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!
No lonely meal last night... supper on the porch as it was cool but no wind, and sharing it with John and Lilly! Such a nice evening as John went through his stuff that came with the BIG move.
Today looks like a family work day with cows and calves going out to pasture as much rain is expected tomorrow and they will be happier out on grass. Grandma has grandkids and meals and running to pick up preschoolers, and Ruth is out being the farmer she is!
Much about peace today and "Resurrection Peace" is maybe a more amazing way to describe it today in the light of Christ's resurrection and also how through prayer St Paul was brought back from death after being stoned in the first reading from Acts 14. I had a major case of putting myself in the place of St Paul and how horrifyingly painful and excruciatingly damaging it would be to have a group around you viscously throwing rocks at your body and probably your head would be targeted the most as that would kill you. Almost equal to the horror and humiliation of being nailed to a cross. When "the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city." Healed and brought back from death... would he still bear the wounds of the attack? Jesus did, yet he seemed to no longer suffer pain nor was held back by them. It appears to be similar to Paul... he didn't limp back nor was he needing help. We still bear our wounds from our sufferings, yet we bear them as a sign of how Christ has been at work in our lives and brought us back to love and serve!
Blessing our meal before our fresh air breaking of bread together. Soon our pet cow, Baby, and her calf are due to come and eat the grass in front of the barn. We could hear the cows and calves back in the pasture while we were eating. Yes, there are cows and calves already on our place. I wonder if Lilly has gone down to check on them?
This morning as I passed this creek I noticed these 4 ducks taking a swim, and had to stop for some pictures... reflecting on the theme for today as Jesus tells us - "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid..." John 14:27-31 Considering this in the light of St Paul's stoning, death and brought back to life and then walking, talking and preaching the Gospel to all... it is certainly true! We need have no need to allow our hearts to be troubled or afraid of anything we might be called to face! Even brain cancer when you are 20... http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html
I was struck by the song I know so well from the many TEC retreats I have worked for the last 17 years... Peace is flowing like a river... as I looked upon the scene of these ducks quietly swimming in the swollen creek not far from our farm this morning. But as I sang the song to myself it was the peace flowing into me and then out through me. Peace is flowing like a river Flowing out through you and me. Spreading out into the desert, Setting all the captives free.
Yes, the Peace comes from our Faith in Jesus and then we are able to share that with all around us!
Where do I find instant peace when I am stressed and hurt and sad and worried and angry and lonely and tired of the craziness and tired of the day by day routine and any other time of need?... by repeating my "Hail Mary" with my beads in my fingers. I have many rosaries in my purse with my camera and phone... the essentials for my life! When I get into my chapel on wheels I immediately reach for my beads/my lifeline to peace and give it lay it all at the feet of my Lord Jesus Christ with the help of his Mother Mary, The Queen of Heaven and earth! I feel the burden lifted, I feel raised from my wounds and sickness and restored to Faith and the Peace flows through me... I hope and pray most especially to those the closest to me in my domestic Church/family!
Talk about a picture of peace...
I love this from morning prayer..."Jesus shows us the way to true peace: obedience to the Father's will rather than to the clamor of self-interest. In living as he lived, we not only live in peace ourselves; we also make a place of peace for all those around us."
How I wish that I could live up to this and truly bring peace to all those around me! Evaluating my life... I see that I do fail with those the closest to me and when does this happen? When I am selfish and thinking of me! Poor Barb. I have a bad case of feeling sorry for myself, and that does not allow the faucet to be open and the peace to flow through me, and when it is all bottled up due to a blockage called selfishness than it no longer is peace... it must flow out to bring life to the desert and set the captives free!
Gently caring for new life is a call to be gentle and quiet and fills one with peace.
Jesus, I am longing to be open to sharing the peace I am given to all those around me this day. It is such an amazing blessing to always have your Mother there to assist me through my life and daily tensions and stresses. "When God created us, he put into the depth of our being his order, his thus. It continually summons our mind: believe thus! In our heart: love thus! In our soul: act thus! Our conscience is the voice of God: I wanted thus and I want thus. Blessed is he who likewise says: and I as well want thus. Then there is agreement, happiness, and harmony. Oh, what peace there is then, true peace! Peace to men of good will!" Father Semenenko (1886) Yes, Lord, may I always do as you ask of me... dying to self so that you may live in me! Jesus, I trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke and Jehoshaphat/Fatty
A first Communion prayer that is amazing!
Peace is strongly present in nature around us!
My friend builds me up!
Three of the grandkids came over with mom as she brought me the lawn mower and for the first time I mowed my new place... a sure sign of spring and made me know my place a bit better. We had to take the "flowers" found in the grove over to the Mary statue, which has been here always in their short lives. A reminder that she is always with us on this journey!
Well, I always did have the chickens out there to keep me company,too...
We have now been moved for just over a month, and I am proud to say that those the closest to me are surprised how fast I have gotten the two rooms filled with stuff where it belongs. One thing I noticed, to my surprise, was the absolute quiet that is part of this place 3 miles from our farm down a gravel road! It did start to get to me a bit... well, things are changing from day to day.
As I was talking to John about a play he went to see at the Seminary at St Paul on Saturday night about a monastery of brothers and priests that reawakened their faith life... I got a call from his Godson, David, to tell me that my pet fixed male cat, Johosphat/Fatty for short, had come to the house after being gone for a month. He thought I would want to come and get him right away, but I broke his heart when I told him that he wouldn't like it here, and they should just leave him there. Well, with the lawnmower came Fatty, and David was right - he loves me all over again and is very happy and adjusted to this new place immediately!
Fatty and I saying our rosary together yesterday afternoon after mowing... he made that little cave with the pillows!
Some of the smiles I had while mowing yesterday... when they did the addition, no Luke yet. And now they have left their dream home for being the hardworking family on the farm!
The huge cottonwood tree that marks our place is leafing out with my special barn in the background.
The amazing tree, Lilly, and the tractor across the road digging ahead of the rain.
Rose gladly took the asparagus that I picked from their former garden. Ruth and I have some big planting, and canning days ahead!
Did I mention beautiful kids, sweet flowers and Our Lady? Only about a million times over the years! I consider these the best!!!
St Mark feast day, and unlike the other three writers of the Gospel - we really don't have family that is named after him. An idea for the future...
From his Gospel today this strong call to each of us..."Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature..." Mark 16:15 How I take this to heart! A constant and difficult call for us to share Jesus with all and when necessary use words! By the way we live our lives and show the world the Truth that being open to LIFE and raising LIGHTS is a small slice of heaven! How I yearned that I could have another after John... just so that the world wouldn't continually say; "Oh, you had your boy so you quit." Well, I guess that I have to speak up and correct this falsehood.
Sharing The Word and The Eucharist with Pat's mom last night... every time he takes her hand in his these days - she says; "You have such big hands, Pat, and hard working. I hope you will always keep your health." Hear our prayer, O Lord.
How I love this! It seems that my friend, Scott Hahn, have kindred love for The Church and for Jesus we find in His Word and Sacraments!
No, at first I felt lonely here at times, but now I am reminded of all the companions I have each day! I now have a dog, cat, and chickens, and of course, my calls to the farm to help out or their coming here to fill my days. I also have quite a bit of time with Pat's mom, and that is good.
Putting my house together is therapy for me.. more like a spiritual journey. This watercolor - I got the idea from a greeting card I found at the thrift shop with a mother with three girls and a cow... well, I added my other two kids and made the farm behind ours as well as the dog and chicken. Pat, who is always out there working is on a horse, which we had at the time... he came from Montana after his brother Don was murdered. The cemetery contains my many losses to make it a complete family work. St John Paul II was so huge for us in our first 27 years that it just seems right to have him there with Jesus! How I love to eat my lonely meals and look up and bask in this warm special time. It makes me want to make one for Ruth and her bunch now over there and change it to be her farm... most all is different now, but the house looks the same from the outside, at least!
Lourdes water to take us back to this time of healing!
I am having so much exciting fun unpacking and filling my home with all the touches that remind me always of the touch of God upon me and my family!
Jesus, we are so filled with your Truth and Your LIGHT by the gift of the Gospels! Today we celebrate the feast of St Mark and we are filled to the brim with Jesus thanks to their openness to the Holy Spirit which put these words for us to read, take to heart and cling to, then to carry forth in how we live our lives, in how we embrace our cross and carry/drag it after you, how we follow you no matter where you lead us, to speak the Truth and share the Gospel/Jesus with unconditional love and mercy most especially with those closest to us in our domestic Church/family, yet we need to face the fact that Satan is alive and well and his lies are being believed... may we bring to light all that is misleading us - sin, darkness which leads to death, not life! May we live out the culture of life and light and love and bring many to embrace Jesus and His Bride, The Church!
Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Out to pick the eggs this morning with my two companions. I am adjusting to the peace and quiet of this new home, and pray that it may give me the strength to face all that comes at me during the crazy times. Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
The stories those hands could tell... Pat was showing his mom this callous or that rough spot and speaking about wet hardworking hands through calving - we only have 7 left to have their calves!
Pope Francis loves The Word!
Mark was known to be a companion of St Peter! Today in the first reading from I Peter 5
Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. To him be dominion forever. Amen
No matter what we are called to suffer - it will be "a little" compared to forever in heaven with Jesus, Mary and the Saints!
Detach!
May our hearts rise to HIM!
Danielle Rose - Small things with great love
Speaking of St Therese!
In the midst of sharing my music at the end today... it fits for my new home!
Rose donned her red riding hood at the campfire in the grove last evening, so grandma had her sit in their climbing tree with the colorful clothes on the clothesline, the setting sun and the budding tree silhouettes. When I mentioned this to grandpa... he launched into the story of chasing cows and calves onto the trailer to bring to the pasture over here - "Rose had on her red riding hood, and I asked her if she was Rose Riding Hood. "No, I am Rose again!" Then she got on the trailer, actually she was in the way, but she was herding and chasing and pushing the baby calves onto the trailer. The cows she keeps away from, but the calves she likes to be right in there helping." Ever since Rose heard during the Creed at mass her name - Rose again... that is how she likes to be called. At the Easter Vigil she heard "Jesus Rose" but that has not stuck like "Rose again!"
Luke has become very attached to little old Roger. He lets him sit on his lap, and is very loving and kind to him. Roger is finally getting some regular attention, and that is so nice. The kids on the farm are helping out in all the ways I had hoped and dreamed of! My heart is thoroughly warmed by having a young family filling the farm with LIFE!
It is not a regular Sunday around here today. With the threat of thunder storms later today, Pat did chores and then to help plant. I have been over to help load corn, and other odds and ends here and there. One thing I am working on that is so much fun...
Underneath all the dishes, bedding, office stuff and boring stuff to organize, recycle or burn are all my precious pictures and mementos... such great fun to put here and there. It really is starting to feel warm and homey to me!
Pat's mom gave me this family crucifix years ago... this seems like the perfect spot for it as it welcomes all that enter with our strong firm Catholic heritage of embracing our Most Cherished Cross and finding LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!
As the Gospel reminds us today...This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35
The supreme act of LOVE was the Cross and by embracing/carrying/dragging ours and following Jesus is how we show our LOVE! As the Lamb shows us "wounded, I will not cease to love."
We have this amazing promise in our pain and woundedness by all that is hard in our lives/our crosses...
"Behold God's dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away." Revelations 7 - the second reading from mass today!
No, our crosses do not cause us to die other than to self - but gives us LIFE eternal!
Luke and Roger is a sweet and gentle sight... It is so good that they are there caring for all the life on the farm!
Such a smile of delight fills my face when I see a Hallel Psalm today in mass - Psalm 145... as Psalm of total praise as Hallelujah is where it all comes from! I just finished up my many page letter complete with many pictures to send to Hallel in Rome along with lots of candy and blue socks! Tomorrow it will be in the mail and hopefully she will get it yet in Easter Season today being the 5th Sunday of Easter, and next Sunday the 6th Sunday of Easter!
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The Lord is good to all
and compassionate towards all his works.
I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
Let them make your might known to the children of Adam,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
A Hallel Psalm 145!
Roger you finally have some regular attention!
Planters are passing the house in a hurry to get seeds in the ground ahead of the rain!
Jesus, how we long to be forever with you... we know that we need to start here in this world and that you call us to show our LOVE for each other in our domestic Church/family. United together in our Faith/Family/Farm we want to be a shining LIGHT in the darkness that surrounds us. So many lies of Satan are believed as truth... contraception, abortion, living out same sex attraction, living together outside of marriage - these are all presented to the world as acceptable when in fact they are darkness and sin and death! May we with love reveal the Truth to the world and make a difference as The LIGHT/the wisdom of The Church overtakes the darkness. May we always share our Faith/Jesus and His Bride, The Church with JOY! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
After supper by the fire... all 5 played together on the trampoline. It is so great to share family time outside on the farm! Thanks, Ruth for the great supper and sharing a campfire where you and your siblings had a fire and I was the mom not the grandma! Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
The sweetest of all... Simon and Roger about 8 years ago!
2 year old Mary!
1984 baby Maria with our baby chicks of years gone by!
Yes, Ruth grew up with chickens!
I was looking for the kids by our campfire years ago, but the lawnmower is on the way over and so I am just using a kids and dad walking the fair calves picture... too great to have this again soon!
This so reminds me of a picture of her Godmother, Aunt Maria, at this age with a baby chick. I would love to compare them side by side, and I have finally uncovered the huge collage of pictures and the one of Maria taken over 20 years ago is on there... I have a mission!
Yes, I drove straight over to Ruth's to see the baby chicks while they are still sweet and tiny and soft with no feathers coming yet. I found the two girls there and willing to take grandma out and show me the chicks with camera in hand!
Both girls looking cute and the chicks are cute, too!
It is Saturday and I am at the peaceful home of Pat's mom... She is sleeping in the chair, so it is really quiet other than the traffic/white noise, the huge wind chime on the porch and the clock which chimes every 15 minutes day and night. We have had breakfast and talked- mostly me talking about my adventures last night on the farm with the chicks and then back again at supper time and getting clothes off the line with the help of the 3 older grandkids, then folding them while they all played on the trampoline. The farmers were putting some pairs out on pasture, so grandma was helping out a bit. "Never a dull moment" is my motto for life, but 3 miles a way it has slowed down a lot thankfully.
Returning home after fixing fence in the back pasture... grandpa Pat showing Luke how to be gentle with baby chicks - Luke will be 2 1/2 on May 1 and tends to squeeze them a bit too tight! So far all are healthy and strong... that will be needed with the 5 interested kids.
Saturdays are always devoted to The Blessed Mother, and The Hail Mary straight from The Word fills my days with prayer and the comfort and companionship of Our Lady, The Mother of God! Jesus mentions in the Gospel today that anything we ask in His Name He will do! Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it. John 14:14 In pondering this and how it fits with my constant mantra of praying to Mary, his Mother... the name of Jesus is imbedded in The Hail Mary. I remember hearing a speaker tell us to say Jesus' name in the Hail Mary with love and devotion - really expressing our LOVE for Jesus and His Name! I strive to do this ever since - most especially when I am saying the rosary out loud.. JESUS is spoken from my heart!
I was close to being in heaven as I sat there and watched Pat with that calm little chick sitting on his big farmer arms and how he smiled and spoke to Luke about how he needed to be gentle. Look at that loving look Luke is giving to his farmer grandpa! This was a dream for me to try to capture!
I love to read the writings of Father Alfred Delp (1945) who was condemned to death by the Nazis in Berlin... can you imagine the sufferings from which he wrote, and today in the meditations he writes shares this frustration - "The whole situation is so palpably unjust; things I have neither done nor even known about are keeping me here in prison." Looking back at the horror of the Nazis this is a hard truth we know - almost 5 million died at this horrific time in history, and that is just the Jews! We also know that priests and religious died - St Maximilian Kolbe, Father Alfred Delp, St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross/Edith Stein to just name a few that come to mind! Talk about feeling like the end of the world had to be coming!
Fr Delp writes these words; I have pledged myself to Jesus as his loving comrade and blood brother. The Name stands for passionate faith, submission, selfless effort, and service.
Pondering the words of Father Delp, who was writing from his personal Cross from which he was a martyr for The Faith in The True Church, and entered eternal LIFE! We are called to passionate Faith! Faith that we have made our own and said "yes" to dying to self so that Jesus' Spirit can dwell in us and do the work needed to change this world of darkness filled with LIGHT!
May we be this single candle!
Next Father Delp speaks about the Name stands for submission... putting Jesus first and listening to the voice of The Good Shepherd through his Word, Sacraments and The Saints with Mary, through prayer without ceasing... then we listen, believe in The Truth and submit our selfish willfulness to do His Will and follow His Plan for our lives!
Soon to be 8 year old David thought he was the "chick whisperer" and they did seem to relax and trust in his hands - probably because he handled them gently. He has learned over the years...
Finally Father Delp speaks of selfless effort, and service. How I struggle with being a good servant! It doesn't help to hear from others close to us that we don't deserve this or that, and that we raised our family or whatever! No, I am called to serve and if I manage from time to time to do it selflessly... that is so much better and my mental health is healthier and my attitude is better and all those around me are happier. This is a constant work in progress in my life...
I used to call this COL with my kids... whether it was clothes on the line or clothes off the line. Simon, Mary and David did this just about sundown last night!
A colorful sight with the silhouettes of the grove trees - just barely leafing out so still striking by the setting sun!
Jesus, how I love your name and I repeat it over and over with the 50 to 100 Hail Marys each day! I know that your loving Mother is at your side and all my prayers are lifting to you... All that I ask in your Name - you will do! The answers are maybe not what I would expect or hope, but they are according to your perfect plan! Jesus, I trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
Being a servant by helping mom, a face filled with concentration, colorful laundry at sunset with the tree silhouettes... I love photography - it is truly my heartfelt hobby of recording the LIFE I have been blessed with Faith/Family/Farm! Bless-bless, Barbara Luke The name Jesus stands also for all that I intended to do in the world, and still hope to do among humankind. To save, to stand by ready to give immediate help, to have goodwill toward all people, and to serve them; I still owe much to so many... Father Alfred Delp
Team work doing COL!
St George the dragon slayer help us fight the lies of the devil this day!
There she is - Bang!!!!
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke and Jehoshaphat/Fatty
