Peaceful island

 First thing was doing my Bernadette's hair - she kept handing me rubber bands so it got more and more ornate...

 Then the party bus arrived filled with a puppy, 5 kids, and two parents. 

 Big family breakfast and then plans for fun!

 The two criminals we call them.  In short order I had the joy of doing Rose's hair too.

 All aboard the party bus - off for some icecrean at 9oclock in the morning.  We had Ruth, Nancy, me, and 8 kids - we left the men and puppy at the farm.  Calving is in full swing - I think we had close to 10 calves today!

 A bus full of fun!

 Innocent Luke and the two criminals are planning their crimes...  Why?  The two 2 year olds shut the door on the bathroom and had soap on the walls and floors and egged each other on and on and on and on.   Scary to think about what they will come up with when they get older. 

 8 kids dripping with ice cream!  Yikes!

 Dominic thought great-grandma was super special

 The boys found some snow to shovel on this 40 degree day. 

 Cousin Jeri here from Seattle.

After some family photos we board the bus to get back to the farm and calving.  The party bus then went to help celebrate Brad and Lindsey's bachelor and bachelorette parties.

 My dad's 90th birthday party at my sister's place in the Cities - so special!  Only 2 of the 10 missing.

 The beautiful setting thanks to a lot of work by my sister, Paula!

 Praying a blessing song over dad before he blows out the candles.

 A selfie before they leave for home.  We are so lucky to have my wonderful dad still with us and hearing us and sharing his wisdom with us. 

Dad takes some décor home to help him remember this special family time.  I am now all alone at Nancy's home with total peace for the first time in a long while, and it is kind of wonderful.  I hear bed calling me as we lose an hour of sleep tonight and it is now after midnight!  It has been a wonderful full day ending on this island of peace in the middle of this big big city!  You would think the farm would be the peaceful place, but not during the heat of calving season.  Thank you for the wonderful weather and healthy calves!  It was so wonderful to have The Prodigal Son for the Gospel today and the reminder of how you always are there to welcome us back.  We joked tonight about eating the fattened calf as we had wonderful standing rib roast to celebrate this most wonderful occasion! Bless-bless, Barb

High tide on the prairie with lots of family and new calves/LIFE!

Dominic has come to the farm and he brought along his brother, sister and mom.  Dad is on a plane to Thailand for two weeks, so Nancy will be spending time here on the farm. 

 Cow TV has shown 6 new calves so far today... they came out to nicer weather, and we all thanked God in our prayers tonight!  Rose got up from her nap to find Dominic was here and her "best friend" Bernadette.

 Hanging out with Dominic...

Dominic gets a push from his big cousin, Rosie!

 Rose runs up to greet her cousins!

 Kids and puppy and a nice muddy day.

 It looks like spring is in the air.

 Triple decker bath time...

 Mary brings dog treats - Roger is in heaven

 The 6 months are getting to be less and less between these two.  Soon they will be the toddlers getting into the mud and...

 Already learning how to get into grandma's hair accessory drawer while in the jumper from big sister, Berna.

 The current toddlers teaching the next wave how to get into trouble...

Grandpa serves ice cream for all the kids with homemade strawberry jam on top.  A nice end for a very big day of working with the cows and calves and getting them moved into their new shelters...

 Ruth helping Pat get the new area ready for the older calves to move.  Luke is buckled in with grandpa to watch him at work. 

 These calves have now moved to the new huts.

This new baby calf, Robert, can stay in the barn for now with the other 6 new calves born so far today.  We are fully into calving now.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb

"They will respect my son." Matthew 21

 Adorableness - Ruth with her independent 2 1/2 year old Rose... it took Rose a while to get brave enough to trust the calf and mom, but when mom shut the cow out of the barn it really helped with her bravery.  I don't blame you Rose, those cows scare me too!

It has been a crazy day today with about 6 calves already today and 2 more in the process of being born on the Cow TV - Ruth is dad's assistant and I am here with her 3 kids in the house.  David is home sick with bronchitis.  After spending an overnight with Pat's mom and rushing home to help out with the full fledged calving going on around here... this is my first chance to sit down all day!  I just had a chance to read the first reading and discovered that it was Joseph with his special coat of many colors and being sold into slavery... then add to that the Gospel which is the parable of the landowner, who eventually sends his son to his tenants saying; "They will respect my son."  NO!  He is killed and shown no respect.  Reminding us that Jesus continues to be disrespected and killed by the evil and those that want His Truth to be silenced.  But guess what?  He has overcome sin and death once and for all, and we can stand on that!

 Ruth showing Rose how they suck on her finger...

 First Rose was frightened of the cow in there - she wouldn't even go near the fence with her on the other side.  "Me scared."

 "Me scared."

 Mom put the cow out of the barn.  Rose gets a bit more brave.

 "Come and see how soft and warm it is, Rose."

 Breaking the ice slowly.

 Brave enough to go inside the gate with her mom.

"Take off your gloves and feel how soft and warm her is"... Rose is learning from her mom to be brave.  It was a special peaceful moment in the midst of this busy day on the farm.  Thankfully the weather is warm and it seems all of the calves are sunbathing wherever they manage to find a soft place to lay down.

I love this picture of the two birthday boys today... Dan is now 54 and my dad is 90 today.  We have 2 of the new bulls born today named Robert and Daniel in honor of the March 6th birthdays shared.
Dan on his wedding day with Dad as the Deacon officiating.  My dad married many of us as a Permanent Deacon - he was ordained with the first Deaconate class in the Twin Cities after he had left the Protestant ministry and all 13 of us had converted to The Catholic Church!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html 

 Ruth and Rose with Robert just a few hours after he was born on this sunny day.... My dad's 90th
 Happy Birthday Dad, Dan and Robert the calf... there is a Daniel out there too! 

It is so great that Ruth has been here to help her dad for the day.  She loves to be out there and I get some grandma time.  Jesus, thank you for overcoming all the evil in the world so that we may embrace the Truth and die to self so that you may live and serve and give without counting the cost.  May those in our domestic Church/family truly come to love and respect your Son, Jesus Christ and His Bride, The Church. Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen

One of my favorite pictures of my parents taken in June with newborn, Dominic.  This speaks to me of the wonderful way my parents modeled for us openness to family and taking us on the most miraculous journey of Faith as they were led by the Holy Spirit.  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

 Rose hips in the ditch - getting excited for spring!

Two crosses over our house on the way back from the mailbox.

Danielle Rose - Pursue me

Danielle Rose - The Saint that is just me

David is 6 and mom is 95 - both are filled with wisdom... meanwhile Pat is calving cows!

A most stunning bouquet fills mom's vision with a work of art - God's stunning creation!  Having an good evening with my mother-in-law and her oldest son, Mel. We shared mass on EWTN and supper enhanced with chips and beer.  She tickled me more than once with her wise takes on some situations she finds herself in the middle of.  Pat keeps calling to fill us in on this crazy day he is having with calving out 6 calves so far today.  "I am trying to keep straight what cow goes with what calf.  I think I have it figured out now."

Deserves another look - so much what we all are experiencing "Spring fever!"

I had another joyfilled conversation with poor sick David.  The school nurse called Ruth to tell her that David had a temp and was congested, so I went to pick him up and bring him home.  After he got in the car - "Where's mom?"  "She is at home because Lukey is sleeping.  You love your mom don't you, Dave?"  "Yeah." with a sweet loving Davey smile.  "You love your dad, too, don't you Dave?"  "Yeah."  "You love your brothers and sisters, too, Dave?"  "Yeah."  "You are so lucky to have lots of brothers and sisters.  Most kids don't have many these days." "But, grandma, what if you don't have enough beds for all the kids?"  "A lot of big families some brothers have to share beds.  But most people sleep on the floor."  "Well, Rosie sleeps on the floor."  "Most people in the world don't have a bed and they sleep on the floor.  They build their houses out of cardboard or wood that they find, and what do you call those people, David?"  "Poor."  "Yes, and we have someone in our family that is poor.  Did you know that Little Sister Hallel begs for her food and is poor?"  "Why does she do that, grandma?"  "Because they want to rely on God to provide for all they need.  That is a good thing to do, right David?  Relying on God is a good thing."  "But grandma why was Hallel in jail?"  "What David?"  "We have pictures in our books of Hallel in jail."  "I will have to ask mom about that."  Well, I did and the mystery was solved - "He is talking about Maria when she was in the Poor Clares behind the enclosure.  Sure!  Such a wise and sweet conversation with my sick David.  Tonight he went into Urgent Care and got on antibiotics for bronchitis and will now be on the mend.  

Rose getting the nebulizer ready for her brother David when he came back from school.  She is now a 2 year old nurse as well as a fashion plate... Ruth bought her a new purple outfit while they shopped today.

Well, farmer Pat is on his way in to visit between calves.  He doesn't get a lot of time to visit and get out these days.  Got to keep an eye on those cows!  

Mom worn out after her shower, a short hour nap and she is out visiting, watching mass and baseball and having chips and beer.  We are having some good time with mom.  Hospice is known to get people stable and having some good time.  We pray for more good time!  Jesus, thank you for the wisdom of both the old and the young.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb