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!
Oh my!!! Sweet Baby Birdie Barbara yesterday taken by her loving dad! She will be 8 weeks on Saturday, and she is such a doll! Her calm face - so engaged with those around her and so peaceful and happy! "How did we get such good babies?" John and Bobbi are over the moon in love with their two gifts from heaven - new LIFE!
Suddenly our porch was full of family yesterday noon. Ruth picked up school lunches that are given out each day since the pandemic has turned our world upside down. Taco salad was on the menu, and we so enjoyed having them stop over.
Generous meals complete with 2 milks each. The milk industry was hurt by the pandemic and schools moving into the home. They even had to dump some milk that would go into those milk cartons. It is good to see them still used for the kids!
Out life here - dad and I - are pretty routine so to have this unexpected lunch shared with family including my farmer husband... it was a treat! Dad sat across from Joy and Pat... Pat was here to trim branches with the help of Ruth and kids. Thank you!
Sharing family meals is our JOY!
My "L" shaped porch caught the breeze on a hot humid day.
Shaded and cooled by the breeze. Dad asking Ruth to get his watch set correctly on the date.
Curious about how tall the corn is now... both Rose and Luke walked into the field and disappeared from sight. Head high or taller - growing right before our eyes!
Fun to see Simon and Mary sharing some time together!
The work crew visiting together. Thanks for all their help, I will not have to duck branches while I mow and come in scratched by branches.
Joy, mom and Mary picking mulberries...
Eating and picking...
Dad watching the payloader doing the work of holding Pat while he cut the branches with the chain saw, and then picking them up with the grapple fork and dumping them in the log pile in the pasture.
Dad had just asked what we would do with the pile of branches on the ground... He was very impressed by the way Pat could stack them and pick them up all together in one big bite from the grapple fork! "That is slick!"
An interesting diversion before his after lunch nap!
It is very fun to have dad here sharing in our life on the farm! He is genuinely interested and quizzed Pat about his "Kitty Cat Payloader" as it sat in the yard while we prayed yesterday afternoon.
Ruth bought me this beautiful begonia to decorate my porch for Birdie's Baptism. It has remained so pretty and it our JOY to look at while we share the rosary and chaplet together each afternoon! Reminding us of the beauty of this world thanks to the Divine plan for us and how we are loved by our Lord and His Lady, Mary the Mother of God!
Today dad and I shared the Gospel - the Matthew version of the paralytic lowered in front of Jesus for forgiveness and healing! How this brings flooding back those memories of 11 years ago during John's brain cancer and how he was lowered in front of Jesus by an of friends/prayer warriors to be healed and forgiven and to find his Faith!
John surrounded by family/friends after the mass in October of 2009 when he was prayed over by all attending mass for healing! His cancer had returned through the chemo!
Dad and I were just talking this morning about the time they rushed to be with us as mass with the Blessed Solanus Casey relic to be prayed over in the center aisle during the 8a mass along with anointing.
I also informed dad that mother had been anointed by the hospital chaplain just hours before her death thanks to Paula. Paula reported that mom was very aware and engaged in the anointing just such a short time before her passing! Truly "last rites" for her, and so comforting to realize she had that sacrament to help her on her way to heaven forever with Jesus and Mary! https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html
Mary was huge for John in the journey of finding Faith through brain cancer! She remains his #1 Mother to this day and she also lowered John in front of her Son, Jesus Christ, as John was paralyzed by his lack of Faith!
We both agree -"Mom, there is a better mom than you."
John has bathed in the waters of Lourdes twice and been there now 2 years ago with his new bride, Bobbi, who was pregnant with Jude at the time! All 3 year old grandsons were in Lourdes in the wombs of their mothers! LIFE is to protected and cherished from conception to natural death and to be that close to Mary in the womb is LOVE! St Padre Pio's virtue for the Visitation decade of the rosary is LOVE! LIFE in the womb comes to us from embracing our Most Cherished Cross and finding LOVE/LIFE/LIGHT!
John's story continues now with wife, and two gifts of LIFE!
Love this of them with their arms full of JOY!
Nothing more wonderful to see! Both of their prayers answered in such a special way!
3 in my magic number!
Dad having a cold beverage after we shared prayer yesterday.
This morning he prayed for us to be lowered in front of Jesus for healing and forgiveness... "we all are in need of you to touch us, Lord."
He sat on the porch with his cold drink and the begonia at his feet and watched me finish up the mowing. I know years ago when he prophecy that he would come and live with me if anything happened to mother... he thought that he would be helping me with garden and mowing.
Fresh zucchini just growing an hour before - so fresh and sweet!
Two nights in a row... I asked dad if he liked the fresh Zucchini as he had cleaned up his plate both nights. "I enjoyed it knowing how much your mother would love it." Yes, she is with us so powerfully and beautifully these days of hospice and walking into the sunset of dad's long wonderful life!
My hour of Adoration in the early hour of the morning. Placing all 250+ in the monstrance with Jesus! Those of our two families living and dead. It is especially powerful to pray for the family of Pat and I twice as we are in both families - twice the prayers for our 30 on earth and 13 in heaven! Keeping my eyes on heaven indeed! https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/my-most-cherished-cross-patrick-gerard.html
Hanging out with Jesus in my heart, mind and soul and strength and on the altar in the monstrance! "My Lord and My God!" getting ready for tomorrow - St Thomas and the anniversary of the death of my sister, Mary, 34 years ago. She would have been 62 today. She died at age 28 from cancer. Dad and I will be remembering and praying no doubt as Thomas did!
Sat by Jesus in the tabernacle too.
Jesus, we are so blessed with our time together sharing Faith/Family/Farm and all the rich history that binds together to be the story of your LOVE, forgiveness and healing of us as we are lowered into your presence by the prayers and actions of those that love us and care for us. May we die to self and rise up and take up our mat and go home to share your Truth with all those closest to us in our domestic Church/family. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
So close to Jesus! He is my LOVE! Bless-bless, Barbara
Dad's prayer book and mask at the foot of the Cross and Mary, Joseph and Jesus! My greatest JOY these days is sharing our LOVE for Jesus and His Bride, The Church with my deacon father daily! The prayer of The Church and the prayer of Mary, the rosary, and the prayer of God's Mercy, the chaplet are the fabric of our lives together!
John's photo shoot for 4H 12 years ago! LOVE this image - Ruth has had it in her home since with 3 year old Simon and 2 year old Mary sharing a splash in the water barrel on a hot August day.
Ruth with her month old son, David, and his adorable "heart toes"... attached up higher than most, but no reason to do anything about them other than to consider him special in that way. Pat's sister, Mary, also has this to feel special about.
Dave was here for breakfast with grandpa and great-grandpa this morning... Pat and David had just put 3 more cows out in the pasture by our house. We shared breakfast and then we shared the powerful Gospel of Jesus casting the demons into a herd of pigs, who then ran down a cliff into the sea and drown!
David then showed his special toes to his great-grandfather, who was very interested in discovering this about one of his 58 great-grandkids!
Special newborn David with his mom almost 12 years ago... Dave will be 12 in a few weeks.
Another one taken that day of 2 year old Mary with her muddy toes and our dog, Roger, who was run over a couple years ago.
Photographer, John, with Susan and piles of kids on the stairway. This was shortly before Susan left for France to join The Community of the Lamb, and a year before we faced John's brain cancer.
1 month old David, 2 year old Mary, and 3 1/2 year old Simon.
David was a very special child for Ruth! She had been told after rupturing while trying to Vback Mary after Simon's C-section..."No more children." She was devastated and got a second opinion from the surgeon, who saved her uterus in Sioux Falls..."You will wait a year to get pregnant, and we will watch you closely and get the baby here as soon as we can safely do that." "Yes!"
Child #3 for Ruth and Paul - Big David! Why Big Dave? Because a year and a half later Maria and Joseph had their David... so that means we have 2 grandsons and the older one is Big Dave and the younger one is Little Dave.
Ruth then carefully was able to have 3 more children since David. She learned Creighton Model natural family planning and even became an instructor helping others to follow the Church's teaching wisdom to allow God to be involved in their family using natural means! https://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/now-stories-of-johns-4-sistersruth.html
Heart toes, mom's hand, Mary, Simon and Roger in the hay bales 12 years ago!
It was special to share the Gospel today with some of the men in my life! Jesus, truly made an impression on all of us considering the story we heard. My father was interested in the fact that David shows pigs at the county Fair, and last year he took first place "with the cheapest pig." David reminded us.
Joy watching David show his pig last year. Pat pointed out that he will be champion for 2 years as there is no fair this year due to the virus.
Cute alert!
The 3 showing last year. They were free this year to take a vacation as they do not have all the work with the pigs and cows and calves and I think Mary has plans to show chickens too! Mary also shows goats that she cares for at the neighbors place down the road. She loves her animals and they keep her busy!
Double good - Champion and Reserve Champion for 2 years standing!
That's a smile!
Dave got spoiled by Great-grandpa today. A big sugar cookie that he got for Father's Day from hospice and licorice. It paid to come with grandpa early in the morning. He is a good farm helper for grandpa. We appreciate you, Dave!
I would say the spotted one has a curious attitude!
A look of love and appreciation. All his hard work paid off! Right Dave?
It is good to see my father doing better since he was started on antibiotics for some infection in his bladder. His appetite has improved and that is so great for me! That was so difficult to watch him get weaker and just not enjoy his meals! Thank you, Lord, and we take it one day at a time around here.
4 years ago this week...How I long for family time! There are fake plans out there for possibly all of us at the end of the summer. Lots of prayers and hopes!
First zucchini from the garden was appreciated by dad and I last night. His comment; "Mom would have loved this!"
How we loved sharing our garden vegetables last summer! Each time I would come there for the 8 weeks we had a rotation going to keep them safe and in their own home leading up to their 6 months in Assisted Living in New Hope... we would have fresh beets, cukes, tomatoes, zucchini, and we were in heaven! This zucchini was growing in the garden just minutes before we enjoyed it for supper! So good and fresh!!! LOVE!
Mom is with us so closely with each new day! There is such a powerful combination of grief and happiness knowing of her more perfect love for us now from heaven. She is definitely with us on this journey of dad's walking into the sunset of his life.
Dad prays for mom to help him often and we pray for her daily with the office as the intercessions always include a prayer for those of our loved ones who have gone ahead of us!
Today in Evening prayer - Open wide the doors of your compassion to those who have died today, – and in your mercy receive them into your kingdom. Lord, show us your love. And dad and I will include mother here and find comfort and hope and Truth!
6 years ago in Michigan! This is the time we would have our family weeks on the Inland Sea, Lake Michigan! The memories and strong and cherished in my heart, mind and soul.
Jesus, how we love you and are grateful that this day my father is having a better day. Each day we accept and with the help of hospice we go forward carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross and staggering forward. Jesus, we long to die to self so that you may live in us and we may give without counting the cost. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
The last year at the cabin - 2015
The cat bedroom!
My watercolor of all of us - Hallel in Rome, Maria in North Carolina, Fort Bragg, Ruth and Paul won their pickup from Farm Bureau!
Went on a trip to the lower peninsula where I grew up on Lake Michigan close to Traverse City- Elk Rapids, MI!
Luke and Rose share mermaid fins!
Rose holds a handfull of petoskys and corals - takes me back to my days of going on walks with sister, Mary, under my arm and looking for fossils! The Big Lake is very special to me and runs very deep in my heart. I now share that with many of my grandkids that grew up going there each summer. Sigh! Bless-bless, Barbara
Today we remember the First Martyrs of Rome, put to death after being made a scapegoat for the great fire (which was rumored to be started by Nero).
Pray for us that we may be courageous in standing for our Faith no matter what consequence it may bring.
Yes!!!
Today we celebrate the two pillars of the ancient Church, both of whom shed their blood for Jesus Christ. Tomorrow we will remember the anonymous martyrs who died alongside them. Monday!!!
