Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Lent begins for 2026/Work on the house post fire/Starting John's book about finding Faith - Matthew 25 - the sheep and the goats - +JMJ+

7 years ago in Kansas City little George Bandzuch was born on the day before Valentine's Day.  His Aunt Hallel lived just 20 minutes away and cam to hold him.  Such a special gift for our family!  

Today Hallel drove from Rome to Saint Pierre, the home base of her Community of the Lamb to be close to Jean Claude, who is one of the founders of their new offshoot of the Dominican order.  Jean Claude is on his last days, so many of the little sisters and little brothers are coming to pray for a peaceful death and uniting to Jesus, Mary and The Saints.  

Lent began with Ash Wednesday and we are now a week into this special Season in The Church where we deepen our prayer life with Prayer, Almsgiving and fasting.  Of all the seasons of The Church Lent is by far the one filled with growth and embracing our Most Cherished Cross!  Giving up my nightly indulgent time of food, wine and TV leaves me with time with my hubby to pray the Rosary and eat a meal together for a change.  All good!  
Going through old pictures - this one was taken by my mother-in-law in the milking barn as we are newly married 47 years ago.  Matching coveralls and an older cow not in any hurry to stand up.  I would help with  the calf feeding and feeding the cows while Pat would milk!  
The plants from my apartment in Minneapolis now in our small farmhouse outside of Marshall.  The Christ tears/hoya/plant grew through my king chair - I gave clippings to my mother-in-law and it took over her sun room.  A few years ago I got a cutting and it is growing like crazy now close to 50 years later!  
One of my favorite of the 5 for a Christmas Card about 30 years ago.   There is a Christ tears plant with ornaments on it and a fall kitten.

Post fire in our chimney about a month ago - I am having to go through lots of pictures and such that I had stored in the closets of our two back bedrooms.  Our bunk room was destroyed and is now going to add to our living room.  I am a bit panicked to have Ruth leaving for 2 weeks in Vietnam and not having her wisdom and help with the new build.  

Natural curly hair of my youth - in my Christian Commune on Boulder, Colorado in summer of 1971.  I thought that it was a lot like religious life and started to discern becoming a nun!  We wore long dresses, were separated  from the men, had chores and scripture study and prayer.  

https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html
In my king chair in my apartment just a block away from my families' home in Kenwood behind the Guthrie.  
I had a 3rd floor apartment in one of those beautiful homes in Kenwood just a few blocks from Lake of the Isles, which I walked around many times in nice weather.
My family at my wedding in Basilica of St Mary - my home parish when we came into The Catholic Church 7 years before.  I am the oldest of 11 children!   My sister,Mary, married a farmer like me, and died from lymphoma cancer in 1986 leaving behind her husband and 20 month old daughter, Audrey.  


https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-story-of-my-sister-mary.html 
Ash Wednesday last week with our marriage picture and the Motto that Hallel's Community of the Lamb live by - "Wounded, I will never cease to love."  The Lamb shows us how to love no matter the cost!  
Pat and I with Jesus in the tabernacle - Pat's sister, Marge/Raterra is the reason that I met Pat and the city girl came to the farm!  We met at the U of M and became fast friends!  I came to her wedding in 1977 and the following year we were married!  Each year on her birthday I get pretty emotional about how she was the reason for my life and LOVE and being open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS!  
Pope Benedict was very good today!  "Sin has disappeared and with it forgiveness = the disappearance of God who is turned towards man.  Grasp the Truth!"  
A year ago we were in Kansas City!  Little sister Alma was one of the original sisters we first met as they were opening the first foundation in the U.S. in KCK!  
13 years ago  - Baby Rose is now 13!  Her famous excitement when she was about 3 after the Easter Vigil - "I heard my name - Rose Again!"  Each week we say the Creed and even this last Sunday I saw her dad look at her when we said - "Rose Again."
A day old calf coming to the farm yesterday.  Tom and I got to drive it home while Pat sat in the back seat with him.  He liked the nice warm truck!  We now have close to 40 calves on the ground including twins yesterday.  
Paul with farm kids and a cute calf about 10 years ago.  I am using old pictures as I haven't gotten many this year yet.
Our wonderful celebratory Feast of all things sweet for our first Sunday of Lent on Sunday.  Simon's work schedule allowed him to join us, and he led a very special prayer thanking God for his big wonderful family that he is blessed to be a part of.  The oldest of 7 siblings truly a great blessing for his lifetime!  
Two of our youngest grands are cousin friends - 4 year old Tom and 3 year old Lucy.  
Praying with John as our hours overlap in the Adoration chapel - his is the last hour of Sunday and mine is the first hour of Monday!  We are currently starting to work on getting John's story of finding Faith through brain cancer in a booklet form.


http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnverly  John's caringbridge site will be very helpful for us!

John's Spirit Juice Video now continues with wife and 3 miracle children!  

The 5 grands that go shopping with us after sharing Mass - how we love to celebrate receiving Jesus, in his Body, Blood and Word!  These littles have to wait for their First Communion, and this next Sunday we will rejoice with Big Dave on his Confirmation - Come Holy Spirit!  
Rose Again took first in Humorous as an 8th grader here in the Marshall Speech Spectacular!  Wos!
Another pearl from Pope Benedict - he must be on the path to Sainthood! 
3 priests from India have come to help in our diocese!  
Grandson Augustine swam in distance in Sections in Hutchinson on Saturday.  Pat still watched a bull sale in the bleachers.  
8th place in the 500 yd freestyle!  
Grandpa with Regina Maria - Queen Mary, who is now 4 and next to the youngest grandchild.  3 year old Lucy is our youngest!  
Rose again at Mass on the first Sunday of Lent.
So impressed with her showing at Speech as an 8th grader!  
Cousin friends cheering on Josephine's oldest brother, Gus, at Sections in Hutchinson.  
My Valentines roses continue to be beautiful after a week and a half! 
Dominic reinacting Mass some years back - he is now an altar boy at St Maximilian.  Father Keith says that only boys that are interested in considering the priesthood can be up there serving .
I am currently watching cow TV and all seems quiet for now, but I need to add my Rosary time too.  John is also wanting us to find time to work on his book, so I need to find that too.  

I was surprised yesterday at the Nursing Home Mass that the reading was the sheep and the goats from Matthew 25.  It lays out the Corporal Works of Mercy quite clearly!  

To practice the corporal works of mercy, consider these actions:

  1. Feed the hungry by providing meals or food donations.
  2. Give drink to the thirsty by offering water or beverages to those in need.
  3. Clothe the naked by donating clothes or providing clothing assistance.
  4. Shelter the homeless by supporting shelters or offering temporary housing.
  5. Visit the sick by spending time with or assisting those who are ill.
  6. Visit the imprisoned by reaching out to those incarcerated or supporting prison ministries.
  7. Bury the dead by participating in funerals or supporting bereaved families.
  8. Care for the elderly by offering companionship or assistance with daily tasks.
  9. Help the disabled by providing transportation or resources for accessibility.
  10. Support local charities that focus on these acts of mercy

  12. one of my favorite stories of the Community of the Lamb was knocking on the door of a young woman with tatoos showing that she had been in a gang as well as prison.  "How can you ask me for food when I don't have enough for my own children?"  After sharing the Gospel with her she offered them a glass of water!  The Gospel coming to LIFE!
A girl's day close to the Cities!
1983 - My parents and us 11 kids, I was pregnant with #3 child, Maria Theresa!  
Blowing bubbles with accesories!  
This picture went all the way to the State Fair for Ruth!  
Our 30th Anniversary being prayed over!  
1983 - Pregnant with #4 - Maria.  I had lost #2 before Nancy!  
Pat and only son, John, putting up fence about 30+ years ago.
John before school.  HE now has no hair since his whole brain radiation.  The new John loves Jesus, Mary and The Catholic Church.  

This must come to an end.  Hubby just came home for some food.  Time for rosary and feeding the hard working farmer man.  Jesus, we long to love and serve you without counting the cost.  May we die to self.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb and the 33 plus 13 in heaven.  
Why do you receive Communion?

St Francis de Sales explains 
in his Introduction to the Devout Life 
that our primary intention should be 
to grow in the love of Jesus Christ:


"Your main intention in Communion should be 
to grow, strengthen, and abound in the Love of God; 
for Love's Sake receive that which Love Alone gives you.  
Of a truth there is no more loving or tender aspect 
in which to gaze upon the Savior than this act, 
in which He, so to say, annihilates Himself, and 
gives Himself to us as food, in order to fill our souls, 
and to unite Himself more closely 
to the heart and flesh of His faithful ones. 
______________
Painting of Jesus: Artist - Heinrich Hofmann

This classic, Introduction to the Devout Life 
would be an excellent Lenten read.



10,000 Reasons





 

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