The Pat and Barb Verly family and their 5 children, in laws and grandkids along with many prayer warriors have been drawn together by John's cancer... sharing daily for 8 months started this blog- Family Soul Story - Our faith, family, farm and now our cancer journey called HEALING have colored and deepened our world. WE continue to share and depend on the support of our prayer warrior community, that has lowered us into the Lord's presence for His healing!
Kneeling on their picnic blanket to bless their first meal in their new wonderful home in KC! The floor was just laid today! So many words of joy at their new home and the future that lies ahead.
Egg salad on Italian bread, watermelon and cupcakes with wine to toast their new wonderful home in Kansas City! Nancy spoke to Dominic that he will grow up here, and the new baby girl due in May will be born in a city twice the size of Minnepolis/St Paul! We figured that means more like 4 million people! Driving back to our temp home on State Line Road - Missouri on the right and Kansas on the left. Mind bending to consider and adjust to this more temperate place. We do know that it will be hot and humid in the summer here!
First dance on the new floor... yet to be stained and varnished. The picnic blankets are ready for our first meal!
Berna moves...
The steps are going to be a place of interactions...
"Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts..."
Toasting with cupcakes means this is a special day - we have our new house!
I wanted to get a family picture on the steps, but...
Yes, the steps. A new way to climb them was already discovered, and...
The three of the kids playing hide and seek in mom's new pantry with her phone for a flashlight was a huge hit tonight. All is well in Kansas City! Bless-bless, Barb
It is a big day today! Nancy and Bill are off to close on their new home here in KC, and I just got off the phone to wish John a happy 27th birthday. Our world in KC is brown and cooler than the 56 of yesterday, but there is huge mountains of snow in Marshall/Tracy due to the inches of snow they received blown by huge winds. "School has been called off for the day in Tracy, so that means no Faith Formation tonight. I am all alone snowed in for my birthday." If it weren't his birthday he would probably be thrilled to have a free day. I told him to go and get himself a blizzard cake at DQ and dive in!
Flowers and wine for a picnic celebration in their new home tonight with the painting of yesterday... missing my husband farmer, who has a big day due to the snow! I think John will be on my theme for today... one last day to paint before Pat hopefully arrives tomorrow!
John you are far from alone! This motley crazy bunch is always with you on this journey of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! "Mom, for my birthday I want you to come and cook a meal in my apartment sometime." Done!
John and Hallel teasing Rose about peeps. It is common knowledge in the family that Hallel loves Peeps, so they are usually sent to her in her Easter package. Last Easter she was in KC here at Lumen Christi/Light of Christ, so we got to see her and get a real hug! John is possibly going to hear from Hallel today on his birthday. Now that is something that he certainly would love! They are very close!
Simon holding John's hand during Easter mass... so special to share this small slice of heaven!
Precious time shared - hopefully they will get to share on the phone today.
John and Hallel with St Agnes at The Monastery here in KC at Easter.
The Gospel today is one of those hard and disappointing ones for Jesus and each one of us... he is in his home territory and "they took offense at him." And "He was amazed at their lack of faith." Mark 6. How this sounds so much like John's story of finding faith through brain cancer, after growing up in "a Catholic bubble." http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html Thankfully I have devoted a page for this and will not rehash it here now.
My first time to Trader Joe's - mango sorbet and flowers and wine for our special celebration today! Mom and dad returned home after closing on their new home - "Do you know what we bought for you?" they asked the kids. "Doughnuts?" "No, a new house in Kansas City!" Life is filled with huge changes in our family all at once!
Jesus is also disappointed in us, his followers, if we begin to think that all life is fine and dandy and we can handle things on our own. Hence, we see that we are constantly placed in situations of difficulty so that we remember to fall on our knees when we can't stand against the arrows of life. Rarely is life a bed of roses and knowing that when I am weak is when I turn to Jesus... I long to always be small and in need of Him!
We have been sharing watercoloring together - grandma and the two oldest grandkids. How I love that special time with them! Gus's from yesterday complete with beautiful bright wonderful color and crosses! So special with our bright sunflowers in Kansas... The sunflower state!
Celebrate Johnny!
The Psalm today speaks to all of us that struggle with holding onto our Faith
Psalm 32 For this shall every faithful man pray to you in time of stress. Though deep waters overflow, they shall not reach him. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me; with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.
Yes, I am out of my comfort zone, but that keeps me on my knees!
My humble attempt at therapy - missing my husband/life with him. Maybe tomorrow we will be reunited. Jesus, we trust in you. Bless-bless, Barb
On this Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple... Nancy and Bill presented their new home to the kids on a walk through the day before they officially close. It was a happy and exciting time, and all the kids seemed to love their new home!
Checking out the new tub! Good bath times ahead...
A good reminder on the wall, and very true of today for Nancy's family!
Today was such a surprise for all of us this day in KC... the storm has been foretold so we bundled up to walk out and discover a spring like day... wet from rain overnight, with a mild breeze, sun and 51 degrees! People driving around with their windows down while at home the schools are closed and maybe up to a foot of snow and 50mph winds!
Dominic loves the upstairs and the polka dots in the guest room are fun!
The glory entering the Temple today in the Presentation is easy to dwell upon surrounded by this glorious sunshine! Jesus becomes the glory in our Temple each day through His Sacrament and His Word, His Saints with us each day of the journey!
A wall of windows looking out on the back yard!
The sunlight streaming in the front door welcoming them into their new home, which will be filled with Faith centered Family! So powerful to bask in the warmth and light on this most special feastday in our Church - The Presentation! On the rosary it is the decade I pray for Hallel, and so appropriate as we have Presented her to her Spouse, Jesus Christ!
Nancy is in love with the door from the kitchen to the back yard... it rained overnight or the kids would have rushed out there today. So amazing to have the kind of weather in Feb that the kids can play outside in light jackets! Welcome to Kansas City!
When Simeon meets them today and speaks of the Glory that has entered the world for generations to come! Jesus is in our hearts, minds and souls now and forever more! Simeon also mentions how Mary will share in the suffering of her Son of God - a sword will pierce you, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Luke 2:34 Yes, Mary knows our pain and takes it to Jesus!
Dominic in the light of his new home.
A wonderful open home for their growing family!
Finding the sun on the steps up to his room...
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Talking to mom from the stairs... It feels like home already. There is talk of a picnic on the floor tomorrow night to celebrate the closing tomorrow morning! The memories of wonderful family times begin!
Who is the King of glory? He is the Lord! Psalm 24 from mass today!
Jesus, our hearts are back with the family in the storm in Minnesota, yet we are lifted up today by this glorious sunny spring-like day which surrounds us. We know that our inner temple is filled with your LIGHT as we face all the storms of life. Jesus is in control! All the waiting and hoping and praying is now filling us with JOY as we see our KC family finding their home filled with the LIGHT/LOVE/LIFE of Christ and his Bride, The Church! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Bernadette seems to be prayerfully taking it all in. Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
A look of comfort and peace which says without using words - "I am home, and I am happy about it!"
Putting shoes on in the sunlight... we will be back soon!
Open and inviting - from the kitchen into the family/living room and a wall of windows... the door outside is on the right.
Nancy and I are home with the kids as Bill is gone for his first day of work here in KC. Grandma got some time alone with Dominic this morning snuggling with his soft cute puppy.
The Gospel today is the amazing one of casting out "Legion" into the swine herd of 2,000 and all of them drowning in the sea. It is the picture after, when Jesus is asked to leave after they hear of this crazy event, and the healed man comes to Jesus and "pleaded to remain with him." That feeling we have when we are in Adoration or at mass or with The Community... Can I just stay here with you, Jesus? Jesus, tells us no we must return to our family! "Go home to your family and announce to them all the Lord in his pity has done for you." For me... away from home now for over 2 weeks, these are such powerful words this day!
Kateri/Indian braids in the mirror in grandma's room.
I am seeing that my announcing all the Lord has done for me overlaps into the lives of those closest to me, and that I need to be careful about that. I do burn to share the powerful messages I have learned along the way. The fingerprint of God that I see on my life. I see this in John's journey and how he burns to share his story far and wide! There is nothing I love more than the chance to share my story!
When we had the wonderful opportunity to have mass and sharing at Lumen Christi yesterday... I was so excited to share with others as a mother of the first American little Sister! Nancy reminded me that there are others now, and I spoke to myself that I wanted to listen to what others had to share instead of blathering on and on about myself and my family. It truly was a blessing to hear the stories of others! I was very touched by a sharing of a father of a family of the Lamb from the first times they came to KC in 2008. He had a most amazing week in Saint Pierre during Holy Week staying with the Little Brothers, and experienced that feeling of wanting to remain with Jesus. How we carry those special hours/Adoration, weeks of retreat, or special encounters with our Jesus always in our special chapel within! We return to our family and there bear the fruits of those encounters and healings Jesus brings to us!
Little Brother Christoph... "You are the fun one!" said Gus after her chased he and Dominic down the hall after mass. So light hearted and filled with JOY! Archbishop spoke of bringing the LOVE of Christ into our families and helping those closest to us be better people. Yes, Lord!
Jesus, I am so beyond filled with all that you give me, and may I share it in my family and when necessary use words. Jesus, I trust in you. Bless-bless, Barb
