Home safe through the rain... thanks, Bobbi! The beam in the eye...

Filled with so much after our short full time together with both Hallel/Susan and Nancy and their families!


 Yes, Hallel has her Community/Family of the Lamb along with all those that are ministered to by them in all that they do and share with all they encounter.  Truly they are Christ to those that don't know Him!  We did not lose family when Hallel left the world to marry her spouse, Jesus Christ, we gained many new members!

David and Gus helping out...


At Sioux City on we drove through rain, and Bobbi was behind the wheel for about 4 hours!  It was challenging, but we are all home safe and sound and a bit tired after our quick full time there with family galore!  Our fake plans for a strawberry weekend became a great time of sharing our love and faith one with the other!

The light house on the hill... the cupola shines far and wide proclaiming that HIs LIGHT dwells within!  The Little Brother's Monastery devoted to Mary the Mother of God at the bottom of the hill will also have a cupola on the roof! 


The story of a man, who has lived in the neighborhood for years and always carried a knife out of fear in this poor inner city neighborhood in the heart of Kansas City, Kansas.  "Now I don't worry because of the lighthouse on the hill.  It is safe now that you live here!"

The row houses across the street!  John and Bobbi surrounded by the 7 nieces and nephews as we brought 3 along from the farm to share in the time with Aunt Hallel and Nancy and Bill's wonderful pool and hospitality!  Bobbi thanked the Lord in prayer for "my new family."  Yes, lots of little ones, and Big Dave asked her to be his Godmother at the reception, too!


Reading the Gospel for today makes 9 years ago come rushing back as we had just gone through tests on John's eye injury after getting a stick in the eye!  All of the challenges he faced suddenly pointed to a increasing injury to his eye, but turned out to be brain cancer instead!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html

His video to promote sharing his story of finding Faith through brain cancer... "I know the ending now... marrying Bobbi!  Yet, it is truly the beginning of my life!"

Sharing their wedding with Hallel is important to them!  The smile says it all, and those pictures went into her pocket to share with the others and to gaze upon and share in our family time from afar.  LOVE that she is here just 7 hours away this year and how we can share more in her life!  Even to take down our canning and meat knowing that she can have that taste of HOME! 

The girls in front of the Mary/St Therese altar with the bouquets of their mothers and Josephine!

This one...

 Some of the other pictures that we gave her to share with others!

 LOVE!

Only missing Hallel and wearing her blue!  Bobbi called it "Hallel Blue"

 Bobbi loves this one as do I... her dad was very emotional

 The kiss of course!

And the best of all!!!   I can only imagine how much she is loving having these to share and now that she has heard from Bobbi the story of her prayers for John over these 11 years... Amazing!


Bobbi's story which she was able to share with Hallel last weekend...
After being classmates for all 13 years for them to come together 10 years after graduating is kind of special.  She shared to the 300 family and friends gathered at the reception in her sweet humble way about how John Verly popped into her head and heart when they were seniors in HS as her future husband.  Time and time again the same answer came to her through prayer and roses from St Therese and opening her eyes to see him right in front of her at WYD in Australia... When we consider what John experienced over those 10 years... brain cancer, seminary, girl friends, ups and downs and how disheartening it probably was and how powerful her prayers were for him!!!!  Amazing!!!   And how patient and trusting and prayerful and waiting and praying for John, this sweet girl was!

A picture that is worth all the words!  


Yes, I need to "stop judging" as the Lord reminds us today in the Gospel!  I was just ordered by hubby to make an appointment with the doctor for a physical, which I have dreaded and put off for too long!  How I hate to face up to myself, when it is always there to criticize him.  Lord, help me and forgive me.  Bless-bless, Barb
 

St John the Baptist Solemnity/Nativity/Mass in KC with family and my John 9 years later!

Two Lanoues/farm kids with cousin, Bernadette after sharing mass on this Nativity of St John the Baptist in Kansas City!  Nancy commented that it is wonderful to see her daughter, Berna, with a genuine smile on her face as she loves to share her life with her good friend and cousin, Rose Again!  They are just 6 months apart and love spending time together! 


We brought 4 1/2 year old Luke for the first time on one of our grandpa and grandma bringing grandkids to spend time together in family time supreme trips.  He is enjoying it, too!

These two girls get way too many pictures taken with their smiles, dimples, and hugs for each other!  Rose will go into first grade this year and Bernadette will be going into Kindergarten here at the Sacred Heart Catholic School.  She will wear a  plaid jumper uniform while Rose's Catholic School does not have uniforms unfortunately.  We have tried over the years as her mom and aunts all went there, too!


Nancy said that seeing these two girls so close and playing with seldom an argument reminds her of her with her sisters all around her... Nancy was #2 of 4 girls. "Berna came to me at the pool and told me that she and Rose were having a tea party under water!  I did that with my sisters too!" 

Yes, in the wonderful pool last evening, too!!!  We are loving the pool in the hot KC weather. 

The big boys, Augustine and Big Dave are having a great time together, too!  It makes their grandparents so happy to see them making wonderful memories together.  We seldom leave without every seat full of family to share with one another making memories and growing in love for one another.  Sharing our Faith with JOY is huge and family is a very close second to that!

Two of our seats brought the newly weds down to see Hallel, who was unable to join us on our day 3 weeks ago!

I copied off about a dozen pictures from the wedding for Hallel to keep in her pocket and show off to the others!  I know that she enjoys being able to share with the others her family happenings and it was very special as Bobbi could share with her the story of knowing that John was to be her husband for 10 years before they started dating!

Hallel listened with a smile of JOY when Bobbi shared with her about her waiting and praying for John for 10 years.... here is what I shared a few days ago...


My beautiful new daughter, Bobbi Marie Therese Verly!  She has touched so many in sharing her burning answer to the often asked question;  Did you ever think that you and John would get together? 


After being classmates for all 13 years for them to come together 10 years after graduating is kind of special.  She shared to the 300 family and friends gathered at the reception in her sweet humble way about how John Verly popped into her head and heart when they were seniors in HS as her future husband.  Time and time again the same answer came to her through prayer and roses from St Therese and opening her eyes to see him right in front of her at WYD in Australia... When we consider what John experienced over those 10 years... brain cancer, seminary, girl friends, ups and downs and how disheartening it probably was and how powerful her prayers were for him!!!!  Amazing!!!   And how patient and trusting and prayerful and waiting and praying for John, this sweet girl was!

Hallel carrying Josephine followed by the kids with the desserts!  LOVE this!!!

 We shared in Open Table where all are invited to come and shared in food and fellowship!  John and Bobbi sat at the JOY table! 

John introducing himself and Bobbi to those gathered.  So wonderful for Hallel to share a celebratory meal with them and family!

The Little Brothers of the Lamb are building a Little Monastery devoted to Mary the Mother of Jesus at the bottom of the hill!  We got a tour and helped clean up after the construction!  The dedication will be Nov 9th, and if the harvest is done we will be there!

Archbishop Naumann, is my hero!!  He is Archbishop of KC and invited the Little Sisters to come to the U.S. and hence our Susan joined them knowing that she would be able to see us from time to time there.  She has lived in Lumen Christi for the last year for the first time in 10 years!  Now the little Brothers are putting down roots, too!! 


Archbishop is also in charge of Reverence for LIFE for the country and is boldly supporting and fighting for LIFE!!!  LOVE!!!

Rose showing us where the tabernacle will be in the Chapel... our heart of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!


There are strong emotions connected to the Feast of St John the Baptist Nativity as it was just a couple days into John's brain cancer journey.  Now to share this day here with him and his new wife is a powerful moment and reveals to us the power of prayer we are surrounded with.  Thank you, Jesus!

All together yesterday as we knew that Hallel would be busy with young adults retreat today.  We are so blessed to gather around our sweet Hallel here and soon 18 of us in France for her wedding/final vows! 


I must end this as we are heading to the pool until we jump in the car to head home with our hearts so full of this wonderful gift of time together!  It seemed like a lot to accomplish, but it was so worth it and I am filled to overflowing with all of it... more to come!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html

They are lucky to have each other and they know it in their hearts!


Jesus, family is the best only after sharing our Faith with one another at your Table of LOVE and sharing The Word/Jesus in our midst! 
 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1


We shared this yesterday at Open Table and at the site of the new monastery of the Little Brothers... "Mendicating" it by repeating each line 3 times and how powerful it was!  The Spirit speaks to our hearts!  "He came into the world, and the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him."  Lord, I see you in my Faith/Family/Farm!  Jesus, I trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

Then all to make it complete!

3 weeks later... the newly weds with Little Sister Hallel in the midst of KC!

It has been a full and wonderful Family day with Our nun and her brother and his new wife!  So full that I am going to leave it here for now!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

Seeing Hallel/Susan for the first time since the wedding with the newly weds!!!!! JOY in the middle!

I copied a 8x10 of John and Bobbi moments after their wedding with Mary and St Therese looking over their shoulders and their faces aglow with JOY!  They are the JOY in the center of our family, and even with all the family and travel and busyness of my life... I am still to happy and excited and still have not come down to earth since!

The Gospel today calls me out on my obsession and those treasures of earth that distract me... photos!  Yes, I snapped a few during the wedding and this one as they walked past is a treasure for sure!  I was close to John and Bobbi's age when I married later than most - I was just a few months away from 27 and John is 29.  When you ask and wait... watching others marry... it is a true source of JOY when you receive the answer!

The Sermon on the Mount is filled with The Truth straight from Jesus to us!

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.
But store up treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."  Matthew 6:19-23

The watercolor of our 11 in heaven with Mary and The Eucharist!  Makes our family wall complete!

I love my family wall and it represents to me so much of the treasures I have in heaven.. the remaining 7 and now 4 grandchildren!  They keep my heart and eyes focused on heaven!

My beautiful new daughter, Bobbi Marie Therese Verly!  She has touched so many in sharing her burning answer to the often asked question;  Did you ever think that you and John would get together? 


After being classmates for all 13 years for them to come together 10 years after graduating is kind of special.  She shared to the 300 family and friends gathered at the reception in her sweet humble way about how John Verly popped into her head and heart when they were seniors in HS as her future husband.  Time and time again the same answer came to her through prayer and roses from St Therese and opening her eyes to see him right in front of her at WYD in Australia... When we consider what John experienced over those 10 years... brain cancer, seminary, girl friends, ups and downs and how disheartening it probably was and how powerful her prayers were for him!!!!  Amazing!!!   And how patient and trusting and prayerful and waiting and praying for John, this sweet girl was!

The Sunday in February when she happened to come to Marshall church by herself, and John and Pat noticed her... John asked her out for pie and he paid for it!  A date!!!  As her matron of honor told her... also a classmate of the two!  John came home saying that their time together was good and it continued to their engagement around Thanksgiving on November 9th... where he proposed in front of Our Lady in church! 


Bobbi shared the reading on the day of their engagement from the Divine Mercy Meditation on Nov 9th..."God will fulfill what he reveals."  Come Holy Spirit!!!

I am super excited to have them join us for the weekend in KC and share their JOY with Hallel!  I have copied off some pictures of the wedding so that Hallel can keep them in the pocket in her habit and show others... like she did with their engagement pictures! 


Nancy shared a cute story where Hallel asked Dominic to do something for his "auntie Susie."  It makes this mom's heart happy to think that she can float back and forth and be at home in the midst of her family times we are gifted with this year she is in the U.S. A super special one lies ahead!!!

Jesus, we thank you for the family times that lie ahead... including 18 of us gathering in France for Hallel's wedding/final vows!  Be with us on our travels and thank you for the gift of pictures to hold them close to my heart and share the JOY with all!!!  May we die to self so that you may live in us and we may keep our eyes on heaven!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

Love!! The Best!!!

"thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..." Matthew 6

What a God send

that dad has had this wonderful nurse to help him down the path to "normal!"  She assured him of how wonderfully he has done this 99.99%, and we are all so grateful that he is such an amazing example of keeping sharp and active to the ripe old age of 93!

Helping dad with any little challenge he faced... how we loved to know that he was in such good hands!


Praying with dad the last two mornings has been such a gift to me!  Much rich prayers of scriptures and psalms and reflecting on the Canticle of Zechariah - Luke 1:78! 

^78" because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven"

My dad says that he wants to sit at a sporting event and hold up this sign rather than John 3:16... he feels that they say the same thing and that we repeat these words daily in morning prayer, hence a constant prayer for us.  LOVE to share our love of The Church in sharing the breviary!  Dad is so much attune to The Spirit at work in The Word and takes his prayer life very seriously!

Mom's ankles compared... her broken ankle is still swollen and weak and painful.  How she longs for it to get back to normal.  It will take time!  I will be leaving today and I am sure that they will muddle through...

The sun beckoned me to Mary shining in their peaceful home... the Trinity at her side in the streaming sunlight. 

The words of the Our Father are shared today with us from Jesus today in Matt 6... the Sermon of the Mount... These words really strike me as I sit here with my parents and experience the Kingdom come down to earth as we look to heaven at the end of their days here on earth... filled with prayers and reflecting on their life. 

Yes, I took many... Today is overcast here and Pat reported that they had rain overnight in Marshall!  It looks like we will be going to KC tomorrow to see our two daughters, Nancy and Hallel, with their families and we will be taking 3 or so grandkids from the farm!

Mom and dad and I are sitting here talking about their early years in which I figure in being the oldest child born while they were in Boston for seminary.  So nice to hear how adorable I was and beautiful!

Ace wrap is now on...

Jesus, I know that you are in control.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

"This is how you are to pray:

'Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.'

The wheelchair has been a huge help... thanks, Julie!  Trying to support her ankle so that a reinjury will not happen. 

We got outside to look over her beautiful gardens after a month of being laid up!  Lord, we place her in your hands and know that dad and mom will muddle through putting their faith first and foremost!