Holy Smokes!  I am SO VERY THANKFUL to be HOME!!!  And I drove through a monsoon to get here!  The drive however was pretty good and full of lots of singing and good conversation (with myself).  I had a good and productive time in Akron, but as Dorothy says, “There’s no place like home.”

But it is not that there is nothing to do here.  The Bishop, who I just left in Akron, will also head this way tomorrow where all our clergy are converging (to our house) for a informal get together before he ordains and Confirms and hears the vows of yet another Brother on Sunday.  So it was a “Hi honey, I love you, welcome home, let’s hurry and go to the store” kind of night.  Not ideal, but did I not mention it is HOME and I am delighted to be here.

And oh yeah, in my INFINITE BRILLIANCE I also scheduled a “Blessing of the Pets” tomorrow morning in Muncie from 9am till noon.  Yep, I am on it for sure!  If only I could fill up the afternoon before everyone arrives with heart surgery or something like that.

But the bottom line is that I came home to what family still lives here and it has been a real blessing.  I will sleep on Sunday afternoon and take Monday to catch up.  But right now it is go go go!  But at home, it makes these types of times not all that bad at all.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Well I am here for my last night in Akron and it has been a productive day.  I have heard from a ton of people who regularly read this blog, and the overwhelming consensus it to continue it and do so daily.  Cutting back will require a pretty amazing strategy, like posting pictures from the meeting I am attending, but I have decided to post a cool one instead.

What I am learning reminds me of the end of one of my favorite movies, “It’s a Wonderful Life” (the B&W version, not the color one).  Jimmy Stewart takes a hard look at his life and discovers the joy and wonder in it was not found exactly in the places he was looking.  It has surprised me at how many people connect with me and my life via this blog.  It really honors me in a most humble way.  It really is not a detailed account of my life by any means, yet people seem to know me from it.  I suppose in a way they do.  It just reminded me of how much joy I get from living my life, and how perhaps I need to re-read what I write in order to pick up more of that joy for myself.

I can’t promise for certain I will blog daily, but then again I never have.  I just did.  But I come at it now with a renewed sense of purpose and desire.   There is enough stress and tension in this life to last us all a lifetime.  But almost everyday something cool or wonderful happens to me, or I think of something, and I really DO feel committed to share.

So tonight’s picture is NOT of my meeting, but a gratuitous picture of my wonderful family on my anniversary.  It IS a wonderful life……and I am truly blessed to be living it!

Goodnight my faithful friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Well, I am in Akron and in a hotel, and although it is great to be among great friends (no, they are not all here with me at the hotel) my thoughts are focused on home.  I was able to speak with Ben tonight on my way here, but only from the cars.  He goes to bed so early that speaking to him after I arrived and had been through my meeting here was impossible, impossible that is because HE becomes impossible the next day without the right amounts of sleep.

I did get to do our daily renewal of vows (with Amanda, don’t worry she is my wife) after I returned to my hotel.  We were able to do it via Skpe, which was nice, but I always worry that her being able to see me in the light might just spoil it for her!  She always looks great, and that seems to be amplified whenever I am away from home.  What I can say though is thank God for technology! (when it works) We were not only able to renew our vows, but via her IPad, I was able to see the progress she and her mom made on Scotty’s room AND she took it in to show me Ben sleeping.

Now that is where things kind of fell apart, and although I would like to blame it on the technology, I am pretty sure it was me.  For as she was showing me sleeping I said something like “how cute” or something like that.  But this was no picture, it was live!  So all the sudden I was hearing “go back to sleep, it’s okay, go back to sleep.”  I believe (read into this HOPE) he did.

After all, he can be impossible when he doesn’t get the right amounts of sleep.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

The car in the picture is Scotty’s…..which is for sale.  The dog in the picture is Scotty’s also, but he is staying put.  The trees that you see just over the hood is one I pruned on Saturday.  And the bottom three limbs came down with my chain saw.  The sad part is that the dog ran UNDER the one facing the car as it was coming down.  It was all like slow motion.  But happily I can confess that he was just hit and bruised on the right paw.  How that thing came down all around him was really like a Bugs Bunny cartoon.

Of course I was delighted he was alive, though upset he was limping.  I thought about the letter I would send…..”Scotty, things are going well here, but oh, your dog is dead, I hit him with a tree.”  No, that would not be good.  And I already feel badly enough that he (Scotty) is gone.

And now a few days later, Viper seems fine, the tree looks marvelous, and I am relieved.  Of course I still have the car.  Someone asked if I wanted to trade it for a hot tub or an older van. Nope, I do not need that!   Others have said they would be here with cash.  But none of it seems true.

The best part however is that Viper is here and alive and no longer limping!  And Scott will return a Marine, quite capable of killing any of us, but will have no reason.  Praise God!  It looks like this is ending a good day!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+   

Amanda and I have been going around about the life-changes we have been experiencing and much of what we both do.  The subject came up about this….my blog.  Her preference is that I continue.  She lives many of the posts I write, yet she enjoys reading them.  She knows how every helpful they are to me in terms of writing them, yet she also knows the time restraints of my life.  I was leaning toward perhaps suspending things…..particularly as I have been sporadically posting.  She however wants me to continue the regular posts…..after all, I went over 4 straight years without missing till just recently.

But in all honesty, I am conflicted.  I focused myself on post stroke therapy, yet I am really not in need of that any longer.   Yet I seem to come at it (as my wife seems to point out) ONLY from my perspective.  It really does appear that people like to hear what is happening and that many people DO follow along.

If the truth be known however, I have really thrown all my extra time into my relationship with my wife.  I felt I needed to, and I have absolutely no regrets about that.  And with that and all the other stuff I do, it seems as if the end of the day has no time left to write.  Yes, I used to write and come to bed AFTER she was asleep.  And it was really a poor witness to how I feel about her.  I do not do that any longer.

I suppose I could write in the morning, or figure other models out.  I guess I cannot get my mind around the fact that people are really interested in what I write, after all, that was never the intention.

But this is to say, I ask that you pray for me and help me develop clarity on this issue.  Send me a note if you would like and tell me what you think too.  I am really interested in your opinions.  Because if I am writing just for myself, it is easier for me to stop writing and just jabber to myself.   But if you really do want to hear, I will continue on.  Deep down I really do enjoy it.  I just want to be a good steward of everyone’s time….including mine!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

My life is far different than it was just a couple of months ago.  Stephanie is back at college, Scotty is at boot camp, Ben is in kindergarten, and my mother-in-law (yes, we get along and it is a good thing!) is here till just after Thanksgiving.  It is just a much different life than I was living.

Tonight at dinner we received “the call.”  It was to Amanda’s cell phone, a total error to what we had agreed to, yet it was a call we were glad to receive.  Amanda took the call.

It basically said, “This is Recruit Tirman.  I have arrived safely in San Diego.  The next time time you will hear form me will be two weeks in a letter.  I love you.  Good-bye.”  Amanda has said there was a bit more to it, but she was so shocked she cannot remember all the details.

I could not listen in, and it was over almost before it started, yet it was a great relief to receive.  Scotty is there, as we knew he was.  He is beyond standing in the yellow footprints.  And everyone of the guys in tonight’s picture has made this call.  They all meet THEIR Drill Instructor on Friday (Black Friday…the hardest day of a Marine’s boot camp), and Amanda is asking for volunteers to pray for Scotty (and for his platoon…and particularly for his friends he arrived with) from midnight PST Thursday for 24 hour THROUGH FRIDAY.  Email her for a shift @ amandatirman@yahoo.com

We are happy to know he is there and safe and probably SCARED out of his mind!!  Yet, Scotty is not an ordinary man…..he is on his way to being a United States Marine.  And he will make it.  We will watch him march on December 21st in San Diego, 9 full days after becoming a Marine.  He is our hero.  He is our son.  We are proud of him, and we ask your prayers for him and for all who put themselves in harm’s way on our behalf!

Thanks so much!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

On this, what would have been my sister Sarah’s 48th birthday, I have decided to post about Cookie, one of the first show dogs we produced.  My sister was an animal lover, so I know she would be quite pleased, PLUS this dog’s name is “Angelcreek’s the Best of the Batch,” and her call name is “Cookie.”

Cookie has lived a spectacular life too.  She was the pick of the litter from our first litter, and one of Steph’s primary dogs to show.  She was in a lot of shows with Steph, and even spent time as a science project for a preschool that she visited each week so they could learn about puppies and see how they grow.  She had a pretty sweet life.

Before we moved to our current home, we set aside dog shows and breeding and then placed 4 of our 5 show dogs into good homes…..Cookie was one of those placed dogs.  She has lived in Indiana, and California, and she is now on her way to live in North Carolina…..all with her new owners who also happen to be good friends.  Cookie is now known as “Ralphie,” and has another dog to play with all the time.  And soon, there will be a baby in the home as well….the new home in North Carolina that is.

But today Ben and I were able to deliver the port-a-crib we bought them (a shower gift) to their parents home where they had stopped for a visit on their cross country move.  It was great to see them, as it was great to see Cookie too.  She is one of the best dogs we have ever had, and it was a blessing to see her.

Yep, my sister would have been 48 today, and no doubt I would have rather harassed her.  But as it is I will need to wait awhile for that……so in the meantime, a post about my old friend Cookie will have to do!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

It has been the best, yet one of the hardest days of our lives.  The picture was taken just a couple of minutes before Scotty boarded the bus to take him to the airport for his flight to boot camp.  It was his last time with his brother till Christmas, and it all really was hard enough before they said good bye.  We were all proud, but also torn up inside.  He is our son, and we will not see him or talk to him until Christmas.  He leaves as a young man, and he will return to us, for a short while at least, as a United States Marine.

Amanda has been a mess for over a week, and is a lot worse today.  I am running through the gamut of emotions as well.  If it were not for Amanda however, I would not be doing so well.  Taking care of her seems to help distract me from what I feel.

Scotty is now on a plane somewhere over the US and will arrive in San Diego tonight sometime and make his way off the plane and onto the yellow footprints.  And Although he said he felt prepared, I am certain that this will all far exceed what he thinks will happen.  After all, this is not the SATs, it is the United States Marine Corps.  But I have confidence and faith that he will live up to and live into all that he needs to be.

So tonight it is now only 8pm and we are about to head off to bed.  I am not sure if we will sleep, but it sure would be nice.  For the next 13 weeks I am sure that the sleep will be a bit harder.  But in the end, we are thankful for such a fine son and we know deep down that he will do well.  Today has however been a big day for us all, although much more for Scott and his day is nowhere near over either.  Say a prayer for him, and for all those with him.

Semper Fi Scotty.  We love you!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

I cannot say it has been an easy day, but it has been an important one for sure.  This morning our family celebrated the Eucharist together, our last as a family before Scotty becomes a Marine.  It was very meaningful, and it was nice to have us all there.  And, since Amanda’s mom is here till after Thanksgiving, it made it all the more special.

This afternoon then we drove Scotty down to meet his Sargent, (actually he drove us, which is what the picture is of since he will not be driving anymore for quite some time) who then briefed him along with four others before driving them to, and checking them into, their hotel.  He was then ours to take to dinner.  We took two of the others with us too and had a great time.  And although we might be able to see him tomorrow after he swears in, tonight was most likely the last regular meal we will eat with him until he returns.  We took him back to his hotel, and he will be sequestered there until 4:30 tomorrow.  He will then head to where we will see him swear in.

So tomorrow we will see him early, and God willing be able to talk to him a little more.  He will then, along with all the others, head through a gauntlet of parents, family, and well-wishers to a bus that will take him to the airport.  After that we will not see him until graduation.  It is hard, and it is scary, but it is a right and honorable choice, and we are proud of him.  I know he will do fine.

But please pray for him and for us.  Tomorrow morning is our reality, and when he lands at boot camp and steps onto his set of yellow foot prints tomorrow night, that will be his.  We thank God for his commitment and we thank God most of all this day for him.  And we know he will return to us a United States Marine.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+