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!
A year ago in their assisted living! I am in such a state of loss these days. Here just a year ago I had their wonderful new home to visit and spend wonderful days with them, and now they are both gone! My wonderful times with my father living here for 6 months with me are no more. Together we shouldered the Cross called "natural death and living it all for Jesus."
A year ago when I would visit them, dad would share from this book he was reading during Advent. So when I now have it here with his other books of great beauty and sharing with his marking them and sharing with me... I am moved and touched and reunited with his deep pure spirituality and LOVE that we share for Jesus, Mary and The Church! The Church which dad brought all 13 into 49 years ago on Midnight Christmas Eve mass - we all took our First Communion!
Love this description of the season we are in now both entering winter and Advent as we look for the Lord to come into our waiting/watching world! Truly "the year is worn out." This is very powerful for me as dad and I shared an entire growing season as he arrived here on the farm on April 13th and we watched the bare trees put on leaves, the land tilled and planted and all around us the crop grow with each new day, ripen, and then harvested.
I totally was convinced that father would continue to be here for Advent and Christmas with plans that we would be here with him for prayer and worship in our home. Christmas 2020 with my father, but instead he left me a month before Advent began... he left behind for me his amazing prayer books with many markings to guide me and show me the LIGHT in the midst of the darkness of this end of the year - worn out indeed and the loss I am suffering with both of my wonderful soul-mate parents now gone!
Some more of his teaching and sharing with me with St John Henry Newman.
The readings today are also amazing all of them!
Isaiah 26
”Trust in the LORD forever! For the LORD is an eternal Rock..."
First Week of Advent with my parents! Having them both gone now is what they both wanted, and that is comforting and having the month of November when we are called upon to pray for our dead was very personal for me this year. Eternal life is real and yet a mystery as we know that it is a journey - I am confident that my parents are on their way there, and that keeps me on my knees in prayer in my inner chapel!
The star and the advent wreath... it is a holy time and one that was set aside for more serious family prayer times during the years with our family around us and now Pat and I are praying together by the Advent wreath in the evenings. We also are trying to make it to mass together daily.
"Come Lord Jesus!"
Mom and dad a year ago... little did they know that they would were on their final journeys in this world and on to the next!
They would get dressed nicely and come out with their canes to the dining room right across the hall from their room. I asked them to stand by the tree and allow me to get some pictures of the two of them dressed for Sunday mass. I took them out to Sacred Heart in Robbinsdale.
Can't get enough of this final Christmas!
Praying morning prayer with them... mom called the tree "pathetic" but it was the right thin size for their little place.
The Gospel today always reminds me of the cabin mom and dad built in Michigan on the sand - a vacation home for us and a retirement home for them.
Matthew 7
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
No, the cabin did not collapse, and we loved it so much there. Still we need to have a firm foundation for our lives/domestic church/family... Jesus!
Pictures of my stay with mom and dad last December... Our Lady of Guadalupe now is in my bedroom, which was dad's apartment up until October 23rd.
Mom smiling at her friend, Dr Pol!
Mom's beautiful ornaments
So many memories that give me sadness yet happiness at the same time. Bless-bless, Barbara
Augustine 9 years ago in Rochester when John was 2 years out from his healing of brain cancer. Gus would only be about 6 months here and a strong reminder of our family gathered around John on this ongoing journey of the new John - healed from brain cancer and finding his faith through his healing.
John and I are just back from our annual trip there for an MRI and check in with the wonderful doctor that has picked up where our Dr Brian O'Neal left off. The next steps ahead are a cognitive test to see where we are at with his brain after chemo and radiation 11 years ago. Also a surgery to fix a nerve which moves his eye from side to side that was damaged by that same radiation. We are in such good and caring hands there!
Finally able to get my advent wreath out on this 3rd day of Advent. Mom and dad looking on remind me that I was quite sure that dad would still be here to share Advent with me and my family. It all seems to be have happened so quickly now.
The excitement builds in me each morning and I find such beauty, truth and words from my parents through the daily meditations that they left behind for me! This morning Pope Benedict XVI spoke so eloquently about the meaning of Advent!
I love the last few lines especially as they remind us that at this time of suffering for so many in our world, country, and families..." Advent should therefore enable us to see that something of the beauty of Advent can be found even in difficulty, illness and suffering can therefore, like a great joy, also be a personal Advent - a visit by God who wants to enter my life and turn toward me."
Blessed by this hymn mom used in her graveside and funeral mass! The words are so wonderful!
It is as though I saw a cardinal and it was a reminder of the beautiful passing of both my parents within 7 months of each other! Cat Stevens with the famous version of Morning is broken
How I love to have my morning broken open by Jesus in Word, morning prayer of The Church, and my daily meditations from mom and dad by Brother Victor-Antione, and Pope Benedict XVI
Over to get gas at the farm - Ruth has made her yard one of great festive beauty!
"My man, Victor-Antione" Dad's voice echoes in my heart, and head! How I miss my father, and our work of prayer each day! I am missing him so much.
When John and I went to mass at St John the Evangelist in Rochester on the feast of St Andrew... the priest spoke of how Andrew brought his brother, Peter, and others to Jesus. He ended his homily with the question to us..."Who in your life has brought you to Jesus?" Sitting next to John - I poked him as a big bringer of me to Jesus, my father and mother, my husband, our friend and pastor now at Holy Redeemer, Fr Denny, my 5 children including John and their wonderful spouses, Hallel's Community of the Lamb... I am brought so deep and love Jesus so much because of so many!
Dad's well worn book is a gift each day! I discerned a call to religious life, I shared in religious life with my father for 6 months and time to time with my daughter, nun and her amazing Community of the Lamb. Now each day I am gifted with sharing in the religious life of this humble prayerful monk, Brother Victor-Antione! Thanks dad!
A cardinal came to my prayer space to fill me with the true presence of my parents joining me in prayer and uplifting spiritual food with some wonderful daily meditations! I also have an Advent book left me by dad from John Henry Neumann!
Pat and I are trying to get to daily mass, and this morning we had Fr Denny on the altar. His homily also ended with a question to ponder... "Think about the importance of spiritual food to us?" The Gospel today is feeding those gathered for Jesus to heal and teach on the mountain for 3 days! Jesus was concerned that they be fed, and so the 7 loaves and fish were broken and they were all satisfied! Fr pointed out how hard is has been to not be able to receive Jesus due to this pandemic and how it has reminded us about how important it is to us!
The promise from the first reading in Isaiah 25
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 25
My mother and I sat in these chairs many times and shared from our hearts... Adding to the specialness of my time spent here being led deeply into spiritual food and being brought to Jesus by mom and dad!
Jesus, I am so blessed by all those around me that bring me to Jesus! My children take me deeper - each and every one of them...even the 7 in heaven that keep my eyes focused on getting there to meet them and spend eternity with them. How much JOY to ponder my parents united with them and their two children, Mary and Lincoln, along with the 6 grandchildren of mine that are taking me to Jesus! How I long to die to self so that you may live in me, and I may be your hands and feet and voice of Truth! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
The two ways that we look to Jesus in Advent - in gratitude for his coming to dwell among us as a man, and his coming again as we continue to await our Savior, who will come on the last day to take us into the heavenly Jerusalem where the Kingdom of God will be fully realized. Thank you, dad and your man, Victor-Antione for that pearl of great price. Bless-bless, Barbara
Danielle RoseO God beyond all praising - mom's other amazing hymn
Our schedule allowed us to share mass in St John the Evangelist across the street from Mayo at noon. The mass has been moved from the chapel to the big church with social distance. St Andrew with us as we are once again lifted up by our family at Mayo and our Church!
Jesus beckons in the Holy Sacrament Chapel - a place of many prayers over the years!
Gonda 8... our neurology station... at least once a year we visit our doctors here. The bright sunshine on the buildings all around us feels like a warm hug. I recall standing here alone gazing out as the tears rolled down my face and I called upon the Lord to help us!
A quick smile before we officially heard the news that his scan looked good! There continue to be lingering fears that the whole brain radiation could be affecting John's cognitively. That will not show up on the MRI, so a cognitive test will be ordered - 3 hours of testing.
The fact that his forgetfulness lead to his job loss lately makes us wonder what we will find. His doctor is very interested and supportive and is not surprised that 11 years out that John might be noticing some effects from his whole brain radiation. Once again all we can do is put it in the Lord's hands and trust in Him!
Many questions about family history and health from top to bottom. Looking out on our familiar sight from Gonda 8...
The gargoyle building is a friendly sight... now the healed new John 11 years later looking out the windows to take in this beautiful city scape!.
The years blend into one another... We now have a new doctor for the last few years, but our Dr Brian O'Neal is his mentor and he lets Brian know of John's life and good scans. We miss our old friend, but are very comforted to know that he is keeping tabs on John and continues to be interested in his ongoing life now with wife and 2 babies!
Gathered in Gonda 11 years ago for a very pivotal meeting with John's doctor about what to do next with his regrowth of cancer through the chemo... whole brain radiation was what we faced! "No!" I said, but John's response - "Mom, I want to live!" The rest is history, but not really because we continue to deal with effects from this decision. Yes, he is cancer free!
These two are now 12! Therese will be the oldest of 7 this spring and David is the middle of 6! The city scape has not changed in those 11 years, and John is healed from brain cancer with issues now with his eye and double vision from the whole brain radiation, and testing to see if any cognitive changes. The cancer is no more and we are blessed with the new John, who found his faith through brain cancer and burns to share that with all he can reach and share it with!
I was so interested to see Mayo dealing with the pandemic! Masks and keeping distance, yet still very busy as Mondays always are!
The lobby still much the same and there are those that play the piano from time to time. This place is so important to those that face huge crisis due to illness, and it is wonderful to see that it is still there in all its beauty and peace and wisdom for those in need from all over the world!
Aglow and welcoming as we remember it from 11 years ago, and each year since. The words from Bishop LeVoir 11 years ago when we faced the regrowth and were terrified - "When in despair repeat these words; 'Jesus, we trust in you.' " It is now a constant reminder of how we must put it into the hands of Jesus as he is in control in the midst of the storms of LIFE!
The end of our day passing this lounge where we spent many hours in comfort and peace and Trust!
Mass in the midst of our day was a special gift that we both could share as we are lifted up and given amazing graces with each new day in our Church!
Reading Brother Victor-Antione today was a beautiful teaching about how special this season of Advent is! From speaking about how the Holy Spirit from the beginning of time's job was to put God in the womb of Mary..."Abundant graces" truly are deeply coming to us if only we humble ourselves and take the time to spend prayer time in our inner temples... how we long "to become a worthy manger for the Savior."
It is always a powerful day to know that Blessed Charles de Foucauld was martyred on this day! He is a special saint to Hallel and she shares him as "the saint that accomplished nothing." So humble as his goal was to live the life of Christ in the part of the world where he lived.
My dad underlined this quote of Blessed Charles... and this is what explains his life after his profound conversion and the words he left behind. They reflect total poverty and humility!
This is a strong message today in the first reading from Isaiah 11 - the beautiful words describing the Holy Mountain of the Lord!
"Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea..." Isaiah 11
Jesus in the Adoration chapel shines brightly and calls us to spend time thanking, adoring, asking, trusting in childlike wonder and humility as we give the control over to Him in the midst of this pandemic and world filled with darkness and worry.
So blessed to have this special place to spend time in prayer..."Jesus, we trust in you."
Jesus in the Gospel today calls us to be childlike!
Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Luke 10
The big hard things we face... we quickly realize that we have no control over these huge times of illness or loss or struggles that come to us. We need to trust and place it in the Lord's hands. He is in control!
Jesus, we are yours and we long to humbly give all the control over to you. If we try to take it into our own hands we are not allowing your Holy Spirit to work in us and for us and to us. Childlike trust is our desire and wish. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
John's story continues with wife, Bobbi, and 2 babies! It was a wonderful time as we traveled and prayed a rosary coming and going... also no lack of things to share and visit about. So blessed by John and our shared love of Jesus, Mary and The Church! Bless-bless, Barbara
John had a fun time talking to his doctor about babies as Dr has a one year old, too! The bottom line is that John and Bobbi have wonderful happy healthy babies that are giving their parents a lot of rest and happiness!
Love this description of the season we are in now both entering winter and Advent as we look for the Lord to come into our waiting/watching world! Truly "the year is worn out." This is very powerful for me as dad and I shared an entire growing season as he arrived here on the farm on April 13th and we watched the bare trees put on leaves, the land tilled and planted and all around us the crop grow with each new day, ripen, and then harvested. 
Some more of his teaching and sharing with me with St John Henry Newman.
