"Trust in the Lord forever!" Isaiah 26: 1-6

These are pictures that I took a few days ago as the "winter storm" was moving the 5 inches of snow around... on the south side of our house it is always so nice out of the wind... grandpa was clearing the driveway so that our "neighbors"... Ruth and the kids... could come for a tea party with Therese.

All the pretty colors and  the white snow backdrop... Add to that rosey cheeks from the cold wind, and it is a dream of photography for a grandma.   We are all at Mayo and John is to go back and have his MRI in a matter of minutes... the IV is in and he is soon to be called back to lay still in the big metal tube and listen to the pinging of the huge magnetic pull... He is asked even if he has a metal heart valve or anything metal that you could imagine in his body somewhere...  thankfully at his young age... he has no metal knee of hip like his mother...

After a short night's sleep at Nancy and Bill's house, we drove to pick up John at his fraternity and then drive to Rochester... Maria, her two kids, Pat, John and I... we were reminded as we got on the highway that a year ago this was the 2nd day of our week of prayer!  How that fills us with peace and comfort to know that we were so lifted up a year ago and continue to be today!  It seemed that all our fears melted away as we shared the beauty of Morning prayers...

Today morning prayer talked about a "walled city" of old and how it protected the city of "evil marauders."  "The heavenly city, the new Jerusalem, will protect all God's people from the most dreaded of marauders, evil and death.  As we await that promised dwelling place, we know that we are encircled  always by God's saving love in Jesus Christ."  See http://www.magnificat.com/

I always love to read about Trust!  Today's first reading from the mass for today is a wonderful one from Isaiah!  It speaks of a 'strong city"... with walls and ramparts to protect us..."A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you."  Isaiah 26  How we are called to trust over and over with this journey called cancer/healing with our 21 year old son, John!  Today those dark thoughts start to creep and all we can do is fall on our knees and beg the Lord to hold us close and to fill us with HOPE!

The Gospel was exciting for us to share... Mt 7: 21, 24-27... Maria had read it ahead and told us with excited terms that it is the "House built on the rock!"    "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on a rock.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.  But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on the rock."  We have done that... so no storm will make us fall!  Jesus, we trust in you! 

"Trust in the Lord forever!  For the Lord ia an eternal Rock."  Isaiah 26   How we love and need to be reminded of this fact! Today with the unknown being investigated with a scan that can see within the body due to modern technology... We will at 3:15p meet with the doctor and get the news of what it will reveal... we hope and pray that the cancer will continue to be gone... yet, we fear and doubt and every little memory lapse or headache makes us worry! 

"All those who listen to Christ's words become rock-solid in their life.  Because his Word is life.  The Lord himself is an eternal Rock.  When we trust him, that is, when we are attentive and obedient to his Word as opposed to our own ideas, feelings, and preoccupations, we are given the "firm purpose" we crave that keeps us in peace."  preface to mass in The Magnificat

Last night while teaching religion - our 9th graders are starting the Bible Timeline Bible study... it was very good as we began with Genesis... there is so much wonderful stuff there for us to learn about ourselves as male and female and the covenant/sacrament of marriage... but what really blew me away was the looking into what God was teaching us after "The Fall."  "He was showing us that part of love is suffering."  That was such a powerful and deep thought and basically saying in simple terms... what we find in the cross in our lives! 

We all have many crosses as we go through the years of our marriages and our families... we certainly need to embrace the fact that loves means suffering and pain! Without that the joy would be dull and boring and not nearly as wonderful as it is after the suffering!  John's cancer has certainly taught us this lesson over and over... there is mental pain and suffering as our son is once again in the MRI tube... we struggle to find the ROCK on which we can cling, and find Trust to withstand the wind and buffeting of the STORM! 

Another way of looking at the suffering to ourselves is what is called the "sacrifices" in our lives... this is addressed in the Meditation of the Day today by Monsignor Luigi Guissani              "When a mother gives birth to a baby, it's the beginning of a history of sacrifices; when a boy marries a girl, it's the beginning of a history of sacrifices....The greatest sacrifice is to recognize a Presence; this is something, the thing "from the other world."  All of a person's experience summed up in the point of sacrifice, or everything falls apart." 

The 4 wheeler and sled got it's first use...

There are those beautiful apple rosey cheeks...  Time to go in the house for some of grandma's homemade tomato soup! 

"One more time around the house mommy!  Then we are going to go in for some tomato soup with our tea party!  That will warm us up!  We like winter in Minnesota!"

Well, I have been holding up the only computer here by the MRI machine...  time to pray and go and say my rosary!     Jesus, we are so grateful that you taught the beauty of your Cross!  How much it enrcihes our lives, and gives us the reminder time and again that we need you, and that you are always there with love for us!  Your nail scarred hands reaching out to us with love, and embracing us, and lifting us up when we are low or down, and carrying us forward.  We find peace and hope there as we trust in You being in control!  Jesus, we trust in you with every moment of every day!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb and family... as we are here to support and love John!

"There is no Holy One like the Lord; there is no  Rock like our God."  I Samuel 2:2

We Trust in you, Jesus... May John's cancer never return!

Therese helped grandma put lights in the front bushes... It will be a warm welcome tomorrow night as we return from Rochester in the dark to the lights to greet us!

It was so pretty as we literally threw the lights in the bushes and since it was already after the sun had set... they were a pretty sight immediately!  They are a symbol of hope for us as we return for what will happen every 3 months for the next years... John remembers that they told him that they will continue checking him longer than most because his cancer is so fast growing... a question for the doctor tomorrow.

Mom and Davey looking at our work from the inside...  We will just leave them plugged in to welcome us with the beauty of home and the good news of no cancer once again!  Jesus, hear our prayers! 

Jesus, we need you... we feel weak and worried as we face another long day of having John in the MRI machine and then the wait to face the doctor.  Jesus, we trust in you!  You are in control and you loved us with your life!  Amen and Halleluia! 

Bless-bless, Barb

"Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create... No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there, or the sound of crying."  Isaiah 65: 18-19

The week of prayer revisited...

Maria had ordered a lot of cheap prints and we were going through them this morning at breakfast... She had shared how Joe would have special time with little baby David this summer and fall..."sitting in the glider every day and he would say his rosary while David held onto his rosary."  There were pictures recording this wonderful bonding and instructing time, so  I asked to scan them and share them today... it expanded to others that are a special tribute to this wonderful young dad, who is now starting a carreer as an in the army, and is separated from his family for months.  We now have his wife and two wonderful children with us, while he is away...  It is a blessing and we are all happily settled in for a winter on the farm!  Every day as we shared morning and evening prayers as well as meal prayers... little Therese prays for her dad and little David chimes in "DaDa"... Lord, we trust that you are with Joseph and protecting him and keeping him from being too lonely... Maria prays for this intention when she prays for her husband..."That he isn't too lonely."

Today is a landmark day for us as we revisit the amazing week of prayer that friends and supporters organized last year for our son, John.  We had just discovered the devastating news that John's cancer had come back and we were in the midst of doing the dreaded full brain radiation!  There was a calendar set up on line for people to sign up for an hour of prayer for John's healing.  It touched us deeply to see the hours fill  whether it was 2a or 2p... there were many times numerous people that filled in the slots! All 168 hours were covered and we were so deeply moved to hear from so many about how they had encountered the true power of prayer in their varied experiences...

Such a wonderful example he is setting for his son!  When I watched my grandson, David Lanoue, we would have time after lunch with our shared rosary... Grandma would speak the hail Mary's out loud and little baby David would be peaceful and relaxed... Our Lady brings peace and healing to us and our families!          The week of prayer was one of those parts of the last year that we were truly blessed with and the scan that happened just at the end of it was a true testament of the Lord's answering all the heartfelt prayers from so many... The cancer was almost totally gone and the next scan a few weeks after the radiation revealed... CR - Christ Rules/Complete Responce!  I can see in John the reality that he is healed due to the prayers and for him there is no doubt of this!  He prays long and hard and genuinely and earnestly when we gather together for morning and evening prayer!  It was wonderful to have the time together in our hotel rooms or the car over the last days of travel to Pennsylvania and back... we with ease and joy shared our morning and evning prayers and the Gospel!  See http://www.magnificat.com/

My hand  yearns to have the rosary beads in it throughout the day... and it appears to be natural and peaceful for little David too!  How it has been there for me and continues to be!  Our Lady was the main source for my strength, faith and trust over the last year and a half... She is a mother, who watched her son suffer and yearned for the world to know and understand that he was God... I can't say that we share that last part, but to not understand the suffering of my 20 year old son... struck down in his prime by brain cancer... yes, she was right there with me!  She was my lifeline and strength! 

Joseph and his kids sharing a creative moment!  Now they have a movie of daddy to watch and to remember that his prayers and thoughts and love are with them!  We just watched him playing legos with them as we had our Krusties pancakes for breakfast!  They will not forget their dad nor his love for them!

This is the amazing perpetual adoration chapel that is close to the home of Joseph's parents... Joe's mom is one of the 3 ladies that takes two weeks to be on call and in charge of making sure that there is someone there at all times... It has been going 24hours a day for 20 years!  Joe's dad made some of the wood and rock work that is part of this amazing chapel!  How blessed is this family and this community to have such a powerful source of prayer power!  Jesus, we come to you on our knees to worship and adore you!  This photo of Maria and David was taken for a celebration of the 20 year anniversary... I thought that 168 hours of prayer was amazing... it would be in the hundreds of thousands of hours of prayer to add up 20 years at 24 hours a day...  I just googled it... 175,316.255 hours... Now that is prayer power!  And people that truly know and believe in where we go to be with Christ - He is there with us in the presence of His Eucharistic self!  Now that is going to be with God while here on this earth!

Such an amazing Gospel today!  Matt 15: 29-37!  I would highly suggest reading it!  It is when Jesus is on the mountain and they bring all the sick and suffering to him to be healed and HE does it!  Then He is filled with compassion for them...."My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.  I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way."  I love it when our Lord speaks in His Word!  And this is so Eucharistic!  He does feed us so that we may not collapse in our struggles in life!  How Maria is longing to get out in the mornings for daily mass with her two little ones... even though it is at 7a here!  She yearns to receive his everlasting food of life every day! 

I have a feeling that I will be rising early on a more regular basis to join her on this pursuit of holiness and prayer!  Her little ones are not left with grandma... they are taken along to share in the banquet of LIFE!  Maria's prayer space she has made in her room is a place where little Therese with comfort and ease fell to her knees and folded her hands... very familiar with prayer.... Her little voice is raised in petitions along with us adults at morning and evening prayers around the advent wreath!  So special for a grandmother to see the next generation embracing and comfortable with their faith within the family... the domestic Church we are all called to cultivate and encourage within our families and form them into that slice of heaven here on earth!  Little Davey with his rosary and sweet Therese with her petitions for daddy and Uncle Johnnie... fill a grandma with much joy and humility.... it makes me feel very small to know that God is at work in such unworthy people like myself... I am unworthy,Lord, to unfasten the straps of your sandles...

Jesus and Mother Mary, The sun is shining on a gorgeous white world outside... your world is displayed in all of its splendor!  WE see you all around us in the small innocent lives of our grandchidren, the wisdom and love of their parents, the all encompassing Truth of Your amazing Catholic Church... it all reflects YOU!  The prayer in all its forms is the LOVE that flows between you and us!  May we fill our lives with it.... every beat of our hearts and every breath that we take... WE are yours body, soul, mind and spirit!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Use us!  We are yours!  Amen and Halleluia! 

Bless-bless, Barb

"Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.  The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified God.."  Mt 15: 29-37

Please join us in prayer for John as he returns to Rochester tomorrow for his 3 month scan!  Jesus, we trust in you!

Looking for cousins to come for a tea party...

Little Therese looks at the snow blowing out on the road in front of our house... Grandpa had to make a path through the snow for her Aunt Ruthie and her two kids to come...  For the last day of November... it looks like a long cold winter is ahead.  Lots of time putting on snow clothes on kids for those short times outside in the wind and the snow.

It sure is pretty though................

Bless-bless, Barb

"Though your sins be as scarlet... they will become as white as snow."  Isaiah 1 : 18

That is a vivid picture is it not?

"Your Words. Lord, are Spirit and Life." John 6: 63

It was a funny sight yesterday as Maria dressed her two in the winter clothing for the first time... it took about 10 minutes with the ususal putting mittons on over and over... with the thumbs everywhere but the place where they are supposed to be... 

Therese had time to go and watch the kitten play while mom got little brother, Dave, dressed... As the snow was blowing around and the wind is howling, we just shared breakfast with Maria and her two little ones and read morning prayer and the readings for the day... Little Therese prayed for "a new baby brother"... no, Maria is not expecting yet... and for her "daddy", who is in the for training.  We discovered to our delight that it is ST Andrew's feastday today... He was very important to both of my girls in their ventures into religious life and also is a favorite name of all 3 of our girls for a boy... we already have 2 Davids and it would be funny to someday have 3 Andrews also!

I knew that Maria had thought that if she had stayed with the Poor Clares that she would have been Mary Andrew... I asked her today to remind me why.... "When I was in Rome... he just seemed to always be there whereever I looked.  He also had died on a cross in the shape of an "X" and wrote a most beautiful thing about the cross."  It is called "Bona Cruz" and it was written and placed on Susan's altar in her room and I found it there when she left... It was still in her room when Maria moved in a few days ago and is now in her prayer space that she has set up in the "office/play room/guest room" that she has made in one of the bedrooms upstairs... Therese is overjoyed to have her toys on a shelf in that room.  They have been stored here in the basement in a box about 5 months before Joe left for the ... wonderful relaxed family time to keep them strong now with the seperation! 

The beautiful Gospel today of Christ walking along the shore and calling Andrew and his brother, Peter..."'Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.'  And at once they left their nets and followed him."   How simple and nonquestioning this was for them to "know" that He was Real and True and that there was no doubt for them to do what he asked of them!  He is calling each one of us to follow him... we hear Him in our families and our jobs and our vocations and our worship and all those that we come in contact with... we must leave all and follow him... leave all that distracts us... The Magnificat today addresses what Andrew did when he left all to follow Christ..."What made Andrew leave his nets and follow Jesus?  'Faith comes from what is heard.' Christ beckons,'Come after me...' His promise transformed the possiblities of Andrew's life.  St Andrew preached what he met in that moment.  May he always be our friend."  see http://www.magnificat.com/

A toil of love getting her kids all bundled up and then going out to do a small job that grandpa had asked her to do... it took about 5 minutes and they were all back in to get out of their layers of warm clothes...."Therese says that she is cold."  We all have done it many times in our lives... living here in the winter wonderland that we do... the last day of November and school was already late 2 hours this morning!  Grandp is now putting on his layers of warm clothes to go out and care for his animals...  I don't think that Maria and the kids will be joining him today.... howling cold wind and snow are not exactly good for a 2 and 1 year old.

The Cross and sharing the Gospel is what St Andrew signifies for us and for my girls... It is so interesting that both of my girls encountered him on their journey into religious life! 

This is what I found in Susan/Hallel's room after she had left for France... O Bona Crux             "O Good Cross, which is decorated and made beautiful by the hanging body of the Lord upon it, long have I desired you, ardently have I loved you, unceasingly have I sought you, and now my eager soul is ready for you.  Accept me from among me, and bring me to my Master.  Receive this disciple of Christ, so that by means of you He may receive me, He who, by his death upon you, redeemed me.  Amen"  - Prayed by ST Andrew before being crucified for his faith.

 Such a wonderful peaceful prayerful time... we are filled with gratitude on this week after Thanksgiving.  To have the eyes of little ones to show us the delight of the simple things in life!  Grandpa has been upstairs reading the kids books in their prayer/play room! 

Baby animals and kids... Grandma is in heaven!

Lord and Savior... your Word came to earth and showed us the face of God!  It is one of LOVE and PEACE and JOY!  How we long to follow you and to reveal you to all those around us...especially to those the closest to us... Our Family!  St Andrew we have come to know you and how you embraced without hesitation... with total joy... the Cross... the tree of LIFE!  Thank you for being such an amazing part of our life and continue to intercede for us... A shout out to our nephew, Andrew, today and his son... Andrew!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"Then Jesus said to his disciples,'Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself , take up his cross, and follow me.'"  Mt 16: 24

Therese came to pose for pictures with both of her new kitties that grandpa got for her to spend the next months with...Thanks Grandpa!  I love you and Alice and Herbert... Ally and Herby!

Tea Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Therese was excited to go down and find her tea set in the basement room where all of the things from their house are stored until they know where they will be living someday in the future...  Her dad just entered the , so after months of training and who knows where he will be stationed... now all of the possessions are from their house in St Paul are in boxes in our basement... It was so fun for Therese to go down and find her toys and to share a "tea party" with her cousins and new baby kitties, that grandpa got for her and her brother to have while they live with us. 

The first day of our new normal was delightful!  It is winter storming outside, but John got to college in one piece... thank you, Lord.   WE had a fun time planning to make some drawings from Therese for her Godmother... Little Sister Hallel.... Her mom is starting to crochet a blue sweater to keep her sister warm... made with love and a labor of love with a tiny crochet needle!  Hallel has a Christmas wish list that we want to gather together to send in a box for her to have a "family Christmas in a box filled with love!"  She needs a sleeping bag that can be squished into a small ball in her backpack for when she goes on "mission." 

Johnnie and Godson, Davey, got to hang out with the kitties before John headed back to college.  It was wonderful to have had these last 5 days with John in such close contact and sharing!  Now we have a few days apart until we head to Rochester on Thursday!  Jesus, we need you to hold us in the palm of your hand.  Calm our fears and allow us to give it all to you and to TRUST!

It was a bit scarey to send John to the Cities with the weather starting, but he made it with an extra hour to slowly and carefully drive there. 

It was a great day and I know that we will have our ups and downs...  Maria made my heart happy by sharing that she felt a peace at being "home and with family."  Mom always likes to hear that!

Lord, thank you for the special moments when we gather in the warmth of our homes while the winter winds begin to howl and the snow to swirl...  May the warmth be from within... the fruits of your love for us... may we see you in all those around us and most of all in our families.  Jesus, we trust in you to give us all we need to love and to serve all those in our lives!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"If we expose ourselves deeply and humbly to the power of God's Word, he will come to us as both rain and sword, as both principle of new life and fruition and as scalpel in the hand of a surgeon who must painfully cut if he is to heal."  Brother Simeon