Breakfast at Verlys

David saw grandma with the camera and posed with kisses for his brother last night.  Luke is very loved by his family and has made a very deep and forever lasting impression on the Paul Lanoue family!  It is so amazing to see how new life makes the LOVE grow ever larger and bigger and not stretched more thin!  You see those large families and the Truth is revealed for all to see!  It is much harder to be self-absorbed as you have so many others to think about and pray for and care for and reach out to and share with... it sounds like what the Lord asks of us to die to self and give without counting the cost!  Could it be that the Church is right in asking us to be open to LIFE in our marriage/domestic church/family?  That this is a path to humility?  That this is where we find a small slice of heaven here on earth?  In a family/domestic Church where Faith is shared and taught and embracing with great JOY our Most Cherished Cross and finding LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  Yes!

Pat loves to call my parents and point out things that Pope Francis is up to... so in the midst of a French toast breakfast we were all involved in this conversation... Pat wanted to share this moment yesterday when Pope Francis was speaking in Rome about reconciliation and then they had many priests hearing confession and then he...

 

In the midst of sharing this John came up with a word that Pat then respoke to my mother - "Popacal".  It means that Pope Francis is pushing the envelope and that makes many of the older more conservative nervous and disapproving.  John was just sharing with my mother how Fr Craig and Fr Kucera -the young priests in our area love Pope Francis - "They feel that he is truly his Father."  said John about Fr Craig's love for Pope Francis!  It truly makes us appreciate him and know that he is making a difference in this world when you see those that are young in religious life and the priesthood are embracing him and what he says and does!

When I was talking to my mom a few days ago she reminded me that I should use Lourdes water on John's head... so...

 I have this Lourdes water, so I really dripped a lot of healing waters on John's head!  He said that it was cold but that is only right also, as the waters of Lourdes are a miraculous spring of cold water!  John had them pour some over his head as they don't put your head under when they place you in the baths..."That is where I need my healing."

John just out of the Bathes with the water still on his head!

Today with the healing waters on his head!  He even drank a small glass of Lourdes water - Lord, protect John's brain and keep him clear of mind and a heart and soul totally set upon YOU!

John just had me crying for JOY as he counted all the pictures, statues, icons, shrines devoted to Our Lady - "The most beautiful woman ever!"  that I have throughout this family room/kitchen/office!  We came close to 30!  Nancy just called and thought it would be closer to 45, so that really made me smile with secret happiness.  John said that this would qualify for a national shrine..." I think that 25 in one space is the qualifications for shrine.  You wanted this room to be beautiful, so you put the Most Beautiful Woman in it over and over."  John 

How I am filled with happiness and gladness right now to see the LOVE my son has found for this sweet Mother of God!  It made me cry for JOY after crying because I was laughing so hard!

Dave giving grandpa "5" this morning with Marys all around them... it is just normal around here!  Now John is counting all the Jesus pictures, baby Jesus in the arms of Mary, Jesus on the Cross... the count is... 25, but I think he missed a few...

Jesus, we are told to be humble this day, and Our Holy Father showed us how to humble ourselves and kneel before you and tell you..."O God, be merciful to me a sinner." as the Tax collector did in the Gospel today - Luke 18  The Sacrament of healing allows us to be humble and then be lifted up to go forth to return this love and forgiveness and mercy to all those we encounter - most especially those in our domestic Church/family.  May we surround ourselves with all that brings us to your presence each day... we are yours and we need YOU.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

How can this white cold world become warm today?  We can hope!

"Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;

in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt

and of my sin cleanse me.

It is mercy that I desire, and not sacrifice."  Psalm 51 from mass today

David telling me about Mary feeling better today.  Oh yes, I have a daughter named Maria and a granddaughter Mary... we love her, and carry her name forward humbly! 

Danielle Rose - Holiness is Faithfulness

 

 

 

Smiles that warm the day!

Grandma had such fun getting Rose dolled up and she seemed to know that she was prettied up with lots of smiles! 

Dave had a lot of smiles as he got some snuggles with his baby brother, Luke, who is growing fast and beautiful!

Smirky smile and sweet smile - feel the warmth...Jesus we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb

Inspired!!!! Come Holy Spirit each day of our journey

Pat with the girls on his birthday many years back... probably about 28 years back.  I just love to step back in pictures and recall the simple days of our nest years.  No other more special choir than the voices of little sweet beautiful girls with long brown hair and bangs singing you excitedly happy birthday in the glow of over 30 candles!  Pat's birthday being Sept 15 - a lot of times we would have to pack up dinner in the back of the van and bring it to him, as they would be doing silage or some other fall work.  Maybe this was a rainy birthday - it looks dark outside...  It would be a wonderful adventure and celebration to bring him dinner and eat together out of the back of the van, too!  Just being with dad on his birthday was the best for us.
One of the best things I ever did was become a friend of Scott Hahn!  What joy I find in all he shares knowing how his journey began with a strong hatred for the Catholic Church and feeling that all we need in the Word of God/Bible!  Here is a Pope Francis quote he shared today!

Pope Francis: "The Word of God precedes the Bible and surpasses it. That is why the center of our faith isn't just a book, but above all a person, Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh.

It is precisely because God's Word embraces and extends beyond Scripture that, in order to properly understand it, the Holy Spirit's constant presence, who guides us 'to all truth,' is necessary. It is necessary to place ourselves within the great Tradition that has, with the Holy Spirit'...s assistance and the Magisterium's guidance, recognized the canonical writings as the Word that God addresses to his people, who have never ceased meditating upon it and discovering inexhaustible riches from it.

In fact, Sacred Scripture is the Word of God in that it is written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Sacred Tradition transmits the Word of God in its entirety, entrusted by Christ the Lord and by the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and their successors, so that these, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, might faithfully preserve it with their preaching, might expound and propound it." 

Pope Francis really reminds us of all the powerful work done over the years by the biggest brains guided by the Holy Spirit to bring us the Truth from The Word!  I love and am fed and am filled to overflowing by those "inexhaustible riches!" 

 Precious pictures of the 4 girls before John... Halloween 1987- the corn stalk grass skirt year! 
If we truly listen to the Gospel today we see that there is room for nothing else in our lives - just Jesus and His Bride, The Church!  Hear, O Israel!  The Lord our God is Lord alone!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.  Mark 12: 28-34  These are the two commandments that are first and second and hold all the Truth for us!  Why do I add Christ with The Church - the two have become one!  The Church is there to assist us in reaching eternal life/heaven/ and accomplishing the total embracing of these commandments in our lives!  There is so much each moment of each day that assist us on our way down the narrow path carrying our Tree of LIFE - Our Most Cherished Cross - down the narrow path to LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  I just came across a novena I want to join in on posted by a dear young Catholic mother/TEC friend... A novena in honor of Blessed Pier Giorgio - http://www.frassatiusa.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=256  An inspiring young man, who lived in this more recent generation and from whom many can gain inspiration and strength to love and serve God better in our lives!  I am a nut for the Saints, and gain so much in having them with me on my journey!

In our home we had a picture book of the lives of the Saints, and often in the evening we would gather and read of their lives.  Some were very graphic and hard to hear, and it seemed that some of them were the kids' favorites and they would ask for them over and over - St Rita, St Maria Goretti.  They taught us that no matter what you face in life, with the help of Jesus and His Bride, The Church - you can persevere and make it through.  That the pain and hardship you face - even martyrdom- is a powerful witness of total LOVE!  How much more will the world be changed by suffering and dying for our faith than by caving in and denying the Truth? 

Out to watch gates in the cold snow... a while back and today! 

Jesus, come Holy Spirit and bring us more fully to YOU.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
"I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them."  Psalm 81 from mass today - that would be the Eucharist! 

I am back after a couple hours out in the 19 degree temps and about 6 inches of snow!  Hard to believe they are predicting 60 in a couple days, but I want to hold them to it!

I still have to sneak pictures when his back is turned!  Some things never change.  Come Holy Spirit and dwell within us bringing us to a better place of dying to self and giving without counting the cost!  Amen and Hallelujah

 A cold blanket of white makes for a lot more work - the calves keep coming - 3 more overnight and gets us just about to 100 on the cold cold ground!

Pat feeding the bulls - I don't know who looks at my pictures and adds stuff, but it is kind of freaky and dramatic too!

Newsboys - God's not dead

Now with a video of Narnia to God's not Dead - enjoy!

 

Precious finds!!

I found this picture of the 5 from John's baptism day!  I scanned it and lightened it up.  Such a gift to have... a day brightener on this snowy day.

 Another precious find today... story reading to the oldest 3 in 1983... It looks like we are snuggled in on a cold night.  I was to have the kids tonight for David's kindergarten round up, but canceled due to the weather.

Snow much?  This is me with my two younger sisters back in 1955 or so in New Hampshire.  I think that I am well acquainted with snow! 

 A huge mess of snow is making calving more of a challenge!  Jesus, help us continue to have good calving.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Yes, winter goes on and on...

Throwback Thursday

One option

another option - too much skin?  Probably.

Giving the mute a voice

Rose will be close to 2 years old - May 1st is coming fast!  She is still not really speaking much, but she will make single syllables that give us an idea of what she wants - like "ba" for bottle.  Otherwise she will push a chair up to the cupboard and get one out, and even try to get the milk out of the fridge to fill it.  We know that soon she will be talking our arms off, but for now speech is not needed and only occasional.  Little Luke is soon to be 5 months, and my rule of thumb for starting to reach for food and being interested in it is 5 months.  Ruth feels that he has started a few weeks early "he is always watching what you are eating off your plate or what you are drinking."  Well, surrounded by 6 others older than him and eating all around him.... well, it just made him get hungry for that good stuff quicker than most!  Luke was cute last night... he made a face the first few bites of applesauce and then fussed a bit.  We discovered soon that it was his way of asking for more!  He was hungry, grandpa, and wanted more to be shoveled in over and over - firsts then seconds!  Luke has no words, but his crying and smiling seems to get his needs known right away..."Mom, I'm dirty, mom, I'm tired, mom, I'm hungry, mom, I'm tired of sitting in this spot, mom, where are you?"  Not a long list and usually figured out easily with this sweet easy good boy.

The look of realization that food is a good thing, and he wants to join the family for meals!
Today in the Gospel Jesus heals a mute man, and he amazes all those there by speaking for the first time.  Probably a man of a good age, unable to speak all those years, and how powerful to hear his voice for the first time.  What would he say?  All those deep feelings he has longed to share?  Praise Jesus to the highest heavens as God here on earth?  Tell them how he has suffered all these years?  Tell them to listen to him for once, while he shares the Truth as he sees it?  Yet, they still ask for Jesus to give them a sign!  Is not this man speaking to them, and unlocked all that has been buried deep within him... is that not a sign enough?  Yes, this man could show people what he wants and needs without being able to speak like Rose and Luke, but it is that deeper part he was unable to share.  Those that could write down their thoughts was very limited in the times of Jesus.... we are so blessed to have those that wrote down the Gospels and the OT and NT!  This day most all can write down our thoughts and express them... just look at all the blogs where people can share those things that are burning within them.  But I know of many that are handicapped when it comes to sharing their thoughts and feelings in the written word.  I am so proud of my daughter, Ruth, who has taken on a huge project of a farm promoting blog - http://familyfarmexperience.blogspot.com/  She is making a difference in this world one post at a time!  Our life on the farm is a good one, but very often misunderstood and misrepresented.
 
Luke with Rose on one side and Bernadette on the other.  Bernadette is 16 months and very busy, but just starting to say a few things like the Moo of a cow or calf and "Gu-Gu" for her brother, Gus.  You will know her feelings of anger or hurt or happiness or worry, but she cannot speak those feelings to you and go to the root of the problem at times.  This is true of many people we pray for every day!  Those that are struggling with emotional and mental problems and seem to be showing us with depression or withdrawal and running away that they are hurting deeply and damaged.  I know of a wife, who has moved out of her home and into a small trailer in the shop... she has left her husband, is losing weight, is needing meds that she won't take, is thinking irrationally - wants a new house and a new car, although she just joined the Church after many years of attending with her husband as non-member... that seemed to trigger this breakdown and tragedy in this marriage.  I am heartbroken for the situation and this morning in prayer with Pat... I thought that I should reach out to her, share a meal with her, give her a voice to speak those things that are so deep and so hurtful, but then what would that accomplish?  All I could offer her is my friendship and without judging hold out a hand to her... someone to get her out of that darkness/shell she has placed around her.  Lord, guide me in this, and use me to your honor and glory. 

Spring fun - wet fun on the farm...what would we do without rubber boots?
I have a young friend that just started a blog yesterday, and is calling it http://choosingtruth.weebly.com/  I am so excited that her young and wise voice will be heard!  You go girl!  Your Light is so needed in the midst of the darkness and lies, as you so strongly stated!  The media gives voice to many lies of Satan, and we need to point out the Truth! 
Lord, this day we are touched deeply by those that cannot express their pain and hurt which keeps them away from You.  May we represent Christ reaching out to them with unconditional LOVE and mercy!  Guide us each and every day with the Truth that we share with all those around us.  May our "faithfulness" be always in our speech and actions!  May we always listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit/God in our lives and all that we say or do.  "Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people.  Walk in the ways I command you, so that you may prosper."  Jeremiah 7:23-28 the first reading from mass today - proclaimed around the world!  "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."  Psalm 95 also from mass today!  Lord, you give us more than we could ever fully use each day of our journey!  The Word, the Sacraments, the Saints, Our loving and caring Mother of Heaven and earth, Prayer - most specially lovely my Rosary - "when we repeat the words of the angel praying the Hail Mary, the Word of God germinates in our soul."  Wow!  So true as the peace and joy and comfort flows over and around and through me as I pray for all the needs!  Each day is filled to the brim with blessings, graces, strength to face those irritations and trials of the Cross and come out better - filled with the fruit of the Tree of LIFE - the Most Cherished Cross!  Jesus, I am yours alone, and I pray that I will give the mute the ability to speak the Truth from within.  Jesus, we trust in You.  Amen and Hallelujah

Luke and Bernadette seem to be communicating love and enjoyment to time spent together.
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
"Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not deem equality with God
something to be grasped at.

Rather, he emptied himself
and took the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men.

He was known to be of human estate,
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!

Because of this
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
above every name,

So that at Jesus' name
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father:
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!"
Philippians 2:6-11
It puts any inflated ideas we might have about ourselves in a low humble real place of - it is ALL JESUS, and not I! 

Hunky husband - my Most Cherished Cross lifting calves over the fence to their awaiting mothers!  I think they were amazed - I certainly was!

Give and Take by Danielle Rose - a voice for all the beauty of The Church!