"Happy giving birthday, mom!" Hallel from France/Deacon dad - Robert Cross/Tom to the doctor today/"God has visited his people" - +JMJ+

My 5 children I was able to give birth to and have joined me here on earth.  They have 7 siblings in heaven -  keeping our eyes on heaven forever.  How I long to be united with all of my children!  This was taken close to 11 years ago as the 3 babies will all be 11 in a few weeks.  

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: Our marriage stories - "The world needs LIGHTS!"  

Shortly after midnight on Monday morning - it was now Hallel's 38th birthday, and John and I had just prayed for her together.  

To my great JOY I was blessed with a call from my nun in France - "Happy giving birth day mom!"  She shared that she is driving some Little Sisters to Marseille for mass with the Pope on Saturday.  Then she is getting back to Saint Pierre in time to fly back to the United States - Kansas on Tuesday!   Oh, the exciting life and adventures of a nun!  

So special to have her with me on her birthday in prayer.  There is no doubt that we are blessed by her prayers for her family.  She called when Pat happened to stop in for some food and Tom was here playing on the floor with his toys. "I hear Tommy.  How are you sweet boy?"  

LOVE to have special prayer partners as I do the litany of our families - 250+!  

A year ago in May we had a special visit from our nun - here she is with all the grandkids at that time.  We have since added Lucy Marie, who has yet to meet her Aunt Hallel!  

A bouquet of babies a year and a half ago.  There are some fake plans that I might be going down for a big celebration this weekend of their 15th year in the United States in KCK!  

August 2018 we all went to France for Hallel's final vows in Saint Pierre, France in the Foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains.  The Gospel came to life for me about having the faith to move mountains as 21 of us traveled there along with 3 in the womb!  6 months later there were 3 little boys in 6 weeks!  

"I promise unto death."  The only words in English, and the tears rolled down.  

8 years ago with Luke and Dominic, who are both now 9.  Romeo just joined them, too!  

14 years ago in the midst of John's battle against brain cancer - we were in France for Hallel's taking her habit and changing her name from Susan Angela to Little Sister Hallel.  

Family Soul Story - Choose Life!: John's cancer stories  

John's spirit juice video continues now with wife and children - Jude, Birdie and Lucy

In France for her first vows in 2011 with her dad along this time!  And her 92 year old grandma Ann!  

10 years ago with the statue of St Agnes in Lumen Christi Monastery in Kansas City!  Hallel chose St Agnes for her patron Saint at confirmation.  She is protecting the Lamb and Agnes means lamb.  A copy of the statue found after the bombing at Hiroshima Japan - they found her face down with only a hand missing as she protected the Lamb! 

Another special power we can ask of St Agnes - she was put into a house of prostitution to harm her - the only man that tried to touch her was blinded!  She left there untouched to her death with great joy as a bride on her wedding day.  Many are put into such horrible evil on the internet, etc - we need to pray to St Agnes to intercede and help!  

Our Lady of Lourdes in 2011 - it is just a few hours from Saint Pierre, so every time we go to visit - all 3 times now - we have gone to Lourdes for the day!  John fell in love with Our Lady there, and she is part of his healing we have no doubt.  "Pour the water over my head, because that is where I need the healing of my brain cancer."  

#4 daughter, Suan, shortly after her birth in 1985.  Nancy had made crowns for the 4 girls in their footie jammies!  Yes, my babies had lots of dark hair!  

A birthday card from 12 years ago... we have gone from 17 to 33!  LIFE is the greatest gift!  LIFE should be cherished and protected from Conception to natural death!  

Hallel 3 years ago with George, who is now 4.  Hallel has always considered black eyed Susans to be her flower.  Her name before Hallel was Susan Angela!  

Hallel was able to come and visit us while my dad lived with me 3 years ago.  Deacon Robert Cross came to live with me during covid and was on hospice here at the "farm monastery."  It was such a marvelous gift to both dad and I... I had been a hospice nurse for 15 years.. I loved it!  

My dad grew to see how all the needs he had on his 6 month journey were met even to the point of monthly hair cuts, finger and toes cared for, showers twice a week, and a visit from a local doctor when his pain needed to be addressed.  He also had local priests come and anoint and hear confession, along with Eucharistic minister both Pat and John brought his Eucharist on Sunday.  All his needs were met!  

3 years ago out on my wonderful porch - dad and I would pray each day at 3p the rosary and the chaplet of Divine Mercy!  My sister-in-law, Angela is joining us here.  She is the one that sweetly named dad's time here in our "farm Monastery."  

I was so blessed by my father's call to religious life - a Permanent Deacon for 44 years after he brought our entire family of 13 into The Catholic Church 5 years before!  So much today in the first reading from I Tim about deacons... my dad was truly a shining example of all of this...

Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful,
not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain,
holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience...Deacons may be married only once
and must manage their children and their households well.
Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing
and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. I Tim 3:1-13

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

How I miss my wonderful holy father!  He did leave me his well marked prayer books, and a daily meditation by his man, Brother Victor!  I can still sit at his feet and learn from him!

Today in morning prayer of The Church - Battle Prayer! Following is the verse that dad was reading that brought us into The Church 52 years ago!  He was at an Ignatian silent retreat and The Holy Spirit told him to come into The Church with his entire family of 13 - very Eucharistic!  

He flagged this page and this prayer!  Our weapons are Jesus in Word, Body and Blood - the Sacraments of the True Church!  "The Battle of earthy life"
  

So powerful last night we gathered for mass with all of our 5 priests!  After receiving The Eucharist within - we than took Him out into the neighborhood in a Eucharistic Procession followed by Adoration!  

Jesus adored - all 5 priests, and our Deacon Ken.

Eucharistic Revival going on.

Soybean harvest under weigh.  Definite less due to the drought.

Prayers for safety and patience with each other at this stressful time of year. 

Ed in the combine.

3 years ago we had a better crop after more rain.  

Dad was very interested in seeing the farming first hand - out to see the beans coming out across the road - unloading on the fly with the combine emptying into the grain cart as they are both moving down the field.

Tom is now in Sioux Falls at the doctor visit since his accident a little over 2 weeks ago.  Today he was standing up at furniture and eating at the same time.  Some small steps along furniture but not ready to walk yet.  Prayers for a good report.

In the Gospel today in Luke 7 - the raising of the young man from death - the people are amazed - "God has visited his people."  I still feel that Tom was so protected - he could have been hurt or killed so much worse.  To come home to heal with no surgery or casts!  So many prayers surrounding him now, too!  

Tom and grandma are a team these days while the others are in school and mom and dad are so busy with The Apartments and harvest, too!  Lord and Lady help all to stay safe and sane.  Continue to hold Tom in your healing hands.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Tom excited for his Aunt's birthday!  

Porch time with Riley the neighbor cat  while the combine in rolling across the road.

Tom standing more but not ready to walk yet.  Grandma gets worried that he might fall.  

Chickens chasing him in the house.  

Ruth painting doors on the 3rd floor.

Washer and drier in the closet look nice.

Widows to bring in light from the balcony - changed her mind about the paint.

I am overwhelmed by all that Ruth and Paul have on their plate.  I should feel relieved that I can watch Tom as my piece... Bless-bless, Barbara and the 33 plus many Little Sisters and Little Brothers

  For with you is the fountain of life; 

in your light we see light.

 Psalm 36:9

 

 

“If the Blessed Sacrament is Jesus all for us,

is it not the most legitimate of conclusions 

that we should be all for Him?

We should be all for Jesus, if Jesus is our all.

And what does this mean?

 

Surely, among other things, 

that the Blessed Sacrament should be to us just

the single overpowering fact of the world.

 

Our hands hold Him; 

our words make Him;

our tongue rests Him;

our body compasses Him;

our souls feel Him;

our flesh feeds upon Him,

Him, the Infinite, the Incomprehensible,

the Immense, the Eternal.

 

Must not all life be looked at in this light,

just as the whole Church lies in this light

and has no other?"

 

Fr. Frederick W Faber

 

Jeremy Camp