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!
So precious from a year ago on Pentecost Sunday - my father holding 3 week old Birdie Barbara in her white Baptismal garment over her lovely white dress made from a blessed surplice. She appears to be smiling at her great-grandfather, who wanted to come to mass on this great day and share in taking that important step in her life - Baptism into The Catholic Church!
The little family a year ago! Today marks that 3rd anniversary of John and Bobbi as well as the 14th anniversary of Maria and Joseph!
We are filled with so much JOY and LOVE for these wonderful couples and the beautiful example of living out the Sacrament of Marriage as Jesus joins them. We all know that marriage is the "biggest Cross" and we must have Jesus and His Bride, The Church, there to guide and help us with each day!
My father baptized all 5 of my children! It was very powerful for me to have him here a year ago with 3 of those 5, who have taken to heart and forth their Faith instilled in them from their Baptism on!
John and Bobbi newly married 3 years ago in St Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent, MN! They had their wedding at 4p and instead of picking out their own readings - they had Corpus Christi Mass! "Unless you eat my Body and drink my Blood, you will have no life in you." John 6
"We don't want anyone to sin - thinking that they went to our wedding on Saturday, so they can miss mass on Sunday." reported John about this unusual choice that they made, yet so amazing and wonderful and powerful!
Brother Victor speaking about the beauty of peonies and how they are known as "Pentecost roses"
I found this so close to my heart at this joyful day as St Therese is Bobbi's patron saint, and she sent her roses over the years of her trusting silently that John was to be her husband and here she unknowingly was sent "Pentecost roses" in her beautiful bouquet!
Cousin, Ida, with the bride's bouquet - ALL roses... Pentecost roses and roses!
John and Bobbi with a bouquet of roses and a bouquet of Godchildren...5! How they love and honor LIFE and sharing in raising LIGHTS as Godparents!
Maria and Joseph at St Mark's 14 years ago! They had 4 priests concelebrating, my dad as deacon, who read the Gospel, and a church full of young vibrant Catholics from St Thomas, who voiced loudly and with compassion a large a amount of Latin in their Nuptial Mass!
This from Pope Benedict XVI today blew my socks off! This was left for me by my mother, Nancy, who had read it daily for 10 years! Rarely does she write any notes in it, but today she notated that it was John and Bobbi's wedding in 2018. They had planned to be here, but mother took a fall in their home and was unable to make it. I was sad that they had to miss...
How I love every word of this today, and I would hope that you would take the time to read it. For me it is a new way of answering the question I asked Pat at our engagement weekend... We had shared with the other couples that we wanted to have 12 kids! Every last other couple told us that with the mess the world was in - they would only have at most 2 kids or none at all! This shocked me and made me wonder out loud if we were being selfish to have a large family. Pat's immediate response to me; "The world needs LIGHTS!"
In an age like today, when the future looks dark, the question can arise of whether it is moral at all to bring someone into the world and thus perhaps to impose upon him a future in which is it no longer possible to be truly human. And indeed, if we no longer know if it makes sense to be human, than this gift of life can only be justified if I can give the new person more than mere biological life...
Birdie and dad keeping covid distance is so cute! She sure was wide awake for this huge day in her life! Entering her fellowship with Jesus in the heart of His Church!
If I can give her/him, along with it, a meaning that I know to be stronger than all the darkness of history. That is what baptism is, which takes him into fellowship with Christ. In that sense, infant baptism is clearly justified... Baptism is, in fact, much more than a ritual conferring membership in a community, as many people conceive now a days. It is a process of birth, through which a new dimension of life opens out. Pope Benedict XVI
I am so blessed to have had my dad here to meet Birdie Barbara, pray for her, join in her day of starting her journey down the narrow path with Jesus helped by his Bride, The Church! I was the lucky one to have him here for the last 6 months of his life with the help of hospice! Truly he walked peacefully and comfortably into the sunset of his life!
Out with hubby to fix fence - this bunch watching Pat intently and mooing that they would like some fresh grass please...
Eyes on the master as he figures out the puzzle of a fence where deer like to run through.
The creek zigs and zags and halts the 4 wheeler so walking is the way to go.
Can't quite get rid of the flag that flew for the 6 months my father sat here and prayed and watched the prairie winds blow... love and miss our prayer each day, dad! Thanks for praying more perfectly for us now with mom. You just added great-grandchild #59 - Magdalene Rose to your litany of first and middle names each Monday!
A great one of Joseph and Maria taken after our family Christmas in January. Captain Joseph is now deployed to Afghanistan and has yet to hold his new daughter, Maggie Rose, who is 3 weeks old today!
Maria holding down the fort with the 7! Baptism will happen when Joseph returns.
John and Bobbi at Easter - a picture of LIFE is the best! They have been so amazed at their answer for having children in the face of odds against them. The answer - Yes!!! Thank you, Lord!
Added Hallel to make it complete, and already outdated with our newest member, Maggie Rose! Also 2 more to be added before the New Year! Each new life brings more LOVE!
Jesus, we are so in love with you, and so grateful for your unconditional love and forgiveness. May we then return that to all around us - most especially those the closest to us in our domestic Church/family. Bless all marriages and may we all embrace our Most Cherished Cross where we find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Psalm 25
This was lived out today in the first reading - where Sarah was about to take her own life, but realized that this was not what the Lord wanted - rather she turned to God!
At that time, then, she spread out her hands, and facing the window, poured out her prayer:
“Blessed are you, O Lord, merciful God, and blessed is your holy and honorable name. Blessed are you in all your works for ever!”
At that very time, the prayer of these two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God. So Raphael was sent to heal them both: to remove the cataracts from Tobit’s eyes, so that he might again see God’s sunlight; and to marry Raguel’s daughter Sarah to Tobit’s son Tobiah... Tobit 3
Yes, we need to give control over to the Lord in the storms of life! Bless-bless, Barbara and family - our house serves The Lord and His Church! Thanks, Dad for bringing all 13 into The Church 50 years ago!
"Our duty as Catholics is to know the truth, to live the truth, to defend the truth, to share the truth with others, and to suffer for the truth."
– Servant of God, Fr. John Hardon, S.J.
John's story continues with now wife and children! He heads back to Rochester tomorrow for the return of his double vision and is asking for prayers again.
Praise you in the storm - Casting CrownsNatalie grant
Maggie is now 3 weeks old! It is fun to get an update from Maria and it continues to be good news as she is being such a good baby for her. Only up once at night to eat and then back to sleep til morning, is very much appreciated by her mom. All of these good helpers are also helping mom get through these months with Captain Joseph gone to Afghanistan for an uncertain amount of time - 3-6 months...
It was wonderful to be able to be there for Magdalene's arrival on the 12th of May, and to be there with Maria for her birth. Also to have that special time with Maggie as they brought her straight from surgery to the room with me even for her weight and measuring. I heard her first cries of LIFE as she was wheeled down the hall minutes after birth!
Pat started cutting hay yesterday! So the haying begins for the summer as June 1st is here!
Once again we are in tune with Dad's Brother Victor as he shares the wonderful smell in the air of newly cut hay!
"hay-making scent that permeates the local air is utterly delightful..." LOVE!
Pat's arm was sore and tired after mowing yesterday. Many prayers for total healing and recovery for Pat's shoulder, O Lord.
Sitting out on the porch yesterday brought thoughts of dad.. the flag that we put up a year ago and which we delighted in watching blow in our prairie winds was tattered and dulled by 365 days of use.
It seemed appropriate to unfurl a new flag on Memorial Day and it made me smile to recall the 3p prayer on the porch of our rosary and chaplet! Such powerful and special memories after my quick visit up to see dad and mom's grave the day before!
Such a peaceful place to spend some time with family as we honor our parents, who gave us the best gift of LIFE and also bringing us into The Church 50 years ago! Each day since has been a gift like no other for me!
Another picture from Maria to spoil me - Hector with Big Monkey and dolly.
Gentle and loving big brother, 2 year old Hector, holding his 3 week old Baby sister, Maggie Rose! So sweet to see.
She has her mom's long fingers, who got them from her dad and his mom, Great-grandma Ann!
A thoughtful pose yet peaceful. She is being so good for her mom and siblings... waiting to meet her daddy in person for the first time when he returns from being deployed.
Offer it up! Added this picture from France 3 years ago... yes, it is a selfie just after the most intimate time with Jesus with Mass followed by Adoration! You can see Jesus in us!
We are so blessed to share in the journeys of our children! Hallel's "Yes" to religious life, John's brain cancer and finding his faith and wife and now 2 children, Ruth's ministry with Creighton Model after being told no more children after rupturing after Mary - now expecting her 7th! Nancy with her ministry of Catholic Sprouts and Domestic Church project - open to life and raising lights! Maria who homeschools as they are in the military and now modeling how to raise disciplined and faith filled kids - after welcoming #7 3 weeks ago while Captain Joseph is deployed. John's story continues now to include his wife and 2 children! Tomorrow is is 3rd wedding anniversary!
Today I smiled so big when I was reading from mom's daily devotion by Pope Benedict XVI! She never writes in here, but today she made a note of 65 steaks for John and Bobbi's grooms supper! Too cute! Mom and dad had fake plans to come to John's wedding but mom took an unexpected fall in her home and hurt her arm, so was not able to come last minute. She seems to have regretted missing our wonderful steaks that Pat drove 2 hours there and back to get for our grooms dinner in our shop on the farm!
The cooks! Son in law, Bill, Godson, Steve, and Captain Joseph manned the grills for our wonderful farm beef at its best - STEAK - yes, 65!
A memorable family time in our beautiful shop! How Pat loves his shop, and extols the perfect location, and wonderful layout...
Always with baby kitties in attendance!
Mom reflecting on John's big day, with some note of sadness at missing our wonderful steaks! It only made sense that Pat would have a steak fry for her only son's grooms supper! For the girls he had the best roast beef dinner he could have for them... bringing up a wonderful caterer from locally up to the Cities!
Yes, mom was sad to miss John's wedding - in a rare smudged note in her daily prayer book tomorrow. I know it was sad to not have them here. As a result mom did not get here since she brought the relic of Solanus Casey here for John's prayer for healing 12 years ago. And dad finally did a month after mom died, and even got to see Hallel on her first home visit in 3 years!
With all these echoes of John today... The words of Psalm 112 from mass today rings as Truth in my heart, mind and soul!
Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord. or: R. Alleluia. An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear till he looks down upon his foes. R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
Even the "evil report" which John has had from time to time - he continues on and is a testament to the world around him of the power of prayer! Jesus is alive and well and healing and sending forth now as then!
A memory from 6 years ago of the cattle going to market - Rose saying goodbye.
The 5 cute train 6 years ago - Joy has been added, and #7 around Thanksgiving!
In 2 days our first load is going to a plant that has reopened in Buffalo Lake! On much the same schedule!
The 2 miracles of prayer/healing... John and Patrick giving high 5s to each other! I am overwhelmed by His LOVE for us!
Setting up for the reception in Ghent. They got married at 4P so that it would be good for Sunday mass - Corpus Christi! "We don't anyone missing mass and sinning because they went to our wedding the day before." So amazing! What was most amazing was how Bobbi stood up at the reception and told the 250+ guests her story of waiting for John 10 years from when she was told as a senior in HS that she would marry John Verly! Her prayers and trust brought John through brain cancer, seminary, ups and downs - "He won't die, because I am going to marry him."
Bobbi's story;
After being classmates for all 13 years for them to come together 10 years after graduating is kind of special. She shared to the 300 family and friends gathered at the reception in her sweet humble way about how John Verly popped into her head and heart when they were seniors in HS as her future husband. Time and time again the same answer came to her through prayer and roses from St Therese and opening her eyes to see him right in front of her at WYD in Australia... When we consider what John experienced over those 10 years... brain cancer, seminary, girl friends, ups and downs and how disheartening it probably was and how powerful her prayers were for him!!!! Amazing!!! And how patient and trusting and prayerful and waiting and praying for John, this sweet girl was!
John asked her to marry him in front of Our Lady in Holy Redeemer Catholic Church! After than they went out to share a celebratory meal, and Bobbi shared with him her story of waiting and praying for him. "I couldn't tell you until you proposed to me."
As I said - each of my kids and their amazing spouses blesses me and teach me in ways to go deeper in my faith! I am so humbled and undeserving of all his many gifts and blessings. And now with our 20th grandchild here! We are very blessed indeed! Pat is talking about taking a drive out to meet his newest granddaughter, so who knows...
Now St Therese and beautiful Our Lady in Ghent church were they were married!
Hubby just got here... so I will say farewell with my heart full! Bless-bless, Barb
