Whirlwind describes these last two weeks.  We hosted family in preparation for Mark’s funeral.  We planted our two fields at home.  Simon and Ambrose had their piano recital.  We had a Baby lamb (sadly the 1st one passed away) and Baby Colt.  Grandpa and Grandma Jacobson were here for the recital and helped beautify the yard.  Finally, Andrew helped prepare funeral music, he and I attended the all night Vigil and we hosted some overnight guests, then partook and participated in a beautiful funeral and burial.  Tomorrow is Sunday, I’m praying God allows us some time to put our feet up and rest.

What should have been a full and happy day ended in Family Tragedy for Grandpa Gietzen’s Family.  Grandma Mary had a party thrown in her honor of her 98th year and 5 of the surviving sons of the 7 who were in the military were honored with Quilts of Valor…one of the 5 was not there and many calls were made, but no one answered.  After the party we moved the cows home and hauled the bulls to their pasture.  It was during this that Grandpa received the devastating news that his brother, Uncle Mark, a pilot, had an accident and did not survive the plane crash.  Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him O Lord.  Prayers please for the repose of his soul and for comfort for Grandma and her children and many relatives.

Saint Isidore the Farmer

T HE great and sad mistake of many people, among them even pious persons, is to imagine that those whom death has taken leave us. They do not leave us. They remain! – Where are they? In darkness? Oh, no! It is we who are in darkness. We do not see them, but they see us. Their eyes, radi- ant with glory, are fixed upon our eyes full of tears. Oh, infinite consolation! Though invisible to us, our dear dead are not absent.

I have often reflected upon the sur- est comfort for those who mourn. It is this: a firm faith in the real and continual presence of our loved ones; it is the clear and penetrating convic- tion that death has not destroyed them, nor carried them away. They are not even absent, but living near to us, transfigured: having lost in their glori- ous change no delicacy of their souls, no tenderness of their hearts, nor es- pecial preference in their affection; on the contrary, having in depth and fervor of devotion, grown larger a hundredfold. Death is for the good, a translation into light, into power, into love. Those who on earth were only ordinary Christians, become perfect; those who were beautiful become good; those who were good become sublime.

Andrew and two of our children are at Minot State University accompanying for State Music competition. Grandpa was able to round up 10 riders for today’s trail drive, with that many riders the yearlings are sure on their best behavior.

In one of our pastures we rent, there had to be 50 crocus plants on one hilltop! Unfortunately, approximately 139 white tail and mule deer wintered in the pasture and ate the stored forage we left so we had to purchase some hay and today we prepped the area with hay for the yearlings we’re going to be moving in there soon.

Daily Verse”The Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”–1 Samuel 16:7b

“Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny. “~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote of the Day”Let us love Jesus above all, let us love Mary as our mother; but then, how could we keep from loving Joseph, who was so intimately united to both Jesus and Mary? And how can we honor him better than by imitating his virtues? Now, what else did he do in all his life but contemplate, study, and adore Jesus, even in the midst of his daily labors? Behold, therefore, our model.”–St. Madeleine Sophie Barat