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!
No sooner had Nancy and Bill arrived to our place last night - than 2 year old George was snuggled in next to his grandpa in my dad's lift chair. Even with one arm Pat lifted him into his "happy spot" in the arm of his farmer grandpa!
George has a love for older men, and seems to have a gift for making them feel special and loved.
Gus made grandpa his favorite "chocolate cookies without the chocolate chips". They gathered around to taste test them, and there were happy chewing going on.
Pat and I shared our famous tomato soup - a Friday night lent meal over our 43 years of marriage. It hit the spot and brought us to the foot of the Cross on this Good Friday!
This was the third time in 39 years that Nancy has had her birthday on Good Friday, but never on Easter. We had to acknowledge it a bit with a nightcap all around and...
A boisterous singing of "Happy Birthday, dear mom." At least all but Dominic, who was enthralled with finding Waldo.
Happy Birthday wonderful Nancy Anna! How special to have 3 times going on more - your Birthday on this most Holy day! Fr Denny reminded us that we need to look upon Christ Crucified and recall how he was right there with us in all that we face in our suffering on this journey!
So many deep hard prayers needed this last day! The Lord is showing us that we need to be on our knees outside the tomb with Mary, John and Mary Magdalene... Together with Mary, who must certainly have been present at the scene and received the lacerated body of her divine Son into her arms, let us also draw near to the sacred remains; let us gaze on these wounds, on these bruises, on his Blood, all of which speak so eloquently of Jesus' love for us... Our Lady and Saint John, who were never away from the cross, and Mary Magdalene and other pious women.... Although our Lord had died, they could not tear themselves away from him, their Adored Master, the object of all their love and hope. It was their love that kept them near the lifeless body. This is a sign of real fidelity, to persevere even in the darkest and most painful moments, when all seems lost, and when a friend, instead of triumphing is reduced to defeat and profound humiliation. It is easy to be faithful to God when everything goes smoothly, when his cause triumphs; but to be equally faithful in the hour of darkness, when, for a time, he permits evil to get the upper hand, when everything that is good and holy seems to be swept away and irrevocably lost - this is hard, but it is the most authentic proof of real love. Fr Gabriel of St Mary Magdalene (1952)
We were happy to share our daughter's birthday with her 5 children and hubby!
Love the expressions of excitement and love!
2 year old George blowing (spitting out) the candles for mom.
Fun... baby Nancy and now with her 5th George last Easter when he was just 1. I think he looks like his daddy a whole lot!
So powerful is this!!! How we cling to our beads of Mary -the Rosary as we face the Cross in our lives! She takes us to her Son, and we hold onto her hand for comfort, hope and peace in times of trial!A song that goes with this picture - Danielle Rose - A Mother's song
get some kleenexes as it is very deeply touching!
The cross I made for my mother last Easter and now the one for the 6 months I had here on the farm with my father! An entire growing season, and helped by hospice to be peaceful and comfortable as he walked into the sunset of his life - a natural death!
And the 2021 butterfly devoted to our first ever Verly Christmas Camp in January in our heated shop on the farm! It was so fun at breakfast to hear Nancy's kids talk excitedly about our family Christmas weekend and how they loved it! It truly was wonderful and much needed in this crazy messed up year that is behind us! There was not one runny nose among the 19 grandkids!
George and grandpa first thing this morning, after both had a good night's sleep!
So grateful for my dad's chair, and for family to share the Vigil with tonight and then we have a tradition of going to Applebees afterwards.
Bernadette helping with pancake breakfast, as they are all very excited to get over to the farm and see cousins and baby animals! Ruth was getting her wonderful porch ready for this beautiful Easter weekend that the weather promises to lie ahead!
The girls and I decided to make pink pancakes in honor of girls and Easter!
Fun talk about the farm and cousins and great memories from our family Christmas - VCC!
The 39th Psalm disappointed so I found this verse in I Cor 14:39... so appropriate for Nancy and Bill's ministry "Set your heart to proclaiming God's message."
Such a powerful vision of what Jesus was up to in hell today! There already to set prisoners free!
Adam and Jesus face to face - the Savior of the world!
The Cross has become The Tree of LIFE!
Dad's man, Brother Victor, reminds us to stay in the moment and live according to the Truth that will set us free. I smiled thinking about how are plans for the future are always "fake plans" because the Lord is in control and not we ourselves!
Yes, Lord, today we are holding vigil outside your tomb on our knees in deep beseaching prayer for many needs. All we can say is; "Jesus, we trust in you. Amen
Our Lady of Lourdes is always with us in our deepest needs as we have visited her healing waters 3 times over these last 12 years! How we love and look to her as we hold our beads and take her hand when times are calling to prayer as our only REAL and powerful help as we fall upon our knees. Jesus, Mary and Joseph... I love you very much. Hear our prayers at this time of need. Bless-bless, Barbara
Praying and praying and praying - Jesus, we trust in you. The Chaplet too is powerful for us at this time of need!
Sun streaming in at noon for Good Friday services - Pat dutifully wearing his immobilizer to allow his shoulder to heal!
A day after his surgery - this guy is home with me today and really doing very well. He was able to go to noon mass with me and in the front row was Ruth and her 6 kids. Hubby, Paul, was at home with newborn twins and another calving.
Ruth reminded us "we fill up a whole pew." We sat nearby and were able to share up close and deeply in this special day. "A victim no longer! WE need not face suffering alone. No we can face suffering with Christ Jesus victorious over sin and death. How do we face suffering - no different than Jesus did. The suffering of Jesus Christ had a purpose and any suffering that we endure we must give it a purpose also." Fr Denny
"keep your eyes focused on the Crucifix...."
Praying for Fr Denny with 7 sisters through mass on this most Holy and glorious day!
Able to say a decade - the Crucifixion - 5th sorrowful mystery for Fr Denny in Adoration of The Cross after Good Friday services.
"Jesus took our broken lives and makes all things new!" Fr Denny
"Life is unfair. God knows because He has experienced that. How do you and I face suffering? The way Christ does by entering into - Baptized into it with Christ? WE are called as Christians we are called upon always to preach Christ crucified - the story of our salvation. Find in the Passion the inspiration - humbled himself to share in our weakness, struggles, temptations... His words always of love and Truth!" Fr Denny
"A few days later - seen through the lens of the resurrection - Mercy over Sin...
My butterfly for 2021 Easter is devoted to our wonderful first ever VCC - Verly Christmas Camp that happened in our heated shop on the farm in January 11, of 2021!
My Cross for Easter 2021 is devoted to my father coming to live here on the farm for 6 months shortly after Easter last year - April 16 and he was on hospice from the day he arrived and died on October 23rd of a natural death.
Mom had died on March 16th so for my Easter tree last year - I had devoted it to my mother's passing. Easter then was on April 12th and my tree was still up with mom's cross on it! Now a year later... it is Special to have mom and dad side by side. How I loved to have our time on the porch praying for those 6 months - an entire growing season on the farm - memorialized for this Easter tree! LOVE!
And of course to have Hallel there with dad and I - her first time with my father in 12 years and her every 3 year home visit happened thanks to The Holy Spirit at work and my brother, Jim and his wife caring for dad a weekend so we could make a trip to KC!
We are over 90 calved now - almost 2/3 of the way! Thanks Paul for all you and the kids are doing to allow Pat to heal!
Had to stop in to see how things were going for himself!
Farmer Pat is glad to have his surgery behind him and now to heal and get back to normal. Sharing in the Lord's suffering in a very personal way this Good Friday!
5th set of twins - there is another one under it's mother...
His legs are fine - walking in with Ruth and her farmkids- "I am so glad that the kids are learning to help more. They are proud of helping and that is a great thing to pass on to your kids!" Pat to Paul
The back of my cross for Easter this year - devoted to dad. The bottom picture was Pat smiling as we were praying on the porch for "all the farmers." Dad was very much conscious of praying for those farmers and all that they do. I am sure that his prayers are surrounding farmer Pat now as he heals!
After Holy Thursday services moving a calf in the dark... Home from church and a family job shared by all!
Dressed for mass but doing farm work as a family - they did go and change while others came to help. "Mary, that is your Easter dress. Go and change." From her mom
I finally see the whites of his eyes! We arrived at 11a and got home at 7p! 8 hours in total, and so glad to have that now behind us!
It has been going quite well so far. He is tough and strong, and grateful that he is now on the mend.
Many hours of waiting and...
praying... I was able to get all 10 decades said and my chaplet - almost like my chapel on wheels.
I recall some times over the years that our Nancy's birthday which is today on Good Friday, that at least 2 other times it was also on Good Friday. She is on the road with her family after 3p services up there to spend Holy Saturday and Easter with us on the farm! Happy Birthday, Nancy, we love you and are excited to have you here with us!
Easter 2020 and soon they will be here to add to our JOY!
The birthday girl, Nancy, with her George Blaise - he is now 2!
Grandpa Pat can't wait to see his Georgie! "how will I hold him now?" I am sure he will find a way, but no moving that shoulder honey! Bless-bless, Barbara
Little Birdie will be 11 months old in a week! She is a delight to her family, and gets around and crawls right up to her loving grandpa, Pat, and stands by his leg so that he can put her in his lap. I am currently in a waiting room as Pat is having his left shoulder repaired... many prayers surrounding him and the farm family stepping up to handle things. It is great that the farm kids have the next 5 days off!
Such a fun sight to watch the calves frolicking in a new area at sunset last evening... last summer they laid some cement in this area, so it is nice to scrape clean and put fresh bedding and out of the picture are a line of 3 calf huts that the calves can lay in in case of rain or cold. The weather looks wonderful ahead! Thank you, Lord!
Gathered at the farm for Joy's 4th birthday supper and enjoying the show that the baby calves were putting on as they frolicked to and fro!
Pat was over at the farm early, and now is in surgery here in town. Thankfully it is his left arm, and as we drove in our prayers were for "quick and complete healing."
A funeral mass for a young woman on Wednesday of Holy Week, allowed me to join Mary at the foot of the cross in my prayers. For the unexpected death of a wife and mother and for hubby today. I am concerned about how I am going to do with this as he is unable to use his arm or hand at all for the first week and then only minimal. Much prayer for patience on both of our parts.
As I was reminded - today is the last day of the life of Jesus - tomorrow he dies on the cross, and his mother follows him down the way of The Cross with a broken heart with many swords of sorrow piercing her Mother's heart!Danielle Rose - A mother's song get the kleenexes handy for this one! "I held your body in my arms when you were born and later when you died." Not quite the words but the sentiment of her realization of God made man in her arms as a newborn and God made man brutally crucified/killed for mankind.
In touch with Hallel by email as she and The Community is praying for Pat. Hallel is in France so it is 7 hours ahead of us and they are in the midst of their Holy Thursday prayer! Each hour is filled with very powerful scripture and prayer as they share in the Passion in very deep and powerful ways. As Little Sister Alma reminded us yesterday - We pary that the surgery goes well - he is with Jesus in his week of suffering! Such a reminder to unite this difficult time with Jesus.
Working on my cross for my Easter tree - I ponder the last year, and my blessing of my 6 months over a growing season on the farm with my Deacon father is something that I will cherish always and wanted to capture with our prayer time on the porch each day at 3p - dad arrived here almost a year ago on April 16th, and then passed away modeling a "natural death" on hospice on October 23rd.
I smile as I add this and that from our shared time of doing the work of prayer each day.... Dad always commenting on the clouds in the sky, watching the white cars and trucks on Hwy 59...."There is a big white one... look at that!" Chickens joining us on the porch while we prayed. Very interested with the cows and calves came up and ate the grass in the paddock in front of our barn. The flag blowing in the wind, and my kitty joining us in prayer - Jahosephat/Fatty! I would be barefoot and rub him while we prayed. Sadly Fatty disappeared this winter after about 7 years of him being my kitty... we are not sure but he was mighty fat and a cayote comes to mind. Sigh. Both Fatty and my dad gone seems like insult to injury. It will special to add him to my picture. I will share with it is finished - my JOY to have this keepsake of my time with dad on the farm!
I get so excited to do my annual cross and butterfly for my Lilac branch brought in to put out Easter leaves and tiny lilacs ahead of the ones outside. My Easter Tree holds years of special blessings as I rejoice in the Lord's touching my life year after year.
My butterfly this year will be devoted to our first Verly Christmas Camp on January! It was wonderful and culminated when "your family fills up the Church" from a friend as we posed in the back of church after 8a mass! My greatest delight is that gift of sharing Faith/Family/Farm as a family - soon we are to welcome out 31st member - our 20th grandchild on May 12th in Washington.
The leaves are bursting forth... new life on the horizon of Easter as we now follow after Jesus down the narrow path as he carries his Cross and then is nailed to it tomorrow. How can we forget the scourging, mocking, crown of thorns... then on his wounded flesh to lay that heavy cross... so impossible to go there!
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his Blood, who has made us into a Kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen. Rev 1
Yes, there were times when the jet streams would cross each other and we would see a cross in the sky while we did our chaplet and our rosary. I am loving how this is coming together!
I would do it over again in a minute. It was such an amazing gift to me to share these last 6 months with the help of hospice with my father! How we loved to spend morning and evening in prayer along with our 3p porch time with our beads traveling through our fingers! Dad is buried now with the rosary that he prayed with each day. It just seemed right for him to have it still!
I had to pay the 10th Station a visit yesterday... Jesus is stripped.
12 years ago Susan came home after discerning out of a new order in The Cities. She got a key to go in early to do her morning prayer and holy our before mass in the dark church. She always sat by the 10th station, and I thought it was the fact that it represents "humility". "No, mom, it is because this is the last row with a kneeler and then people cannot see me cry." In a sense it did represent a deep place of humility and questioning where the Lord wanted her.
A few months later thanks to Archbishop Naumann in KC - The Community of the Lamb, whom she had met while studying in Rome, came to the inner city poor part of Kansas City, Kansas to open their first foundation in the U.S.! Hallel's prayers were answered! And she told us in front of the altar to Our Lady of Guadalupe that she would be going to France to join our Amazing Community of the Lamb and bless our lives richly with their prayers and example of a life lived for Jesus alone - their beloved spouse!
The birthday girl last night joined her two girl cousins, Evangeline and Josephine at 4 years old! We love our groups of cousins and they love to spend time with each other. JoJo will be coming to share Easter with us and her family - sharing The Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday on the farm! It should be a warm sunny Easter! Sharing familytime of the farm is sunny no matter what!
God parents, John and Bobbi, gifted Joy with her own apron Joy loves to make cookies and cakes with her mom most every day! It is her imaginary friends birthday every single day! Her brothers and sisters count on fresh baked yummies every day after school!
Joy's bakery brings lots of JOY to her family!
Grandma's purse was emptied a few times by my little namesake, Birdie Barbara!
Checking out Godmother's blanket... She is at home here after coming every Sunday for our wonderful brunch after sharing mass together. Then those special gatherings to celebrate like Joy and her grandpa, Larry yesterday.
On April 19th Mary will be 15, and May 1st Rose will be 9! The girls tend to come in the spring on the farm! Tomorrow is not only Good Friday this year, but also our Nancy Anna's birthday. It has been on Good Friday a few times before over these 38 years... never on Easter. But we do call her our Easter girl and now joined by others!
Sharing Paul's 4H records - something to see and a lot of dedication and hard work and humor!
Mary is a kitten lover like her mom ahead of her! As I wrote in Joy's card... they are very lucky farm girls to have almost all the farm animals in baby form. Soon pigs will join the goats and kids, cows and calves , kitten and puppy and ducklings, chickens and baby chicks... Mary will be kidding out her goats any day now. Her goat farming is happening!
Dad and Brother Victor today! Basically sharing that we are all called to do "small things with great love for Jesus!"
What I would say here is that I find so much each day with all that The Church gives us in The Word, Sacraments, sacramentals - like The rosary and chaplet, and the Saint for that day, Our Lady walking with us, holding our hands, or holding us close to her Immaculate heart pierced with all the swords that we face in our suffering. So richly filled with more than I can ever truly share or comprehend fully! Overflowing is His unconditional LOVE and forgiveness!
Jesus, how I love you and long to die to self so that you may live in me and use me to your honor and glory. Be with my Most Cherished Cross as he is having surgery to repair his strong hard working shoulder. May it heal quickly and completely, and give us the patience to serve and to trust. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen
What JOY! Hallel's first home visit in 3 years to the farm, and sharing prayer with my father on the porch! Dad had not seen Susan/Hallel for 12 years since she had left for France to join her Community of the Lamb!
Joined by the cherished relic of Blessed Solanus Casey. My parents rushed it to be used to pray over John when his brain cancer was growing back - in the center Aisle at 8a mass in October of 2009! John is cancer free and the new John!
I know that my dad is smiling as his chair is now very important in Pat's recovery! Thanks to dad's lift chair which his kids gifted to him at his 90th birthday and he used faithfully for 6 years until his death... Pat is sleeping well at night and that will be huge in his healing. Thank you, dad and I know you are praying for your beloved farm! Bless-bless, Barbara
