Cookies anyone?

Took some cookies out when I saw Paul and David pull in for a fuel break... a bribe for some farmer pictures... it worked pretty well.

The dogs thought that the cookies were good too, and it was so cute to watch Dave giving them sweet attention that I didn't mind too much.

From the front - a great memory of the big and little farmer spring work photo.

Some fun with Ruth's bunch this afternoon... sunny shot of big sister with Luke.

Kitten snuggle - they have now moved into the playhouse to live as they crawl out of the box.  They have a big nice new house to call home now.

 Swinging together...

Luke fits in the grocery cart.

Cute alert in the grocery cart...

Super cute Luke on the front porch of the playhouse.

 Kittens climb into the box to eat...

the babies get a push from big sister.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb

 

"It looks like you are feeding a lot of people."

Luke discovers his first pickle as grandma gets supper ready for 5 adults and 5 kids over the weekend.  Ruth was over to help with getting cows and calves out to pasture and I had the kids and meals to make.  Now in a few days Nancy and her two will be here for two weeks, and Pat is getting the crop in day and night, and John is home again looking for work and helping out around here at this busy time of spring work, and Ruth stops in often with kids in tow, and on and on... Well, I finally got out to get some groceries yesterday along with some seeds for the garden, and rushing around the store I ran into a friend as my cart was quite full.  She looked it over and said..."It looks like you are feeding a lot of people."  I felt a little bit sheepish as Pat and I are supposed to have a empty nest, but then I started to name off a few of the reasons I had a cart full of large quantities of food, and she just smiled and nodded her head in agreement as we drifted apart.  Yes, I do feed a lot of people!  I don't really give it a lot of thought, and unlike Ruth, who has 7 mouths to feed 3 meals a day... it just feels good to be stocked up again after being depleted by life that happens around here.

A cute picture of Rose blowing out her two candles the other night - I took supper over there as mom and dad were gone to Sioux Falls.  I usually try to make large quantities of food so that there are plenty of left-overs to heat up quickly when the men pop in for a quick meal in the midst of their busy days.  Pat has never really had a schedule for eating meals, and would come in at odd times for his meal in the microwave.  The kids would all climb on his lap and help him eat.  Maybe he wasn't here to eat with us set meals much, but he always welcomes the little ones onto his lap.  In fact, he begs them to sit with him...

And just like Rose has learned... grandpa gives you a big fork full of purple frosting or any other sweet he might be able to find. 
My life on the farm is "never a dull moment."  I like the family spirit that fills that busyness with the coming and going of our kids with spouses and kids in our home.  Bill's job now involves traveling internationally for two weeks at a time.  The reason they decided to do this now is so that Nancy can spend her time on the farm with kids still not in school. It will be hard now with the new baby to arrive in a month or so.  Bill will be home for that month!  To have John home now is a delight for me.  He is kind and helpful to both his dad and I, and makes me laugh a lot as I am doing those things that I do not enjoy.  Such a special thing for me to have him here to pray with and laugh with.  We start each day, if possible, with morning prayer from the office which we both now have on our phones... such a gift to share this as we start the day.  Thank you, Lord!

Three little ones 2 and under sharing breakfast... Gus can't you handle two spoonfulls at once?

Pat serving desert at Sunday dinner.

John feeding Luke applesauce.  That's why we do the work.  Yesterday as I was struggling to plant my garden in that horrific wind... I had to remind myself of all those smiling faces as they hungrily spoon in tomato soup or applesauce.  It's why I do all the work!

Love that special girl, love that smile, love that soup smile!

Food made with love, and they can taste it in more ways than one!
Once again from amazing John 6 today - "I am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst... And this is the will of the Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day."  Jesus to us today in the Gospel - John 6:35-40
Part of the prayers I share with Pat and John is our intentions which we pray out loud with each other.  With our huge families on both sides this can be quite lengthy, and l always end with "that we all may be together in heaven someday."  How I pray for that to be true for all my loved ones!  I know that I need to be willing to do more than pray, and I ask that the Lord may reveal to me how to share HIM with those I share family ties with in this world.  Jesus, use me and Holy Spirit speak through me.

The two Patricks - grandpa Patrick with little Patrick charmed by crackers without end on grandpa's lap.

Never empty for long... now he has little Rose on his lap - she and Patrick are just 5 months apart - part of the 3 one year olds we had last year.  Now we are having a new crop of one year olds... Luke is 6 months, then Nancy's little boy in a month and then Maria's baby in September... next week we find out girl or boy! 

Last years one year olds at Christmas time... now 3 more little ones this year!
Yes, what I love about that friend's comment about feeding a lot of people... I love the part of that truth which means that we have a close loving and lively family that loves to spend time together to celebrate and work and pray and eat and play and relax at times, and help one another, hopefully without counting the cost, and sharing our thoughts and fears and joys and crosses and pain and struggles and ups and downs, as we go down the narrow path as believers in Jesus and finding eternal LIFE!

Rose just was the first to turn 2 years old of the 3 little ones... Luke is waiting for his two cousins to join him in LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!
Jesus, thank you for this humbling reminder that I am blest by family/faith/farm!  I do truly love that family piece of my call as a farm wife and mother.  That is where I feel passionate and happy and serve others with LOVE when it comes to my family and the growing wonder that the little ones bring to our lives.  I am called first of all to be a mother, and anything else second.  The LIGHT grows brighter and brighter with each new life - the miracle babies that are all around us.  We are just days away from going to Kansas City to share in a glorious occasion with our family of the Community of the Lamb!  What Joy!  Thank you, Lord, for helping these three Americans persevere and take the habit with this amazing Community of the Lamb!  http://courtneyinkc.wordpress.com/my-story/  I just came across this sharing by Courtney, who will be taking her habit in three days - so amazing!  I read it aloud to John and we both were blessed by her witness to the wonderful LIFE of those called by Christ to be Little Sisters as our Hallel has been.  So amazing and her prayers are with us each day of our journey and how can that be anything but a blessing and surround us with the graces we need to face all that comes to us?  We are filled with Your Truth - knowing that we recognize Christ and believe in Him and are on the path to eternal LIFE.  We are called to be saints and strive for that in all we do and say and serve and pray and make meals for family and all the work to make the food for family.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

"A few days later, I found myself sitting in a park with two sisters and a poor man from our inner city neighborhood who had bought us bread and milk and was sharing this meal with us. At first, I was in disbelief of where I was and what I was doing. As I sat on the bench and listened to our neighbor share his life story with so much joy, I was struck by how the world would consider him poor, but in reality he was rich in spirit and filled with the Lord!"  Courtney
Please take the time to read this, and no worries she has met her goal and paid off her college loans and is entering on Saturday - taking her habit and changing her name to Little Sister_____!
http://courtneyinkc.wordpress.com/my-story/  She shares all the beauty that is to be found in this call.  How amazing and every young person should consider this special call for themselves!

A Rose for Mary - may she love her and look to her as a Spiritual Mother always!

Pursue me, Lord by Danielle Rose

The Saint that is just me - Danielle Rose
So excited to find my requested Easter pictures from my Texas family!!!  Enjoy!  I sure am!  Thank you so much Maria!

Super de duper!!!!

The finger is beside his nose... They are even color coordinated!  So great!  You made me smile!

"The Bread of God... gives LIFE to the world." Jesus in John 6

Little Miracle boy, Patrick, at Easter in Oregon visiting his uncle and family.  Little Patrick had the Cross put on his tiny shoulders in the womb about 20 minutes before he was grabbed from the womb after an emergency C-section after a traumatic birth.  He was born dead and resuscitated and brought back to life, but was in grave danger.  His future was uncertain and he was having seizures. They whisked him to another hospital across El Paso - Providence Hospital where there was a NICU that had cool caps.   Patrick needed to have this on his head quickly to prevent brain damage, so in the middle of the night I sat in the front of the ambulance in shock and tears as we transported Patrick about 15 minutes away from his mom, who was still in surgery to save her life.   It was a hard decision to leave her, but I knew she would want me to be with Patrick.  As I sat in the delivery room in shock after Maria had been taken out with no sign of Patrick's heartbeat on the monitor...  I thought he was gone, and truly he was but was brought back to life!
 Maria with her family in Oregon over Easter!
At one point they came from the OR, where they were working on Maria's bleeding and asked me if she wanted to have more children.  I told them yes, and they explained that they couldn't stop the bleeding, and might have to take her uterus.  "Save my daughter, but I know that she wants more children."  I was told that there was a small miracle at this point for Maria.  The doctor called for help, and put pressure on the place where it was bleeding as she waited.  The bleeding slowed and stopped!  Her uterus was saved as were her tubes - one had ripped the entire length with the birth!  Maria is now expecting her 6th child - two are in heaven, so her 4th!  She is surrounded by prayer from the moment we knew of the new LIFE in her!  Knowing that she seems to be following in my footsteps with the possibility of miscarriage - I am always very nervous/prayerful for her, but she is well past the danger point.

Maria's 3 with their little almost 1 year old cousin, Alida.  Patrick was 7 months old last year when Alida was born, and already revealing that he was healed and healthy!  No more seizure meds needed, graduated to being normal and healthy, walking early and already being potty trained, a miracle once again in our lives!  If you want to read the stories of Patrick - http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-story-of-little-lamb-grandson.html - is the page I devoted to the privilege I was given to be there through this powerful family occasion! 
The craziness of LIFE has taken over... yet I will hold onto with joy these pictures of my healed and thriving grandson, Patrick, and pray with Trust and confidence that Maria will have a miracle baby as Ruth has now 3 times since her rupture.  "The Bread of God... gives LIFE to the world."  This from the Gospel today it total Truth!

So true for Maria as she attends daily mass with her children in and out of the womb!  "I am the Bread of LIFE; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."  John 6:30-35 the Gospel read around the world this day in all Churches from St Peters to the tiniest and most insignificant on an army base in El Paso, Texas.  When I exclaimed to John that we were in the midst of amazing John 6 this week... he asked - "What is so great about John 6?"  I then said - "The Bread of LIFE" and we started to sing the song of that name with these exact words.  I am a bit puzzled by these words as I have experienced how my daughters that come to Jesus everyday in the Eucharist long for him and need HIM... wouldn't that be a hunger for the real food and thirst for the real drink?  Yet, they find fulfillment and satisfaction in HIM - His Word and His Body and Blood... they are not left to hunger and thirst.  It gives us what we need to go forward answering His call to serve and give without counting the cost.  As the Community of the Lamb lives out - "Wounded, I will not cease to love."

Little Lamb Patrick surrounded by Prayer... filled and forever grateful for newness of life.  He taught many to pray and to see that Christ is at work in our lives - giving us all we ask for in his name.
Jesus, we are so filled with JOY this day at the sight of our healthy healed grandson.  He is a miracle of newness of LIFE, and we are reminded that you do care and watch out for us.  Jesus, we are small and weak and need you to help us on our way.  May we give without the cost.  Jesus, we are fed and nourished with the finest of food that makes us healthy and holy as we ask for everlasting life.  May we all strive to be the Saints that you want us to be as we follow after YOU down the narrow path carrying our Most Cherished Cross towards LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

John surrounded by family at his last speaking engagement by the Cities - sharing his healing and finding faith through brain cancer.
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
"Lord, do not hold this sin against them."  St Stephen as he was being stoned to death... Saul was holding their cloaks and approving of his execution... watch out Saul for you are about to meet Christ on the road and become amazing apostle, Paul!!!  St Stephen pray for us that we may forgive all to the point of death.

Danielle Rose -the saint that is just me

Luke and Rose get their check ups

Adorable Rose had her 2 year check up today and had her finger poked for a blood check of her iron.  She got many stickers including a 4H sticker when they stopped at the 4H office to pick up their eartags for the fair.  She also has a bandaide on her thumb after she closed the patio door on it.  Rose is perfectly healthy in every way.  Ruth asked about her hands and feet getting so red and cold... something we will have to watch, but possible arthritis in the future.  More to pray about.

Sweet Rose is a study of a girl that has been through quite the morning...

John spending some time with the dogs on a beautiful day.  John was out all day helping me and his dad.  Much got done today.. mowing, tilling the garden, picking up branches and burning them, putting the tarp on the garden - tomorrow I will plant the early stuff.  John helped with leveling the yard, and working on the tractors... a big day.  On the larger scale the corn went into the ground!   It sure felt nice to be on the mower again and to see the beautiful results of the fluorescent green carpet.

Walking across the green carpet of newly mowed lawn to level the garden.

Blowing in the wind.  I guess tomorrow will be really WINDY!  Luke was healthy too!  He weighs 20 pounds and Rose weighs 29!  They both are in the 80% height and weight - pretty darn healthy!  Thank you, Lord, for the assurance that they are healthy.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb

Real Food!!!!

A choir room transformed into a Adoration Chapel in the local middle school!  So blest to spend some time with Jesus here during the Jr High Festival!

Yes, we are starting to get into John 6!  The first of the chapter was feeding the 5,000 men, and now we are seeing how that has driven them to follow Christ.  John tells us that Jesus walked on water to the other side of the sea, and this puzzled everyone when they saw his disciples go over there in a boat without him, and then there he is!  So many signs and wonders!!!! 

Do these happen to us today?  When I take the time to consider the life I have been given to live... Yes!!! Our entire family coming to the True Church, swimming against the tide of those leaving with Vatican II, my considering a call to religious life, my finding my Most Cherished Cross, Patrick Gerard Verly, Pat's words of the Spirit - "The world needs Lights"- when we were tested in our openness to family/life, the 7 angels in heaven, the call of two of our girls to deeply consider religious life and now Little Sister Hallel and our family in the Community of the Lamb, John's call to faith through brain cancer/healing/now what Lord?, grandson, Patrick's traumatic birth/healing/and now a new sibling in the womb.... so much more than this shows me the signs and wonders of the Lord continuing with each new day of following HIM!   And where does it all spring from?  From my families spiritual journey of Faith, and listening to the Holy Spirit at work in our lives!  Just as Jesus says to those following after him after he fed them with food that perishes...  "Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." John 6:22-29

Mass with the Bishop and such beautiful words stirring us to find Christ in His Word and in the banquet of LIFE - the Eucharist!   "The two followers had lost hope watching Jesus, their hope for salvation brutally killed/crucified.  But through the Word their hearts were kindled and set on fire... we need to do that with His Word.  He is there to set us on fire with the Truth that is found in His Word of God!  Then to recognize Him in the breaking of the Bread/the Eucharist.  We are now ready to go forth and share that with others!"  Bishop LeVoir

 

As I arrived at the festival a young woman was speaking powerfully to all those 6-8th graders gathered...  She was beautifully and obviously pregnant - she shared that she is expecting her 3rd child and John leaned over and said I would love her as she talked about family and LIFE!  She then shared beautifully about the Visitation and how these two pregnant women came together - Mary and Elizabeth.  "They didn't have ultrasound to check on this high risk baby Elizabeth was having at her old age, but when she heard the greeting of Mary the baby showed her that he was healthy and filled with the Spirit as he lept with JOY in her womb."  So cool!  Then she launched into a wonderful song!

Here she is... Meet Amanda Vernon!

It was great to see the young people watching and listening to her intently.  As John stated - her example of LIFE being a beautiful thing to cherish and be open to.  She was so beautiful and glowing and yes - joyful!  I am excited to get to know her and her music.  John was amazed to discover that she is only one year older than he is, and is doing all this for the Lord as well as expecting her 3rd child!

Amanda Vernon - Simeon's Prophecy

There is a lot of thoughts in and around me this day...  The pressures of spring and all the work that comes with the growing grass, and garden to plant.  There are Mother's Day roses to make and sell this weekend for the cause of Birthright. 

Jesus, may we make it through the busyness of life with always the reminder that we are to look to YOU in The Word and Your Body and Blood there to feed us with the food that will not perish!  May we take this Truth into our lives most especially into our domestic Church/family.  We are reminded in the meditation today that the work we do should be done out of love.  I try to do that, O Lord, but both home and the nursing home really challenge me in many ways.  Help me to be a better and more loving servant.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barb

"The whole life of every worker should make love.  All work should be an act of creative love..."  Caryll  Houselander (1954)

That is a tall order!

"Throughout this joyous season let us cling closely to the Cross." Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty

I love to catch little 2 year old Rose being mischievous as she loves to get the attention and has the most radiant smile in the world!  She is known in their family as being a bit of a terror, but for her grandpa and I - she is perfect.  Yes, we give her lots of attention and before she has to act negatively to get it.  This seems to be the cycle she has found at home to get the attention she craves - crying and whining.  But thankfully now with the nicer weather she has found a more mature and content attitude with being outside and finding things to do out there.  She also just turned two and is saying more words and getting her needs known that way too.  She reminds me a lot of my 3rd daughter, Maria, and that probably means that she is super smart too.  Looking into those beautiful dark brown eyes just melts me and her every wish is just about what I will willingly do for her.  We call her Zesty Zita for a good reason.

 Her baby brother, Luke, gave mom a bit of a hard time yesterday due to teething/sick with a fever, and Ruth was a bit shaken to have her easy boy being more demanding.  She looks at her wonderful children, and adores them yet she yearns for the freedom to do projects without distractions and "some time without a baby to nurse or care for."  We all know that Luke was supposed to be here, but with Creighton she knows she should have a good break this time to let things heal.  But the beauty of Creighton Model/Natural method of spacing children due to her needing to heal for at least a year between children, is that God is involved in this.  And we all know that the beauty of LIFE comes to us from God.  We are now praying equally hard for both of our grandchildren in the womb- Nancy due in June and Maria in September!  Maria is in a similar place as Ruth after the traumatic birth of Patrick, but she reassures us as we pray daily for her and the baby - "I will never go into labor again.  I will have a C-section as soon as the baby is ready."  Many in the position of Ruth and Maria would have said no more children - Ruth was even told by her doctor that she should stop, but she got a second opinion and now has 3 more!  Yet, they are trusting and go forth surrounded by prayer and with close supervision to continue to bring LIFE into the world.  They both are huge examples of Faith and Trust in Jesus and His Bride, The Church, in giving them the spiritual support they need along with the medical to be open to LIFE! 

Luke discovered the texture and taste of a dill pickle for the first time.  His eyes are wide with discovery and delight and it probably feels good to those new teeth trying to push through. 
Yes, the new life is truly a reminder of Easter Joy, yet before the resurrection comes the Cross! 
"The cause of our joy is Christ who was crucified.  We cannot have that joy unless we are lifted up with him and draw all things to him.  We must not run away from the cross or we shall not share Christ's joy, Christian joy.  Nor will our hearts be ready to receive the Holy Spirit.  So, dearly beloved, throughout this joyous season let us cling closely to the cross.  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!"  Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty (1985)
Today in the Gospel - the road to Emmaus - we are reminded of the 3 ways we find Christ to walk with us on our journey down the narrow path carrying our Most Cherished Cross... Christ in His Word, in The Eucharist and in The Church of fellow believers!  So much we are given to go forth and find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT through our Most Cherished Cross!

This was yesterday - today sleet is on the ground...
Jesus, how we need you to help us carry our Cross and to trust in YOU!  We are yours and we want to hold nothing back from you.  We know that we will only find true happiness in dying to self so that You may live and breath and have all of us.  May we give without counting the cost.  Our hearts burn within us each day as we read your Word, as we receive You in your Body and Blood, as we join our prayers to those around the world doing morning and evening prayer, as we gather together to pray in our homes and to share and celebrate the lives of the Saints, as we look to Your Mother, Mary Most Holy, to intercede for us lifting our needs to You, as we are open to LIFE, as we care for those in need, and all the ways you ask us to serve you, Our Savior and our King!  May the youth gathering today for the High School Festival be deeply touched by the Faith of those there to serve them. Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barb
"you were ransomed from your futile conduct... with the precious blood of Christ as a spotless lamb."  I Peter 1: 17-21 The second reading from mass today.
"Easter week, week of the baptized: having died with Christ and been born anew with him, we have become a new creation!  WE are free.  WE live the life of God!  Christ has led us into the Promised Land, The Church, the gathering of those who have been saved.
The daily pattern of our life flows and follows from the Paschal mystery.  With Christ we have died and risen.  WE must live as those brought to newness of life!  Nourished on the Flesh of Christ our Paschal Lamb, united by his love, we ask God to keep us all one in heart so that we might be leaven of that unity..."  Servant of God Catherine de Hueck Doherty (1985)

This morning Simon and the 3rd graders will be leading the rosary before mass.  It was a beautiful powerful living rosary that we all shared on May Day at the Catholic School and now they are carrying it forth to mass today.  The month of May is devoted to Our Lady, Mary the Mother of God and all of us!

Simon and classmates carrying forth a flower for Our Lady!

Her crowning with rapt attention and respect!

The beautiful living rosary of PRAYER!

Simon's Hail Mary is precious to hear...  May Our Lady and her prayer be always with Simon on his journey of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT.

Lead Me to the Cross - Francesca Battistelli

A great reunion while in Oregon - Cousins that grew up together reunited for the first time in about 3 years!  JeriAnn and Maria are exactly 6 months apart and attended the same high school and the same grade!  Good to share some time! 

Another great picture from their trip - adoring their newest member - Alida!  In September there will be one more!