"God... has fashioned a living heaven." Happy Birthday, Mary!

 Sharing our love for Mary!  I am realizing that each of my daughters has Mary prominently at their homes!  This is Maria's immaculate Heart looking out over their neighborhood.  Jesus, with his Sacred Heart stands next to her.   Their hearts surround and fill their home with Hope and LOVE and Mercy!

 Therese coming out the door of their home...  A home centered on Jesus and His Bride, The Church.  Mary, Mother of God, has allowed Jesus... LIGHT/LIFE/LOVE to enter the world!  Her soul was the space from which God was able to gain access to humanity.  Pope Benedict XVI

 

 

Today God welcomes the holy throne which he had prepared for himself.  He who established the heavens in wisdom has fashioned a living heaven. (Byzantine Liturgy)  Today we celebrate Mary's birthday!

 

Mary and Rose by my Mary garden...

 Walking the pigs around the Mary statue at Ruth's - birthday pictures are always with Our Lady each year. 

I am sure that Mary was smiling at this family sight of organized (?) chaos!  Anything that family does together with Joy is her delight!

Nancy's 3 with her statue of Mary in her yard.  This statue was picked out by Hallel at Leaflet some years back.  She thought it was the most beautiful one.  It was in the yard of Maria's home by St Thomas where Nancy lived with Maria and Joseph and Therese.  It is a very special statue to us!

It is always wonderful to have that Spiritual Mother!  Happy Birthday, Mary, our Mother of heaven and earth!  John was very excited out of his love for her this morning, as he leaves to begin a new page - DRE of Tracy-Milroy-Walnut Grove!

We are so blessed to have Our Spiritual Mother!

 The Basilica of St Mary where I was married 37 years ago!  We had been Catholic for 6 years when I met Patrick Verly - a farmer in SW MN.  "I will only marry a Catholic." he had told his shocked sisters!  http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

A shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe in The Basilica!

This statue of mine used to be in the grove, but now sits on the railing of my deck and graces me each day.  The heart rock we found in a rock pile by the house!

 A grotto now in Manistique, MI... my parents were instrumental in getting this built - such a beautiful peaceful prayerful place!

Mary, Rose and I left a daisy at the end of our summer weeks there.  Close to her Immaculate heart showing us how to say "yes" in our lives.

The anniversary of my sister Mary's death - July 3rd.

 Rose sharing a rose with Our Lady at her home.

Mary loves the children and brought LIFE into the world.  We are asked to say "yes" to LIFE, too!  Be open to LIFE and raise LIGHTS in a home centered on LOVE for Jesus and His Bride, The Church!

 Old fashioned girls with Mary at my home...

Always hold Mary close to your heart girls!

 The grotto at my parents' home now in St Croix Falls, WI.  This statue used to grace their home/vacation home in Manistique, MI.  I think we need to place a new statue there as now she has moved with my parents.

Jesus, we love and praise you on this most special celebration day - your mother's birthday!  May we always cherish her message of "yes" in our lives.  Give me the ability to die to self so that you may live in me!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

With delight I rejoice in the Lord.  Psalm 13 from mass today.  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Danielle Rose - Memorare
http://www.dosmallthingswithlove.com/2015/05/7-lessons-on-motherhood-i-learned-from-mary.html   A post by Nancy worth taking the time to read today, too! 

Labor Day 2015..."it is Christ in you"

Yes, it's Labor Day and all that means... the end of summer is what strikes me foremost.  But pondering how it celebrates the way we have to work throughout our lives... it suddenly struck me that the word Labor also applies to giving birth for us mothers out there.  It is a very apt way of describing the pain and work it takes to deliver a baby into the world...Labor!  I love to celebrate that this day, and so I wish to devote my thoughts and post to that this day - Labor Day 2015! 

Mary in the distance with our dog appearing to be leaning her head against her... Mary rode a donkey for days at 9 months pregnant to arrive in Bethlehem and find no room for them in an Inn - she had her baby, Jesus,/went through labor in a barn and laid him in a manger.  Alone having her first child and attended by her husband, Joseph.  Now that is quite a radical way of experiencing labor... there is no doubt that the guardian angels were watching out for her and her Son of God. 

Carrying this idea of Labor more deeply and personally into my life... considering the Truth shared with me by St Paul today in Colossians 1:24-2:3...  it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.  It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.  For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me.  Yes, we are called to bear Christ to the world!  We are called to bring forth the Christ in us, and share it with the world around us - and when necessary use words!

 I admit that I am not the best at doing manual labor. I do enjoy keeping my home and meals and that kind of work.  But I adore the idea of labor in giving birth on all levels.  No, it wasn't great to go through... it did make the arrival of that child wonderful in the relief of having that horrific pain behind you.  It is very true that when you look upon the face of your newborn - the pain is quickly forgotten.  The pain of childbirth is about the most intense many of us have experienced...  a definite cross in our lives - but what a beautiful icon of how we find LIFE through the Cross which now has become the Tree of LIFE!

 John's new patio as he will be living in the rectory of St Mary's in Tracy... he is now the DRE of Tracy/Milroy/Walnut Grove!  St Francis looks out over the garden on the other side.

I love LIFE and have always been devoted to being open to ALL LIFE in our marriage - as a result we have 7 in heaven and 5 here with us on earth!  http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html  I can really get convicted to want to evangelize - bear Christ to the world in all ways possible, but I see that I lack in my sinfulness and weakness most especially with those the closest to me in my domestic Church/family.  It seems that we allow ourselves to fall into our self-centeredness and laziness with those the closest to us.  Lord, help us!  One thing we have in our favor is that when we are weak and struggling is when we turn to Jesus and ask for his help!

I love this picture of John framed in the doorway of the parish he is called to serve the youth as DRE!

Lord, much prayer is needed for us to stay close to you in sharing LOVE and Mercy.  May each moment and all that we do be always surrounded and filled with your LOVE/LIFE/LIGHT!  We adore and are filled with the Truth from your Word and Sacraments - so blessed by our Church which is there to always help us stay on the narrow path to Heaven - carrying our Most Cherished Cross and following after you.  Yes, we are called upon to embrace the pain of The Cross in our lives and to Labor to bring LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT/Jesus into this world.  May your Truth be recognized and followed no matter the cost!  Today in the Gospel you healed on the Sabbath... doing Good!  May our withered hands, heats, minds and souls made whole by you now be your hands, feet, heart, mind and soul - bearing You to the world of darkness, sin and death.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

We thank you for all your mercies unto us during the past week, for the preservation of our lives, for our health, for our strength; for the blessings of home, of love, of friendship, and for all good influences which support us in the hour of trial and temptation.  You send us the joys that brighten our days; from your hand also comes the sorrows that cast their shadows over them.  In all our experiences we recognize your guidance and praise your wisdom. 

The Union Prayerbook

Danielle Rose - A Mother's song  the Crucifixion

Mary had to give her Son to death, too, knowing that he was God!

If we are the Body - Casting Crowns

United in the Eucharist!

 John walking out the front door of St Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy... the new DRE! 

At mass this morning it was just Pat and I... yes, Paul was there reading/proclaiming the Word and Simon was an altar boy, but it was a rare Sunday that we sat alone with no kids or grandkids.  As Father was in the midst of the high point of the mass - the Consecration- I was filled with awe at all the places that Family was experiencing Jesus in the mass - uniting us together in this Sacrament of Word and His Body and Blood/The Eucharist!  Rome, Pennsylvania, Tracy, out at Wild Acres for a 60th anniversary mass with Paul and his extended family... just to name a few of the many places we are united in The Eucharist!

 Sharing with Pat's mom in her home with his sister and her husband - sharing the readings, mediation on how we are called to listen to Jesus/the Gospel of healing the deaf man with the speech impediment - Mark 7.  There is also much about how we are called to be humble/poor... Paul shared a beautiful story from growing up and their appreciation for the small things they were blessed with.  A wonderful story showing the roots of this wonderful man we call our son-in-law!  It was a wonderful time of sharing our Faith!

 Pat spent some special time with his mom with her friend, Ruby.  She is more tired these days, so we spend time with her as we can find it.

 Ruby loves her gentle loving touch, her son loves holding her hand and speaking with her about his life on the farm.  Mom certainly understands our life on the farm... all that is good and all that is hard and demanding, too.

 Our beautiful Ruth with her daughter, Rose, at a celebration of Paul's grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. 

Their large family is their most cherished gift!  They shared that they had a wonderful mass over my the grotto for Mary... we sang Ave Maria, and then presented a rose to Mary!  No better way to start their special day than united in mass! 

Took some feed out for the calves in the pasture nearby - Snowball is there to see if she can get a nibble.

 Mary sure would love to have been here and seen Snowball out the window of the pickup. 

 Pat filling up the feeder has an audience... 

Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.  Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?  James 2:1-5 the second reading from mass today.  Really is the theme and Truth that we are all called to be humble/poor in the sight of The Lord! 

I think they will be happy when the weather cools off tomorrow... it has been days and nights of heat and humidity!

 Hi, Snowball...

 A rain shower has made us have a quiet Sunday... thank you, Lord!

Jesus, it has been a wonderful day of rest and family, but foremost of sharing our Faith - you in your Body and Blood/ Eucharist!  We are filled with Jesus, and now are humbly to go forth into the world of darkness bearing your LIGHT!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

A Hallel Psalm from mass today - Psalm 146

The Lord gives sight to the blind;

the Lord raises up those who were bowed down.

The Lord loves the just;

the Lord protects strangers.

Praise the Lord, my soul!

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Danielle Rose- explains how we are united in The Eucharist

Danielle Rose - See you in the Eucharist

Mary Saturday

 Patrick and siblings and cousins at the ocean just a couple weeks ago... 

Just going through my pictures today with the rosary prayer to Our Lady flowing in and out of each day - with every beat of my heart and every breath that I take.  Our prayers fly up and we know that Mary and the Saints are interceding for us.  We witness the miracles!

 Patrick just days old after a traumatic birth - letting mom know that he will be fine! 

 Sweet baby Berna with grandma a couple years ago.  She will be 3 in November!

 Revisiting St Patrick in St Patrick's cathedral in El Paso... thanking him for interceding for his namesake Patrick.

 Dominic visiting his great grandparents a few days old...

 Patrick and Romeo a year ago, when I went for the arrival of our 12th grandchild.  Soon he and grandpa will be a year older on Sept 15th - the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.  It is when the one-time enemies of Jesus Christ witnessed the exchange at the cross - "Woman, behold, you son... Behold, your mother"  (Jn 19:26-27) - that they realized there was somewhere to go with their shame and self-reproach.  There was a way out.  see www.magnificat.com

 John fell in love with Mary at Lourdes... shortly after he had discovered that he had lymphoma of the brain!  Just out of the healing waters with Fr Craig. 

Susan/ Hallel off to France to join The Community of the Lamb on Sept 11, 2008...  It was 7 years ago now!  So many amazing experiences we have shared with her!  So blessed by her prayers and drawing us closer to Jesus, Mary and The Church!

Gathered with Hallel in KC for Easter - all but Maria's family and Pat came later to see her... someone had to stay back at the farm. 

Mary, my mother, I am so blessed to have you with me on this journey of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT each day of Faith/Family/Farm life.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

Newsboys - We believe

Newsboys - God's not dead - Narnia

"all things were created through him and for him..." Colossians 1

Oh yes... the famous Easter hat/John falling down picture!  It just seems right to start out my sharing today with this to make me smile and hold in my heart the years I had my nest!  What is my nest?  Having my kids all around me... close and filling me with the warmth of LOVE/LIFE/LIGHT in the midst of my Faith/Family/Farm!

What set me on this path today?  I just read this amazing post from Nancy's blog today - http://www.dosmallthingswithlove.com/2015/07/just-being-their-mom-is-enough.html  I hear raves from moms, who are so blessed by Nancy's open and honest sharing.  Looking back, which I love to do, and now watching my girls raising their kids... either I don't remember my feelings of inadequacy or there is much more pressure put on young moms this day and age.  Probably a combination of both.  Ruth has the same life she had growing up now with her kids, with the addition of working half time and now a day a week - 12 hour shift as a nurse, and that is a lot more stress!  Yes, that seems to have amped up huge - stress on these mothers!

The girls in mom's shoes taken almost 30 years ago... Hallel will be 30 in 2 weeks! 

I would have to admit that I am suffering more from stress and feeling down these days than I remember back when I was a mom busy at home with my kids.  Yes, getting back into nursing when John was in school added to that in my feelings of inadequacy and having people's lives that I was responsible for as a hospice nurse and then as a nursing home nurse. 

There were a lot of ups and downs during my childbearing years, too.  The losses of many pregnancies along with 2 stillbirths at 5 months... lots of grief and asking why?  How could the stress and depression be more now?  It seems to be a general problem throughout our world these days.  I know that I can really get down when I look at the world and the mess we are all in.  I am baffled at the fact that abortion is legal and defended, and now gay marriage has trodden the beauty of God's creation of marriage!  St Paul today speaks so powerfully as a man, who was persecuting those that believed in Christ until he was struck down and blinded and called personally to belong to Jesus!  Listen to these amazing words!!!!
Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  He is the head of the Body, The Church.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might be preeminent.  For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the Blood of his Cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.  Colossians 1:15-20
St Paul really gets that this is God!  Oh, that we could stand firm in this Faith and withstand all the arrows of attack from Satan!

Another classic - baking bread with the girls.  I must say that I had it easy with 4 girls to cook with and sew for.. how I loved to dress them all alike! 

May our stress and feeling down about ourselves melt away in the face of how amazing is our Lord and His Bride, The Church... always there to guide us and help us!  Then there is my spiritual Mother, Mary Most Holy, always there to help me be the best mother possible if only I will be open to LIFE and be willing to raise LIGHTS for the world!  I know that I have shared this numerous times so I will just direct you to the page of my in depth sharing...  http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html

 Hallel here for her home visit over 2 years ago... now 3 more grandchildren have been added. 

Jesus, we know and love you with all our hearts, minds, and souls.... that would certainly not allow us to be down and worried about our lives and this world.  May we face all that comes to us with strength as we put on the armor of  God!  We re being attacked this day and age of great confusion, darkness and sinfulness.  The Truth has been muddied and we are misled down the wide path to death!  May we hold onto the Truth and listen to the call deep in our hearts to embrace our Lord and realize that he has conquered sin and death!  May we be lights in this world - most especially in our domestic Church/family - embracing all LIFE from conception to natural death and raising LIGHTS for the world!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.  Psalm 100 - a grand Hallel Psalm from mass today!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

 Yes, I even made myself red plaid this year! 

John got in on it too!  I think he has been mothered a bit over the years!

We are truly fighting the battle of our lives and for our lives forever in heaven with Jesus, Mary all the Saints and Angels!

St Joan of Arc pray for us!

Casting Crowns - Who am I?

For struggling marriages - they are certainly under attack these days! 
Casting Crowns - Broken Together