The Pat and Barb Verly family and their 5 children, in laws and grandkids along with many prayer warriors have been drawn together by John's cancer... sharing daily for 8 months started this blog- Family Soul Story - Our faith, family, farm and now our cancer journey called HEALING have colored and deepened our world. WE continue to share and depend on the support of our prayer warrior community, that has lowered us into the Lord's presence for His healing!
Hallel praying in her chapel in KCK about 14 years ago. I had gone to say goodbye to her as she was going back to France after coming to help us fight the battle with John against brain cancer. John won the battle and is now 15 years free of Cancer and the New John!
John last night in the band No Vacancy in the School of Rock! He is the comic relief in many roles, but it was fun to see him with hair once again!
John shared the stage with granddaughter, Rose Again! She was a back up singer with the School of Rock band and they lit up the stage!
Kansas 12 years ago - Dave was just about 2 years old and getting to wear the little sister blue apron to help with the dishes.
Hallel, David and the row houses across the street from Lumen Christi Monastery in the heart of the poor in KCK.
5 year old Mary blowing out the candle in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe altar in their chapel. This is where Hallel told us she was entering The Community of the Lamb in 2008. She is now fully professed in France in 2018.
Godson Simon, whose Feast Day it is today - St Peter and Paul! He shares it with his dad, Paul. He is under the scapular of his Aunt Hallel... a safe place to be indeed for a little guy with autism.
Mary helping with dished in her blue apron 14 years ago with Aunt Hallel. Prayer and dishes is how they describe their lives.
I am getting very excited as our nun and 3 other little sisters along with 3 little brothers that are hitch hiking - they will all arrive her on Wednesday for supper and stay through the 4th of July and then leave for Sleepy Eye on Friday morning! 2 days with 7 from The Community here sharing our life on the farm. The Brothers will stay with John and the Sisters with me! Lots of big meals, prayers and mass shared.
Now Michigan 11 years ago with baby Bernadette, who will be 12 in November. I am so excited as we finally have a trip to Michigan planned with 2 car loads of kids and grandkids in July. How I have longed to go back to Manistique area where we had our cabin for almost 20 years!
The path of sugar sand that led up to our cabin in Michigan years ago.
Our 2 weeks in Michigan were always over the 4th of July! Maria and little Therese with the 4th of July cake we have a family tradition of making. We will have to make it for the Little sisters and little brothers when they are here for the 4th of July - "We want to watch the fireworks!" Yes!!
Michigan 10 years ago! All the memories are coming around as this would be our time at the cabin. My parents lived down in their basement apartment, and the upstairs were for us kids to come for our weeks. Such amazing times shared with my parents and our family.
The grandkids have begged me to go back over the years. 7 years old Joy has never been there and is so excited to finally go and water color on the beach!
Pat would get away from the baling and come for some days with the family. He won't be joining us this time however. Just me and my girls and some of the grandkids!
My 3 girls minus Hallel about 10 years ago. That would be baby Dominic in Nancy's arms just weeks old!
Sugar sand path towards the Big Lake Michigan!
Maria with her 3 oldest 10 years ago.
Sand castle built by Mary, Simon and David, and Gus looking it over 10 years ago... Gus just turned 13 on the 25th of May and David will be 16 on the day we are to go to Michigan - July 16th! His golden birthday and how he wants to join us!
Shell Lake, WI this week - Nancy brought her kids for some beach time in Wisconsin with the 3 oldest Librande cousins. Therese just back from Extreme Faith Camp and then TEC over the weekend! Now Nancy and Bill and their 6 are on the way to Pennsylvania for the week with Bill's Family! Summer is here!
Out on the diving raft at Shell Lake, WI this past week.
Pat with the 3 youngest granddaughters 5 years ago - they are now all 7 with JoJo just turning 8. They are no longer the youngest granddaughters as we now have Birdie Barbara, Regina, Magdalene, and Lucy.
Our table name at our retreat last weekend. I came up tired and lifted up in many ways as well as in deep prayer for some issues that presented themselves. I was very touched by the deep faith of the 8 young people that made this retreat for the first time! They included 2 of my grandchildren with the other 6 young people, who all very much love and adore Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist!
The cows up from the pasture to eat the grass around the barn in our yard. Pat and Tom giving them some water on this beautiful day!
I have been struggling to share a bit here with the slow internet we have here on the farm. The pulling of weeds on this cool day are on my mind, so I need to call this to an end for today. I need to take advantage of this wonderful weather today and not get stuck here for much longer. I will be praying while pulling weeds.... much on my heart, mind and soul these days. Jesus, I trust in you. Bless-bless, Barb and the 33
John on Father's Day with the best gift a dad could ever want - his youngest, Lucy Marie, taking a nap on her daddy.
John has so much to be thankful for with his wife and 3 beautiful smart and healthy children. 15 years ago on Father's Day we discovered that John had brain cancer, and the battle for his life began!
John's Spirit Juice Video now continues with wife and children and the New John!
Maria shared this last week of her visit with the Poor Clare Nuns in Saulk Rapids where she discerned a call to religious life for 4 months. She discerned out, and is now a mother to 7 and a wife to Major Joseph. She still visits them from time to time and we ask for their prayers when we have a need. They were praying mightily for John during his battle with brain cancer!
Ed and Brad spraying last week across the road. I was asked to give some rides and catch up with how the family is doing now that we no longer have Rita. Such a hard loss as she was always willing and kept everything so nice for her farmer husband and son. Lord and Lady continue to be with them at this most difficult time.
So precious and Truth!
"Pops for Pops" on Father's Day after mass - Lucy and Birdie enjoying them
Jude too!
John selling and surrounded by his sweet kids in the light.
Pat serving eggs as we gather for Father's Day brunch on Ruth's beautiful porch with 16 after sharing mass.
This guy loves me so much! I am humbled by my Tommy, who is now 2 1/2.
Father's Day afternoon we got a call that one of our cows was out, so I got the privilege to help my husband to get her back in the pasture with her cow. I was praying mightily for the Lord and Lady to help us and sure enough she walked in where Pat had put down the fence! Thank you!
Fixing and checking the fence... one of my favorite things to do is watch my hunky husband do the work that he does so well. I love it when things go smoothly.
I am very allergic to this brome grass when it gets this yellow pollen... I had to lay down with a wet cloth over my eyes for a while when we got back home.
Next I had to help him get a heifer for breeding. All the rest of the farm family was away at Paul's dad's place, so it was just me. Once again as Pat said "Well, that went about as good as it can go." He found the heifer and we got her in the headgate without any complications. Once again thank you, Lord and Lady!
Helping hubby can be peaceful and good and that is how I enjoy my time with him.
John with his wonderful family on Father's Day!
In the LIGHT
Paul with his 2 youngest on Father's Day.
Words from dad in Morning Prayer - LOVE how I can still sit at the feet of my father. I was blessed with having my father here for the last 6 months of his life in my Farm Monastery.
Time shared with John praying as our hours of Adoration overlap last hour of Sunday and First hour of Monday. We prayed for this upcoming Together Encounter Christ retreat this coming weekend. We have 2 grandchildren making it for the first time! Exciting as I will be working it too. TEC has been so important to us as we walk ever closer to Jesus and His Church!
The Gospel today is reminding us to pray in our inner temples - when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. Matthew 6
Nancy's pool at night with cousins while Maria and Major Joseph visited last week.
10 years ago - Gus with his baby newborn brother, Dominic, who was just 10 last week!
A memory from 10 years ago out in the pasture with Gus and Rose. I need to end this for now. Jesus, be with this TEC retreat and bless all those attending with a closer walk with you. Jesus, we trust in you. Bless-bless, Barb and the 33
With a yard full of bales - I got military granddaughter, Therese with farmkids Joy and Tom to pose with the bales. They surprised me by climbing up on the bales on the rack.
This rack holds 14 bales and Major Joseph helped bring them to the farm from the field down the road. One day he drove the pickup with 7 bales and the next day he drove the tractor. Thanks, Joseph!
It is baling time on the farm! Pat cuts the hay, a few days later they rake and bale it, and finally we bring them back to the farm. This is good hay and is being up inside the barn.
Posing on the ground where I expected them to be, but they climbed up there.
I had a turn in the tractor yesterday as the rain threatened. Today it did rain half an inch of wonderful rain! We had to replant some soybeans due to hail, so the beautiful rain this morning was a gift from above!
Paul loading me... a person needs to have some fun while doing farm work. Pictures capturing our farm life is my joy!
Always have to have a silly one!
Major Joseph with a load of bales. Around and around they go!
Family time with all but Hallel and some of the older ones that went to camp. Nancy's Gina, Ruth's Tom and Maria's Maggie are all within 6 months apart! Sharing ice cream is one of our favorite things to do!
Thanks to a FB post by Paul we found homes for all the kittens and some of the mother cats! Guess what they found in the hay barn? More kittens, but now we know how to find homes for them - Facebook!
3 year old Magdalene watching her dad come on the yard with another load of bales. We keep them safe on the porch...
Or watching from the trampoline as Simon brings a tractor load of bales.
Tom fell asleep mid lunch with the cousins here.
Oh this makes me miss my wonderful time with my parents so much! We would have such wonderful visits and prayers together in their home in SCF! They both died 4 years ago 7 months apart after being married for 70 years! Dad lived with me the last 6 months of his life with me in my farm monastery on hospice. Such a blessing for me!
A picture Maria sent last week of their new home with the living room set up! Now they will be living another hour away in Fort Riley KS. Still half a day trip for Pat and I to visit them and our nun with her Community of the Lamb!
Paul unloading a tiny bale to empty his baler when he got on the yard.
The trio riding the bale for fun!
My fun and joy are capturing our farm life and family life and Faith life in pictures! I have the grandkids trained to pose for me!
Hunky hubby bake with the rake and checking out the grandkids on the bales.
16 year old Therese took my phone and gifted me with some wonderful pictures! This is a selfie with youngest granddaughter, John's Lucy Marie!
The 3 boys that are all 5 and are each 3 weeks from the other one... John's Jude, Nancy's George, and Maria's Hector. They all went to France 6 years ago in the wombs of their mothers for Hallel's final vows! 24 went to France!
The silly one with Birdie Barbara, who just turned 3.
Sweet Lucy taken by T
Lucy and peonies!
Mass with 4 families on Sunday - grandpa with Birdie and Regina Maria - Queen Mary!
Sunday brunch on Ruth's beautiful porch.
2 bales at a time with the payloader.
Regina is an otter in her pool in Delano. We made a quick trip up for Dominic's 10th birthday party yesterday.
Matching suits - Joy and Evangeline are both 7 and spent about 5 hours playing in the pool before we headed back to Marshall!
Precious Tom2 years ago with his beautiful mommy, Ruth, the farm wife, nurse, and mother of 7 children from 19 to 2!
Shopping for brunch with Joy and Birdie Barbara 2 years ago on a Sunday in June.
The 3 girls in less than a year! Nancy's Josephine, Maria's Evangeline, and Ruth's Joy!
On Monday we spent the day on a big project of picking, cleaning, and making freezer jam - 70 pints for our 6 families including our nun's Community of the Lamb.
Therese wanted to pick and make strawberry jam and got us going on this big day together! We picked 44 pounds of strawberries.
Rose and Joy with some of the berrries!
Therese made Jam with the assistance of her dad, Major Joseph, who read the precise instructions for her to follow.
We thought this white kitten was the last to go to a local farm, until they found more in the hay shed!
Ruth or David with a load of hay coming up the driveway. A very busy place with all the hay coming home and all the kids playing in the pool and around the yard together.
At Dominic's birthday pool party yesterday - the 3 girl cousins that will grow up together as friends.
My cat was scarce during the week of Maria's dog being here. Hanging out with Our Lady!
2 years ago Simon and Mary cantoring at mass.
St Anthony today!
Waiting for military cousins to arrive on the last weekend.
Hubby cutting hay - seems like all summer there is more and more to cut and bale and bring home hundreds of bales. Never ending cycle. Keep them all safe Lord and Lady!
Some of the littles on the trampoline with the proverbial popsicles!
Evie found another kitten and brought the hay with it!
Some special pictures of Jesus in the monstrance for the year of the Eucharist!
Jesus, I love and adore you!
Jesus in the tabernacle today when I got Eucharist for my 3 ladies. Surrounded with gold lies the King of the Universe!
Took my friend, Marie, in Balaton daisies, asparagus and Jesus!
Praying with John in the middle of the night. He is lifted up by a visit by his Doctor from Rochester and how well he thinks John is doing and how wonderful his family is and life. "John you have accomplished so much in the last 15 years since you fought the battle against brain cancer!"
one of the great Christian teachers of all time and a
renowned preacher of God’s word. In 1228, at age 33, he
was invited to preach before Pope Gregory IX. Afterwards,
the pope called Anthony the “Ark of the Testament.”
Anthony revealed such a grasp of God’s word
that, in the eyes of the pope, he seemed to “contain”
within himself the whole of Sacred Scripture.
St Anthony of Padua, pray for us!
"From Lisbon, out of Portugal ... He went to Italy ... And there confounded heretics ... And conquered heresy ... He was God's holy orator ... Who spread the gospel true ... And whose great ardor made him one ... Of His selected few ... The legends now are legion of ... His miracles on earth ... The patron saint of barren wombs ... And those that promise birth ... He also is the patron of ... The poor and the unfed ... As hungry mouths are opened for ... St Anthony's special bread ... And many are his followers ... Who feel in heart and mind ... That any article they lose ... St Anthony will find." ~ From Poem Portraits of the Saints - James J Metcalfe (1956)
Invite someone to Holy Mass - where hunger and thirst are satisfied!
In this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart it is fitting!
St Anthony will help find the right person to ask!
"The Bread of Heaven satisfies everytasteandhunger."
St Anthony of Padua
nee Lisbon, Portugal
Italy ~ 1195-1231 Franciscan Priest, Orator, Wonder worker DOCTOR of the CHURCH "Hammer of the Heretics"
"Ark of the Testament" Patron of the Poor, Patron of Lost articles
one of the great Christian teachers of all time and a
renowned preacher of God’s word. In 1228, at age 33, he
was invited to preach before Pope Gregory IX. Afterwards,
the pope called Anthony the “Ark of the Testament.”
Anthony revealed such a grasp of God’s word
that, in the eyes of the pope, he seemed to “contain”
within himself the whole of Sacred Scripture.
St Anthony of Padua, pray for us!
"From Lisbon, out of Portugal ... He went to Italy ... And there confounded heretics ... And conquered heresy ... He was God's holy orator ... Who spread the gospel true ... And whose great ardor made him one ... Of His selected few ... The legends now are legion of ... His miracles on earth ... The patron saint of barren wombs ... And those that promise birth ... He also is the patron of ... The poor and the unfed ... As hungry mouths are opened for ... St Anthony's special bread ... And many are his followers ... Who feel in heart and mind ... That any article they lose ... St Anthony will find." ~ From Poem Portraits of the Saints - James J Metcalfe (1956)
Invite someone to Holy Mass - where hunger and thirst are satisfied!
In this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart it is fitting!
St Anthony will help find the right person to ask!
"The Bread of Heaven satisfies everytasteandhunger."
St Anthony of Padua
nee Lisbon, Portugal
Italy ~ 1195-1231 Franciscan Priest, Orator, Wonder worker DOCTOR of the CHURCH "Hammer of the Heretics"
"Ark of the Testament" Patron of the Poor, Patron of Lost articles
one of the great Christian teachers of all time and a
renowned preacher of God’s word. In 1228, at age 33, he
was invited to preach before Pope Gregory IX. Afterwards,
the pope called Anthony the “Ark of the Testament.”
Anthony revealed such a grasp of God’s word
that, in the eyes of the pope, he seemed to “contain”
within himself the whole of Sacred Scripture.
St Anthony of Padua, pray for us!
"From Lisbon, out of Portugal ... He went to Italy ... And there confounded heretics ... And conquered heresy ... He was God's holy orator ... Who spread the gospel true ... And whose great ardor made him one ... Of His selected few ... The legends now are legion of ... His miracles on earth ... The patron saint of barren wombs ... And those that promise birth ... He also is the patron of ... The poor and the unfed ... As hungry mouths are opened for ... St Anthony's special bread ... And many are his followers ... Who feel in heart and mind ... That any article they lose ... St Anthony will find." ~ From Poem Portraits of the Saints - James J Metcalfe (1956)
Invite someone to Holy Mass - where hunger and thirst are satisfied!
In this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart it is fitting!
St Anthony will help find the right person to ask!
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Kansas 12 years ago - Dave was just about 2 years old and getting to wear the little sister blue apron to help with the dishes.
Hallel, David and the row houses across the street from Lumen Christi Monastery in the heart of the poor in KCK. 
5 year old Mary blowing out the candle in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe altar in their chapel. This is where Hallel told us she was entering The Community of the Lamb in 2008. She is now fully professed in France in 2018. 
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Our table name at our retreat last weekend. I came up tired and lifted up in many ways as well as in deep prayer for some issues that presented themselves. I was very touched by the deep faith of the 8 young people that made this retreat for the first time! They included 2 of my grandchildren with the other 6 young people, who all very much love and adore Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist! .jpg)
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