Ben and I are partners in crime once again now that the flu is making its way through his babysitter’s home. He was with me all day today, and tomorrow will be the same. And I have committed to working from home this week just to be safe.

In truth, I love it. Ben and I work very hard at the fine art of goofing off. It does make work a challenge, but I need to confess that generally work is a lot more fun with him around! Right now as a matter of fact, I am on “get Ben to go to sleep duty.” I have him here next to me in my bed while I type with him putting his blanket over his head saying “stuck, stuck, stuck.” He’s not really stuck…..he is just attempting to lure me into the game. He is pretty good at it too. Just now when the louder voice didn’t get my attention, he began whispering it. Neither method has yet to work for him.

But he does need to knock it off and head to snoozyland! After all if he doesn’t get there soon he will be totally unsupervised because he has worn me out! That’s all I would need to have her come up and discover him babysitting a snoring me!

So off to un-stick his little fanny to sleep. It has been a great day but I am finishing this up so that we can get in trouble together. He is my little partner in crime, okay mostly Scotty’s but tonight mine! Off we go to await our sentencing!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless. Send the bail money to our home address!

Tom+

It seems now like all a blur, but the Bishop is gone, my mother-in-law has returned home, and I actually had a nap late this afternoon (unintentional in the middle of the Bears game). Fortunately for me, the nap was not too long and I was able see most of the game.

Stephanie and Scott are now both working and Ben is going to bed. Amanda will disappoint him as she leaves his room, but I am certain he will throw a fit. He as had a LOT of attention this weekend, and has been searching from his grandma. It is pretty hard for him since he really doesn’t understand why people leave. He cries when each of us goes to work or to school. But being a grandson myself, I know the stress of having grandma leave! I still do not do well with that one!

Tomorrow however things should be completely back to normal. I will be taking a little time in the morning to catch up on my mental and physical health and hopefully be back in full swing by noon. It is good to have all these things behind me.

Off to declare this weekend over! Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

It seems now like all a blur, but the Bishop is gone, my mother-in-law has returned home, and I actually had a nap late this afternoon (unintentional in the middle of the Bears game). Fortunately for me, the nap was not too long and I was able see most of the game.

Stephanie and Scott are now both working and Ben is going to bed. Amanda will disappoint him as she leaves his room, but I am certain he will throw a fit. He as had a LOT of attention this weekend, and has been searching from his grandma. It is pretty hard for him since he really doesn’t understand why people leave. He cries when each of us goes to work or to school. But being a grandson myself, I know the stress of having grandma leave! I still do not do well with that one!

Tomorrow however things should be completely back to normal. I will be taking a little time in the morning to catch up on my mental and physical health and hopefully be back in full swing by noon. It is good to have all these things behind me.

Off to declare this weekend over! Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

The Confirmation service went well and the Bishop was able to see three of our Mission Churches in one day. Tomorrow he will see the fourth. It is a lot of driving, but we wanted him to see all of them during his trip out to Indiana. Tomorrow in the morning we will head to Nashville to see the last.

It has been a real whirlwind, and though I am exhausted, it has been a lot of fun. My wife and mother-in-law have done a ton of work as well as the kids, and it has been appreciated by no one more than me. It has been a great weekend thus far.

But tomorrow is another day and an early one at that. I hope to be in bed early on Sunday, but I will worry about that then. I can only control now, so off to bed I go!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tom+

It is Homecoming at NHS, and though the dance was last week, the game and parade were today. Of course last week it was sunny and warm. Today was rainy and cold….the perfect day to ride on a float with 20 or so teenage girls with sticks. Needless to say, I was glad to get to the peace and quiet of my own car. They are a great bunch of kids, and it was fun, but I am tired and it is great to be home.

My mother-in-law arrived this afternoon and the Bishop will arrive at about 11:30. By then I will be in bed, but tomorrow will be a big day. We will tour three of our churches with him and then a fourth on Sunday. I am looking forward to it.

But for now I have to go back and hang with Ben. Steph is at the game, Amanda and her mom are at the store, Scott is at work, and Ben and I are home. At 48 however, he needs to be supervising me!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tom+

Okay I have an excuse about yesterday. After Ben and I went to Powderpuff to see Steph play, and then to dinner together, without his mom he was pretty clingy. We went up to my bed where I was hoping he would doze off while I did some work but when I woke up it was morning!! He and I both just gave out! I am just thankful we both did and he didn’t take the car keys and go out joyriding or something like it! He is pretty scary at times!

As for tonight, all is well. Amanda is home, Ben is elated, and to be honest, I am too. They have not been apart since she got home, and the good part is that I am able to get a bit done. I am happy for them both, and I have re-captured my status as a second-class citizen here at home! As I always say, “go with what you know!” She will have to deal with me someday alone….probably when he moves out…..I will probably close to 100 then!!

Home sweet home! I am glad it is back to normal. It is a blessing to be back to my old routine!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

It is just before midnight on my anniversary and it has been an eventful night. To celebrate we went to “College Night” at the high school (a college fair) and toured around looking at colleges and talking to reps with Scott. Stephanie is a senior but had too much homework. Plus she is pretty sure she is going to a certain school already. Scott, on the other hand, has a wide-open world. He was SO excited and it was great to see him look at his future with such optimism.

Amanda flies out to Delaware very early in the morning, so why am I up at midnight? Because she left her corporate credit card at work (Lilly in downtown Indianapolis) so we left a little after 10 and she picked it up. She slept and I drove. And on the way back, she slept and I drove. Ben slept too. Now we are in bed, and she is asleep, Ben is too (between us), and I am typing to you…..but at least she has her card!! We are up in just 4 hours to help her load the car up and leave.

Anyway, it has been an eventful anniversary. Taco Bell, College Night, a quick trip to Indy, and now the opportunity to watch them both sleep. Exciting? Perhaps not, but it is my life and if anything it gives me a lot to write about!! How will I ever top it next year??

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tom+

Okay, so I missed yesterday, but if it is any consolation I did get a lot done. In addition to all the work I did I was also able for the first time in a long time to see a Chicago Bears game, and then late in the night a Cubs game. Seeing the Bears reminded me of the countless times I spent my Sunday afternoons on my grandparents’ davenport watching the game with my grandpa as he watched from his chair. It’s great to have those memories! PLUS the Bears won!

Today I have worked all day in preparation for our Bishop’s visit this weekend. It is a lot to prepare for, but I am on top of it. Amanda had to be in Delaware for work on Wednesday and Thursday, and tomorrow is our anniversary, so I have a lot of balls in the air. We will actually go out for dinner tonight to celebrate. Yep, she is one lucky woman!! ha ha!

Today is actually Deacon Dan and Merry Ann Conley’s anniversary. Happy Anniversary to you both! They have taught me a lot about marriage. Merry Ann talks and Dan just listens…..it’s a great model that I ought to follow more! No no no…they are a great couple. Dan does get to talk occasionally!

As for me, it is off to the shower! Dinner is pretty soon and it will be at our favorite restaurant, Charlestons. So much for my diet, but it is a celebration! Ben will be joining us, so romance is it the air (as well as croutons, napkins, and whatever else he will be throwing). we are looking forward to it. It will be a great time.

I hope you day has been as blessed!

Thanks for checking in and God Bless!

Tom+

Tonight Amanda and I (and Ben) went to take pictures of all the girls and their dates going to Homecoming tonight. It is always a good time, and we got a lot of pictures. It was also a good break in my day.

Of course this is the last Homecoming for my daughter. She is a senior, and just about every marker we get to reminds me at this time next year she will be away at college. It is hard to think about her going, yet as I gather with her and her friends (many of whom I coach in lacrosse) I realize that she has grown into a fine young woman. She and her friends are some of the finest people I know, and in the midst of the fear that she will be leaving comes the comfort of knowing who she has become and where she is going.

Steph is having a great time tonight I know, and for her and her friends I am glad. I still have some work to do, and it will be a distraction. But the reality is that I have been blessed.

Off to do a bit more work! Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

In an effort to get back on track, I have decided to post a bit earlier this evening. It has become apparent to me that my life is managed best in the midst of routines, but the reality of my life is that routines for extended periods of time are but fantasies. The blessing of these last few weeks has been that is has provided me with the environments in which to stretch myself. In truth, though I am struggling with a few things, in others I am excelling! Even my staff has said that I am doing far better than expected in the circumstances.

Tomorrow I will lead a Confirmation class at one of our missions for anyone looking to be Confirmed next week by Bishop Ames. (Parishioners from all our missions were invited to attend) I have led quite a few of them over the course of my career, but in these changing times the question is what will that class look like this time? It is from 11-2 and we did not have a sign-up for the class, so I am not sure who will be there, but I will be! From there I have a little bit of work to do in Kokomo and then a sermon to write for Sunday.

The blessing is that I love what I do. I know it can get trying at times, and I certainly know that my little “handicap” makes each day a challenge, but all and all, I couldn’t be in a better place.

So it is off, not to bed, but to do a bit of work……but at least this is checked off. Be patient with me. My wife will tell you that I am ALWAYS a work in progress. For now however, I am ahead!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+