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!
Paul lecturing in the bright sunlight with his 3 oldest looking on as servers at mass this morning! So cold yet sunny outside with -18 greeting us as we come and go to our cars.
What JOY to have 5 year old Luke singing with great exuberance behind us along with Rose Again! Pat turned around during the creed and they shared smiles at "rose again"! What a delight to here mass being enjoyed by a 6 and 5 year old!
Bobbi and John sat in front of us, and the insight into how their world will be changing soon with the arrival of their child in about 3 weeks! Today we are joining in a family shower for the new baby Verly over at Ruth's. I need to get over there and help with the final push!
Love this special family time shared most weeks.. It is good to be home for a spell, but excitement if building for the arrival of Maria's little boy and then John and Bobbi's, baby Verly. Our love is growing larger and bigger and more wonderful with each new arrival!
Love to see this!
Getting ready to face the brutal cold! Luke delighted me with his singing so beautifully and strongly as dad helped him with the words, and then he sang!
These words from the second reading - I Cor 15... speak to me this day of our efforts to get work done on the farm so that we can share mass with JOY! Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
The men working on a cow to calve in the cold dark last night... I am liking our new camera. Lots of "Hail Marys" said while they worked!
Doing the work needed to feed the world! Lord , give us warmer calving weather, and a good season ahead. Jesus, we trust in you. Bless-bless, Barb
Another view... there is a calf!
No rolls in the basement due to confirmation, so we had breakfast at Ruth's... now shower time, and then she is hosting Teams of Our Lady tonight there, too! Talk about a social day filled with both of our families!
Joy looking at books..."She is getting so big!" grandpa! LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: Lord, have mercy on us Christ, have mercy on us Lord, have mercy on us Christ, hear us Christ, graciously hear us
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us God the Holy Spirit, ... Holy Trinity, one God, ...
Holy Mary, pray for us Holy Mother of God, pray for us Holy Virgin of virgins, ... Mother of Christ, ... Mother of Divine Grace, ... Mother most pure, ... Mother most chaste, ... Mother inviolate, ... Mother undefiled, ... Mother most amiable, ... Mother most admirable, ... Mother of good counsel, ... Mother of our Creator, ... Mother of our Saviour, ... Virgin most prudent, ... Virgin most venerable, ... Virgin most renowned, ... Virgin most powerful, ... Virgin most merciful, ... Virgin most faithful, ... Mirror of justice, ... Seat of wisdom, ... Cause of our joy, ... Spiritual vessel, ... Vessel of honour, ... Singular vessel of devotion, ... Mystical rose, ... Tower of David, ... Tower of ivory, ... House of gold, ... Ark of the covenant, ... Gate of heaven, ... Morning star, ... Health of the sick, ... Refuge of sinners, ... Comforter of the afflicted, ... Help of Christians, ... Queen of Angels, ... Queen of Patriarchs, ... Queen of Prophets, ... Queen of Apostles, ... Queen of Martyrs, ... Queen of Confessors, ... Queen of Virgins, ... Queen of all Saints, ... Queen conceived without original sin, ... Queen assumed into heaven, ... Queen of the most holy Rosary, ... Queen of Peace, ... Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Grant we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we, Thy servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body: and, by the glorious intercession of the blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy eternal gladness. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
We are waiting for the picture of welcoming #6 child and #4 son to come into focus. His due date/scheduled C-section is now March 13... time will tell. I will be flying out there to help out and meet him for the first time, and am just not sure when that will happen.
We have a new multiple camera system for calving! I took these this morning off my computer screen and was thrilled that they captured now wonderful the morning sun made the cow and calf in the fresh bedding of corn stalks! So many prayers for good season of calving and for warmer weather, please Lord!
Pictures that I took while we spent a few days during Christmas time with Maria's family. Grandpa Pat with his Evangeline. He speaks of her often lately again. He got very close to her while they lived with us a couple years ago when she was a baby!
I just got off the phone with a most special friend/sister-in-law, Angela, and we shared the Gospel coming to life in our grandchildren! The Gospel today is from Mark 10 and the whole thing needs to be shared here! People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them. Mark 10:13-16
We must bring our children to Jesus for Him to touch them and they make Jesus, His Mother, and His Bride, The Church, their own! Angela and I spoke about the prayers we are already surrounding our grandchildren with so that they will not waver away from The Faith!
Sharing the rosary before mass... Maria and Joseph have started a family rosary daily... Pat and I were moved by the knowledge of the mysteries that was sincere and deep coming from the mouths and hearts of children! They are taught and retain the Truth in that home! LOVE!
The two girls, Therese will be 11 this month, and Evangeline is 2... they will soon have 4 brothers!
Two beauties inside and outside! Therese is super big sister, who has always had a heart for the poor. When she was about Evie's age... she would color pictures and fold a few dollars inside of them, mom would roll down the window for her to hand them out to the homeless and poor with her small voice saying; "God bless you." Hearts touched by the love of a small girl!
Now they make sandwiches to give to those that are hungry as a family! The kids learn to sacrifice throughout the year with minimal sweets and carbs, and share with those that have less!
Maria made the same icon of The Community of the Lamb and it graces their home on base! Our Lady is huge for our families! As John says, and I agree whole heartedly; "Mom there is a mother greater and better than you." Yes!!!
In Kansas City in Lumen Christi/LIGHT of Christ chapel with Jesus during my hour of adoration!
In the new monastery built by the Little Brothers in KC! Light of Mary, the Mother of God, they have named their light filled holy chapel!
Out Lady here!!! Jesus in the humble tabernacle of wood!!! Our Family of the Lamb has been such a gift to our family and Nancy's little ones have had the JOY of spending time with them weekly over these last 3 years! "Bring the children to me!!!" Jesus... happens here in great powerful measure running over!
"Wow! That is so beautiful!!!" exclaimed my husband when he saw the view from this new camera!
Angela and I were sharing some stories about our grandchildren and the specialness of being raised in The Faith by their faithful parents, who are taking very seriously raising lights! She shared about her granddaughter, Lydia, who was turning 4 on Sunday a couple weeks ago. She said that she wanted to go with her mother to mass (there was a sick child so they had to go in shifts) and than again with her grandma and dad... "She happily went to mass twice! Then she wanted her mom to make her a costume to dress up like Our Lady for her birthday!"
Lydia on her 4th birthday!!! Love her sweet love and JOY! Jesus, certainly is touching her with his Spirit of Truth!
The calving barn bathed in sunlight... soon the calves will be coming and so many prayers and hard work lies ahead...
Jesus, how we love you and long to share that Happiness and JOY we find in embracing your Truth and LOVE with those in our domestic Church/family. We give you all those the closest to us and ask that we may be able to die to self and for your Spirit to be at work so that we are able to give without counting the cost! Jesus, we trust in you... we will bring our children to you, and know of your plan for each one of them. Amen and Hallelujah
My parents, who brought me and our family of 13 into The Church... each day is a gift!!! https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html
My hero, who brought The Community of the Lamb to KC!!! How they are needed in the heart of our country, and now Hallel has been here for 2 of her 10 years! This man will baptize Nancy's baby boy, George in few weeks! He baptizes #4 or above to promote openness to life! He is the Archbishop for LIFE!
CATHOLIC POLITICIANS VOTING FOR ABORTION UP TO BIRTH ARE "ON A PATH TO HELL “I also have a serious obligation to protect other members of my flock from being misled by a seeming tolerance of the scandalous behavior of some Catholics in public life,” he continued. “If even after an extended dialogue a Catholic in public life persists in scandalous actions, I have found it necessary to request that they not present themselves to receive Holy Communion, for their own spiritual welfare and for the protection of many others from moral confusion.
He urged pro-abortion politicians to repent and seek forgiveness.
I don’t often write long posts. But last night I literally could not sleep because I felt so many emotions and words bottled inside:
Over the past few weeks I have seen the following videos come across my FB feed:
A struggling fawn being scooped out of a mud pit and saved by a bulldozer crew. Everyone cheered.
Three cute bear cubs being rescued out of a dumpster. Everyone cheered.
A Pelican whose beak was wrapped in fishing line being freed. Everyone cheered.
Baby birds wandering out of their nest and a man catching each one. Everyone cheered.
A polluted beach being radically cleaned and becoming a safe haven for baby sea turtles. Everyone cheered.
A drainage pipe being sawed open to reveal a baby sheep trapped inside. Everyone cheered.
New York Senate passed a vote to allow human babies to be aborted up to 9 months. Everyone stood and cheered.
Re-read that last one…. Think about that last one. ………. Why do so many animal rescue videos go viral? Because it is in our nature to protect, to save, to show compassion, to love and to champion LIFE. It is what makes us human. It’s why when we see videos of a dog trapped in ice, a raccoon’s neck twisted in a sheet, a skunk with its head stuck in a can (and so many more rescue videos) we celebrate and cheer. But cheering at the thought of a 9 month old baby being killed in the womb? We are losing our humanity. When we care more about animal lives than human lives, we are losing our humanity. Yesterday I read in the news that the Senate blocked a bill that would require health care providers to save the lives of babies who survived abortion. I felt physically ill. That a baby would be born into a giant building designed to save lives, filled with equipment, medicine and trained professionals—and yet be watched die. Born into a world with a ready system to accept an unwanted child and place them with adoptive parents who would weep with joy to have them—and yet be watched die. Why? Why!? It’s not an issue of political party, religious beliefs or women’s rights. It’s LIFE. It is an amazing gift to be able to form it and it is in our nature to protect it and to save it. ………………….. I haven’t posted before because I hear in my head “What difference can I make? People will just call it judgmental. Social media soap boxes are annoying. Everyone’s minds are already made up. Etc…” Maybe you feel like me: “What can I do?” -Don’t judge pregnant, single women. Support them, encourage them, and help them. Imagine what it is like to be them. -Celebrate adoption. - Do your research and donate money. -Elect officials who will be your voice for LIFE. -Pray. Pray for unborn lives to be protected. Pray that hearts can change. That opinions can change. That this issue that divides people could become something that brings us together, because we are all HUMAN. Whether left or right, male or female, Christian or atheist. -Don’t avoid the topic. We can’t just push down that sick feeling we get and scroll quickly to the next recipe, DIY project, meme, youtube clip, etc…
Justifying our avoidance because “someone else” will do something. But that ‘something’ is not happening. The opposition to abortion has been too silent. Unborn babies have NO voice and NO chance without people fighting for them.
I know SO many people who are passionately against abortion, who are 110% Pro-life.... but they have never spoken/written a single public word about it, don’t research before voting for candidates, have never donated money, and feel sick about abortion but never pray about it. Is that you? It doesn’t have to be. Let’s do something!
I can’t stay silent. Just like I couldn’t walk by a fawn stuck in the mud and not help it.
I’m human. You’re human. These babies are human. Let’s protect them.
And I pray that when we begin winning battles for human LIFE, everyone will cheer.
Amy Vicars
POWERFUL!!! He fell head over heels in love with Our Lady of Lourdes!!!! "You can't love Mary more than Jesus does!" St Maximilian Kolbe!
A dear sister-in-law/friend/reason for my life here on the farm, Raterra, who has a leap year birthday celebrating with our family and Pat's mom 4 years ago! I sent this to her this morning to wish her an almost birthday for this year.. she should have an actual birthday next year!
I thought of her today along with some other great friends, who have supported me and been there for me through the thick and the thin with the first reading today from Sirach! "A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds;"
Sirach 6 https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html
The Lord put her in my life!!! Meeting at welcome week, and the following summer going "out West" as all flower children were doing in those crazy years! The Lord got us to a Christian Commune in Bolder, Colorado and we then went in two different directions... me Catholic and Marge to New Age. Yet, the Lord has kept her in my life! She invited me to her wedding, where I met Pat and a year later we were married! Divine Providence indeed, and so many prayers with each new day that she can come to know and love Our Lord and come back to The True Church!
How I long for these following words from Sirach to come to Truth, and I trust that this will come to be with hope and prayer without ceasing! "A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself."
The royal treatment - how we love her and she us! She is stuck with me always praying and trusting that she will come to Jesus and Mary!
Preparing for Bobbi's shower at Ruth's over the weekend... Luke did the upper windows standing in the sink and grandma did the lower parts.
What a white landscape we witness everywhere here, and more snow coming down now... the kids just got home after only 3 hours of school today! This day should count, but I got a call from Ruth and the house is abuzz with lots of excitement with more time at home. Ruth described watching Pat and 6 year old Rose petting a tame fair calf out in the barn... "This new camera in nice. You can watch what is going on better than the camera that was always moving back and forth!"
The snow piled almost as high as the shed... probably 10 feet high!
4 foot walls all the way up the driveway and kids getting off the bus yesterday! When you drive up it you feel like you are approaching a palace with a walled entrance! It is beautiful for sure, but the least bit of wind and you can't get through it. A constant job keeping it open in this windy land we live in!
Grandma and Grandpa watch last night included some playing with water in a warm bubble sink last night. She is growing up so fast... soon this will come to an end until the younger 3 new ones come to visit or grandma is there.
The Gospel today reminds us of how we need to include God in our marriage as he has called us together to become one! It is impossible to have a happy healthy marriage without including God and that is what being joined in the Sacrament of Matrimony means to us... we will be given the graces we need to die to self and give to the other without counting the cost, which is what is needed to find peace and joy and respect one for the other.
"Without His redemptive love, it is not possible. With His redemptive love, it still remains the most difficult thing on earth. God knows what our hearts need; He stands ready to fill them over and over again, pouring inexhaustible grace through all the cracks and broken places."
Jenny Uebbing
Nancy working on her mission/Catholic Sprouts Podcast! A 10 minute series on Catholic topics for kids! She also has a ministry with Catholic wives and helping them to be open to the graces we can receive through Jesus and His Bride, The Church! https://catholicsprouts.com/
I am so humbled to learn at the feet of my girls and son! What better for a parent than to see their weak efforts to raise them a lights far exceeding thanks to God answering all our prayers!
Jesus, how we adore you and thank you for pouring upon us all the graces we need to persevere in carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross and following you down the narrow path with our eyes set on you, Mary your Mother Most Holy, and all the Saints in heaven forever with You! May we die to self and serve one another without counting the cost. May our homes experience a small slice of heaven here in earth as we embrace The Truth that will set us free! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
It was a special blessing to pray for Fr Denny for my 7 Sisters hour in the early morning hours in the silent church while Pat was at This Man is you. Then we shared mass together! A wonderful way to start a snowy day! Thinking about getting up at 5:15a was a sacrifice, but so worth it! Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke
Maria doing a project for Lent that Nancy developed - a Jesus Tree... Love this!
With Lent officially less than a week away, I am a bit behind on my usual preparations.
However, I have successfully completed one project for Lent 2019.
We are going to be doing a Jesus Tree (thanks, Nancy!) for the first time.
I am not a mom who loves daily crafty messes,
so I decided to mod podge ornaments instead of doing daily coloring by the kids.
