God orchestrated it all: Faith, family, farm

My wife Lynn and I often talk about how God is truly guiding and directing our steps. From my early years serving Mass when Monsignor Wald was an associate pastor at St. Michael’s in Grand Forks, to turning down two different jobs, to get a teaching job at St. Mary’s in Grand Forks that led to my current Holy Spirit principal job, we have to believe that God orchestrated it all. After moving to Moorhead, Minn. and desiring to have children, Monsignor Wald instructed us to say three Hail Marys a day. At first we didn’t know how blessed we would be, but in turn our Holy Mother would bless us abundantly.

Being a family of 10 continues to develop positive memories every day. If anyone wants to find us all together, attend Mass at Holy Spirit at 9 a.m. on Sundays. There are very few times throughout the year when we won’t all be there as a family. We eat most evening meals together, but we have to be honest with ourselves that it’s going to be increasingly difficult with more high schoolers around the table. However, we make it work most of the time. Supper just might be at 5:30 p.m. one night and 7 p.m. the next.

People often say, “I don’t know how you do it” or “I get tired just watching you.” To us, it is just another normal day of being a family. We put our Catholic faith first and our family next. It is important to have structure and routine as a family. The kids know the routine and do what is expected. Not because we are demanding or authoritative but with consistent structure they start to understand that how we operate as a family is important and harmonious. When a family works in harmony, there is great joy. That isn’t to say there are no challenges in our family life, it just means that when we focus on our Catholic faith as a family, our challenges are given to God to handle, and we just need to do our best in our daily life.

When we started looking for a farmhouse about seven years ago, we knew that we needed more space with our growing family. When we found our current farmhouse, the couple who previously owned it accepted our contingent offer. We thought we were on our way to move. However, a couple of weeks later we were notified that a couple from New Jersey paid cash for it sight unseen, and we lost it. It was devastating at first because it fit our family so well, but as the weeks went on there seemed to be a peace and calm to it, like the journey was not over. It was during this time of peace that I experienced visions of Mary in the woods for multiple days on end. I knew something was going to happen.

Sure enough, we got a call a couple of months later that the couple from New Jersey had backed out and the selling couple wanted to know if we wanted to buy the house again. Through the grace of God, we made it happen and have now been there for five years.

Soon, Lynn experienced a spiritual stirring after many days walking in the woods. Thus began Harvest Hope Farm, a non-profit that provides hope for others, spiritually, mentally, and physically. There is more to the story, but we invite you to check out our website harvesthopefarm.org to see how we can help each other. To give you an idea, there is a 500-foot rosary walk with prayer spaces to spend time in quiet, prayer, and meditation. There is also a small grotto of Mary in the back corner of the woods for you to come and pray. The sunsets are gorgeous! We hope you’ll visit soon!