Blizzard at home... blowing with the wind

Parting pose after Sunday mass on base as we headed towards home, but stopping at Nancy's in KC on the way.

We packed a lot of family time into our couple days with Maria and family.  Grandma got to spend some special time watercoloring with the kids.  Then pizza night and a movie.  I had fun revisiting a watercolor I did in 2001 for Maria's graduation from high school. 

A final look from Romeo... grandma and Romeo shared some new bonding experiences - he will know grandma next time, but he still needs more training for posing for grandma's many pictures.  Next time, Romeo.

Hold onto that memory of your first bubble sink, Romeo! 

The Gospel today is about Jesus walking past the sick and if they only touched the tassel of his garment they would be healed.  How I long for that kind of faith in my crazy life these days.  We are now at Nancy's temp house in KC having some grandkid time, and there is a storm raging at home so our departure is unsure whether it will be today of tomorrow.

Taking the back roads through the Ozarks of Missouri was peaceful and very interesting to farmer Pat!


The year before John's battle against brain cancer there was a gathering at St Thomas which the touching of his tassel of his garment brings to mind and heart...
There is one story which happened towards the end of Susans time in the Discrenment house - there was a gathering called Cor Jesu - Heart of Jesus - which had begun among the Catholic young people at St Thomas.  Susan invited me as she was to do a small sharing as part of the night.  She stepped up to the podium and simply and shortly spoke of her love for Jesus and his Bride, the Church.  Then Fr Craig and some other priets put Jesus in the monstrance in the altar for adoration and around the base of the monstrance was a scarf/altar cloth that draped around and hung on both sides.  The church was packed with young people and we were invited up to hold onto the hem of his garment in a close and personal time with Christ.  To add to the power and glory there was reconcilliation going on with numerous priests at the same time as well as amazing praise and worship music being led by groups of talanted guitars and singers!  The most powerful sight to behold was a sister, who had been Christ's bride probably for 20+ years up on her knees and holding onto his garment in intimate prayer time with her spouse!  I share this story when I give talks at TEC for the Church People of God with the song by Danielle Rose- If I touch him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaCR24-tkWI  Danielle too considered a call and lived for a time in a convent in New Orleans - she discerned out but continues to work for Christ as a musical missionary! 

http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/susan-angela-agneslittle-sister-hallel.html

A tiny bit of snow on the swing on the deck in KC this morning and the windchimes are blowing cold winds, but no blizzard here.  It is a different story in Marshall today with everything closed.  It looks like we could be here for the day and leave early in the morning. 

Jesus, may we reach out to you in Faith knowing that you care for our every need if only we are humble and realize that we need you!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb here blowing in the winds of change and trusting in His Plan for us. 

A work of art

Therese' work of art - a gift for Nancy!

Lake of the Ozarks looks like a fun summer place.  Docks and boats can stay in the water down here.  A brown winter is on the menu here.  There are some flakes here today, but they aren't sticking around.  They have extended the blizzard throughout the day, and we will probably hit the road in the dark in the morning.

The two girls cupboards are full of our canning.  We realize why we do all the work when you see the excited faces of the kids.  For both Nancy and Maria's kids -  nothing is better than our applesauce and tomato soup.   Spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce and salsa are very popular too!  It is a great family tradition that feeds 6 families! 

One more for the road - Grandpa with his arms full of his namesake, Patrick, and his fellow birthday boy, Romeo.  Spending relaxed and happy times with two of our daughters while taking in some of the country... this is great!

St Josephine Bakhita, pray for us.

I met her in the chapel in Rochester while John was recovering from his stem cell transplant as he won his battle against cancer after half-heartedly praying for Faith.

http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html

Danielle Rose - If I touch him

Come away by yourselves... forming life-giving habits

I am missing prime grandma photo op as I am under the weather and am missing a walk to the park with Maria and the kids, so it was great to find this on Maria's blog today.  I could not have done better myself.  I have trained my daughters well!

A couple more cute ones thanks to Maria - her two youngest are getting some wonderful time with grandpa Pat on this spring like day in Missouri!  It is about 50 outside, and they all walked to the park with shirt sleeves and sweatshirts and no jackets!

Army kids for sure!

Wonderful Therese is so caring for her 3 younger brothers!   Romeo and Patrick were wrestling today, and she was there to catch Romeo as he fell off the couch.   "You are his guardian angel in the flesh, Therese."  I said.  She is so much like her Godmother, Susan/Hallel, was with her little brother John years ago, and probably still in prayer lifting up her Johnny and his needs in life in her daily adoration and mass... I have no doubt of that!

I found this on the sink this morning... I had noticed the nighttime list, but this was the first time I witnessed the morning chores.  I was so impressed at how they are to start their day with the Sign of the Cross and saying good morning to Jesus and Guardian angel.  Talk about instilling wonderful faithful habits in your kids and making them aware of what is most important in our lives - Jesus!

The night time list including getting a blessing from dad.

Today in the Gospel Jesus encourages the disciples to "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest while."  This speaks to me of prayer time and recollection of how we are to carry Christ in our hearts, minds and souls always and without a pause for sin!

The meditation for today was by one of my favorites - Servant of God Elizabeth Leseur (1914)

To pray is to live in constant, calm, strong, and lasting union with God, to look at everything from God's point of view, and to be so peacefully anchored in eternity that annoyances, unavoidable struggles, and continual activity have no ability to disturb us or to drag us down.

As I was reading the meditation I had 3 grandsons wildly wrestling on the couch next to me complete with screams and grunts... I thought that after almost a month with grandkids I have not really been able to totally hold onto that peaceful prayer attitude within. How I am relishing some absolute quiet in the house with all gone to the park for a while!  Heavenly!

Such a beautiful uplifting heaven looking home, and Therese being schooled in doing the dishes.  " I like doing the dishes. I can be alone in the quiet."  I so agree, Therese... I cam get away from the mayham of the meal, and peacefully wash dishes.

Two icons that Maria made while visiting Hallel and are used in the Community of the Lamb.  The Mary on this side is Hallel's favorite!

Therese on her peaceful island washing dishes also is addressed beautifully by Servant of God Elizabeth Lesuer this morning...

I am not encouraging you to neglect your human responsibilities.  When life is established on a solid foundation of faith and when grace sustains us daily, we can live on earth and do our part in building up society.  We are still able to enjoy the happiness and love that come our way to a degree scarcely known to those who do not put a little of eternity into their love and pleasure.  Nothing human is foreign to us, and we possess the priceless privilege of being simultaneously members of the human race and sons of earth, and also members of the heavenly race and sons of God.

Pat and Therese learning about the Ozark Mountains in front of the wall of learning.  There is so much we can learn and grow in thanks to our amazing Catholic Church - I cannot take it all in, and grow with each new day!

The island from 28 years in our home is now a part of Maria's home!  I hope to watercolor here with the kids this afternoon.  With Maria's homeschooling this will be put to many more years of use, and that feels so special to all of us!

It was so special to have some alone time with Romeo and to put him in his first bubble sink!  He was scared at first, but when I put a cup in his hand and kept the water running in the other sink... 

Soon he was smiling and laughing and had fully discovered the specialness of sharing a bubble sink with grandma just as all the 11 others before him!

Finally this from Elizabeth Lesuer today;

"The first part of what your motto should be necessary complements the second.  Prayer calls for action, just as action requires prayer to inspire and direct it.  Rare, yes. indeed, let us pray a great deal.  Laborer!  Let us always work with courage for ourselves, for our brothers and sisters, and for God."

Bless-bless, Barb

Jesus, may we always die to self so that you may live in us, and may we always give without counting the cost.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

Off to the park on a beautiful day!

Pray for us and show us how to sacrifice our all!

That interiors prayer space!

Humble me Lord!

Touching

Maria's 4 on the back of the pickup on base - unloading meat and canning from the farm.  Pat came loaded with food for our two girls, pick me up and visit both places.  It was such a wonderful day... almost 50 degrees with no wind and sun!  Brown winter is what we find down here.  Pat said that he crossed over in Missouri and the snow was gone.

Pat also brought down our former counter top - now out of the house for the remodel...

So wonderful for this to fit so wonderfully and find a second life with Maria for art work with her kids!

Passing up applesauce and tomato soup - the family was so excited!  This is why we do all the work, and Ruth's new kitchen is being set up as a big family canning kitchen on the farm!

The new kitchen with the walls up from Ruth's blog tonight.

Pat looking over our travels on the map... He drove down to KC and then we headed to see Maria and family on base in Missouri.

Too big for Nancy's garage...

A tour of Nancy's new home!   The tub is a fun place for Dominic.

Love the reflection... Dominic loves his grandpa.

So much fun giving Romeo his first bubble sink tonight while Maria had the others at Ju Jitsu.  Bless-bless, Barb

A few more

Cowboy Romeo

Tub time is going to be big!

Nancy and I have been together for 3 weeks now... I think she is happy to have just their family for a few days.

"Wherever you enter a house..." Jesus to his disciples

I stepped outside last night to see the grand entryway of Nancy's new house in the dark.  The chandelier glows and sparkles in a huge window above the door.  Very exciting and welcoming to our daughter, Nancy, and her growing family now moving to Kansas City in the heart of our country.  Being here on and off for the last month.. we are gaining a new appreciation of just what KC entails being in two states side by side and twice the size of the Twin Cities in Minnesota!  There is also a very exciting and vibrant Catholic presence here... for us that hugely includes our wonderful Community of the Lamb!  There 8 years here speaks so much of Lumen Christi - LIGHT of Christ entering the heart of our country which is so influenced by the culture of death and darkness!  So much HOPE entered with them, and allowed our daughter, Susan/Little Sister Hallel to say "yes" to her call to become a Little Sister and the beloved Bride of Jesus!

My final watercolor in honor of John's birthday yesterday... He and Hallel in Lumen Christi Little Monastery and the stain glass windows in my heart, mind and soul of our farm.  It was special to bring the two together.  Hopefully I will be reuninted with my husband in the next few days!

The words of Christ as he sends out the twelve speak about them entering a house wherever they find themselves on the journey.  That so speaks to all of us in these times of transition!

Kneeling to pray as a family before sharing their first meal in their new home!  They are placing their faith first and most important - looking to Jesus for all and knowing that he is in control of our lives and homes!

Many of us are not sent out to go from town to town, although we are learning that there are big moves and changes that we are called upon to follow when we place our lives in His hands.  "Whenever you enter a house" - we are called upon to share The Way, The Truth, and The LIFE with all those we encounter and most importantly those in our domestic Church/family.  We are called to live humbly and die to self so that Jesus can live and work through our hands and feet. 

A week of joyful work!  How I have loved doing this side by side with the grandkids.  Thanks to Maria asking me to add to her scrapbook. It will be very hard to part with them, and I foresee scanning them first.  They have been a form of therapy for me away from home... Thanks to the children's book that gave me such inspirtation along with my life on the farm and our extened family - Lumen Christi!

The idea of being sent seems very strong to me... I know that I have lacked and failed in many ways, yet I have been sent and will return to my life and will also be called to:
Just as Jesus, though everywhere,
has not ceased to be sent.
So we cannot prevent ourselves
being at every instant,
envoys of God in the world.
Jesus within us has not ceased to be sent,
throughout this day which is now beginning,
to all human beings of our time, of every time.
Both those in our town and those of the whole world.
Through the brothers and sisters close to us
whom he enables us to serve, to love and to save,
the waves of his love will go out
to the ends of the world,
to the end of time.       Servant of God Madeleine Delbrel (1964)

Jesus, may we be your hands and feet this day.  May we humbly die to self so that your Holy Spirit may work in us and through us and when necessary use words.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

A stairway to a small slice of heaven for this new family to Kansas City - always placing Jesus and His Bride, The Church, first in their lives and family!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Many small blessings this past month!

Time with my wonderful girls/lights and their families!  Open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS for the world!

Full arms and full heart!

Casting Crowns - If we are the body