Another hairy tale - tail...

We are back from a day of going to a cattle sale... Pat took John, Mary and I along... I found an island of peace out in the car while Mary went in with the men for about an hour of the sale.  It was heavenly and I dozed in the sun with my rosary... it can't get any better than that!  Therese had asked me to make "doggy ears" in both her and older cousin, Mary's, hair today. 

Therese is 2 1/2 and she looks up to her bigger cousin 4 year old Mary... It is fun to share the same hair style for a day...even though Mary left for the afternoon and went to a cow sale in Madison, SD...Now after a chili supper there is begging for a tea party before baths and then maybe a movie before bed...We are all adjusting to 5 days of being together and mom and dad away in Georgia! 

 Thank you Lord for the first day and all the ups and downs..One big crazy family is what we are trying to be with you always there to give us the humor and love that we need to make it all that it can be!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, BarbAnd that is the end of my hairy tale for tonight... I long to escape to my island of peace in my bedroom and read. It was a way of having some islands of peace with the two year olds too!  It looks like Herbert the cat found a peaceful spot away from grabbing hands to purr in the sun... Sigh!

"If faith is scarce, it is because there is too much selfishness in the world, too much egoism.  Faith in order to be authentic, has to be generous and giving.  Love and faith go hand in hand."  Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

"It is your face, O Lord, that I seek." Psalm 27:8

For the next 5 days... this will be the scene around here... Maria is in charge of watching Ruth's kids, while they are away on a conference.   All 5 have had their emotions come out at one time or another today.  Different parenting styles will make it all of a challange from both perspectives... pick your battles.  Peace is foremost in my theory of the next few days...

To be honest... I am a bit apprehensive and overwhelmed this morning... the super grandma is liking her solitude... especially when I am trying to write... If this seems a bit choppy and scattered ... it's because there is a bit of a zoo going on here.  I want to see the Lord's face at work in this so badly... hence my title today.  It is a prayer that I am repeating over and over within my shell shocked spirit! 

The youngest by more than a year... 1 year old Davey was the only quiet one... he seemed to just take it all in as the others were all having their issues...  He found peace within himself.  I think that I need to take a lesson from him.  I will take heart in the Hallel psalm from mass today - Psalm 149!

"Sing to the Lord a new song" - as Veggie tales is on in the background - I think that my prayers are being answered?!?  "God is bigger than the boogie man!"

Let them praise the Lord in the festive dance, - as activity is going on in all directions!

For the Lord loves his people,

and he adorns the lowly with victory.  - Today I am very lowly and overwhelmed, Dear Lord.

Let the faithful exult in glory;

let them sing for joy upon their couches; - that couch might be something longed for!

Let the high praises of God be in their throats.

This is the glory of all the faithful.  Halleluia!"  Lord, help me to be trusting and faithful!

May the peace of the Lord come and dwell within us and may we see your face in those around us - our families on this snowy weekend... Little ones are asking me to read a book... that will be peaceful island in the midst of this day filled with your face in those little ones.  Amen and Halleluia! 

Bless-bless, Barb

"The Lord takes delight in his people."  Psalm 149: 4

"Grama... I a farm girl..."

Little 2 1/2 year old Therese headed out just as the storm was hitting... windy and cold... she still took mommy by the hand and led her out to meet Snowball for the first time!  This is a whole new girl... she used to be so afraid of the cows and calves that she would cry and run away!

Today she went under the fence and then walked right up to Snowball and held out her hand for her to smell and smell she did...  Then Therese wanted to walk around the feeder and see Banana too!

It was so great to see how watching Mary with the big animals has totally altered Therese and she is now a true and proud - "farmgirl"...

The wind and snow and cold made us turn towards the house and warmth... Therese will be fun to watch interact with everything on the farm when the weather gets more pleasant.  She is already talking about riding along in the tractor with grandpa come spring!  She proved that she is a farmgirl at heart today!

Bless-bless, Barb

"It is Christmas every time we allow Jesus to love others through us..."  St Therese of Calcutta

A Blizzard of memories - doing girls' hair in the morning.

Listening to the blizzard howling outside... I watched Maria do her daughter's hair this morning, and I had to tell Therese about the mornings when I would do 4 girls' hair with not just tie backs or barretts but also the ever present ribbons and bows! 

The school girl for sure had to have her bows for her first day of school, but little sister at home had to have her barretts and bows too!

Ruthie showing younger cousin, Clint, had to have her cute pink ribbon tied into a off to the side bow... there is no occassion that a bow is not a necessary accessory to show your feminine side...

Playing around on the blanket with baby sister, Nancy, for sure her baby bow would be smaller to fit her baby shorter hair...

Baby Maria got by with just a barrett to see the baby chicks up close and personal... You don't want to get hair in your eyes and miss any of the baby chick action going on...

Nap time a bit older and more hair required a large silky bow for that adorable naptime... Bows were not pulled out of hair because all 4 girls sucked their thumbs and so they were not messing with their hair...

Sharing a blanket with each their own thumbs... ever present hair bows and barretts for a day on the farm... it looks like Ruth just got home from helping dad milk cows... I guess that is one way to get your hands clean!?!

May Day at the Catholic School... now that is a special occassion that always requires a special big bow in your hair!  Our Lady makes all of us special women/girls love the specialness that we are blessed with our feminity! WE are gifted with being special and different from men, and given the gift of carrying and nurturing life!  That is a great reason to wear flowers and ribbons and bows... we are beautiful and special!  Thank you Lord!

Our leprosy...

Too much going on here for my long sharing today... there is a huge sigh of relief heard!  The sound of the bread machine is humming in the kitchen - Pat spied Maria's bread machine and no peace was found until he had a lesson in bread making... I will keep you posted.  Lunch is planned for when it is to come out of the bread machine in 3 hours...The Gospel today is a wonderful one of the leper, who is cleansed and healed!  Luke 5: 12-16... Leprosy was considered unclean and they were seperated into colonies apart from others...

"Among the wonders worked by Jesus Christ, can any match the compassion he showed to the lepers?  Somehow the wretchedness and horror of their condition represent everything about our lives that we consider impossible."  See http://www.magnificat.com/   "The biggest sickness in our world is sadness, indifference, and loneliness.  Like parched land waiting for water, so the world is waiting for those who will proclaim hope."  Mother Elvira Petrozzi

So much today about how we are to bring HOPE into the world around us!  Not only to cleanse the leprosy of loneliness, sadness, and indifference in our world, but to come to Christ with our own impossible sicknesses... asking Him to - "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean."  What could these be?  Materialism, desire for pleasure, gluttony, selfishness, depression as we dwell on ourselves rather than looking out in love and concern at the world around us!  Lord, there are so many ways that we need to be cleansed... allow us to approach you with hope and hear your words - "I will do it.  Be made clean."  Thank you Lord... we fall down before you in heartfelt gratitude! 

Jesus, truly I want to serve those around me in need but first I need to "remove the plank in my own eye"... I humbly recall all my weaknesses and am thankful for the gift of reconcilliation where you touch me with your healing light and I am cleansed!  Make me whole and clean and free from the sins that hold me away from you and your light.  "Go, show yourself to the priest..."  May there be many more young men to answer the call to your priesthood so that our light and our life may continue for all to receive!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb
"The Magi's journey was inspired by powerful hope, strengthened and guided by the star, which led them towards the King of the Jews, towards the kingship of God himself.  It was as though they had always and been waiting for that star.  This is the mystery of God's call, the mystery of vocation."  Pope Benedict XVI

Family Fairytale...

The Magic Birthday Candles

Once upon a time there were three kids - not the goat kind - they loved to blow out candles on birthday cakes... they could do it all day long! 

It was even two days after mom's birthday, and without any thought of whether it was appropriate or not... they had a late party for her just so that they could blow out the candles over and over!  The daddy of the 3 kids - not a goat either - would light all 31 of them up, and the singing would begin...

Mommy would stand there so joyfully excited to blow out her 31 candles, and suddenly a big wind came and the candles were all blown out... how did it happen?  When we looked at the surveilance tape... it was obvious that the little one didn't do it,but the other two looked mighty suspicious! 

Suddenly the candles were all lit once again...everyone was so happy for the glow and the warmth of the 31 candles was a beautiful sight to behold.... "Happy Birthday, Ruthie - God is blessing you now!"  What a happy fairytale family... all a wife/mother/nurse/Crieghton Model instructor/daughter/sister/ alfghan maker/and many other gifts and talents, that make up the wonderful Ruth Ida Lanoue, could ask for! 

This time mom got to blow out her candles, but the little kid - not a goat- missed out once again... but he sure looked cute...  And they all lived happily ever after.  The End.

"Where does love begin?

In our homes.

When does it begin?

When we pray together.

The family that prays together stays together." 

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta