"wake up the world" Pope Francis

 We got a cute card from Hallel today while she was in Poland... she mentioned that there were snow flurries and how it was an answer to prayers as she hasn't seen snow since she was in KC at Easter 2 years ago.  She was there to come home for her first home visit - she gets to come home every 3 years- we drove up the driveway just ahead of a huge snow storm that snowed us all together over at Ruth's for very close time together!

 Yes, she got her dose of snow to last her a while, but I guess 2 years is a bit long for this prairie country girl - Little Sister Hallel.  Maybe we can have a April snowstorm for her this year too.  Time will tell.

We managed to get over to Ruth's using 4 wheel drive...

John got home to join the family from seminary between storms just as they got the roads cleared enough to make it down here.  It was an exciting time for our two youngest - Hallel a nun and John considering a call to the priesthood.  This is the year devoted to the Consecrated LIFE in our church.  Pope Francis sharing that their example of Faith is here to "wake up the world." 
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/waking-up-the-world-through-the-year-for-consecrated-life
This is  a very good read and really got me fired up!  My heart yearned for this life and as a result I have a daughter who has embraced the beautiful consecrated life as a nun!  Thank you, Lord!  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb

The Presentation mystery and Hallel

The last time we were together with Hallel was in KC in September 2013 for the dedication of the little monastery - Lumen Christi.  That means that it has been a year and 5 months and will be over a year and a half since we have gotten a "real hug" from our Little Sister Hallel.  Ruth was very pregnant with Luke, who was born on Nov 1st.  Then Nancy had Dominic in June and Maria had Romeo on grandpa Pat's birthday, Sept 15, 2014 - a year after this picture was taken.  That means that she has 3 new nephews to meet! 

Susan/Hallel with her dad and some of the little ones.

 

We have gotten the word that Hallel will be here in the U.S. for Easter, so we are all getting excited about sharing time with her in KC.  We know that we have to go to her, and a home visit is not to happen for another year and a half.  We are given time every 3 years for her to come home.  I have started to realize that she needs to find mass and time in prayer each day, and that it is a challenge to find that away from her community.  It is like we are asking her to leave her contemplation of her following Jesus, her spouse, as we intrude on her for 3 days of craziness!  It was quite evident that she was ready to get back to her Community after being snowed in with all her family in April of 2013... there were only 9 nieces and nephews then - now there are 12!

Getting to know 10 month old Bernadette - at Easter she will be 2 1/2 years old and talking and walking and still so sassy and spicey.  It will be good for them to see their Aunt Susan/Hallel!

I envision that we will be given a window to come and visit her and our family here in the U.S... our Little Sisters and Brothers of the Lamb!  How I would love to all gather as a united family with her, but probably it will be some here and some there.  When she left for France around the 4th of July, 2010 in the midst of John's cancer battle... about 5 carloads of Verlys headed down there over a weeks time to say goodbye in waves.  We all got there, but not together, so in a way it made for a better visit and more ability to share than with the big craziness of all of us with 12 little ones!   I am learning that all of us together, although wonderful and a heart-felt wish of mine, that it is for the most part overwhelming and robs us of the ability to share much one on one. 

 The two oldest niece and nephew - Simon and Mary- are closer to Hallel and remember her as Aunt Susan... Hallel has asked for a DVD of them on the farm, so I am working on getting that to send in her long late Christmas package!

I have shared in the past that I pray the rosary my own way...  Yes, I still do the mysteries of the day, but for each of the 5 each day I pray for my 5 children.  The first each day for my oldest ,Ruth, her husband and children from the moment we know that they are in the womb, the second for Nancy and family and on down the line.  Today will be the Joyful, and when I get to the 4th for Hallel it will be the mystery of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple by Mary and Joseph.  It also happens to be the feast of the Presentation today in The Church.  I have always felt that this is so appropriate in how we gave our daughter to Jesus willingly and with great joy and yes with some sacrifice too!  We love her dearly and miss her being in our lives day to day, yet we know of her happiness and that she lifts us up in prayer daily and has added to the depth and richness of our family as her Community has become our family, too!  It just feels special to be celebrating this feast today and with the anticipation of her visit to KC as well as this being her mystery in more ways than one... I am thinking of Hallel today, and how wonderful it is to have her Yes to her call!

It was such a gift to witness this beautiful moment of Hallel recognizing her LOVE/LIFE/LIGHT on the altar!  I have been missing my time spent in prayer with The Community and hope that will be a big part of our time with Hallel and the Community over Easter!

The Canticle of Simeon

Jesus, such a beautiful reminder this day of how we are all called upon to present ourselves and our children to You, and know and trust the plan you have for each one of us.  This much we know for sure... that we are called upon to die to self so that you can live in us!  It was so special this morning to hear John singing the words of Simeon, as he recognized them from night prayer shared with other seminarians in his year in the Seminary.  "Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled:  My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people:  A Light to reveal you  to the nations and the glory of your people Israel." Luke 2: 29-32  The Gospel for today.  Continue to guide and direct John in your path laid out for him.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

 Hallel with Simon..
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Yes, it hurts to see her so seldom, but what JOY when we are reunited after a year and a half!  I feel like I want to hug her and never let go... Maria used to do this to get my goat - hug me til I begged her to let go!

 Her prayers are with John as he continues to search and seek his path!

It will be fun to see the little ones - now bigger relate to her again!

Danielle Rose - Walk on water

4th Sunday of Ordinary/Mystical/Marching on Time

 Using some old pics today... 2 1/2 year old Susan with her baby brother, John.  I used to take John up stairs as I was putting each girl to bed - he has 4 older sisters - and they would each snuggle with him and share their hugs and kisses!  I see, once again, how much little Rose is like Susan... so fun to revisit those days through my grandkids!  So wonderful to see the nurturing of the beauty and value to be cherished and protected no matter the cost of LIFE!

One of the girls holding their new baby sister, Susan.  Nancy had made them all crowns as they are all special in the eyes of their parents and God and each other! 

 

This early dark Sunday morning the readings are calling us to ponder them as we go to share mass as the Body of Christ.  Ordinary time gives me much Joy knowing that our days are anything but ordinary if we only put Jesus first in our lives.  Our lives become filled with ever changing and unpredictable mystery and changing from smooth to choppy to stormy to sinking from one minute to the next! 

 The birth of our 4th daughter, Susan, and her sister, Maria, meeting her for the first time.  Realizing that they will share lives as Family over their lifetime.  Maria has just moved to North Carolina, and the word is out that Hallel/Susan is coming to the U.S. for Easter!  Maria has a couple months to figure out how their family can visit Hallel in KC where she will be for about a month.  Hallel has yet to meet her 3 youngest nephews - including Maria's 4 month son, Romeo!  What Joy that will be!  Yes, it is a hardship to not have Hallel in our day to day lives - we haven't seen her for close to a year and a half, but in that we also have so much excitement and JOY at being reunited with her and a "real hug" feels like one we will receive from our lovedones when we see them again in Heaven!  Now that's the BEST!

 Me with my first daughter, Ruth Ida, Jan 4, 1980! 

Jesus, go with me today as I serve those in the NH.  Thank you for the wonders that come to us in the times of our lives.  May we always rely on you and your love and care for us!  Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the God who made us.   For he is our God, and we are his people he shepherds, the flock he guides.  Psalm 95 from mass today  If we put you first in our lives... all the rest will fall into place.  You are in control in the midst of the storms of life.  We are given an amazing life preserver, if we feel we are sinking... your Bride, The Church!  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

How?  With humble prayers throughout our days. 

The Saint that is just me - Danielle Rose

Yes, we are all called to be saints!

In love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gathered outside Basilica of St Mary's before mass and then on to the Baptism of Dominic this summer the weekend after spending two weeks in Michigan with all 11 grandkids.  Pat and I shared the Sacrament of Matrimony at this very church 36 years before on August 3, 1978.  It was my home parish at the time we married, and I became a city girl come to the farm.  Tonight sharing in the Sacraments of Eucharist and Annointing of the Sick with Pat's mom just reminded me of how much I love our wonderful Catholic Church, and how it gives us so much for our journeys of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  The power and healing of the Sacraments, the Saints, Our Spiritual Mother of God, Mary Most Holy, The Word of God, all the prayers and devotionals and sacramentals - a day isn't a day without the rosary a huge part of it for me... I usually have one in my pocket at work, too.  I just am so grateful for all that we receive to help us on the narrow path of Faith/Family/Farm.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb

"Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

My dad, Deacon Robert Cross, baptizing our first child, Ruth Ida.  This journey is the embodiment of the first reading today...
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html  God looking out for his promise to us to show us the True Path to Him - the narrow path carrying our Most Cherished Cross to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!

The first line from the first reading grabbed me today with a wow!  Faith is so powerful in my life and feeling the hand of God on me so powerfully over the 63 years of my life leaves me in awe.  "Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."  We long and hope for happiness in life and true happiness is found through our Faith!  Living that Faith out in our lives/domestic Church/family reveals to the world that Truth by how we live our lives and minister to the needs of others.

  Hallel when she first entered The Community of the Lamb as a postulant back in 2009.  Shortly after John found brain cancer to bring him to his Faith in Jesus and his Bride, The Church!  So powerful to watch our 2 youngest children enter in on such huge journeys of Faith!  They continue to praise him and serve him and love him and honor him and humbly follow him and share His Faith in their lives and when necessary use words!

Jesus, go with me this day to serve those in the NH.  Give me the strength, love and wisdom I need to do a good job and to serve them as you have ministered to me.  May we return to others the love and concern and forgiveness you have so freely shown us.  Yes!  You are in control in the midst of the storm today!  How we have clung to this knowledge of You being the one that brings all of our crazy storms of life under control!  This started our journey called brain cancer/healing through prayer,sacraments, the saints, Mary, the rosary, The Word to hear Hallel remind us that the reading on Father's Day 2009 - Mark 4:35-40..."Mom, this is the storm and Jesus is in control."  We gave it all to you and you answered John's prayer for Faith and touched many in the process... discovering the power of prayer in our lives with YOU.  Jesus, we Trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Use us this day, O Lord!

Danielle Rose - Pursue me

"those who have Faith and will possess LIFE." Hebrews 10

There are 3 farm dogs now... Ruth brought over her border collie pup yesterday to meet the other two dogs and the cows and calves.  Luke was right in the middle of all the dog action with a smile on his face, and warming his hand in Holly's soft fur.  Holly went back home with Ruth and her 5 kids... she gets lots of love and attention over there.  Ruth said that she did really well over here, and seems to be excited to know that there will be cows in her future.  There are some dogs like her that watch gates and herd the cows and calves.  Time will tell.  Lilly loves them all, but mostly to lick their noses when they come by the fence.

I am very excited to be in Mark 4 for readings these days and today's Gospel does not disappoint.  Why?  There is much drawing our thoughts back to 5 years ago and our cancer journey with John.  And the journey started with Mark 4:35-40... on Father's Day 2009!  The day that we took John into the ER in Marshall and heard for the first time that there was something in his brain, came home called Susan in France and heard the words - "Mom, this is the storm and Jesus is in control."  Yes, it is Jesus calming the storm and it is the reading tomorrow... I looked ahead and am anticipating.  Yes, that Gospel will forever bring me back to remember how we gave it all to Jesus as He is truly in control of our lives... lymphoma of the brain was the worst thing I could envision for my 20 year old son.  We just had our 6 month check up at Mayo a few weeks ago, we recalled his 5th birthday celebrated on the day that his stem cells were transplanted on Jan 27, 2010, we are following a friend through chemo and radiation - ringing the bell today - which recalls our journey, and most of all just having the privilege to sit through John's sharing his story with over 50 kids along with teachers and friends at Wabasso a couple nights ago.  Flooding back so powerfully!

On either side of the altar at St Ann's are statues of the child Mary - one with her parents and the other with her mother, Saint Ann.  I heard John ask our friend, Justin, about them and know that it was comforting to John to know of honoring Mary's sinless childhood all around him as he spoke of finding his Faith through brain cancer, and growing in such love for Our Lady.  There are those times that we have heard some that have heard his talk say; "I am afraid to ask for faith... I don't want cancer or something terrible to happen to me."  How do we answer that, and does John's story really touch people's hearts, minds and souls as we hope and pray for long and hard before he speaks?  It even amazes me and brings me to tears when John, each day that we pray together, thanks God for his brain cancer bringing him to Faith.  No, I see that John's story reminds people that all the struggles in our lives, and we all have them, are not to be shouldered alone.  Jesus is there to carry us when we are weak and sick and in that dying we find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  Just as St Paul writes to the Hebrews in the first reading today - "We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and possess life."  Hebrews 10

The Cross is always in our lives, and is what brings us to LIFE eternal!  It has become The Tree of LIFE!

The Gospel today is from Mark 4 and is the reading just before tomorrow's calming of the storm... it is the parable of the mustard seed, and reminds us that all we need is the tiniest seed of faith to have huge results in our lives..."Once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade."  Jesus' words to us this day telling us how he can use us to His honor and glory and when necessary use words. 

A snapshot of life...

It has been a wonderful morning with conversations with all of our children... that means first of all a call to Rome at about 4:30p their time, and getting Hallel on the phone!  She had wonderful news for us!  She will be coming to the U.S. for Easter week!  She just found out today, and we are thrilled and already knowing that we will be making many Verly trips down there in the almost month that she will be in KC!  She, hopefully, will be able to meet her 3 new nephews...  We had to call then to North Carolina and catch Maria in her new home - they arrived late yesterday afternoon and found a wonderful clean new home and their truck outside to unload all their things in the next few days!  "The kids are outside playing and the grass is green."  So wonderful after the desert for 3 years!  Maria was glad to get the news as soon as possible in hopes that they can get there to see Hallel while she is home at some point.  That led to calls to Ruth and Nancy with the news of great JOY, too! 

Ruth speaking yesterday - sharing their award winning speech!  Hallel wants some movies to see the kids sharing their farmlife as her Christmas present.  "I want to see Simon tell about tractors." 

Lord, we are so excited and happy to think that our far away in distance not in love or sharing in The Spirit daughter, Little Sister Hallel, is set to return close by in Kansas City!  How I have been praying for "a real hug" and the Lord saw fit to give me that gift.  Of course, I want to just go there and be there as long as she is here, but we must refrain ourselves and wait until the right time and we are invited to come and share in their lives!  It is hard to be patient and hold back, and it is such a blessing that we are welcomed as family and are able to share in their prayer life and each day we are given to be with them.  The words of Psalm 37 in the mass today are ringing in my heart and soul...Trust in the Lord and do good that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will grant you your heart's requests.  Commit to the Lord your way; trust in him, and he will act.  He will make justice dawn on you like the light; bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.  Reminded of the healings of John and the call of Hallel and the LIGHT shared by Ruth and Paul for the world to see, and our family now getting settled in North Carolina, after the wonderful month of close sharing we were gifted, and having the joy of sharing life with Nancy and her little ones here on the farm while Bill travels with work, and, yes, having John here to share our life as he thanks God for the cancer which brought him to Faith and the plan that remains a mystery and keeps him on his knees asking the Lord!  Thank you Lord most of all for being able to share our Faith/Family/Farm with all our children and grandchildren.  Even Hallel loves to share her farm roots with the rest of the Community of the Lamb!  "Do you have a player that you can put a DVD in and watch a movie about the farm?"  "Yes, mom, that is what I want from you for Christmas."  It is in the works!  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

A picture in which I added Hallel and Joseph and Romeo to make it complete... I do that without hesitation!
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke


Ruth and Paul have a motto that they live by in their marriage - "Be life-giving in what you say and do."  It has caused me to pause from time to time and assess myself with Patrick Gerard Joseph!

Everyone but Hallel and I did add her for Christmas cards. 

How I long for this to be true!

Danielle Rose - the Saint that is just me

The Afters - Broken Hallelujah

I love this song and how they spell Hallelujah!