"The man who has not suffered, what can he possibly know, anyway?" Rabbi Abraham Heschel

 one year old Dominic loved playing with some brushes and the watercolor water...

 Watercolor time on the beach - one of my favorite things to do in my life!  I hope and pray that this will be a fond memory with grandma for them, and that they can enjoy this special pastime throughout their lives.

Reading this wonderful insightful filled with Truth article this morning - http://lifeteen.com/blog/gay-catholic-and-doing-fine/  I came across the quote by Rabbi Abraham Heschel - The man who has not suffered, what can he possibly know, any way?  It made me smile and marvel at the Truth here!  I took a course of Jewish studies at St Kates in the early 70s and found this wise and wonderful man then, so this really takes me back and reminds me too of St Paul's words in 2 Corinthians today too... where he talks about his "thorn in the flesh", and although he begged God to take it away he was told -"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."  2 Cor 12:7-10

A special patch of sand beach in front of the cabin is a great JOY for the little ones!  There is nothing more heart warming and restful for me than to sit on the beach and paint my humble pictures and either have them join me painting or watch them love my beloved Michigan and forming those deep wonderful memories that I grew up with! 

It has been a day of early morning good-byes to my husband and Nancy with her family.  Ruth and I then went to mass and the kids played in the park for a while, then lunch, put the cabin in order, and now time to share a bit with my rosary calling out to me... Ruth just left with the older 3 to visit a local lighthouse and I have my peace and quiet with the waves lapping behind me while the younger two are napping.  The best!

 Rose makes small images with bright colors... it is so interesting to see how they express themselves!

"For when I am weak, then I am strong."  St Paul to us today!  So true in how we can love the world by dying to self so that The Holy Spirit can direct our lives and that we may be vessels of LOVE most especially to those closest to us in our domestic Church/family.

 David struggled to find the right red for his track tractor.

I would highly suggest the blog post written by Steve Gershom which I shared earlier... Wow, he is so right on!  "So, yes, it’s hard to be gay and Catholic — it’s hard to be anything and Catholic — because I don’t always get to do what I want. Show me a religion where you always get to do what you want and I’ll show you a pretty shabby, lazy religion. Something not worth living or dying for, or even getting up in the morning for."  Steve Gershom

When Father was sharing how powerful the experience of fireworks and patriotic music made him proud of our country... I had a sad feeling inside at the thought of the horrible sinful darkness that fills our culture with death!  I love our Church and how it doesn't allow us to go down that wide road.

Our beach is back... we cleared a wonderful sugar sand spot and now can just go down in front of the cabin again!

Jesus, being a Catholic Christian is not easy, but it shows us how we need to be like you - the Lamb that is sacrificed for others that they may find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  May we die to self so that you may live more and more and the culture of death may become The Culture of LIGHT/LIFE/LOVE.  Like the Gospel last week with the woman with the 12 year hemorrhage and the Official may our Faith bring us healing... unlike today where you were amazed at their lack of faith.  Get those on the road home safe and may the work be done quickly and safely and sanely.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

 Power washed down to the wood for 2 days and then stained for 2... He still had time for family here, and we will sorely miss him!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

 Watermelon on the beach... how much sand goes down with it?

 Dominic thinks that watermelon is supposed to be crunchy.

 Rose already said that she will miss Bernadette, and David will miss his constant companion, Gus!

 More painting time!

 The first burial of kids!

 Mary has painted with grandma since she was 2 - for 7 years... I love it so much!

 Ruth did all the burying...

 Grandma did all the picture taking...  So much work!

Our 4th of July feast had a lot of pasta for the hungry tribe!

 Steak from our cattle were so delicious for our 4th of July feast!

God bless America!!!!

Cabin Dance-4th of July Saturday for the Blessed Mother

 On a cold day at the cabin we had a dance party after supper, then the traditional ice cream cones.  As the moms remarked how much sense it makes to load them up on sugar just before bed, but it didn't backfire too badly.

The sun is out today and there is much anticipation of  the 4th of July parade at noon.

The lanterns are lit!

All that the Lord wills he does
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and in all the deeps.
Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!
Psalm 135

 Usually the cones are consumed on the deck to keep the drips outside, but with the cold they were allowed to sit around the table last night...

Mary takes her place in the middle of the 11!  She dwells in our hearts and keeps our eyes on heaven for sure. Yes, I am the first one - the oldest, and that is my college graduation picture not HS.

The 8 watching the movie about St Bernadette and Lourdes.  At breakfast we were discussing that we are going to all go to France for Hallel's final vows in two to three years.  Exciting family times lie ahead.  Ruth shared that her kids talk about seeing the Eifel tower, and other sights... now after seeing how Lourdes is real and miraculous - we know that we will add that to the list for sure! 

Pat and I enjoyed sitting watching the waves roll in last evening - the wind was gone, but it took a while for the waves to slow down.  Pat talked about the "noise" of the big water as compared going out to the pasture at evening watching the peaceful scene of calves nursing on cows.  We agree that we find both wonderful and different and a true sign to us of how the Lord is in the seas and the deeps!  On the farm we know that we are at the Mercy of Mother Nature and that the land is a good place and so important to all!

 The meat/cheese/pickle kabobs for our lunch at the parade today!

Making the fruit ones with kid help!

Jesus with Your Mother at your side... we are yours!  Amen and Hallelujah

Teary eyed remembering my sister, Mary at the feet of Mary Mother of God - both are with me on this journey of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!   Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

 

A day full of Mary!!!!

Awoke to share morning prayer with Pat and grandson, Dominic... reading the Gospel and seeing the Feast day of St Thomas - I was reminded that today marks the 29th anniversary of my sister, Mary's death from lymphoma cancer.  I was asked to go and get groceries for our tribe here on our inland sea, and so I was very excited to go to the grotto across from the Church armed with Mary's high school graduation picture from off the wall. I picked some special Michigan flowers along the way including ferns... reminding me of Mary's pencil sketch of ferns, which grace the wall at my parent's home.  I think I know what I will watercolor today in memory of my sweet special sister Mary Susan!

Dominic sure loves to be by his grandpa... He even held our hands as we shared the Our Father this morning.  It is quiet here with naps for the youngest 5.

 How peaceful and soothing was it to kneel at the new little Grotto with this wonderful statue of the Immaculate heart of Mary on this special day of memory of my sweet sister.  To do this in Michigan on the Big Lake that we shared so many wonderful times together is such a powerfully emotional gift to me! 

 There is a kneeler there and the tears flowed when I knelt and talked to Mary, my Spiritual Mother of God, and my sister, who hopefully has found her way to heaven and peace and JOY in LIGHT eternal! 

 Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.  Jesus to us in the Gospel today in John 20

Yes, I cannot know that my sister has gained heaven, but I pray for her often and lovingly remember her to my kids and grandkids and husband and in my prayer - most especially as I say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy!

 Mary seems to reassure me that she is watching over my sister and knows and loves her well and has brought her to Jesus. 

"My Immaculate heart holds Mary and brings her to my Son, Jesus.  His Sacred heart is filled with all the suffering and death that Mary had to experience here on earth.  Through that suffering she has joined now in the LIGHT/LOVE/LIFE eternal with Jesus, the Saints, Angels and I."  Mary to me this day.

 My rosary each day brings me to walk the narrow path of Jesus and His Bride, The Church!

 Of course, my picture has now returned to the cabin with me to join me and my siblings on the wall of graduation pictures... but I left behind a small reminder of my sister's special day of her death this day - some special fern and some flowers that grow in the ditches here abundantly and were growing here 55 years ago when Mary and I would walk down the beach of  Grand Traverse Bay with her under my arm sharing fossil hunting and our hearts, minds and souls!

Left behind for others to ponder the meaning - I thought to leave a scrap of paper with her name on it, but then decided to leave it as is...

 The paving stone of my parents on the path leading up to the grotto.

Jesus, this day brings so many emotions to the surface that are usually quite deep for me.  I thank you for your Mother there to comfort and assure me that her namesake, my sweet sister, Mary, is now cared for and shown eternal Mercy in eternal LIGHT.  I sense her always with me on this journey and that she looks after her two Goddaughters, Nancy and Susan/Hallel.  It is such a reminder that death is the beginning of True LIFE for us that believe although we have not seen with our eyes.  May our Faith carry us though the times that we suffer and we are all heading towards death at the end of our lives here on earth.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

 Telling Bernadette about her great Aunt Mary, who is her mom's Godmother.  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
There were strawberries in that salad, but...

Granddaughter, Mary, with her great-Aunt Mary - remembering her this day and Mary is filling our day to the brim.  My rosary is calling out to me... the peace flows all around me. 

Have to share Mary pictures and quotes.

May I become more and more this way. 

Danielle Rose - Memorare

Ruth's shares her pictures with me... thank you!

The 8 at the lighthouse today... we are missing the other 4 this year!

Asked to sacrifice our all!!!

We have a fun tradition here at our wonderful cabin in Michigan - ice cream!!!!  We get huge boxes of cones for the kids and many yummy flavors from superman to Mackinaw fudge ice cream - new this year!, and chocolate cherry.  It is a wonderful way to motivate the kids to eat their plates clean and then they get a rousing round of "Clean Plate Club" with a new version of Meows at the end.  The rule for the cones is out on the deck with them! 

I have been busy with life up here.  I was feeling down about some of the sharing between Pat and I, and was hugely relieved to hear him say that "it's not about you at all, Barbie."  He was going through some feelings and they affected how he was around me mostly.  I struggled with dying to self so that we could discuss and share some time together.  Things could have gone negatively and I could have really just spiraled down with letting my hurts and feelings drive a bigger wedge between us.  Looking back at swallowing my selfish tendencies and going in a better more loving direction really made a difference for me.

The two one year old boys sure do love spending times with their wonderful grandpa, Pat!  How I love to see Pat with the grandkids - just as he is a wonderful father and always open to LIFE - he never said stop even with the many losses we had. 

It really spoke to me today to see that the first reading from Genesis is about Abraham being asked to sacrifice his only son - born to him when he was 100 years old!  In my struggles yesterday I was really struggling with being called upon to sacrifice my all to make our marriage better and get it back on track!  In making that happen I see that a lot of healing and I was gifted back with a calming of the storm and defeat I was feeling. 

 Pat and I at the Lighthouse today with the 8 grandkids we have here with us - missing Maria, Joe and their 4 in the !  Maria just called so sweet today with a fond memory of some special times we shared in the past.  That speaks so powerfully to me of her missing being here with us these weeks.  Maybe next year! 

Dominic sure loves being on grandpa's lap on the lighthouse steps or anywhere for that matter.

Every bone in my body hurt and screamed to turn my back on Pat yesterday, but I swallowed my pride and humbly did what he wanted to spend time with him, and the next thing I knew we were doing some of the things and going some of the places I wanted to go...

 We found the new grotto for Our Lady across from the church... I knelt in front of Our Lady and prayed for my hurts and she answered me!

 We found the paving stone of my parents  on the walkway.

 A special moment shared... now Pat is staying for a few more days as Paul and John return to Marshall together.  We are happy to have Pat for more relaxing time with his family.  So good for all of us!

 Down to check on beautiful beach together. 

Wild roses in the sugar sand at Beautiful beach.

 

I was also thrilled to see the Gospel is the version from Matthew 9 of the paralytic.  It was so powerful in John's healing from brain cancer - 6 years ago now.  How he was lowered into the presence of the Lord for healing!  How he found Faith through brain cancer, and yes... there is always that reminder of his cancer and how it has changed him and made his life different - he is carrying "his mat" as he walks along with the ataxia he has been left with and the new problems with his memory and his compassionate heart that doesn't really fit with the thinking of the world.  He is the new John and is trying to find his path!

Pat staining the deck and railing!

 Dad's with the one year old boys...

 Ruth with her mini-me, Rose

 The two girls with their moms - Rose is 3 and Bernadette will be 3 in 4 months - they enjoy each other a lot for the most part!

 Pat and John with the Luke and Dominic

Grandpa is a baby magnet, and he is happy about it!

Therese at swimming lessons - we miss you!

John took the official family so he is missing and the back of the head from Bernadette... that's life isn't it?

Jesus, it is hard to be down and to not be defensive and angry and hurt and lash out with anger and pain... to die to self and give without counting the cost.  Lord, with Our Lady at your side to intercede and show me the path to take - narrow and carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross.  May we learn from the example of Abraham asking to trust and sacrifice his only son!  And from the paralytic, who was lowered into the presence of Jesus by his friends.  May we do that in prayer each day.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Dominic loves the sugar sand - what's not to love?  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

 Paul it was wonderful family time - we will miss you! 

John we miss you already!