"Jesus, ...have pity of me." Bartimaeus, a blind man, to Jesus - Mark 10

My wonderful Mother's Day flowers from Nancy grace my table with a lit candle as we have been praying for Nancy and Bill and pregnancy #4!  I woke up after an overnight shift to know of an ultrasound happening - the news!  There is a baby and a heartbeat!  So amazing to hear this unexpected news.  "I went in there prepared to get the news that there was nothing there, and there was our baby!"  Wow!  I am soaring to new heights after pleading with God through Our Lady - "Jesus, have pity on me."  I am blinded by the tidal wave of Family that is taking me under these days, so it is very personal and holy to come up to the surface knowing that my dad has come through his heart valve replacement - he now is part bovine with a valve from a cow!  And to know that our newest grandchild continues to have LIFE in the womb! 

Praying the rosary with my dad a few days ago...

Pastural scene brings peace

 I chuckled as I was taking pictures to see this calf look at me from under his mother... just now with the setting sun and the cows and calves in the lush grass in the middle of our farm here.  I love to look out and see them peaceful and content!  It is calming my nerves this night as I will be working overnight at the nursing home in the midst of the storms of LIFE - my dad's valve replacement first thing in the morning - 6:30a, and Nancy's ongoing uncertain 4th pregnancy.

 I snuck up to try to catch these cute calves filling their bellies with the long grass by the fence post.  They moved away quickly, but I did get a few of them. 

Lord, I am kind of a wreck this night and I really need you to go with me and give me the strength I need.  I need to repeat over and over - "Jesus, I trust in you."

Two big cows side by side bedded down and chewing their cuds contentedly in the long grass, and do you see the head of a calf over to the mid left laying down in the grass and only it's head showing above the long lush grass at sunset? 

 Frisking calves and bird in flight at sunset.

 Loving the long grass/fence post

 When you are nursing on mom and you hear a noise - this is how you check it out... too cute for words and gave me a laugh of delight!  As my mother-in-law reminded me - "look at the bright side of things."  So true!

 Thoughts and prayers for Nancy and her family - "I am feeling OK, mom." 

So many prayers shared with my parents and I know that my dad is in the Lord's hands... Jesus, I trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

"Making life crazy so that I need you, O Lord." John today

 Praying the rosary with my dad a few days ago... I will be praying constantly for him and all the crazy issues that are going on in our family this day!

After a rough week last week in which John got in touch with just how much his life has changed and how much was taken from him by brain cancer... "my life sucks!  Cancer sucks!"  It was good to have the cheerful joking and makes-me-laugh John back sharing prayer and breakfast with me!  It was good to hear him thank God for his trails/ for the Cross that keeps him turning to Jesus and His Bride, The Church.  "Thank you, Jesus, for making life crazy so that I need you."   How true it is!  This day my heart and prayers are constantly focused on my dad and mom as they are in the craziness of Vet's hospital getting dad checked in and tests done so that in the morning he can have his heart valve replaced at 90 years old!  It seems crazy that they can do this through the artery in his groin, and do this dangerous surgery.  It was so wonderful to hear over the weekend that another 91 year old man had it done and was home in just 2 days, and is doing great!  So encouraging!

My wonderful parents have each other after 65 years of marriage grounded on Faith and openness to LIFE!  I am comforted to know that they have each other these days as well as numerous of my siblings to sit with mom and care for her needs with a bed and meals! 

In the Gospel today Jesus goes ahead down the road to The Cross/Jerusalem, and the disciples are "amazed and afraid" at what lies ahead for Jesus and that they are asked to follow.  Mark 10

What affects the Lord will affect them.  They are in a community of love, in a community of formation, but also - they feel this, and so they are afraid - in a community of suffering.  The Lord loves them in such a way that he cannot suffer alone, just as nothing can befall an individual in a family without the other members suffering with him.  Adrienne von Speyr (1967)

 In prayer for daughter #2 and her pregnancy #4 which is not going smoothly - as we suffer with her... most especially with my history of many losses in my years of openness to LIFE - I now have 7 waiting for me in Heaven along with 2 grandchildren.  We continue to hope and pray for this new life!  In a constant state of prayer as I was just called out to help load syringes as they worked about 80 cows! 

 Praying while she saw the doctor this morning - still no answers, and waiting and praying as a Community of LOVE and Prayer!

 Lilly at my side this morning as I load syringes.  I need to end this day long sharing as I am to pray for John as he meets with the counselor to help him to continue to deal with the craziness of life as a result of his finding Faith through brain cancer, and all the changes that have happened to him as a result!

 the cows are so enjoying the fresh grass that is as high as their bellies!  Walking back to the house through it - Roger was under the tall grass and it was up to my hips too... that is lush grass thanks to the wonderful rain we have been getting!

Jesus, there are many calls to prayer this day as those in my domestic Church/family are having their needs and sufferings which keep their eyes focused on you.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

 Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

 May the hands of the doctors and nurses ministering to my dad... be your hands healing him. 

 The wall of marriages on the wall of my parents... bless all marriages!

The home of my parents where I was blessed with a 3 day retreat... so blessed to have both my parents together and still alert and with me - continuing to guide me down the path of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! 

Danielle Rose - If I touch him

"extraordinary sweetnesses" St Philip Neri - as we give up everything to follow Jesus!

 Grandpa Bandzuch here from Pennsylvania with the 2 birthday boys, Augustine is 4 and Dominic will be 1 in a few weeks, and their sister!  The cakes were made with love by their Pennsylvania grandmother, and the gummi ears were a huge hit and had to be replaced a few times. 

I had a great time spending time with little sweet Dominic in the midst of a huge gathering of young families so many kids and the number grows with each year!  Such a testament to how young Catholic couples are open to LIFE and take seriously raising them as lights! 

Today being the feast of St Philip Neri - a shout out to my brother Philip on this his feastday- it was pointed out that this man would win over hearts with his sense of humor and sharing his faith with JOY!  I have seen over the years that a large part of the reason that our kids are all united with us on our Faith journey is because my husband shared mass with them each week and at prayer time at home with joy and enthusiasm... for here dwells The Truth!

My dad in their office, the Alpha and Omega stained glass they found, the glorious sunny day dappling on the green of spring outside. 

As I stopped, and was disappointed to find my brother's house dark and empty in Glencoe last night on our way home from Gus's Birthday in the Cities.. I mentally tallied how many of my 9 siblings here with me and two in heaven, I had seen over this last week...  5 of them plus 2 sister-in-laws and a brother-in-law! 

Of course, I was with my parents for 3 days, and that is where I encountered so many of my family.  Combined with that was a trip up to see "the farm" where I had spent the summers of my early Catholic/nursing years.  I even lived there for an entire summer and did my student nursing months working at the hospital in St Croix Falls, WI! 

So many emotions filling me up as I came into an intense time of returning to my roots... the lines get blurred as being in the midst of the Family Pat and I have formed and continues to form - Nancy just informed us that she is expecting #4!  To get such a huge dose of my extended family which was my original family, and I lift each one up and place them in the monstrance with Jesus each week... I see the prayers being answered!  Attending mass with my brother, Phillip, whose feast day is today, was a totally amazing gift and answer to prayer and traveling back from a small slice of heaven/Pentecost Mass in Stillwater... the sharing centered around our sister, Mary, who died from lymphoma at age 28 in 1986! 

Mom shared that at Mary's death bed she had told her to go to heaven and be with her brother, Lincoln!  "Look for Lincoln, Mary, she looks just like Phil."  So powerful to be traveling through the beautiful hilly green countryside between Stillwater and St Croix Falls - river valley- with my brother, Philip, and touching Mary, who was just after him in age,  and his twin brother, Lincoln, who died just 2 days after they were born premature, in Heaven!  We had just shared the reception of Jesus into us in His Body and Blood at the feast of the Holy Spirit coming into the world through The Church together, and now we touched Heaven through our family there watching over us and praying for us and depending on us for prayers for them!

We arrived back at my parents to find a message from my sister, Paula, that they were going to decorate Mary's grave in Somerset, WI, and asking if we would want to join them.  My parents are slowing down now, due to dad's being more weak and short of breath awaiting his heart valve replacement in two days, so they declined.  Otherwise, I would have seen another sister and her family - pictured in the rain with the decorated and remembered grave of my sweet sister, Mary!

 I think you are seeing the tidal wave of Family that is flowing all over and around me, and so interwoven with the JOY of sharing our Faith and seeing prayers answered so powerfully and beautifully.  With these two near misses of seeing siblings - I am up to 7 of the nine and that is such an amazing happening out of the blue!

 I was heading up to see my parents after Nancy left for home - thinking I would probably spend just 24 hours with them.  I left there 3 days later filled and overwhelmed by it all!

 Out picking lilacs at my parents - mom pointed out their sweet grotto of Our Lady... the ferns lifting their fronds to heaven in praise of the Mother of God!  Today there is a quote from St Philip Neri;
Let us think of Mary, for she is that unspeakable Virgin, that glorious Lady, who conceived and brought forth, without detriment to her virginity, him whom the width of the heavens cannot contain within them... When God infuses extraordinary sweetnesses into the soul, a man ought to prepare for some tribulations or temptations.

I feel much as though I was gifted with a Spiritual retreat, and actually each day in The Church is this for me.  But being able to sit at the feet of my parents and bask in their LIGHT is a step above and into a small slice of heaven in their peace-filled, faith-filled home.  To have so many siblings stop in or call in and share with me was amazing!

Lilacs in full bloom were a personal gift to me, and are an example of extraordinary sweetnesses to me!

This sharing is so much and so deep and so filled with extraordinary sweetnesses!  I keep taking deep sighs as the tidal wave of family takes me under and covers me with the cool and refreshing waters of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  Sharing that I had gotten my first hug from Hallel in a year and a half and how precious and glorious it is when you have to wait that long for her physical presence in my life..."That must be so hard."  Well, it is, but with her spiritual presence always there in her prayers for her family - that is what truly counts and that is where we gain our strength and the words of today's Gospel spring to Truth!  28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"¹

References for Mark 10:28

• Cross References

• 23 10:28 - S Mt 4:19

29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel

30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much² in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come,³ eternal life.⁴

References for Mark 10:30

• Cross References

• 24 10:30 - Mt 6:33
• 25 10:30 - S Mt 12:32
• 26 10:30 - S Mt 25:46

31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."⁵

How we see this happen in our lives with Hallel, O Lord!

Jesus, so much fills me this day, and I am forever grateful for Family... the one I came from and the one I have formed with Patrick and The Church!  May we humbly look to you now and always as we embrace our Most Cherished Cross and follow you down the narrow path of life to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT eternal.  The Church is there to help us get to Heaven, and we are not to pick and choose what to follow or believe.  Yes, it is hard, but you give us all the "extraordinary sweetnesses" we need to keep us ever faithful and true to dying to self so that you may live in us, O Lord.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

So wonderful to share my life-line, the Rosary, with my dad and mom!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Such a beautiful thing to see my many siblings there to help my parents as they age and need our help to walk down the narrow path they have modeled for us!  Just have to share again this amazing page I devoted to our journey of Faith - thanks mom and dad from the bottom of my heart!  http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-amazing-story-of-13-becoming.html  The tears are in my eyes to recall this Holy Spirit work in our lives!

Sharing a small slice of Heaven at mass!

Happy Feast day Philip!  Next time I want to be barely there and you fully...  First ever selfie for Phil is a bit off!

In the midst of a river of PRAYER for Nancy and the baby!  Praying the rosary with John reminded us of the time 3 years ago when he was at Farmhouse living, and Nancy had a scare with the pregnancy of Bernadette. Three years ago John and his brothers gathered in the dining room to pray... suddenly the door blew open and closed - "The Holy Spirit came to join us!  It was so powerful for all of us!"  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless

 

Trust in Jesus- Third Day

We do trust in YOU, my Jesus!

Happy 4th birthday Augustine!

Climbing the climbing tree with Rose... today Gus is 4!

 running in the tent of sheets on the line - it looks like he has wings on his back, and his baby brother that he loves so much!

fills my heart with delight!

 Sweet and loving brother to Dominic!

Some special ones of the 3 siblings - today Augustine is 4 and we are heading up to celebrate with him!  Jesus, hold Augustine close to your heart burning with love for him.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb/grandma

Memorial Day 2015... depth of sacrifice

This image was shared on fb and it is so heart rendering to see this young wife and child robbed of this wonderful man, who put his life on the line for our country and lost it in the prime of his life!  With the close at hand for our family with our daughter and their family in the army... it is so very close at hand and much more pulling at my heart this day.  All the prayers said while he was away in Afghanistan, and Maria having a traumatic birth of Patrick which brought him back about 2 1/2 years ago now... it all speaks of the sacrifice which young families must endure for the freedom and safety we take for granted in our country.  Yet, there is real pain, and loss, and sacrifice we need to honor and be forever grateful for! 

The picture worth a thousand words!  A homecoming in the midst of a crisis - healed and protected by prayers, the Sacraments, The Saints and the angels, and Mary Mother of Heaven and earth!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

Borrowed this day from Maria's blog - each boot represent a life lost since 9-11!

The sacrifice of LIFE laid out for us to ponder this day...  Memorial Day 2015.  As Pat prayed this morning for Peace to reign on this earth. 

Those that he has known that died since his time in the service.  I am recalling a most horrific time when he first went to Afghanistan and a convoy he was supposed to be on hit and destroyed with loss of life.  Maria and my hearts sank - thinking it could be her husband and suddenly the phone rang to tell us that he was OK, but had lost men!  The kids are getting a hard lesson of LIFE and mostly life of those, who guarantee our freedom!  We recognize their depth of sacrifice this day and thank them from the bottom of our hearts!

Each boot represents a life lost and all those touched by that grief and mourn them... think of the pain in this world as the result of all these young men and women lost in the prime of their young lives!  May they find comfort in a small measure by the gratitude of their nation on this day of remembering them!  May we rely on God in our lives - knowing that we are nothing without him.  Jesus tells us today in the Gospel...Mark 10:27  For men it is impossible, but not for God.  All things are possible for God.  Yes, we are his hands and feet in this world, but may we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us for the Good to reign in this world of darkness. 

My cousin in the UP of Michigan shared this picture at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island this Memorial Day morning!  It says a lot for our pride of country and those that serve! 
http://thecatholicspirit.com/special-sections/ordinations/hands-for-work-hearts-for-love/  Another most necessary service to keep LIFE in this world - young men saying "yes" to the priesthood!