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!
Christmas card with the 5 in the late 90s with a fall kitten. One of my most favorites!
I am warning that this day will be a lot of memories as it is the 15th Anniversary of John's stem cell transplant. His immune system was totally wiped out and then his own stem cells were planted today 15 years ago. The Gospel that day as today is the Sower and the seed from Mark 4:1-20. So appropriate!
John's brain cancer brought Susan/Hallel home from France. How John adored having all his sisters around him to face his battle!
We started our journey in ER in Marshall, than to Sioux Falls where we first heard brain cancer, and the suggestion of a horrific brain surgery. We had to get a second opinion and went to St Joseph's in the Cities. In the chapel there we clung to our Lord and Lady! The St Peregrine's image of Jesus reaching down from the Cross to heal gave us some comfort there!
John early in his battle- it spoke to me of the brain we prayed for without ceasing. To the highest heavens - we had to place it in the Lord's hands and TRUST!
The day Susan went to France to Join The Community of the Lamb - September 11, 2008. Less than a year later on Father's Day we discovered that John had brain cancer!
My painting of my entire family from a card I found at the Thrift store with the mother and 3 daughters and a cow. I had to add the other 2 kids and made it our building site along with the cemetery with my losses! This hands in my kitchen still, and I love it!
A 20 year old Barb in my Christian Commune in Bolder, Colorado. I was able to share some of my story this morning at our table of SHE. The Wisdom and direction I received and continue to receive from my Lord and Lady is my greatest JOY and Happiness!
Faith/Family/Farm is my LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!
At "the farm" in Wisconsin as a new Catholic 54 years ago! Every day since has been my greatest JOY! I was able to share some of my story today too! "Dad was at a Ignatian Retreat when the Holy Spirit told him to bring our family of 13 into The Church!"
Taken the weekend before I officially met Pat and his sister, Marge's wedding.
Classic!!! Barb, Marty and Paula - the 3 oldest of the 13 in our matching jammies with our shoulders showing, and our 4 girls in one of those million dollar rains when we had faced a drought.
Mass in Rochester where we finally started John's treatment and finally a stem cell transplant! Daily mass was the wind beneath our wings!
The tabernacle behind the altar - I spent many hours here giving it back to the Lord and trusting!
In the chapel in Rochester Mary's
The Church were so many prayers were said!
The day of John's stem cell transplant of putting his own stem cells in - he has never looked back now 15 years cancer free and the new John!
The Gospel 15 years ago and today! The Sower and the seed!
The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no roots; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” Mark 4
The old Rugged Cross from the tree in the grove where we started our Stations of the Cross went along with us to our little yellow house where John and I lived for a month while he gained strength and ability to bear fruit from his stem cells planted to be healthy!
Also shared this morning about our other daughter, Maria, who discerned a call to be a Poor Clare Nun behind the enclosure. So powerful!!! She discerned for 4 months and discerned out and is now married to Major Joseph and they have 7 Catholic Homeschooled kids!
Major Joseph is currently living in California for a month on formation. He will be leaving his family and going to Poland for a year soon. So many prayers!
John and Maria in 2004...
Maria home from the convent made a stations of the Cross for our grove. The Stations were very powerful for her while in the Convent.
The old Rugged in the silver Maple tree by the garden where we would start the Stations of the Cross in our grove...
When Maria entered on January 1, 2004. So powerful and we continue to ask for their prayers as we go down the narrow path. They were huge for us as we fought John's brain cancer 5 years later.
After I came into the Catholic Church discerning a call to be a nun... I wanted my girls to all consider this wonderful option that the Lord might be calling them to be his spouse!
I had a nun tell me a few years ago that I have my nun because of my own call. Yes!!!
On our wedding day 46 1/2 years ago - August 3,1978 in The Basilica of St Mary in Minneapolis, which was our home parish after we came into The Church! This is very special as it has my sister, Mary, who died of lymphoma in 1986 at age 28, and Pat's brother, Don, who was murdered in Montana in 1996.
John on his Cross called brain cancer. As a result of his brain biopsy through the back of his brain he has left sided ataxia. His sisters helping him walk in Lourdes after Susan took her habit and changed her name to Hallel. Hallel is the first part of Hallelujah! "Every time someone says my name they are giving God all the praise."
Hallel helping John walk on the path in Saint Pierre - the mother house of Hallel's Community of the Lamb in France!
I was able to share today about how we miraculously went to France after John's second chemo! He got better and within 24 hours we were flying to France! So amazing and still brings me to tears!
Newlyweds at Christmas at my parents house in Kenwood. I call this the look of love, and it reminds me of our love one for the other!
With 4 girls in the midst of losses... I had a JOY in dressing them alike by sewing. I smile now that Hallel is dressing like hundreds in the blue habit - I prepared her!
A photo shoot with Nancy in a habit and the light of many candles and Our Lady - Pat and I counted that I had 40 pictures, statues and all of Mary in my family room some years back. "Someone walking into our home would know that we are crazy Catholic!" Said John proudly
John arrives in France and sees his sister, Susan! The next day she took her habit and became little sister Hallel!
Look what I found in my Blogger pictures!!!! My 4 girls and me at Schoenstatt Camp! I wanted them to see nuns in habits, so I had to send them to Schoenstatt Camp! Coming home from a summer cap week - Susan told me "Mom, I think that I want to be a nun." And so it was!!!
As often as we can we spend time with our Community of the Lamb - so important to John in his healing!
Shortly after John's battle he carried forth the chrism of healing used in the Anointing of the sick. John was anointed 4 times during his battle! How we adore the Sacraments of The Church and how they lifted John up healing him and bringing him to find his Faith.
My youngest girl, who is my nun!
Easter with John - about 1990 - Yes, I sewed the girls' dresses.
Snapping beans at my mom's in TF. I just was talking to my youngest sister, Carol, about how much we miss mom and dad! They were together for 70 years and died 7 months apart in 2020. I had the blessing of having my dad live here with me for the last 6 months of his life in my "farm monastery."
Heaven comes down to earth - I sense mom and dad joining in from heaven at daily mass!
Please end the taking of innocent life in the womb!
Yes!
Making hamburgers with Verly beef a couple years ago in KCK with Hallel! LOVE that we can share our bounty with our nun and her family of the Lamb!
This morning with special reminders of John's 15 year rebirth!
John 11 years ago with his Mother! "Mom, there is a mother greater than you." "Yes, John!!"
Our Faith must be shared in our Domestic Church/family!
France in 2009 August after John got better after his second chemo!
At our wedding reception in Garvin Park - flower child!
John lost his hair due to whole brain radiation. He continues to be "a miracle" in that he has not gotten dementia as many have. So many prayers continue to protect John's brain!
Among the religious in our diocese... I must end this - I could go on and on! I think that I kind of overwhelmed the people at SHE this morning. My story fills me with so much JOY unending!
John in France after his second chemo and he got better! We went to Lourdes and it was there that John fell in love with Our Lady! She brought him to Faith and her Son and His Church! I am eternally grateful that we are blessed to share our Faith as a family! Jesus, we trust in you. Bless-bless, Barb and the 33 plus 13 in heaven.
"The final word is love."- Dorothy Day
"It was not enough for Himthat He should become
one of ourselves by adopting a human nature like our own.
It was not enough that He should share the
hardships of a life like our own—that He should suffer
and die and atone for our sins, in our name.
He loved us, and He would not restuntil He
should be completely united to us. And in His love
He devised this most extraordinary method
of union, in which He Himself becomes our food!
Truly a tremendous lover!"
Dom Mary Eugene Boylan
This Tremendous Lover
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"Love is never finished."
Pope Benedict XVI
Lauren Daigle - You say
There was Jesus - Zach Williams and DollyJorden Feliz - the RiverDead man walking - Jeremy CampJeremy Camp - walk by Faith
We would listen to Christian music on the road to his radiation in Rochester from Maria's in St Paul each day!
In the chapel in Rochester Mary's
Heaven comes down to earth - I sense mom and dad joining in from heaven at daily mass! 
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