at mass this morning!  

We shared mass with the little family of John and Bobbi with Jude, Birdie and Lucy.  Ruth and Paul usually fill a pew with their family of 9, but they are away on vacation in Washington DC!  John did the lectoring today, so we sit by them to help with the kids!  

Now the Psalm 65 is wonderfully full of farm prayers for a rich harvest!

You have crowned the year with your bounty,
and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;
The untilled meadows overflow with it,
and rejoicing clothes the hills.
R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.
The fields are garmented with flocks
and the valleys blanketed with grain.
They shout and sing for joy.
R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.  Psalm 65

It was special to share mass with them, and then we took the older two shopping for our brunch we shared in their home instead of the farm.  

Finally the Gospel today is the wonderful sower and the seed from Matthew 13 - "A sower went out to sow.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,
and birds came and ate it up.
Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.
It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,
and when the sun rose it was scorched,
and it withered for lack of roots.
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.
But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,
a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
Whoever has ears ought to hear."  Matthew 13

After being married to a farmer for 45 years... I see all the work they do to feed the world and all the prayers said for the rain we need all those years!  Most years have been bountiful and good for us and for feeding the world, but there have been some that were drought or hail or the year we had to destroy the crop due to poor growing conditions... We do all we can to have the fertile soil and for the fruit to be, "a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."  Yes, and living our Faith we long to be that fertile soil and bear fruit!  "...But the seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."

Lucy is a thumb sucker like her two older siblings - either thumb will do and even her grandpa?  

Sweet alert grabnabber was the center piece at our brunch...

So fun!  

Powdered sugar lips from mini doughnuts!  

A memory from 10 years ago - Therese in a Little Sister habit made by her mom with her Godmother's picture and her dolly, too!!  

Birthday Boy David 9 years ago.

11 years ago in the bean field.  

In Michigan for his birthday 12 years ago.  LOVE our inland sea - Lake Michigan.  

The corn setting the ears now with the tasseling going on...

Loving the wonderful vegetables from Ruth's garden while she is away!  

A friend while I was picking today.

Help blowing out his candles a few days ago - his baby brother, Tom, on his lap.

Dave with his 2 youngest siblings of the 7 - Joy is 6 and Tom is 1 1/2 - so lucky to have a big family of brothers and sisters as they are so much more wonderful than things!  

A dear friend from Pat's archery club days - Lorraine is 90!  Such a wonderful time celebrating with her!

John, Pat, Dawn and Steve were friends and shot archery together.  Oh, the stories they have to share!  So fun!  

Jude and Birdie came with dad to watch the Twins and have popsicles on my porch after a dip in the jacuzzi!  

Mary feastday today trumped by 15th Sunday of Ordinary time!  Happy Birthday Dear Dave, and Lord and Lady be with the farmers and in our hearts so that we may be fertile soil and bear fruit!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 34 plus many Little Brothers and Little Sisters

May Jesus always dwell in us and that we may die to self so that we may be your hands and feet and voice.  Amen

It is getting dark - Salve Regina - Hail Holy Queen as sung by our Community of the Lamb at Night Prayer - compline each night before they go to bed - Angels singing!