A week with Patrick, and the picture was perfect!!!

My husband, Patrick, was so excited to get to El Paso and hold his namesake!!  We did it!  Then we brought them back to pick up Hallel in Kansas City and then home for a 5 day home visit on the snowy farm!!  We saw a healthy happy boy in every way - from sitting on the floor, and eating his first baby cereal, and laughing and happy with those that play and hold him!  So when at the first of the week he had an EEG - we hoped for the picture to be as perfect on the inside of his brain as he seems to all of those that LOVE him in all that he does!

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We got that perfect news today - Patrick's brain is totally normal and he is going to weaned off his siezure meds now!  Praise HIM!  All the prayers for healing and protection were answered by our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, on this feastday of St Mark!  Go tell all the world of the marvels of our LOVING and Forgiving Lord!  He is truly alive and well in our world, and healing those that turn to HIM for needs.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

Saying "Hi!" to Jesus in the chapel in Kansas City.  Patrick knows Jesus well as He brought him back to LIFE and then healed him.  We know that Jesus has special plans for Patty Joe!  He is a shining LIGHT for all the world to see! 

Visiting the chapel in the new little Monastery that is nearing completion.  I am sure that Patrick will spend time here over the years ahead.  We are so blessed to have the Community in our lives and to have Patrick healed and with us for our journey of LIFE, LOVE and LIGHT! 

The cousins that Patrick will grow up with - so much LIFE!

Plenty of arms to hold and LOVE to go around.  Thank you, Lord, for YOUR LOVE OF LIFE! 

"Day unto day takes up the story" - Most Joyful moment...

I was reminded this morning that I was on the schedule to contribute of Nancy's woman of Faith series that she does every Saturday on her Small things blog -http://www.dosmallthingswithlove.com/ So after writing this, and realizing how good it was to ponder this topic and remind myself of the sacrament that is with me every day of my married life, and gives us the graces we both need to make the best of each day, and to grow in the knowledge and LOVE of Jesus Christ, and His Bride, The Church!  That joyous occassion in the glorious surroundings of the Basilica of St Mary fills my life with great LIGHT of the Truth! 

                                         My Most Joyful moment as a wife




My most joyful moment as a wife was my wedding day…Pat and I ministered the sacrament of marriage/matrimony to each other in our lifelong vows in the gloriously beautiful Basilica of St Mary in Minneapolis, MN. I was married in 1978, and I was older than most women at the age of 26, soon to be 27. I had considered a call to become a sister, and due to circumstances at the time, when the Sr. directing me told me that she was leaving religious life and getting married – the “call” evaporated for me – I see now that I was called to marriage, and this was the answer to my prayers for direction. My entire family had converted to the Catholic faith in 1971, and that is really saying something because my father was a Protestant minister and I was the oldest of 11 children. So 13 of us converted with our first communion together on Christmas Eve mass! If you would like to read about this - http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html



On our first date my husband shared that he had shocked his sisters by saying that he would only marry a Catholic, and after seeing how he is such a determined man – I now see that his prayers for me could have been instrumental in our entire family converting to The Church! I fell madly in LOVE with the Catholic Church, and then madly in LOVE with Patrick Verly! After those years of cherishing the daily Eucharist; being confirmed in a huge adult confirmation at the Cathedral in St Paul along with my parents, some siblings, and what appeared to be hundreds; looking at a call to religious orders; finding such JOY and freedom in frequent reconciliation, and on August 3rd, 1978 we set out to live each day that sacrament of marriage, as we vowed to love, honor, and cherish until death do us part… helped along with the sanctifying grace and all the Church gives us to make that possible! We are approaching 35 years of carrying forth each day that most JOYFUL moment of our joining as man and wife – the Sacrament of Matrimony! By embracing our Most Cherished Cross – each other – we find LIFE, LOVE and bring LIGHT into the world.

A family picture taken almost 2 weeks ago with only 2 son-in-laws missing to make it complete!  WE are 19 going on 20 now!  Embracing our Most Cherished Cross has brought LIFE to us in abundance!  And we pray for each and every member from the moment we know they are in the womb and each day forward...that they are LIGHTS to the world! 
Jesus, we thank and praise you for the opportunity to share the Truth and the life-giving - "you flood the world with your word as a river of LIGHT."  This day as the feastday of St Mark we are reminded by Blessed John Paul II..."Over the years, I have often repeated the summons to the new evangelization.  I do so again now, especially in order to insist that we must enkindle in ourselvses the impetus of the beginnings and allow ourselves to be filled with the ardor of the apostolic preachings which followed Pentecost.  We must revive in ourselves the burning conviction of Paul, who cried out: 'Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel' (I Cor 9:16)."  How very good it was for me today, dear Lord, to be reminded of this most Holy and powerful Sacrament of Your Church which I embarked on almost 35 years ago, and how richly I have been given the graces I needed to embrace my Most Cherished Cross/Patrick each day forward and through that Cross find the LIFE, LOVE and LIGHT that comes to us!  May we truly share that Truth with all those in our lives/domestic Church/family!  We too are called to evangelize and carry forth the FIRE of the Holy Spirit that comes to us through the Sacrament of Confirmation, and then forward each day filled with the LIFE of the Spirit!  Jesus, we are filled to overflowing with YOU!  May we always share that humbly and without counting the cost.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"Those who have come into genuine contact with Christ cannot keep him for themselves, they must proclaim him.  A new apostolic outreach is needed, which will be lived as the everyday committment of Christian communities and groups... Christ will be presented to all peoples with confidence.  We shall address adults, families, young people, children, without ever hiding the most radical demands of the Gospel's message...'I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some' ( I Cor 9:22).' "  Blessed John Paul II

Hence we must stand firm on the Truth - hate the sin and love the sinner!

May the Truth set us free to leave self behind, and to LOVE without counting the cost - "Wounded, I will not cease to LOVE!"

http://www.myspace.com/danielleroseofficial/music/songs/true-love-45413865  Danielle Rose - True LOVE!  This was the song that Hallel listened to over and over before she left to join the Community of the Lamb - when did she know that she belonged there?   "My first day there!" she joyfully answered.  Driving her car, after she left and listening to this in the player - I had to pull over to cry at the beauty of it all!!!  May we embrace our Most Cherished Cross this day and forward!

Earthly farewells are a Cross also!

Two weeks ago already...

Therese had not seen her Godmother for over 2 1/2 years, and just like that they were sharing the washing of the dinner dishes, just as Mary has been able to do lately.  The wearing of the blue apron, and helping in the kitchen is such a special thing for the girls to share with their Aunt/Godmother Little Sister Hallel!  The girls know that they are helping out in the group effort to clean up the dishes after a meal.  This is just part of the meals we share with the Community.  No dishwasher or even hot water from the faucet.  That is turned off to shave on finances as well as making life a bit more poor.  The water is heated on the stove in a big pot, so there is a science in getting it the right temperature so that it doesn't burn a little helper girl's fingers.  Therese felt very special to be helping her wonderful Godmother! 

I have noticed that Hallel is very good at including the girls with the day to day things that she does.  When she sets up for mass or puts things away... she has the girls help her with that too.  It is a very special and ordinary way to make them realize how special are the things that are used for mass and the taking care of them shows our respect and LOVE for Jesus, and His Bride, The Church!

Something that Therese can share with Hallel and will hold in her heart in a very special place!

The two little ones blow out the candles after mass.  The chapel is always filled with flowers and candle light - reflecting the Beauty of our God! 

Psalm 104 - A grand Hallel psalm!

Bless the LORD, my soul!

"LORD, my God, you are great indeed!



You are clothed with majesty and splendor,



2robed in light as with a cloak.



You spread out the heavens like a tent;a

3setting the beams of your chambers upon the waters.*

You make the clouds your chariot;



traveling on the wings of the wind.



4You make the winds your messengers;



flaming fire, your ministers.b

II5*You fixed the earth on its foundation,



so it can never be shaken.



6The deeps covered it like a garment;



above the mountains stood the waters.



7At your rebuke they took flight;



at the sound of your thunder they fled.c

8They rushed up the mountains, down the valleys



to the place you had fixed for them.



9You set a limit they cannot pass;



never again will they cover the earth.d

III10You made springs flow in wadies



that wind among the mountains.



11They give drink to every beast of the field;e

here wild asses quench their thirst.



12Beside them the birds of heaven nest;



among the branches they sing.



13You water the mountains from your chambers;



from the fruit of your labor the earth abounds.



14You make the grass grow for the cattle



and plants for people’s work



to bring forth food from the earth,



15wine to gladden their hearts,



oil to make their faces shine,



and bread to sustain the human heart.



16*The trees of the LORD drink their fill,



the cedars of Lebanon, which you planted.



17There the birds build their nests;



the stork in the junipers, its home.f

18The high mountains are for wild goats;



the rocky cliffs, a refuge for badgers.



IV19You made the moon to mark the seasons,g

the sun that knows the hour of its setting.



20You bring darkness and night falls,



then all the animals of the forest wander about.



21Young lions roar for prey;



they seek their food from God.h

22When the sun rises, they steal away



and settle down in their dens.



23People go out to their work,



to their labor till evening falls.



V24How varied are your works, LORD!



In wisdom you have made them all;



the earth is full of your creatures.i

25There is the sea, great and wide!



It teems with countless beings,



living things both large and small.j

26There ships ply their course



and Leviathan,* whom you formed to play with.k

VI27All of these look to you



to give them food in due time.l

28When you give it to them, they gather;



when you open your hand, they are well filled.



29*When you hide your face, they panic.



Take away their breath, they perish



and return to the dust.m

30Send forth your spirit, they are created



and you renew the face of the earth.



VII31May the glory of the LORD endure forever;



may the LORD be glad in his works!



32Who looks at the earth and it trembles,



touches the mountains and they smoke!n

33I will sing to the LORD all my life;



I will sing praise to my God while I live.o

34May my meditation be pleasing to him;



I will rejoice in the LORD.



35May sinners vanish from the earth,



and the wicked be no more.



Bless the LORD, my soul! Hallelujah!"

"Each day becomes more and more luminous"... LIGHT!

A bathtub full of happy babies is a JOY to see.  So much this morning in morning prayer in preparation for the Gospel - LIGHT!  After watching a wonderful movie called October Baby about a girl, who discovers that she was a baby that survived an abortion attempt.  Just coming to grips with how horrible abortion is  - the elephant in the corner!  All the talk of the horror of the bombing in Boston, while babies are killed in abortion all over our country day after day.  The damage it does to the women that think this is an easy fix for their incovenience of having a baby is another side of the picture!  I look at the progress of Lumen Christi - the little monastery that has taken root in Kansas City!  I know that this will bring each day more and more luminous - LIGHT of Christ into our country!

http://www.communityofthelambusa.org/monastery_progress.html  If you want to see their progress!!! There are some great pictures added lately - one has Hallel working on the varnishing of doors!

I just borrowed this from their website as there is Hallel hard at work and smiling sweetly for the camera - I wondered who taught her how to do that so well?  She is wearing her work habit, which she brought home to work outside in too!  They are working in the chapel, as you can see in the background.  Soon we will be attending services there - what JOY!  I have shared before the story of the old black man, who lives in the neighborhood.  He came up to the little sisters long before the little monastery had even begun and told them that he always had been scared in the neighborhood..."I always carried a knife with me.  But now I am not scared since you came here there is a light on the hill!"  That LIGHT is Christ - "I came into the world as LIGHT, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness."  John 12 - the Gospel for today!  I just know that their putting down roots in the heart of our country is going to make a huge difference, as it becomes a LIGHTHOUSE on the hill!  That with each day the LIGHT pushes out into our country more and more, and brings light and Truth into the darkness, and death that has come as a result of the darkness!

When we took Hallel back last week - Gus wanted to go out and play, after being cooped up in the van for the day.  We ended up playing in the patio by the little monastery.  I predict that this will become a favorite and familiar place for all of our grandchildren.  They are being raised as LIGHTS for the world, as were their parents... as my husband Pat clearly listened to the Spirit in his life - when I questioned if we were being selfish to want to have a large family in this sad/hard world - "The world needs LIGHTS!" made all my fears evaporate into thin air!  Now our children and grandchildren have Lumen Christi in their family... the LIGHT on the hill - the lighthouse - Light of Christ!

Here is a large group of the Saturday volunteers and the community having lunch in that same area... It is so wonderful to see this with my eyes, as a mother of the first little sister in America! 

Jesus, how our country needs your LIGHT to fill it - to chase away the darkness and lies of satan!  The taking of innocent LIFE in accepting abortion.  This goes on day to day without alarm, yet it takes LIFE and damages women for their lifetime!  May this day lives be saved!  May your Word come and dwell in us, so that we may carry YOU forth into our domestic Church/family.  Guide us down your path carrying our Most Cherished Cross.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-blesss, Barb

this was Kansas City - a week ago!

"Faith is a pulsating thing; a light, a sun that nothing can dim if it exists in the hearts of men.  That's why it's so beautiful.  God gives to me saying, 'I love you.  Do you love me back?  Come and follow me in the darkness.  I want to know if you are ready to go into the things that you do not see yet, on faith alone.'...'I invite you to a relationship of love; your love of me, my love of you.'... At this moment love surges in our heart like a tremendous sea that takes us in and lays usin the arms of God whom we haven't seen but in whom we believe.  Across the waves we hear, 'Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe.'  Now I walk in the darkness of faith and I see.  I see more clearly than is possible with fleshly eyes."  Servant of God Catherine de Heuck Doherty (1985)

"The world needs LIGHTS!" Pat Verly

Refuge in the storm...

The robins arrived here thinking that spring would greet them, but weeks of crazy winter weather has taxed them, and taken some lives.  Pat reported that there were dozens of them in the shed eating feed this morning.  Yes, it is feed for the cattle, but there is something about a robin being the sign of spring, and we just don't wish them any harm - whatever they can to do survive, and truly be here when spring arrives!  Don't we all feel, at times, that we need to find a refuge to make it through the storms of life.  The blizzards that catch us off guard, and we cling to a branch as the snow blows all around us.  We are people of the springtime - LIFE, LOVE, and LIGHT of the Son of God!  The winter is passing, and we cling to a branch and pray for the strength to find the warmth of springtime - the forgiveness and direction we need to find a branch to build our nest and raise our young in the knowledge and LOVE of HIM and his Bride, The Church!  Life is a gift!  I just watched October Baby - I would suggest it to appreciate the gift of LIFE, LOVE, and Forgiveness!  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb

Pretty.... tired of it all

Yes, it's beautiful, Lord, but we are just getting shell shocked by this forever winter!  Driving home last night was less than wonderful, and at times I wondered if I would get through that drift ahead of me.  Well, robins hold on... there will be an end at some point here.  You certainly look like you put on some winter fat to make it through storm after storm!  It is a lesson on holding onto hope, and that we will see spring at some point.  The thing about this part of the country is that it can be winter one day and then summer the next and we wonder what happened to spring.  A day of looking deep and asking the Lord to work on me... I had a piece of humble pie for breakfast, and it is turning my stomache - Lord, I am nothing without YOU.  A not too intelligent sheep comes to mind this morning, and I need to look to the shepherd for direction and protection from myself!  Jesus, I trust in YOU.  Amen and Halleluia

Lord, your world is beautiful!  May we look past the disappointments in our lives and know that YOU are loving and forgiving no matter what.  How we need to remember your unconditional LOVE, and embrace our Most Cherished Cross, and follow after YOU!  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5npOxjWOhUI  Danielle Rose - A Mother's Song

A mother on one side of the fence and her calf on the other... a good mother looking for her calf... I think you can tell which one is hers'.