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!
Mom homebound on this -15 day sitting on the sunny side of her house making out 100 birthday cards for the first 6 months of the year. "I put them in order and then when I see a birthday coming up... I put a stamp on them and put them in the mail. I write a message to each that is personal." Her ministry of reaching out to her now 120 plus family.
Their well worn prayer books after over 40 years of sharing the office/morning prayer together since my dad was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in The Catholic Church with the first class in the Arch Diocese! Now I have the office on my phone and can sit across from them and join in. So many rich blessings and graces flow all over and around me!
The three girls over mom's head... my visit in November was very special indeed. I celebrated my sister, Paula's birthday, along with the sister between us, Martha! Mom's 3 oldest were girls and we had not had the chance to sit down and visit and share in years! Very special indeed! Such a special time together.
I am making a point of getting here monthly and this time mom asked me to make the meals. Last night we shared quesadillas! A new adventure in eating for them, and they were sweet with their oos and ahs! Mom was almost in tears to be called to the meal without her having to make it. A new tradition has begun on my visits! It is priceless... my time with them is each moment very precious!
Our beloved Church is always high on our list for discussion and prayers! Mom loves this from our Pope Benedict XVI, as do I! We take so much heart and hope from these words and Truth! I love to sit at the feet of my parents and glean from them wisdom and light! So wonderful that we see eye to eye and heart to heart when it comes to The True Church! Then to have that gift with all my kids, kids in law, and grandchildren... sharing our Faith with JOY!
Dad busy at his desk... His latest thing is that one of my sisters complained that "dad was always preaching." "I am happy to hear that because as a former minister and then a deacon.. I was called to preach and therefore it is good to hear that I continue to do that and yes... it is my job!" LOVE it!
So filled with excitement at the speakers I have been able to listen to from the Focus Conference in Chicago! I have received two pictures of friends with her... Monica here,
Mom reading and praying in her chair greeted me this early morning at my parent's home!
In our discussions through the day we were sharing about the times in my life that I have been willing and able to jump in the car and drive to help out my parents of one of my kids... a big example in the last year was when I drove about 11 hours to be with my newborn granddaughter, Evangeline Mary, in NICU in St Louis!
I was very much struck by the fact that my mother-in-law was unable to do this in her inability to drive alone into big cities or really very far outside of her hometown. Remembering when he daughter had triplets and lost one a day after their birth due to a heart condition... it was during fall work, so dad couldn't take her and she was needed on the busy farm as well as not being able to get there by herself.
I certainly take getting where I am needed by myself, if needed, for granted! I also see that the Lord is in control of me, and has had me there in place for both of Maria's miscarriages and for Nancy's stillbirth on Thanksgiving a month back! Such a feeling of the big mysterious picture called feeling his touch upon my life! "He put me there!!!"
Jesus, we love you and know that you are in control!!! Yes, you will win in the end and all we need do is follow after you carrying/dragging our most Cherished Cross and find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! How we pray for The Church which we love and find your Truth! Jesus, we trust in you. Bless-bless, Barbara Lynn Mary Luke
The Alpha and Omega... the beginning and the end... Jesus we love you with our lives!
Hallel in Chicago with Monica... It was easier for her to find Susan/Hallel here than in Poland at WYD, but she found her both places! Talk about the Holy Spirit! Thanks, Monica for the great picture and I hope that you had a chance to share some time together. Asking for the Lord to show us his personal plan for our lives is exciting indeed!
I have been hearing some of the wisdom coming from the speakers at this gathering! As Bishop Baron spoke to them about how they are evangelizing the Church into the darkness! So many "nons" that are nothing... their work is cut out for them, and they need to use words to bring the Truth to them!
Up early to make waffles for Ruth and family on her 38th birthday. Pat reached for Joy and said that he held his Ruth baby on his lap as well as her 3 younger sisters and brother while he ate most meals. A very familiar sight indeed! How Pat loves the little ones and fed most of the kids from his plate.
Joy shared grandpa's waffle with him beside the Christmas tree!
Happy Birthday dear Ruth!! David was asleep, and didn't remember that ice cream birthday cake in the morning!
Ruth was my first and such a wonderful daughter she is! Now sitting here with my parents and hearing from them that they remember their first... me! Pat holding his babies, and the first baby that changed our lives so wonderfully generation after generation!
Pat and his youngest granddaughter, Joy!
My 92 year old dad playing casino with little Dave, our 8 year old grandson at CCC.
A picture of Joy!!! Yes, our granddaughter's name is Joy, but she glows with happiness and joy so quickly and naturally. We say that her name is fitting to her, and that is truly a compliment and a blessing to all of those around her. Hallel was blessed by her happy and loving ways over the weekend.
We are reminded today by St John in the first reading..."See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are." I John 2:29
I have been blessed with 15 wonderful grandchildren, and after just spending chunks of time with them - even all of them together at CCC - I am strongly reminded of they need us yet lead us in ways of excitement and clarity in their faith in Jesus and Mary. How I cherished Simon's kindergarten teacher sharing with me that he had shared with the others in his class about Jesus and Mary! Faith is shared in our homes/domestic Church with JOY!
Surrounding with love our little Maximilian, who died on Thanksgiving and is now buried here in our cemetery.
Grandpa is happiest with his arms full of little ones. After having our 4 girls... I think he is partial to the girls and we have 3 new ones! These two are just 5 months apart and will be running around together at next CCC! LOVE!!!
I am very much aware of the Focus convention going on in Chicago, and that our Hallel is there! I just heard Bishop Baron speak to them, and his message of evangelization using strong speech is ringing in my ears!
Bishop stressed that we need to ground our sharing in the OT! Be intellectual in our knowledge and share with words of wisdom! Come Holy Spirit and makes me want to start studying long and hard!
Tomorrow is Ruth's birthday and I have fake plans to go to my parents for a few days. I am going over to make them breakfast and have Ruth blow out a candle on a waffle before I leave. I remember with such warm and loving feelings how she changed our lives with tender love/life/light in the cold lifelessness of winter 1980! She continues to bless us with her warm and willing love for Faith/Family/Farm!
I am always so amazed at the beauty that the little sisters fill the chapel with in their use of flowers and icons... it speaks volumes of their love for their spouse and we all partake of this as we drink deeply and immerse ourselves in the peace, joy, love all around us! Their voices raised in song are as though we are in heaven listening to the angels sing their total praise! That is what Hallel means and each time we say her name we are giving her beloved total praise! Jesus, we adore you and love you with our all!!!
The trinity above and Jesus looking over their shoulder. Kneeling before St John Paul II a few days after their wedding 14 years ago... Paul asked; "Please Bless us with a happy healthy family", and this picture is the answer they received!!! YES!!!
Jesus, we are yours!!! May we die to self so that you will live, and move, and breath, and preach, and care for, and give without counting the cost, and forgive, and show mercy as you have shown us, and become your hands and feet! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Lumen Christi/LIGHT of Christ Monastery/the LIGHT on the hill/ and 3 lights that are casting out the darkness of sin and death. The world has embraced a culture of death, but there is hope for a new culture of LIFE to grow more and more starting in our families!
Bless-bless, Barbara Lynn Mary Luke
Love that smile and that Pat asked for this picture with our Hallel!
I love to share in the peace and wisdom of the Holy Spirit when I spend some blessed days with my wonderful parents! Each time I go I am filled with so much gratitude that I still have both of them together and able to share and teach me! Talk about intellectuals, who understand and embrace the Truth from the beginning! My mother has done an amazing Bible Study for the entire Bible and you can check it out here! https://www.catholicdiagramteacher.com/ https://www.catholicdiagramteacher.com/
this makes is possible to sit and learn at the feet of my out-of- this-world parents with me! http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html
An oldie of our family when I was a new nurse soon to work at Hennepin County Hospital.
Pat and I were sharing some thoughts on the birthday of our oldest, Ruth, tomorrow she will be 38. "Was I 38 when we moved over there?" We figured that he was 34 and I was 37 the year we moved to that farm. "I had a baby a year after we moved there, and so did Ruth." I am surprised that we were so similar in age... I would have been 38 when John was born and Ruth was 37 when she had Joy. Our lives have been so similar - not only has she lived the life she had, but we have mirrored our families by having our first 5 in 9 years and then each having a baby a year after moving to this farm! LIFE is a gift! For Pat and I our first and only boy! For Ruth and Paul the surprise of #6 and such sweet JOY!
Ruth and Paul and family back from a few days over New Years with Hallel in KC! I stopped in to hear about their time and it was all positive. They got to spend a couple nice times with Hallel and The Community of the Lamb, and then have lots of fun with cousins at Nancy and Bill's home.
"I appreciate a lot more all the times that Nancy and Bill go back and forth. It's a long trip! We might not get back down there while Hallel is here for the rest of the year, but it was nice to get there and have some time with her and the Little Sisters and Brothers." Ruth reported this morning.
The gathered on New Year's Day for mass and a shared meal with those from the Community. "Hallel told me that she was only up until midnight for the Vigil of the Solemnity of Mary the night before." reported Mary
It was Joy's first trip to KC and Hallel had not seen her since her home visit in May when Joy was just a month old. Yes, she has one new tooth on the bottom. She looks very happy to be spending time with her Aunt Hallel!
Pat and I had the joy of sharing morning prayer with the Little Sisters and Brothers the day after Christmas and then to our delight we were given a small private room to share breakfast with just Susan/Hallel! Hallel asked us about how our marriage was going and it was encouraging to hear Pat share that I have changed and become more loving in how I deal with him; "Your mother has started calling me "honey" and usually starts her comments with "honey this honey that". It is so much better and kinder than how she used to sound when I talked to her or called her."
With her little 4 year old Luke Paul! These will be cherished keepsakes for the kids, I know. I borrowed the pictures from Ruth's beautiful camera!
I do notice the change in me and pondered why or when it happened. Getting through the stress of fall work has helped, but the early passing of two men leaving behind their wives is probably the biggest thing that brought about the change. One widow expressed that you should never let your husband leave in the morning without a kiss goodbye. I tried that a few times, but usually I settle for a verbal kiss with the words; "Goodbye Honey, have a wonderful day!" It is becoming more and more natural and it does help me to have a pleasant and loving attitude towards him, and visa versa.
Rose reminds me a lot of my girls and Susan quite a bit.
I could tell that my calling Pat, My Most Cherished Cross, was not his favorite. Although True and important to embrace to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT in our marriage one for the other... we know how we resist the pain and hardships in our lives and it can lead us to be less than loving. So this truly has been a mind and heart change for me, and Pat noticed and expressed it to Susan at our wonderful intimate private breakfast with her before we headed for home! Thank you, Lord!
The Psalm for today is very much one I want to hold close here at the beginning of 2018
"Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds;" Psalm 98
It is never too late to sing a "new song" filled with more love, respect and thanksgiving! It brings so much hope for better years ahead.
9 year old Big Dave! How blessed is he to have a wonderful Aunt, who has said "yes" to her Spouse's call to love Him above all else! Such a beautiful option, and each day I pray that each one of my grandchildren will consider it!
Soon to be 12 year old Mary. Mary told me that Hallel showed her the rooms they have for those that want to come and spend some time and share in their contemplative life of prayer. "When I get a bit older I think I will go there and spend some time." I know that Maria wants Therese to do that someday, too. Maybe they can share the experience some time in the future. My prayers are hoping for them to share in this beautiful life!
Simon and Hallel... he is very special to her as their birthdays are just 2 days apart and he is the oldest nephew to her. Her prayers are always with him as he navigates life with the added cross of autism. Love this so much!!!
"And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence..."
I John 2:28 from the first reading in mass today.
Yes, we long to remain always in him and love as he loved us and have mercy and forgiveness as he has for us!
Luke and Bernadette out caroling with the Community...
Lord, Keep all safe in this cold wind this day... man and beast! Keep my honey safe as he cares for the animals to feed the world. Thank you for helping me to be more loving and forgiving and help me to do ever better with your help as I die to self so that you may live in me. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Joy caroling in KC!
Surrounded by LIGHT and blessed to expand our family with the Community of the Lamb! Whoever said that Hallel would not be able to give us more family, doesn't understand how this works. We have now 200+ more wonderful varied and amazing members in our family of the Lamb! Bless-bless, Barbara Lynn Mary Luke
KC was warmed up by caroling with Aunt Hallel!
My hero of LIFE and family!
Exciting times ahead!!! So many prayers for love to grow and grow and doors to open ahead of them!
John promo video... hoping to speak and share his finding love through brain cancer!
I have been getting some pictures from KC... they had a nerd of the year contest, and it looks like Simon won! It looks like imagination and fun was shared by all, and that is a great way to end the year and to start 2018. I am loving knowing that 3 of our girls are sharing some great times together in KC!
There is much excitement in the Schmidt family as they will have 2 weddings just a few months apart on both ends of the summer. John is marrying Bobbi at the beginning of the summer, and Scot and Christina on Labor Day weekend at the end of summer.
Over the check on the cattle after sharing New Years Day/Solemnity of Mary Mass... Whiskers were full of frost in the cold -15 weather.
The introduction to mass caught me..."Mary is a model for all of us in her willingness to obey God, to prepare a place for Jesus in herself, and to be devoted to Christ throughout her life" and now in heaven there to assist us to follow this same pattern in our own lives, and finally to be forever in heaven with her, Jesus and all the Saints!
It looks like big Max was a hit for the kids... this is little Joy's first time visiting her cousins in KC and Aunt Hallel hasn't seen her since she was a newborn. I am sure she has fallen in love with her sweet smiles
"And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." Luke 2 I really appreciated Father speaking about the times we take in silent and quiet meditation and reflection, and how that brings peace and better days to our lives. So true!!! I really love that hour or so of adoration I am blessed with most weeks and starting the day with morning prayer and ending it with evening and night prayer, and ,of course, my rosary/nap time in the middle of some days. LOVE!
Jesus, we love and adore you and love our precious time we are given through your Mother, Mary most Holy! Jesus, we trust in you. Bless all families this new year... may we share Faith one with the other, and gain the fruits of the Spirit... Peace, Joy, Love, and all! Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke
Far from trying to understand or master the situation, Mary is the woman who can treasure, that is to say, protect and guard in her heart, the passage of God in the life of his people. Deep within, she had learned to listen to the heartbeat of her Son, and that in turn taught her, throughout her life, to discover God’s heartbeat in history. “ -Pope Francis
The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Mother of God “From Mary, the Church learns the meaning of the power of love, as revealed by God in the life of his beloved Son: “he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their heart... he has lifted up the lowly”.” (Lk 1:51-52) Pope Benedict XVI
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.... All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. – Luke 2:16-21
The glorious Gospel/Jesus to us this day of giving his mother so much LOVE!
A unique year unto itself! 2018!!!
And Father Samson!!! He had posted that he was helping with Confession for 9,000 and Eucharistic Adoration! So powerful!!!
