Peaceful 2nd Sunday of Lent after Huge Day/Hector is 1/“This is my beloved Son...; listen to him.”

 John, Bobbi and Jude in their new home with Central Ave out their door... just a half block from the Catholic School!  Jude had just arrived at his new home for the first time after the moving crew of about 15 people and the cow trailer moved them in a day!

 Grandma had 8 for lunch!  Two by two - the baby boys, then the 3 year old girls, then the two boys Luke and Dominic, and then the two girls, Bernadette and Rose again!

 Jude and George getting acquainted for the first time... they are liking being in the same place doing the same thing... no real battles at all!

 Kids bring swim suits and swim in the tub... the little boys are content to watch and get their clothes wet in the process.

 Board book time!  I was kind of busy with all that was happening, so I didn't get near the pictures of the kids that I would have.  At one point I had my arms full with both boys on my lap, and the realization that this was what twins would feel like.  It was a good feeling with each boy being calm sweet and happy, but I can imagine that it would be hairy at times too!

George on the left is now 1 and Jude will be on March 26 in 3 weeks so right on cue Hector is having his first birthday today!  3 grandsons in 6 weeks!  Look how they are so much the same size!  They are peaceful and content to be close to each other and definitely have the same interests and grandma appreciates what good boys they both were for grandma!

Just back from our wonderful 8a mass with John and Bobbi and Jude right behind us, and grandpa holding Jude quite a bit.  Ruth and Paul were there too, with Simon serving along with 2 other young men his age.  Three Freshman boys serving at mass along with a brother of one that is a year younger!  Beautiful sight to behold!

Hector the birthday boy on Fat Tuesday... Happy Birthday sweet boy!  We love you!!!

 Exciting times and love how their move brought the family together for a great busy big day!

 The Saints have arrived in their new home in John's grandma Ann's curio cupboard!  I am sure she is in heaven smiling!  This house is just a block away from where she lived across from the hospital!  It just seems like such a wonderful prefect location on the quiet street leading up to HRS!  Rose and Luke brought their cousins from the Cities to the play ground and back a few times while the adults were moving in the furniture and boxes!  LOVE!

 Jude in the new kitchen - lots of cupboards to explore - show me the pots and pans so I can play!

 Cozy and snug and so much LIGHT!

Storage galore!  Never can have too much!

Jesus and Mary always with us! We love them and share that with the world!

I was in tears at Father's homily at mass today about the Gospel which is the Transfiguration from Matthew today!  Sharing how the disciples would witness this sight of Jesus revealed to them as truly the Son of God radiant in glowing LIGHT!  They were told to tell no one and God himself spoke to them this...a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

Matthew 17

Father shared that they pondered this miraculous sight and message and held it close to their hearts.  "This is why St John stood at the foot of His Cross... recalling that this was God's son and even this horrible death had some very powerful meaning for the world's redemption."  Father then repeated the words of Jesus from the Cross in which he gave Mary to John as his mother and her brought her into His home - "listen to him."  The tears leapt to my eyes!  I could hear John behind me verbally agreeing with Father also!

John then got up to minister Communion as a Eucharistic minister!  How he loves Our Lord and his Church since his prayer for Faith was answered through surviving brain cancer 11 years ago!

Overcoming brain cancer to find Faith!

 Joy showing me her new room and bed with her cousin, Josephine!  I guess Ruth had to lay with Joy on her first night in her new room and bed... Joy has been sleeping in mom and dad's room since birth.

 John and Bobbi celebrated with all the family helpers with a pizza party supper at Ruth's home!
Root beer floats for dessert - 22 of them for the crowd that gathered!

 Big Dave and Gus were huge helpers carrying many boxes up and down stairs!  Two trailers full and done in a day!  Wow!

Yes!  It was Crazy wonderful!!!  Even the wooden table is getting refinished!  I guess that they had lunch for the work crew on 3 tables in their new house... I can imagine the happy feelings for John and Bobbi to have so many their excited to give them support and help!  Family is wonderful!

 Jude waking up from his morning nap to find George there...

 George was very loving... Jude was accepting of that love!

 The two girls having carrots - both will be 3 when Joy is 3 on March 31st!  JoJo calls Joy by her first and middle name - Joy Jean, and is so happy to see her.  Nancy says that she talks about Joy Jean a lot at home.

Joy and Jude are comfortable together!  She had to come over and see him at mass.

Lord, we love you and know that you are alive and well in us if only we die to self so that you may live in us!  May we always listen to you in Word, in all the teachings and wisdom of your True Church, in the words and wisdom of your Saints, of St Paul to Timothy today and sitting at the feet of my father!

Beloved:
Bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life,
not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel.

2 Timothy 1

Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen

We showered my dad with cards for his 95th birthday!  He loved them and we are in love with him!  So blessed to still have my wonderful father, Deacon Robert Cross, with us and teaching us and praying each day for his family now numbering over 140!  Bless-bless, Barb and all!!!

 Simon with 3 other young men - 2 of which have been classmates in the 9 years of Catholic School!  Such a wonderful sight today at mass!

 Fr Todd, who I pray for on each Friday with 7 Sisters and Deacon Ken along with Simon and friends!  LOVE The Church!

 Jude got a Mohawk after Rose washed her hands and used the wet fingers to give him a crazy fun dooo!

 Hair style gives us a laugh!  Sharing our Faith with family JOY is our motto and key to passing on the True Faith in our domestic Church/family!

Jude just kept on eating his carmel roll while they messed with his hair.  He is an amazingly wonderful little guy.  Grandma sure appreciated how good he is yesterday as he was the youngest of the 8!

6 years ago before Joy joined them and Simon was missing too!  We just had our 3rd calf - a bull this time from a first calf heifer!
 
Baby Luke 6 years ago!  They sure look content and snug as a bug together!

Danielle Rose - Small things with great love

Danielle Rose - Nothing compares to you

Danielle Rose - Holy family

Danielle Rose - the Saint that is just me

Zach Williams - Rescue story

Casting Crowns - Praise You in the storm

"Christ showed His disciples the glory of His radiance
to which He configures those who are His." - St Thomas Aquinas

Fra Angelico

"Through your Transfiguration, O Christ,
you returned Adam's nature to its original splendor,
restoring its very elements to the glory
and brilliance of Your divinity." - Byzantine Liturgy

_______________________

"Christian faith's steady gaze upon Jesus
transforms us here and now." - Fr Hans Urs von Balthasar

_____________________

For over all, his glory will be shelter and protection: 
shade from the parching heat of day, 
refuge and cover from storm and rain (Isaiah 4:6).
_______________________

Excerpt below from:  Letters To A Brother Priest

Co-authors:  Rev Fr Vincent Martin Lucia/Rev Msgr Josefino Ramirez

"Peter, James and John witnessed the Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor. The whole world will witness the glorious transfiguration of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

It will have the exact opposite effect of the bombing of Nagasaki. At the transfiguration of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, there will be an explosion of divine energy which will release the power of His love and renew the face of the earth. Then the world will see Real Power! All will be made well. All will belong to His Heart. All will be  made one.

In the meantime, there are five graces we receive each time we visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. By His glorious wounds we are the ones who are transfigured and changed through His healing love.

Restoration, sanctification, transformation, reparation and salvation are the graces being poured out graciously upon us with each holy hour we make.

Like Peter... this is why we should exclaim in His Divine Presence,

'Lord, how good it is for us to be here!'"

"The Blessed Sacrament is the first and supreme 
object of our worship. We must preserve in the depths

of our hearts a constant and uninterrupted,
profound adoration of this precious pledge

of Divine Love." - St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier

Click here: The Cross is a Fruit-Bearing Tree – A Homily for the Second Sunday of Lent  (Msgr Charles Pope)

The Big Move and Family day!/Observe all The Church teaches with all your heart and all your soul!

 My house full of grandkids as it is the big moving day for John and Bobbi.

 Love quiet projects at the table!

Joy learning to share is hard for the youngest of 6!

 Grandpa teaching Jude how to share his banana slices!   A few went in and then quickly found their way to Jude's mouth.  Love the little hands of Jude compared to Pat's giant hands!

 My inner chapel today as I am overwhelmed by wave after wave of Family!  I can do this with the help of God who strengthens me!

The first reading today made me smile with JOY at the reminder that we are called to observe ALL that the Catholic Church asks of us in teachings and statutes and ordinances!  All of it!  No picking or choosing!  How I love and embrace ALL as I see the LIGHT and the Truth in all of it!  The Church fathers and Popes, who are leading us down the narrow path is a total gift to me!  How I love, love, LOVE The Church!

Cow TV is back on our phones and in our bedroom at night!

 Good for some grandpa snuggles too!

 It's a big day today!  John and Bobbi are moving into their new home close to the Catholic School!  A perfect location with Ruth and John's kids both slotted to go to Catholic School!

The first meal as we had a quick on the fly lunch yesterday while we got all the house clean and ready for the move today.

Nancy and Bill will be here in a few minutes to help with the big move!

I must end this today!  I can do this with your help, O Lord, and my inner temple filled with LIGHT/LOVE/LIFE!  Bless-bless, Barb

 Peaceful prayers for Fr Todd yesterday will be the wind beneath my wings today!

 The new front door!  Soon the family movers will be filling up their new home!

LIGHT filled living room!

Dad's 95th!!!/Who can stand, but with you is forgiveness

 How I loved my weeks with my parents before the big move!  Dad was back on his feet and doing so well... better than mom when he had been on death's door a month before!  Today we celebrate his 95th birthday!

This was as he did the dishes after supper each night in their kitchen.  They are now in an assisted living in the Cities and no longer are they doing their meals or dishes or laundry, but dad is going out to take part in the  activities and has had a really good stretch!  We take each good day they have together as they come along!  Tonight he and mom have fake plans to go out to eat at Perkins with my sister.  Hope it works out as they have not gone out to eat since the big move.

 Dad now has 58 great grandchildren with one more on the way that we are aware of.  LIFE is a gift and we had their wonderful examples of being open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS as they listened to the Holy Spirit to guide our family into The Church!
https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html

 Mom and dad on their 70th anniversary on August 30th!  They moved about a month later.

 How I love to sit at the feet of my wise and Spirit led father!  I am so blessed to still have him and mom in my life!

The words from the Psalm speak of how the Lord has led us down the narrow path to the True Church!
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
Psalm 130

Yes, we have wandered down some wrong turns, but if we only look to you and ask for your Holy Spirit to dwell in us and lead us to you... we find the Way, the Truth and the LIFE - how my dad loves to dwell here with His Lord, Jesus Christ, Mary his Mother of God, and The Church - the Way , the Truth and the LIFE!

 Sharing the Way the Truth and the LIFE!

 One of our huge wonderful tomatoes that was so special this summer... Thanks, wonderful gardener Ruth taking after your two grandmothers!

 My folks at Christmas!  In their new home!

 My wonderful dad made the trip to CCC!  With John, Bobbi and Jude!

The two birthday boys today - Dad is 95 and Dan is 59!  Happy Birthday, we love you both!

Jesus, hold them close to your heart burning with love for them.  Jesus, we trust in you.
Bless-bless, Barb

Asking Jesus for the huge and the small/My hour with Jesus in the dark

 Joy and grandma went out to meet the new calf, Maggie!  She was a sweet healthy heifer, so we have 2 baby heifers starting our calving season!

Yesterday was spent working on Cow TV and Ruth's carpeting being put in her home remodel.  Lots of activity at the farm inside and out!

 When grandma opened the door this was the sight I beheld!  Joy there living up to her name and filling me with a jolt of happiness at being so loved and welcomed with so much LOVE and JOY!

 LOVE these muddy boots of the two younger girls - Joy and Rose again.  The mud of spring is here and rubber boots are a must on the farm!

 Joy showed me the first calf and her mom - Minnie will be M1 on her eartag and her brindle face will allow them to remember that her name is Minnie in her years of being in the herd.

 Maggie got under the fence so Joy could take a walk with her while her mom watched from the other side of the fence.

Grandpa came to put Maggie back her mother..."She is a good mother cow." said grandpa.  We sure like the nice spring weather and pray that we will not have in April again this year.  Lord, hear our prayer.

The Gospel today is amazing!  We are reminded that we ask the Lord for all those things that are out of our hands and in His!  Jesus is in control!
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-12

 Joy showing the new built in dressers in each new bedrooms.

 The old linoleum on the steps are covered and will be carpeted along with all the bedrooms and halls upstairs!

 Luke and David's room is carpeted!  Joy gets it ready for the bunk beds.

Overnight I had my hour with Jesus at 4a in the windy darkness.  As I sat there and looked at Jesus in humble form in the monstrance and recalled on the 3rd Luminous Mystery/The Proclamation of the Kingdom of my rosary prayer I would ponder Jesus preaching the Sermon on the Mount of the side of the mountain and listening to His Words of Truth and LIGHT realizing that this was God, who created the world and the land, grass, insects the universe above and around me!

Inside I bowed in Adoration with the angels of either side - "My Lord, and My God" which I repeat when the Body is lifted up at consecration and the Blood lifted up!  So powerful and amazing and truly Jesus comes to us so closely in this time of prayer!

Eucharistic Adoration 

is the most necessary mission to the Church, 

which has even more need of prayerful souls

than of powerful preachers or men of eloquence.

Today more than ever have we need of people who,

by their self immolation, disarm the anger of God 

inflamed by the ever increasing crimes of nations.

We must have souls who by their importunity 

re-open the treasures of grace 

which the indifference of the multitude has closed.

We must have true adorers; that is to say, 

people of fervor and sacrifice.

When there are many around the divine Savior, 

God will be glorified, Jesus loved; 

society will become Christian, won to Jesus Christ 

by the apostolate of Eucharistic prayer."

St Peter Julian Eymard

 Mom was a little bit close to Joy, the gate in between her calf, Joy and mother Cow.

The Gospel reminds us that we can not only pray for our domestic Church/family and each member or the 250 that I put in the monstrance with Jesus from Pat's family and mine - ours!  But we can pray for our country and for this world and all the crazy sinful ways that are being taken for truth.  The lies of Satan that are accepted as the way to go like cohabitation before marriage and thinking that we can take life into our own hands through abortion and birth control.  So many prayers over so many years, months, days and minutes of our lives!  And he truly is answering them with those that save one life at a time outside abortion clinics or by getting judges in place that respect LIFE!  By sharing our Faith with JOY in our homes!  Baby steps as we ask for change and help in bringing LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT into the world!

 Brave farm girl JOY will be 3 at the end of this month!

 Farmer grandpa is Joy's hero and he cares so well for his animals as he feeds the world!

Jesus, there is so much all around us that we see evil lived and accepted.  How we long to have your LIGHT and Truth shine on the darkness of the culture of death to reveal the lies that are accepted and taught to the next generation.  May your LIGHT shine far and wide.  May we die to self so that we may be your hands and feet.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen

 Mom and baby calf Maggie happily together!  Off to a good start with many prayers and hours day and night watching Cow TV!  Also keeping the corn stalk bedding soft and warm and dry for the new calves to arrive in the world healthy and safe and snug.  The year of "M" calves with Mother Mary watching over them!  Bless-bless, Barb

Luke and David's bunk beds are put together.  I think the weekend will be so busy with kids moving into their new rooms and all that happens with beds put together.

A memory from 14 years ago - Sam and John with champion Cow-calf pair at the fair 2006!

The same cow licking her 7th calf 9 years later in 2015!

A great picture of my brother, Al, with my parents 3 years ago!  Dad will be 95 tomorrow!

Wonderfully made - Danielle Rose
Lord, may lives be saved today and end this horror of taking innocent human life once and for all!