"Gaze in the dark faith of prayer..."

A study of light...reflects upon me today as I am reading the Transfiguration in the Gospel for the second Sunday of Lent... My huge front picture window with the 3 grandkids and only remaining cat... led to quite a study of light!  From the magnificat in morning prayer..."Lent is a time of transformation.  As we gaze in the dark faith of prayer upon the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ, we are transformed into his likeness." 

The reading from Exodus which speaks of Moses coming down from Mount Sinai after being there with God for 40 days and nights..."As Moses came down with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands, he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant  while he conversed with the Lord."  We see this today when we come in contact with those that sit in his presence day after day... the Poor Clares and the Community of the Lamb... their faces are radiant with the knowledge and love of their Savior and God! 

Light is a paintbrush!  How I love to capture the sun and it's light with the camera lens!  "He will change our lowly body to confrom with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself."  Phil 3: 21

"Bless the Lord, my soul!  Lord God, how great you are,  clothed in magesty and glory,  wrapped in light as in a robe!"  Psalm 104 - A Hallel Psalm of total praise and adortion of the Glory of our Lord!

Pope Benedict said that "when one has the grace to sense a strong experience of God, it is as though seeing something similar to what the disciples experienced during the Transfiguration:  For a moment they experienced ahead of time something that will constitute happiness of paradise... brief experiences of grace that God grants us, in anticipation of harsh trials."  Dear Lord, how we long to be in your amazing presence and to know the Truth that will set us free!  Give us the strength to face all the trials that life holds for each of us,and to walk forth following you with our cross on our shoulders.  Give us the strength to deny ourselves, and to turn to you for all that we need in life - leaving all the "things"that try to clutter our lives in the dust from whence they came!  Jesus, we cling to you, and marvel and your LIGHT!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"Once again the mountain serves- as it did in the Sermon on the Mount and in the nights spent by Jesus in prayer - as the locus of God's particular closeness.... The mountain is the place of ascent - not only outward, but also inward ascent; it is a liberation from the burden of everyday life, a breathing in of the pure air of creation; it offers a view of the broad expanse of creation and its beauty; it gives one an inner peak to stand on an intuitive sense of the Creator..."  Pope Benedict XVI

Sunny time with Herbie

Two grandkids off to the rest of their lives... three that live close here while daddy helps grandpa outside with the cows and calves... Each finds Herbie the cat to spend some special time with! 

"We should all live in one big house together!" said a sad grandma and mom...me

Herbie watches as his sister and playmates for the last 4 months... drive away to Wisconsin.  Prayers, blessings and tears mixed in with the excitement of making some steps to get closer to her husband and the kids father- Joseph on this his feastday!  First they will be in Wisconsin for a few days and then with her mother in law, Gail, in tow...they will head out to Fort Benning in Georgia in time to get settled in their wonderful furnished apartment and greet Joe when he gets the weekend off to be with them!  Exciting for them!  After almost two years of living either with others or seperated now for 4 months... they can be a family! 

One last morning breakfast with Therese entertaining us with her constant 3 year old talking... with her Nancy and Bill here to spend some hours with the little family before they head out for we know not how long..."Nancy, how's your baby?"  is the first greeting that Nancy receives this morning... Therese gives them both a hug, and we all hope that she will know and love this cousin as much as she does the other 3!

One final dance in the kitchen to Danielle Rose - In the Silence of the Heart... a CD in the player that we had playing often and whenever Davey heard this first one... he would reach for his momma for a dance around the kitchen... it was the last dance in the kitchen for a long time....

Davey ready to grab Herbie's tail one last time...

Ally getting loaded into her box for the trip to her new home...she will have a bow on top and jump out and probably run under the nearest bed when she gets to Wisconsin and sees the new place and people...

One last look around... We are happy for her to have a new life ahead and hopefully many years of love...just stay off the table, please and purr a lot...  You will become a cherished pet for many years ahead...

Therese and David getting one last story in the front room before bed last night.  Maybe we are all wrong and they will be back sooner than we think... In my sadness today I made the comment that we should all just live in one big house together... My son in law finished the statement with - "and all hate each other."  That is true... there were times over the last 4 months that I craved the quiet and some things got on my nerves...so when you live that close with people there are things that you see in them that irritate you and of course it is really hard to have your faults so evident to them too!  That is probably the hardest part - you are totally exposed to them, and it isn't always a pretty picture!  Jesus, thank you for the humility that this has brought to me, and for the wisdom of us not living in one big house...but appreciating the time that we have one with the other and then living our married lives with the families that you have blessed us with.  St Joseph, we know that you are in heaven praying for us and watching over families... just as you were called to watch over the Holy Family and be it's humble prayerful and strong quiet head.  Bless your namesake Joseph,our son in law, today and forward as he is doing this huge thing of following your call into the !  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia! 

Bless-bless, Barb

"Joseph, be our guide and pattern,

Faithful to our sacred trust,

Strong protector of the Virgin

And the infant Jesus Christ.

Joseph, firm and faithful, guide us,

Joseph, walk the way with us.

Faithful to the guiding vision,

List'ning to the angel's word;

Shielding Mary from all slander,

Guarding Christ, both Son and Lord.

Joseph, true and trusting, guide us,

Joseph, walk the way with us." 

Morning hymn from morning prayer... see http://www.magnificat.com/

Sing to the tune of Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

All good things come to an end...

It has been a crazy day with many calves, and one of them will be named Therese after the birthday girl... we had a big going away party/birthday party for 3 year old Therese and 30 year old Uncle Billy tonight with her cousins and aunts and uncles... even Nancy and Bill coming for an overnight to celebrate, and get hugs until who knows when... Our  gray female cat for the last 4 months is also leaving for a new home in Wisconsin, so it will be just one cat and two old folks kicking around... The tears have been coming at times, and tonight when Therese said that she misses her cousins and didn't get to say "goodbye."  That was hard!  Jesus, be with our family as we have to say goodbye tomorrow.... safety in travel, and may they return to our arms soon...Bless-bless, Barb

Little T's Birthday - Therese turns 3...

Just back from mass shared with Maria and the kids - a special celebration as it is Therese's 3rd birthday today and also the last day that they are with us as they head out in the morning for Wisconsin and then on to Georgia!  We had another attempt at getting the 5 together for a picture before they are gone far away for we know not how long...

We had a funny happening as we were in the midst of bedding...when Ruth arrived with the three kids for the photo shoot before they headed to the St Patrick's Day parade... Davey headed out to be by his grandpa in the barn, so Pat told Ruth to get on the 4 wheeler with the kids and come out to the barn for pictures... As she was coming through the gate - Mary fell off the back and fell face first into the manure!  It was shocking to her, but she wasn't hurt, so after she headed to the house to get cleaned up - the rest of us could chuckle at the funny craziness of it! 

I just opened for Therese a letter that arrived a few days ago from her Godmother, Little Sister Hallel.   I had just asked Maria if she calls Therese that in connection with the Little Sisters, and she said no that it is more in connection with the Little Flower - ST Therese of Lisseux after whom she was named.  Maria was deeply moved after reading The Story of a Soul by ST Therese as she traveled to Rome... listening to a call in her heart to investigate religious life... she returned after studying in Rome for a year to live with the Poor Clares for 5 months! 

After looking to her and her spirituality - we have heard it called many times - "the little way" that she followed in her life of putting others first and ..."going about everday things with the thoughts that they are all small sacrifices for Christ...nothing is too small to sanctify to Christ ... another way of doing St Paul's 'pray always.'"  This is quoted as Maria from the kitchen - getting ready to make layer jello with Therese for her special "rainbow" jello for her birthday supper tonight...just explained to me how she views ST Therse and her approach to life.  What a gift to have her hear and to be able to quote to you her thoughts about this wonderful young woman, who so affected her life and after whom her precious oldest child is named! 

Maria and her two precious kids are off on a huge adventure tomorrow... and probably it will be an ongoing adventure as they follow Joe where ever the will send him... Maria is up for it and excited and so forward they go... trusting and hoping and loving! 

Jesus, thank you for for these months with our daugther, her kids and her wisdom and following of the Truth!  Give them strength to deal with all that lies ahead of them.  And bless little Therese as she heads out as a new 3 year old.  May she always take you in her heart along with the realization that she is loved by her family.  My heartfelt prayer is that they will return often and for long times with us, so that our empty arms will be filled with our precious family!  Jesus, thank you for ST Therese and her wonderful example and for our precious little T and how she is a shining light at her tender age!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

A birthday card from her Godmother to open today!

"Tell Jesus how much you love him everyday and he will show you how much He loves you by your mom and dad, your brother, grandma and grandpa and so many others.  A few lines of psalm 3 for your birthday;'You, Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, who lift up my head...

I lie down to rest, and I sleep.  I wake, for the Lord upholds me.'

I pray for you dear Goddaughter. Pray for me too. 

In communion, Little Sister Hallel"

Therese off to the St Patrick's day parade in the scarf that Godmother made years ago...

Happy Feast Day Patrick - Pat- or Patty! Wishing you Bliss!

First off I appologize for the beer steins on the balloon... although after about a week of lent... a cold glass of green beer is sounding mighty wonderful!  We are having a bit of a party in the middle of Lent due to it being my husband's, Maria's dad and Therese and David's grandpa's feast day... all the same person!  WE had just returned from sharing mass while grandpa slept... these long days and nights of calving take a lot out of him!  We stopped to pick up his favorite breakfast - rolls and a balloon... with two kids that equals a constant battle of the one that doesn't have it wanting to take their turn...

A made up Happy St Patrick's Day song with a parade into the bedroom - Pat's favorite thing - Breakfast in Bed!  Therese gets a green doughnut with a candle too, because tomorrow is her 3rd birthday... every day is a reason for a party at that age right?  Any age for that matter!  The rest was not recorded... but it was a lively and warm mayham of sticky hands and faces as they sat on grandpa and the 3 of them munched on breakfast in bed!  St Patrick's day has begun!

And the battle over the balloon as it went from one end of the house to the other... chased by the one that didn't have it and two cats... it was continued mayham of the kind that makes you laugh and cover your ears at the same time! 

As we sang the opening hymn at mass this morning a word and thought grabbed me and started rolling around in my head and my heart... it spoke of the bliss that we find to have him in our lives at the beginning of each day - as we walk with Him!  I just googled it - "Bliss can be a state of profound satisfaction, happiness and joy, a constant state of mind, undisturbed by gain or loss."

Therese has control of the balloon at last, but the cat "Ally" wants a turn at it too... that might be the end of the balloon!

I love the way that they say that bliss is "undisturbed by gain or loss..."  It shows that total contentment as we contain the one and only thing that truly matters in this life - our faith in Him and loving Him and taking up our cross and following after Him where ever He will lead us!  Bliss!  I love it and strive to hold onto it! 

With the craziness that is going on around here with the last two days that Maria and kids will be here with us, and the thaw and hense a lot of work outside cleaning out the barns and finding things in the snow - like haywagons that have been buried under many feet of snow, and sewing a Easter dress for the birthday party tomorrow for Therese, and all the celebrating in the midst of the Lenten resolutions!  Still the "bliss" remains deep down our souls and we are filled with the ability to go forward armed with the strength and wisdom and truth that will set us free to know that "bliss" in the midst of mayham!

The lighting just gets me... light is a paintbrush!  Jesus, thank you for the gift of "bliss" in the deepest parts of our hearts, minds and souls... we love to meet you there in that deep place and find the strength to embrace the cross of life that brings us to YOU!  You allow us to suffer so that we can come to that deep place of need and relying on only you!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia!  ( I know that with Lent that we are supposed to drop the Alleluia, but this is with an H for our daughter in France Little Sister Hallel, and I love to remember her in this way, so I hope and pray that God will forgive this indulgence of mine!)

Bless-bless, Barb

Decked out in green for St Patrick's day...

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Mt 7:7

The Gospel for today and the words of Christ to us!  We are blessed without end!  We have found "bliss!"