Filled with Thanksgiving!!!

There will be 15 of us sharing the big meal of Thanksgiving today - about good percentage of our family with only 7 missing - our Texas soon to be North Carolina family and our Little sister Hallel in Rome!  She is hoping to call us at meal time and get passed around as we visit with her.  In the last 5 years we have been able to share our Thanksgiving with her twice, so it seems to be the holiday that brings us closer to her.  We realize that this is not a holiday anywhere other than in America, so it affects the Americans in the order more... I am sure they will all be a bit homesick today.  Talking to the Community in KC a few days ago - asking for prayers for baby Joyce - they shared that they will be inviting those in their neighborhood and in need to their table at the Little Monastery, Lumen Christi, today.  "We used to go to the soup kitchen and eat with the poor, but now we invite those that want to come to share our table." Said Little Sister Lucy.

-6 this morning, but warm filled with all the thankfulness for our lives.  Jesus, you give us all we need to die so self so that you may live in us.  May we "rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord!  Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly."  I Chronicles 16  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks” – Saint Ambrose

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them” – John F. Kennedy

Third Day - your love O Lord

First time having Thanksgiving on the farm in 6 years!!!

Last Thanksgiving this was the beautiful sight we were blessed with as my sister-in-law, Angela hosted up in St Croix Falls my side of the family! 

 

Pat and I were going back over the last years - remembering Thanksgiving 5 years ago when we had Bill's turkey up at Nancy and Maria's house in the midst of John's battle against brain cancer.  Hallel had come home for the week to drive John for his second week of radiation.

After dinner entertainment by my brothers, Dan and Bruce!

 Thanksgiving 2012 we spent with Hallel in KC!  Nancy brought 2 week old Bernadette to see Hallel for the first time!  Now Hallel has 3 nephews she has yet to meet.  This was a procession for Ruth and Paul's 9th anniversary!

 Hallel had just met  month old Rose for the first time too!

 What a wonderful Thanksgiving this was!

 Mary in her blue apron doing dishes!

 These three Americans are now little Sister Frances, Little Sister Agape, and little Sister Kateri.

Zesty Zita two years ago!

meeting Berna and Rose... now she needs to meet Luke, Dominic, and Romeo!

 Thanksgiving with my family years back on Fremont Street.

The Thanksgiving at my parent's home in Taylors Falls 1990.  I was 20 weeks pregnant with William and lost him shortly after.  It is so special to see how much Susan looks like Rose and John looks like Luke!  Bless-bless, Barb

 

"The song of the Lamb" Revelations 15 - Praise and Thanksgiving!!!!

 It is a white world out there this morning once again.  The plan, with John home to help, that we would check the cows to see how pregnant they are.  First thing this morning it was cancelled with the cold and snow, but now it is in the process.  My job is to watch these two while Ruth is out recording the results and helping.  I am finding that there is no moment that I don't have copiers or helpers...  Trying to brush my teeth turned into feet, hands and teeth getting brushed and wet!  Of course, grandma had to grab her camera!

I am filled with contrasting emotions today as I am prayerfully fasting for baby "Joyce" who is in danger of being aborted.  Yet, I am rejoicing with the wonderful news of shrinking brain cancer shared by a young man on caringbridge this morning. 

A brief time of coloring and now eating pasta while grandma makes pasta salad for lunch!

 Luke and kitten taking in the white world outside.

Pat built a wall of bales to keep the cold and snow off of them while they work. I am cutting this short today... I have a boy wanting attention and pasta salad to make.

 

Jesus, be with baby Joyce and her parents this day.  Jesus, be with the family out in the elements.  Jesus, we join the song of the Lamb in praise and thanksgiving.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Bless-bless, Barb

 

The song of the Lamb from Revelations this morning in the first reading..."Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty.  Just and true are your ways , O king of the nations... For you alone are holy.  All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."  How I am praying today that we will know that the parents of Joyce could not go through with her death!  Lord, even if we never know - we are filled with HOPE for her LIFE to be spared through prayers of young and old and all in between.  Both the Communities of the Poor Clares and Community of the Lamb are praying with all of us!

Pasta salad helpers...

Luke ate his lunch out a very big bowl!  "That's the biggest bowl I have ever seen."  commented one of Nancy's friends when I filled it with cabbage salad for Bernadette's party.  "They must not can." we said to each other.

 

Luke was the official stirrer and taste tester...

 A bit messy, but they were occupied and happy and feeding themselves lunch all at the same time.  Worth a lot to a frazzled grandma, right?

I just called outside and found out they only have about 1/3 of them done.  I hope they are staying warm and in good spirits.  My two charges are laying down for their afternoon naps, so peace is reigning!  The Grand Hallel Psalm 98 from mass today is singing in my heart right now;
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and peoples with equity.
Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Rose napping on grandma's bed with the two kittens.  I have my doubts about how much sleeping is going to take place.

 I thought we might be bundled up and go out in the sled to see the crew at work, but....

 This was as close as we got to the snow.  It is pretty from this perspective, right?

This is footwashing little one style... serving those that need to be cared for and doing it with JOY!  May this holiday season be filled with the chance to serve others without counting the cost. 

Mary did you know by Rascal Flats - getting us ready for Advent to begin this weekend.

Prayers for baby Joyce - 15 week old baby girl sceduled to be aborted this week!

This is a precious photo of our sweet granddaughter, Bernadette, in her first trimester!  Nancy had experienced some bleeding and went in - we were in a frantic state of prayer as we knew she would be rushing in to find out about the fate of her baby.  A baby so wanted and loved from the moment of her parents knew she was there in the womb.  We received a call and this most precious picture from Nancy - we call it a sweet little gummie bear - that all was well.  John shares that he was at his fraternity when he got the call to pray.  He gathered some of his Catholic Fraternity brothers at Farmhouse, and they sat in the dining area saying the rosary together.   Suddenly the door blew open and shut close to them, and they were all very shaken by what appeared to them to be the Holy Spirit coming to join them and assure them that all will be well!

Me pregnant with Nancy in the barn - my coverall adjusted to my baby belly.

 

Today I am quite shaken and sad at a phone call Ruth received yesterday due to her fertility care... I will share her blog post here;

 " I had a sad call from a father yesterday inquiring about the Natural Family Planning courses I teach. As we visited and I was explaining how the method works he informed me that his partner was currently pregnant. I asked when the baby was due and he paused and said they are exploring their options. My heart sank. I encouraged him to consider adoption if they felt keeping the child wasn't an option. He said the mother didn't want to go through with the pregnancy and then give the baby away. As we kept talking I could tell that they had already made up their minds on what to do. I asked him how far along she was and he said she was 15 weeks. I let him know that at 13 weeks the baby has a sex and can be seen by ultrasound. He told me they had already seen the abortionist and she had done an ultrasound and they knew it was a healthy baby girl. He said that they had an abortion scheduled for later on this week. I tried to help him see that this child is a living person and doesn't need to die. Before we hung up I told him I would be praying for both of them and the baby. This is what I would like to ask you to do also. Please pray for this little girls life. She is a little light that is in danger of being put out. Jesus please hold her and her parents close to you and help them feel your unconditional love. "

St Peter's reminding us that The Church is a voice for LIFE!

 

Ruth also shared St Pio...

Padre Pio: A Patron Saint for the Unborn

     The Blessed Mother said to him: “I am entrusting this unborn child to your care and protection.”

  " Last night at our family prayer time I told my children about this baby and my daughter Mary decided she wanted to name the baby Joyce. She said this is because when Jesus saves the baby we can all rejoice that her life was spared."  Ruth from her blog today - http://familyfarmexperience.blogspot.com/2014/11/pray-unceasingly.html 

So powerful to have a name to call this baby and the firm hope and trust of a young faith filled girl that this life will be spared!!!!  May we all join Ruth, Paul, Simon, Mary, David, Rose and Luke in their heartfelt prayers for "Joyce" and her parents! 

 

I plan to fast tomorrow for the intention of saving this small perfect LIFE - little Joyce.  Dear Jesus, we storm heaven with our prayers against the darkness of sin and death.  Please, intercede with your LOVE to save this LIGHT, little Joyce!  We fall on our knees before you and beg for this life to be spared and protected at all cost.  May the words you put in Ruth's mouth yesterday touch the hearts, minds and souls of this couple.  Please bring to an end the taking of innocent LIFE through abortion!  May the words of the Psalm 96 today come to dwell on this earth and chase away the darkness with your glorious LIGHT!  "Before the Lord, for he comes; for he comes to rule the earth.  He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy.  The Lord comes to judge the earth."  Lord, may the prayers of the little ones come before you and change hearts by Your Truth!  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

 I am going to call the Poor Clares now and have them sending up prayers!!!!

 Our Lady is interceding for us, and bringing the world into the LIGHT of day, Jesus Christ!

 Blessed Teresa of Calcutta come from heaven and help us in this cause to save a LIFE!

Come Lord Jesus and touch the hearts of this couple and save little Joyce!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

 

I am also going to call The Community of the Lamb in KC and throughout the world to pray for little Joyce. 

Danielle Rose - Wonderfully made

Nothing compares to you - Danielle Rose

 

"but she, from her poverty, has given her whole livelihood." Jesus to us today in the Gospel

 I  have been struggling to get at these older pictures, and today victory!!!!   So I am using way to many to keep my heart rejoicing and singing and praising and filled with wonder and awe!  This is Hallel with her Goddaughter, Therese, who is about 1 1/2years old.

This was the week that Hallel came up to be with her family for Thanksgiving 5 years ago - she drove John to Rochester that week for his 2nd week of radiation so that I could be home on the farm with Pat.

 Thanksgiving day we walked back from mass a few blocks from where Nancy and Maria and Joseph lived.  I was snapping away as I knew that cancer had brought us together.  I am thinking today of Hallel and the other 3 American girls over in Europe away from their families on Thanksgiving.  Pat commented this morning that it was no big deal for those from Europe and other countries as it is only an American holiday.  I know for the Americans, however, it will be one of those hard days of missing family!  Even Hallel tends to call us on Thanksgiving as she knows we are together, and she can talk to many.  I also realize that there is a warm place of remembrance in her heart for this day of Thanks we share with extended family!  My daughter, who is not weepy and sentimental like her mom, still can be lonesome for her family from time to time.

 Climbing up the steep front yard to join in Thanksgiving celebration 5 years ago!  It was very special as Nancy's boyfriend now husband, Bill, made us a most wonderful turkey.  He is repeating this here on the farm this year, and the excitement and memories of the wonderful food he makes is building!

 This is a quirky goofiness that Susan/Hallel and John have shared and continue to.  

The Gospel today, in a strange and unexpected way, soothed my sadness of yesterday.  It is as if the Lord is speaking to me!  How?  By reminding me that I am very poor and lowly and bad at being a servant, but when I give what little I have it is a good thing for my grandkids, my kids, my husband and all those in my domestic Church/family!  It might not be pretty and extravagant and I might be crabby about it some of the time, but it still is giving my all.  I do feel like this poor widow giving my last two coins sometimes, and I think that is selfish of me, but the Lord is helping me see that it is OK.

 What are his words to us this day in Luke 21 - the story of the widow giving her last two coins in the offering..?"  "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered he whole livelihood." 

This casts a whole new light on my weak and lowly state and I am thankful for this.  It so reminds me of the time my wise amazing daughter, Little Sister Hallel, called me in the midst of my miserable state after my hip replacement.  I was crying to her about how weak I am and hopeless - "Mom, when we are weak is when we turn to Jesus."  "I want to be weak all the time!" I exclaimed.  "Because I always want Jesus!"

 John appears swollen and sunburned from whole brain radiation and prednisone!

 Pat newly back from Guatemala wearing his shirt from there and transformed by the poverty he witnessed and how this brings the poor to such a pure and beautiful LOVE of Jesus and his Church!

 How we are looking forward to Billy's wonderful cooking once again!

 Hallel visits the Verlys this day too!

The first reading today is from Revelations and speaks of the Lamb with those that are at his feet - the 44,000, who are "unblemished."  A mystery, but to me these are the Saints, and how we love them and are blessed to have them with us on our journey!

 It does my heart good to see Hallel with her family... that is why I have been famous for adding her to give my heart joy as the sight of the spiritual bond that truly does bring us together and gives me comfort.  To know of her prayers for the family brings tremendous peace and comfort!

I found some random pictures of her time here 5 years ago.  I love this one of her doing Mary's thick hair.  While Amy was here this weekend I had her put Mary's hair into a ponytail to just experience how thick it is!  The little experiences are fun to share in a family!

 Leaving to take John for his second week of radiation.  As it turned out all of our 5 kids were together up in the Cities while Pat and I were home doing chores. 

 Little Sister Judith here too!

 Arriving home for the week of Thanksgiving 5 years ago!

 Sharing mass on Sunday the 22nd - Ruth and Paul's 6th anniversary!  Hallel with her special, Simon!

 Many came up to greet Hallel at Church - she has touched many lives with her answering the call to enter The Community of the Lamb!

1 year old David with his dad and The Cross!

In her home church transformed into Little Sister Hallel!  So powerful for me and many!

 I asked her to sit here as each morning after her return from the discernment house she would sit back here by the 10th station of the Cross - Jesus is stripped of his garments.  Why? I asked her, because of the humility station was she there?  "No, mom, it is the last pew with a kneeler and I didn't want people to see me crying."  Why? She asked the Lord through her tears to show her the path he wanted for her.  He answered in such a beautiful and powerful way - calling her to be his Bride, and her answer - "Yes!"

 Looking at a vocations poster in the back of church showing Susan now Little Sister Hallel.

 To the Church basement for a shared breakfast... Simon is entertaining them.

 Ruth and Paul on Anniversary #6 on November 22, 2009! Just spoke to Ruth about a motto they live their marriage by - "I love to be married and we are 'life-giving' in what we say and do for each other."  Such a powerful and good barometer to gage how we are doing in our day to day sharing one with the other.

 Hallel with then 3 year old Mary.  How she has been touched by her Aunt Hallel and The Community of the Lamb... Mary is now considering a call to be a Little Sister herself - "I love God and he told me to think about being a sister." 

 A random fluffy kitty from years back.

Another kitty in a hold by Mary.

 A special group shot to cherish. 

 Hallel with her Simon...

 Jesus, there is much filling me with many feelings and thoughts this Thanksgiving week 2014.  May I learn to be more "life-giving" in my giving of the smallness that I have to give.  May I learn to follow after you and carry my cross.   It is through our giving all that we have to give and dying to self so that you may live in us.  Thank you for those many Saints that are there to walk with us on our journey and embracing all the suffering that comes with our lives.  St Andrew Dung-Lac and companions on this their feast day - reminding us that although they lived in the most horrible of prisons and suffered terrible torture - "I am, by the Grace of God, full of joy and gladness, because I am not alone - Christ is with me."  Fr Paul Le-Bao-Tinh testified Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

 The small things I recorded from her visit - her driving a car...

 Visiting grandma in her home...

 Time spent with wonderful grandma.  I just went a little crazy with pictures of Hallel's visit for Thanksgiving week 2009 in the midst of John starting that dreaded whole brain radiation.  We have since had a scare that dementia might be beginning as a result, but this summer John was assured that this is not the case.  All looks to be fine!  Thank you, Lord!

 John has now headed off to the Cities to start a new job, and we are filled with hope at a bright new future. 

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

"Let the soul that has given itself totally to God go through these trails without fear, let it not allow its liberty to snatched from it.  Provided that it is faithful to the divine action, that action will work marvels in it in spite of all obstacles...How good of goodness and wisdom is the conduct of God!  He has in such a way reserved to his grace and action alone the sublime, elevated, and admirable part of perfection and holiness, and he has so completely left it to our souls to perform with the help of his grace what is small, plain, and easy, that there is no one in the world who cannot arrive without difficulty at the most eminent perfection by fulfilling with love lowly and common duties."  Father de Caussade (1751)

The Afters - Broken Hallelujah

Patrick showing Romeo how to play with cars!