The wind dies down - the sun comes out

With the waves lapping all around him - Luke discovered sand  in the water.

 Then we discovered wild strawberries and they are so sweet and yummy down on the beach!

 Perfect little tiny strawberries - Patrick couldn't get enough of them!

 "Thanks Grandma, for picking me many sweet little strawberries!"

 Rosie got wind that there were yummy strawberries too!

 Therese was a good big sister  and cousin and picked many strawberries for the two little beggars! 

Rosie in the daisies!

 Therese in the daisies with the lake behind...

 Noodles are fishing poles for the Rose and Patrick - did they catch a fish called Luke?

 Simon and drip sand...

 Now on Rosie's leg - it washes off with some water...

 sleeping Luke and rosary time combined while the others go to the Lighthouse...

 Rosie and mom in the sand dunes where it is warm and the sand is soft and fun for the kids.

 Luke gets the full treatment of sugar sand legs buried by dad.

 Playing in the dunes time...

 The girls - there will be one more when Bernadette arrives in the next couple days... 4 girls total for the grandkids...

The granddaughters in one more for good measure.  Now to get those 7 grandsons together some time this time together.  Oh, the work of a grandmother is never done.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb

"Seek good and not evil..." Amos 5

The sun came out on this cloudy cold day...  Rose smiled ear to ear for her grandma!  It is quiet after a breakfast of 8 kids and 4 adults... Paul just took the older 5 for a walk/adventure, so we are in the midst of some house cleaning with two as two have bottles on the couch and one has his sippy cup.  Grandma started with breakfast clean up, but then had child duty out on the deck!

The two that are close in age were getting a lesson on sharing a ball... guess what it is more fun to throw it back and forth and not to hold it and run away.  It is a bit more attention getting when you run away - mom pays negative attention to us, and all attention counts right?  I am noticing this with the little ones  and their moms and dads.  If you can't get attention positively than the negative kind works too!  So it starts at a very young age - I am noticing that Luke at 8 months is crying and nagging when he sees his mom, while he can be so sweet and giggly for grandma.  I guess he gets his needs and point across, but it is so much more pleasant when he is smiling and laughing and quietly chewing on some toy.  He does do that a fair amount too!  There are constant lessons being taught as parents sometimes just let them cry it out and discipline them when they hit or scream.  This is the way we try to teach them goodness and not evil.

Rose in the sky swing this morning while mom was cleaning the cabin - I think grandma got the better of the jobs!    It is very fun at our cabin on Lake Michigan as we gave a huge deck on the second level... so we are in the tree tops up here.  For Rose looking up in the sky swing... it is very special and it smells like pine up here too!
There is a big project starting - the tye dye T-shirts that the kids wear to the 4th of July parade and out to the Lighthouse, so it sounds like grandma, the photographer needs to record it.  Today they are putting clear glue on them so that after the dying they will have white designs on them.  This year the theme is red, white and blue! 

A special swing experience up in the tree tops!
Jesus, we all tend to want our way and to get that attention even if it is negative attention... this is not the way to sainthood and not good but evil leading to selfishness and caring only for ourselves.  We need to teach our young to share and to extend that hand in caring and sharing.  It is easy sometimes to give in to their demands for peace and quiet, yet it is necessary to give without counting the cost.  As parents this is a need as we are there to guide and protect each new life we are blessed with - seeking good or raising LIGHTS is what we are asked to do!  Jesus, we need to die to selves so that the Spirit can direct us in instilling the Truth in our young and old.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Playing together with the castle we found at the second hand store is much more fun, and boys are sharing in the fun too!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

David and Therese keep Luke happy and giggling at their antics! 

Dad with Luke on his shoulders and Rose coming behind to find the beach. 

Danielle Rose - The Saint that is just me

First time in sugar sand!!!

Luke went down to put his toes in the sugar sand for the first time in his life... Last year Bernadette ate a lot of sand, so I expected Luke to take a taste.  He didn't seem interested in putting it in his mouth so far.  He still has a week and a half to go, and probably will do some taste tests.

Dave and Therese making Luke laugh before we headed out for the beach.

Smiling for mom...

With Patrick, but David is more interesting with his truck!

 The three are sharing sun time in the sugar sand.

Here is a boat full of sugar sand, Luke!

Battle over the shovel begins...

 Rose holds on tight!

 Luke goes to check out the big lake in the old wagon.

 Therese keeps Luke from tipping out - always a caring cousin and sister.

"that's Lake Michigan Luke!  It's very big and cold and wavy today."

 Playing in the miracle sand on the beach.

 In the water in the bright late day sun and the big crashing waves!

Simon with the old wagon and the amazing lighting on the beach

 The best in such glorious LIGHT!

 The girls share a watercolor paper - how grandma loves to paint with the girls and boys!

the new grill looking good!

Ruth made wonderful Verly beef burgers for our supper on the new grill! 

 The two boys love to play horsey with Maria! 

An ice cream cone picture of after supper tonight with lanterns and flowers in the sunlight!  The news in good from Rochester today... no radiation effect on John's brain - maybe some stroke type effects from his SMART syndrome.  "Do not use the word dementia as that is not what we are seeing."  That is very good news indeed.  Tomorrow morning he will have cognitive testing bright and early! Lord, please continue to be with John and keep his brain safe and healthy and guide him in his future.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb

Prayer in the midst of the storm/life unpredictably crazy

Attempted to go to mass in town - no go as it was the day the priests change... prayed in the car together before we shopped.  

Found this wonderful doll house for the kids to play with at the Thrift store.

 

Down to the beach - another day of cold wind and big waves, but..

the kids still were in the water playing in the waves before lunch.
Throughout the day I am aware of John being in Mayo by himself - prayed during his MRI in the midst of all the activity of shopping with my daughters and 3 of the youngest.  Now in prayerful pose as we await his meeting with the doctors to discuss the results and how these last 6 months have been.  Yes, we are 5 years out, but these every 6 month returns bring the reminders of our journey come back again and again.  How I longed to be able to sit peacefully in Church and be in a state of grace and prayer, but it was not to be!  Instead after a brief prayer in the car - we were found shopping at 4 different places and accomplishing a lot in an hour and a half.  My rosary is calling to me, and I just tried to call John and he texted to tell me that he was taking a nap in the quiet room.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke with family

Many "clean plate clubs" around here with the promise of an ice cream cone after lunch and supper.  Lots of good eaters with ice cream for dessert - some of the favorite flavors - birthday cake, superman, caramel cow tracks, mint chocolate, and for Maria's kids vanilla with sprinkles.  The freezer is full of ice cream, but won't be when we leave or more likely in a few days!

Jesus might be asleep in the storm, but...

I am filled with so much awe this morning at the way the Lord is at work through his Word to us... The Gospel this day is Jesus in the storm according to St Matthew - Mt8:23-27 " Jesus may sleep, but at the opportune time he will awaken to restore your calm."  St Pio  We will find that place, if we give our all to Jesus.