Revisiting - well, not quite..

March 21st - two years ago - Therese had just turned 1 a few days before on the 18th... She was visiting the farm with her parents for the weekend... so on a beautiful sunny and warm Sunday, we had the kids dressed in bibs and took some black and whites out by the grain bin... Of the many that we took - this one was as good as they get!  Even the Rat Terrier - Roger was there looking fairly good in antique black and white - sepia...

Therese was just one and David was 7 months... now they are the two two year olds that have become fast friends as well as cousins... In two days Therese will be the first one to turn 3 and Dave will follow in July!  Too cute!

Maria says that she looks like the little girl from Les Miserables here... precious... well, today I tried to get the 5 together at Ruth's in an equally charming and keepsake pose.  With some battles we got them dressed farmy and the results were....

Well, getting 4 out of the 5 looking at least at the camera... but certainly far from the wonder of two years ago... still one that will be cherished now that Therese and David will be living probably in far flung places... following their dad in the ...

It looks like I had better keep trying for that perfect one, and in the meantime I am getting lots of those ones that will make me laugh and marvel at each one and their own personality and temperament that comes through... No, it isn't picture perfect, but it sure reminds me that each is precious and unique!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Bless-bless, Barb

A Child's Prayer

O Almighty God,

who hast given unto me my father and mother,

and made them to be an image of Thine authority,

and love, and tender watchfulness;

and hast commanded me to love, and honour,

and obey them in all things:

give me grace cheerfully and with my whole heart

to keep this Thy law.

Help me to love them fervently,

to honour them truly,

to yield a ready obedience to their commands,

to comply with their wishes,

to study their happiness in everything,

and to bear their rebukes with patience and humility.

Deliver me O God, from pride,

rebellion and wilfulness,

from passion and stubbornness,

from sloth and carelessness.

Make me diligent in all my duties and studies,

and patient in all my trials;

that so living, I may deserve to be Thy child,

who art our Father in Heaven.
Amen.

"Mom, I need you to pray!"

I had just gotten outside to watch gates for Pat as he tried to get the manure out of the barns... possible with the thaw... armed with rosary and camera.  The cell phone rang - it was a tearful Nancy asking for prayers for a young girl.  "I just spent an hour pleading with her not to have an abortion and she just left my office to go and have an abortion.  Pray!"   Looking down I saw this cross in the straw on the ground... and I prayed that Nancy's words, and all the prayers, and all those with 40 days for Life that are praying outside abortion clinics during Lent could make a difference, and save this life! - "Mom, I offered her everything from an ultrasound at the Life Care Center to being with her throughout... She cannot think of adoption!  Why?"

Lord, allow those women that find themselves pregnant to see that this is a beautiful LIFE... and if it is impossible for them to care for this child - give them the supernatural ability to carry it and place it in the loving arms of parents that so long for a child of their own.  Protect this little innocent and beautiful life in the womb of this scared and confused girl. And do a work in the hearts of doctors that take life so casually and give the girls this as their only option...  May life be "seen" with new eyes and protected!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"My Sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;

a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn."  Psalm 51

"Bad Bulls!"

Ruth and the kids came over for some time outside on a warm day - Grandpa was in his glory with Ruth to lend a hand and grandkids to tag along... the bulls had broken the fence overnight, so Pat was putting some metal gates across the spot to fix it good and strong until new boards could be put there.  He was talking to the grandkids watching from the hay rack about how the  bulls had been "bad."  Then he looked up to see that 3 of the 4 were standing there watching him... looking very casual and innocent...

Ruth had just said that she had checked out the scene of the crime, and found some big hoof prints in the snow by the broken fence... so grandpa had all the kids in the hay rack calling the 3 guilty bulls - "Bad Bulls!"  Then....

Grandpa climbed over the fence and got the two Davids and....

carried them over to the newly repaired fence to tell the bulls to their faces that they were "bad bulls."

  They felt brave with the fence between them and grandpa's strong arms around them!  And the bulls didn't really care about the whole business - they just realized that the openning they had between the two yards was now gone...."I guess we have to wait for him to open the gate again - our own gate only lasted a few hours..."  Sometimes you wonder if they truly do have some thought processes in those big heads of theirs.  Life is a mystery and certainly never dull or boring!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Bless-bless, Barb

"The Word was God." John 1:1

Expecting company - the many finger and handprints on the window are washed off, and today there are already fresh ones after oatmeal for breakfast... two little ones trapped inside for all these long winter monthes... finally the thaw is coming we hope and pray! 

Our special company is my wonderful "daughter" the rosary girl - Liz!  She has made beautiful rosaries for Joseph - how proud and happy and supportive she is of the men in the ... his rosary is named "certainty" and for never having met Joseph and his black and white approach to life... we all feel that the Holy Spirit gave it the perfect name for him!  Maria's name is Lectio and with her prayerful life and love of Latin- once again an amazing fit!  Therese's is pink!  And so wonderful and Therese truly looks at it with wonder and delight! 

David looks at the beautiful crucifix on his and says, "Jesus." They are all deeply touched by this deeply spiritual and generous gift that Liz toiled over with love and certainly prayed over!  Her daily joyful and loving recitation of her rosary prayer to our Lady to intercede to her son - the son that sat on her lap and "ate her chin out of love for her!"  How can he not listen to her pleas on our behalf?

Then we head out to the barn for some lessons about animals and LIFE!  The cow that had just days before had a C section to get her calf here... is there with her calf... she is not too sure of a circle of girls petting her calf, so Pat is there to reassure her... the girls discover that the calf is soft and cute!

Another calf comes into the barn with the help of big strong farmer Pat!  HE loves to share with anyone his love for the farm and for animals and he is very wise and full of lots of knowledge!  Daughter Liz is a very interested and willing pupil! 

"I have never actually seen that!" says the 7 year old Zoey... They get to watch a calf nurse on a cow.  Lots of lessons all around you!  Therese is excited to go out and see Snowball and Anna and show the girls the bigger animals!

A pose by the gate... How we love to have our "family" come to share our lives with!  Through their eyes - our life is very good!  Thank you Jesus! 

Very close to Snowball... It was a wonderful morning with our wonderful "family."  Today we are reminded of the Word in our midst - the Gospels - which are the words of Christ to us!   The path to eternal life and happiness are laid out before us!  Jesus, we trust in you! 

Jesus, we love you and serve you with our lives... thank you for giving us the prayer that you taught us!  May we say it often with deep reverence and thought behind each word... and may we forgive those that trespass against us!  Jesus, we love you and need you and worship you to the highest heavens!  Amen and Halleluia! 

Bless-bless, Barb

"Thus says the Lord:  Just as from the heavens the rain and the snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my Word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it."  Isaiah 55: 10-11

Yes, we got to have a tour of the Church last night after mass!

"Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison?"

The final week of having Maria and the kids with us is here!  As Therese took my finger during mass and held on... the tears welled forth to think that this is the final Sunday to have her sweeetness to bless me, as she is such a special girl - raised to attend mass daily with reverence and love for Jesus!

Little Dave told his mom that the wooden hosts that we have in our home were "Jesus."  A dear woodworking friend made a chalice and patton complete with a dozen wooden hosts for the hospice auction... they have been a special plaything (?) for the kids over the years... David is known to carry them all over the place - I found them under the cover plate in grandpa's shower in the basement the other day!

We gathered at mass as a Family!  Ruth, Paul and their three along with Maria and her two - all the grandkids that we have here with us - Nancy is due with her little boy in the beginning of June...  The sun was streaming over us from the windows facing the Southeast!  Pat turned to me and asked where Davey's sunglasses were...Cherished times together that are coming to a halt..

The two year olds... soon to be 3 are very loving and close and enjoy sharing all - especially time in grandpa's lap at mass.  To have them far apart is hard, and I sent a prayer through my tears that Maria and her family will return often and for long stretches!  Lord, hear my plea!

Oh, the joy of family and gathering together for the sharing of Christ in His Word, His meal of His Body and Blood, and His Body - the Church!  There is a slice of heaven here on earth!  There are certain times that I feel a joining with Hallel and her community - as I have adopted the way that they do things just so that I can know that we are united in the Eucharist!  As I am writing this I hear Danielle Rose singing in the kitchen - a song with her father that he wrote for her when she entered the convent... "We will meet at the gates of Heaven."  The song before was one that she had on UTube about how we see each other in the Eucharist! 

Maria always has Therese kneel  and remember that she has just encountered Jesus at mass and thank Him and tell Him that she loves Him!  So powerful and special.  Maria has taught me so much in her wisdom...  She has helped me on my journey more than I can ever know...

The loving smiles of grandchildren!  My delight!  Well, the distractions of life in the body of a 13 month old grandson is now here beside me... a little angel reminding me that I need to make this short and go forth into the day ahead.  It looks to be one filled with much and a challange none the less...

After buying each grandchild a book at the bookfair - Davey would not leave his in the car as he went to look at some new calves with grandpa... special and to be cherished!

Grandpa sees this little guy as one who will be at his side with the care of the animals... that would be such a gift to him and an answer to his many prayers over the years!  Thank you Lord for the ways we are called to serve you... in the Gospel today... you spell out to us where we can find you!  Allow us to come closer to you as we see your face in all those in our lives - most especially those in our domestic Church - our families!  May the many ways that we can and are called to serve you each day - become very evident to us, and may we answer each call with a resounding "Yes!"  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen

Bless-bless, Barb

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father.  Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me... Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."  Matt 25: 31-46  The amazing Gospel for today convicts us!  Jesus, show us your Truth and you Life!

"He made streams flow out from the rock." Psalm 78

I have my parents antique bedroom set... it was an antique when they got it and used it back over 60 years ago and the dresser that Pat had was probably falling apart then.. so with Maria packing to move I asked about one that I had used with the crib for the little ones over the years... she had just emptied it the day before... with the help of Paul, when he came to help Pat outside with all 3 kids in tow, it was down at the bottom of the stairs to be put in our room for Pat!  The kids thought with the shelves out that it was a great wardrobe to hide in... All 5 of them!  The older ones are in the back and you can just see the tops of their heads...

Simon and Mary were behind the other three!  So much fun and reading the Spiritual jourey of CS Lewis these days... the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe come to mind... Maria even mentioned that - wondering if the kids were familiar with the movie that has been made.  Such a wonderful story and so interesting to read how this all developed in his amazing mind...

The older of the two Davies was so excited for Grandpa to have a new dresser and helped me put his jeans in the bottom drawer.  He kept saying; "Make grandpa happy!" over and over.  So when grandpa came in for something about an hour before dinner... Davey kept trying to tell him about this wondrous thing and finally grandpa was brought in by the finger... Grandpa was truly happy and amazed that we had merely shopped in our own house!  It as a similar miracle to the water coming from the rock and the mana coming from heaven.  A large strong and pretty dresser with a wardrobe filled with all of grandpa's clothes organized and easy to find! Wow!  A miraculous event that brought joy to a tired and cold grandpa's heart! 

As he sat on the bed... every drawer was opened and shelf explained by excited grandkids...to the delight of grandpa.  To top it off there was a non labeled VHS in the bedroom that I decide to put in to see what was on it... it was out with the calves on March 13th probably 11 years ago... it was so fun to see what the weather was like and some of our favorite cows from years back - Twinkle with twins!  And Twinkle has been gone for years now...

The delight of grandpa with his precious Davids and the new dresser and the movie of our life on the farm in years past on almost the exact day - 11 years later!  Too amazing to capture the joy of the miraculous times in life!  Doing some special thing in the midst of this difficult time of year makes a warm spot inside to ward off the cold and the fatigue!  All are filled with warmth and joy!  Thank you Lord for this day when we read of your fasting for 40 days and then being tempted by Satan... we "see" with eyes of faith the Truth of Life - "The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve."  This after He was shown all the kingdoms of the world and their "magnificence, and they were all offered to Him...  with what is going on in the magnificent country of Japan now... we realize that that is all passing, and it is sad to hear that Satan owns all that and can even think that he could give it to Jesus if he bows down and worships him.  It just shows me that it is truly chaff blown by the wind!  It all means nothing!

We are off to mass and Camp Foley Breakfast... a trip made by 5th graders at HRS... Even Maria,who claims to have no memory, had some things that she recalled about this memorable week spent in Foley,Mn... I went along with Susan's class as a parent couselor and so even I have memories of canoeing and wood ticks from Camp Foley!  We will meet the other family and it will be wonderful!  Jesus, thank you for your love and forgiveness and providing us with all that truly matters and we really need!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Bless-bless, Barb