LOVE is the answer, and shows God's face! VCC 2025 over the weekend at Shetek - "If we love one another, God remains in us..." +JMJ+

Tom here today and we went outside without our jackets as it was almost 50 degrees out!  He found Riley and posed so nice for grandma after 2 breakfast sandwiches and an ice cream cone!  

Tom, Neumann and a cardinal in my mom's white chair.

No nap today - just jumping on the bed!  

/Cat watching a fluttering moth, which we think came out of a caccoon in his wood pile.  So far he did not have lunch.

A year ago Ruth celebrated her 45th birthday in KCK with our nun, Hallel, and sister, Maria, who was stationed in Fort Riley, KS a couple hours away!  They had a huge snow storm that gave them another day with The Community of the Lamb!  

The two redhead cousins, Romeo and Joy!  

Birthday little sister style a year ago - this year we celebrated with her at the final day of our Verly Christmas Camp at Lake Shetek!  

The husbands - Paul to Ruth and Major Joseph to Maria.  Major Joseph is now stationed in Poland till May.

45 candles is a fire!  It was amazing that Ruth and Paul got all 7 of their kids with them!  They had not had time with the sisters for 7 years when they had Joy as a baby.  Tom has joined the family since then, and just turned 4.

After all 32 of us sharing Mass in Tracy, MN - St Mary's.  I think that it is obvious that we are having our Christmas when we fill up the church with our family!  This was Ruth's birthday on Sunday the 4th of January!  

Ruth's birthday cakes were pancakes made with love by her old dad.

Josephine in line for a hot one right off the griddle!  

Ruth goes all out for our weekend bringing along special decor and dishes including these wine glasses that my mom gave to her.  She recognizes how much Ruth loves dishes and uses them for each holiday!  

With Santa...

We are starting to have more and more teenagers!  Berna and Patrick were just 13 a month ago!  

Santa brings candy and shirts!  

Ruth birthday from years past - CCC 6 years ago!

Baby Joy 8 years ago - Ruth was 38.  David missed the ice cream cake, and was upset the next day till they showed him propped up by dad in a deep sleep.  A famous story of Dave's early to bed!  

13 years ago at CCC with Santa!  

A random picture of Nancy's bunch about 5 years ago!  

Hector is now 6 and Evie is 9... so about 5 years ago the military family come for a visit!

Hector at about 1 year old - he is now 6 and in first grade!  

The Kansas snow storm a year ago now.  Ruth and Paul and their 7 were with the little sisters in KCK!  

Military family visit 5 years ago - cute memories that came up on FB!  

Romeo and Evie! 

When they were stationed by Seattle at Fort Lewis.

It took us 2 days to drive out there through the Rocky Mountains!  Therese knew grandma would like some pictures so she arranged this!  Hector is now 6 and they have added Magdalene!  

Maggie in a dress that her big sister, Therese made for her.

A small play of the Nativity for Santa.  The littles were Mary, Joseph, The shepherds and they all adored baby Jesus as Santa held and rocked him.  We love Jesus!  The reason for this Season!  

I am finding the first readings at Mass especially wonderful from I John about LOVE!  

Reading 1 1 John 4:11-18

Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.  

"WE love you sweet baby Jesus!"

Santa arrives, and later we have a dance of great JOY!  

A Nativity veggie tray!  

Family Rosary keeps our hearts, minds and souls turned towards Jesus through Mary!  John with his youngest, Lucy, and Ruth with her crocheting.

Water coloring with grandma - Joy with the 3 kitties that live on my place.

After Mass on Sunday!  

Youngest grandchild will be 3 in a week.  It is hard for me to have no new little ones in the womb.  They are growing up too fast!  Soon I will have more teenagers than littles!  

The posse - Tom, Maggie and Gina are all 3 and the girls chase Tom wherever he goes!  He giggles and smiles - how long will that last?

The three 6 year old boys at the dance we had over at a big gym.

Lucy loves to dance!  

LOVE of color!

Art work displayed on the fridge for a day!  

Josephine painted Tom's tractor with a bale on the spear that grandma and dad drew!  

His dad and Tom in the cab of the tractor!  

Joy finding lots of JOY everywhere!  Such a good name for this sweet happy girl, and so appropriated for Christmas Season!  

A sweet dress that Therese made for her secret Santa gift - a sheet that she found at a second hand store and made this dress for JOJO.  I love her scapular in the back!  

Front view with a smile...

John made egg bake for the first breakfast - the meals are shared by each family, and grandma sure loves to just show up and enjoy!  

Puzzles and games were played.

Our fun started at the Garvin tubing hill!!  There was snow on Friday, but most of it is melted now. 

Front row seat for the tubers going down.

The truck brought them up to the top over and over.

Fun!

The two 17 year olds walking up the hill.

How did they get so big?!?

Special time in the warming house...

Tom watching, but the littles did go down with grandpa.

It was fun to include our eldest's birthday as we had our family Christmas now dubbed VCC - Verly Christmas Camp.  It is very much similar to CCC - Cross Christmas Camp - my family now just had our 40th year!  

Santa gifted the shirts, and then grandma wants her picture for a Christmas present!  Only missing 2 of our 34 - our nun, Little Sister Hallel, and our Major Joseph, who is in Poland.  

I will end this for now - it was a wonderful Christmas Season for us with Maria able to go and visit her husband in Poland after 5 months apart!  I had the great joy of being with her 7 kids along with the other grandma.  I was also blessed with about 50 of the Crosses (my maiden name) for CCC.  Finally, we had our VCC this past weekend.  I must also share that we had a glorious Christmas with Hallel and The Community of the Lamb in Kansas City, KS!  I think Christmas could not have been any better!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb and the 33 plus 13 in heaven!  Talk about Communion of the Saints!  

Salve Regina - Hail Holy Queen as our nuns sing it each night before going to bed.  Like angels singing!

Crab rave  - one of the most popular dance songs for the kids!

Goodness of God

  

 

Holy Family - 4th day of Christmas comes with a blizzard/Christmas with little sisters in Kansas/'bearing with one another and forgiving" - +JMJ+

My kids and grandkids know the only gift I want for Christmas is to see them together dressed up for Christmas Mass smiling and sending love to me!  Maria missing Major Joseph, who is living in Poland for 10 months.  They now live in their forever home just outside of Taylors Falls, MN.  They attend daily mass at St Joseph's Catholic Church in TF.  A beautiful and familiar church where my parents attended towards the end of their lives.

Fr John Drees with Maria's 3 boys that serve daily mass so beautifully and reverently!  

Tom and Joy with the blizzard white out behind them - they came over to visit grandpa and grandma after Mass and celebratory brunch on the farm.

The farm family after Mass with the storm outside.  Simon is home from his work at ADM and Mary is home on break from college at the U of M.  Together!  

With the 7 little sisters and Postulant, Mary Grace, who spent Christmas with Pat and I living just down the hall in the room set aside for family.  My shirt says "Pray like a girl" with many amazing Saints!  These girls pray as their charism - so they are prefect examples of praying like these girls!  

Such a blessed Christmas that began with midnight Mass from 11p-1a.  Then Hot chocolate and cookies.  Pat then stayed up till 4a with them including Adoration.  The Community really doesn't sleep much, but we got to bed early Christmas night and slept in a bit on Friday morning. Pat made them sisters his yummy pancakes!  

Nancy's family in Delano looking festive and giving me my most cherished Christmas present!  They attend St Maximilian Kolbe Church and school!  

John's family with smiles and JOY!  John and I hugged as we won't see each other tonight as they are having a holiday from Adoration.  

Our family nativity about 11 years ago.  We will have one at our family Christmas at the end of the week at Lake Shetek Lutheran Camp.  Romeo was the baby Jesus and he is now 11.

How we love LIFE!  Open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS is our motto we live by!  

And still December 28th also - the 4th day of the Octave of Christmas!  

Baby George is now 6, so this was about that long ago now... 

The sisters 2024!

Maria traveled to Poland to have a wonderful week with Major Joseph !  Such a blessing for them after they were apart for close to 6 months with another 4 to go until he returns to the U.S.

Out into the storm after Mass.

The two Patricks a few years back.

Therese with her little brother, Hector, while they were living in Fort Leavenworth 2 years ago.  They have discovered that they will be living in Fort Leonard wood when Joe gets back.  It is about 2 hours from the little sisters, and we are happy to know we can see two of our girls when we head down there.   

Pat's mom with Romeo and Dominic, who are both 11 years old now.  Mom died on Gaudette Sunday 9 years ago.  She loved little ones and had 10 children.  Her youngest, Ida, is know to say - "Thanks mom for having 10 kids!"  

Farmer Pat is now a breakfast cook.  Every time we go to visit one of our kids including our nun... he makes his wonderful pancakes, bacon and eggs!  He looks good in his  blue apron!  

Precious -  LIGHT came into the world!  

I know my sharing here is small, but it is how I share my Faith/Family/FArm!  

Beautiful healthy home cooking for her wonderful husband in Poland!  Joe took this picture showing his devotion!  Much in the readings today about how we are to love and care for our famillies!

Reading II Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another, 
if one has a grievance against another; 
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love, 
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, 
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, 
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, 
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs 
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, 
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks to God the Father through him.  

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, 
as is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives, 
and avoid any bitterness toward them.
Children, obey your parents in everything, 
for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children, 
so they may not become discouraged.

Yes, when I pray with Pat I pray that we may love and forgive as Jesus loves and forgives us!  The Holy Family shows us how to live this in our domestic Church/family!  Hear our prayer, O Lord!  

Lighting the oil lamps by the Nativity.

Blind little brother, David going up to say goodnight to Mary the mother of God.

Supper at the brothers sharing what we found deeply moving about the amazing Christmas services through the night!  I loved that I was blessed to share it with the Archbishop that brought the Community of the Lamb to the heart of our country!  

3 week old baby Christoph held by Francis Xavior.

Christmas Carrols after Christmas Day Mass!  

Percious baby Christoph laying in the hay while we honored the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!  

Archbishop Joseph now has retired and lives in a new home close to the little brothers!  He shared midnight Mass and breakfast with us,.  He also said the 11a Mass on Christmas Day!  I am in awe!!!  

He was the Archbishop that stood up for LIFE!  

So blessed to have this man now close by and sharing - it was wonderful to share with him here and there!  

Reminding us of how God came to the earth as a tiny newborn infant!  So helpless and truly new LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  

The Body and Blood of Jesus still is alive and well thanks to priests that say "yes" to his call!  

Bringing forth the cup.

Sharing his wisdom!  So grateful that he invited The Community of the Lamb to come to start this foundation in the heart of our country!  It is so important for them to be here!  

Hallel reading the first reading from Christmas Mass.

CCC 2024 - we now have 2025 in the books and it was lovely in every way!  So wonderful to share it with my grandkids and 3 of my kids with their families!

This has been a long project attempting to share my great JOY found in The Holy Family leading us into Jesus, Mary, the Saints and The True Church!  The wind continues to roar outside, and Pat has now gone over to the farm with Tom and Joy to help get the cattle bedded nice and dry after the blowing snow.  We have on the horizon our family Christmas beginning on Friday.  It looks like there can be snow for sledding at Garvin.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara and the 33 plus 13 in heaven.  

Pray like these girls!  

Hallel describes their lives as "prayer and dishes".

CCC 2024

Another cute one of these two reuniting after 6 months apart!  

Every morning for the week I stayed with Maria's 7 - this gave me so much JOY and happiness!  a foretaste of heaven!  Bless-bless

  +JMJ+

Feast* of the HOLY FAMILY of 
Jesus, Mary and Joseph

*The Sunday between Christmas and New Year's Day.

If both are Sundays, the feast is celebrated on December 30.

May the example of the Holy Family,
with the aid of the Holy Spirit,
guide all families, especially those most troubled,
to be homes of communion and prayer
and to always seek your truth and live in your love.
Through Christ our Lord.  Amen
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us!
World Meeting of Families - Philadelphia 2015

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph 

had only one life, one purpose: 

To glorify the Heavenly Father. 

That is what we also must want. 

To achieve it, we have to enter 

into union with Mary and Joseph,

share their life - family life, 

the intimate interior life

of which God alone is secret.

What happiness to be called to this life.  

Our love will consist 

in living with Mary and Joseph

on the love of Jesus Eucharistic.”

St. Peter Julian Eymard

 "The family has the mission to 

guard, reveal and communicate love, and 

this is a living reflection of and a real sharing in 

God’s love for humanity and the love of 

Christ the Lord for the Church, His bride. 

Every particular task of the family 

is an expression and concrete actuation 

of that fundamental mission.” -

St John Paul II

________________________

Home life is the God-appointed training 

ground of human character...  

Archbishop Fulton J Sheen

______________

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church

533 The hidden life at Nazareth allows everyone to enter into fellowship with Jesus by the most ordinary events of daily life:

The home of Nazareth is the school where we begin to understand the life of Jesus - the school of the Gospel. First, then, a lesson of silence. May esteem for silence, that admirable and indispensable condition of mind, revive in us. . . A lesson on family life. May Nazareth teach us what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simple beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character... A lesson of work. Nazareth, home of the "Carpenter's Son", in you I would choose to understand and proclaim the severe and redeeming law of human work. . . To conclude, I want to greet all the workers of the world, holding up to them their great pattern their brother who is God. (Pope Paul VI at Nazareth, January 5, 1964)

534 The finding of Jesus in the temple is the only event that breaks the silence of the Gospels about the hidden years of Jesus (Lk 2: 41-52). Here Jesus lets us catch a glimpse of the mystery of his total consecration to a mission that flows from His divine Sonship: "Did you not know that I must be about my Father's work?" (Lk 2:49) Mary and Joseph did not understand these words, but they accepted them in faith. Mary "kept all these things in her heart" during the years Jesus remained hidden in the silence of an ordinary life.

_______________________

Holy Family of Nazareth, help us to willingly 

enter the hidden life of Nazareth, the school of Nazareth, 

that allows us to enter into  fellowship with Jesus 

by the most ordinary events of daily life. 
Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us. Amen.

__________________

CONSIDER THIS:   

Perhaps a 2026 resolution might include resuming or beginning

the practice of writing/typing JMJ (Jesus, Mary, Joseph) atop

or at the close of your papers (emails) of correspondence.  

It symbolically illustrates a worldview,

a mindset that reminds that we follow an example, 

a way that is sanctified and greater than ourselves.

CONSIDER THIS TOO:

Ask the Lord to guide you to an icon, painting, print,

stained glass or statue of the Holy Family...

Or simply frame a Holy Card or 

Christmas card of the Holy Family.

Give it a place of honor in your home!

Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us! 

_______________________

Fourth Day of Christmas

Hail Holy Queen/Salve Regina as our Community sings it like angels 

Goodness of God

Good Tree - Hillbilly Thomists

Danielle Rose - the Saint that is just me