It is our anniversary today and we had a great time.  We went to Brown County to the very spot where I proposed to her.  I had bought her a bouquet made out of these unbelievable paper flowers made by a woman we met at a craft show in Nashville.  Amanda had bought a center piece from her last Sunday and I had her card, so I gave her a call.  She made a wonderful bouquet too…and Amanda was SO surprised and so pleased!!

In addition to all this, today was Scotty’s last day at home.  Tomorrow night he will stay in a hotel in preparation for leaving for boot camp on Monday morning.  Steph had asked for permission to come home too, so as Amanda and I arrived at the park to renew our vows, there was Steph, Scott, Ben, her mom, and Father Dan and his wife Merry Ann!  It was a marvelous surprise and one that moved her very deeply!  It has been a day to remember!

But with that, I will end this post.  We are spending time with out family tonight on this last night together for quite some time!  Keep us in your prayers, there is still a bit to go.  But today we thank God for our marriage and our family.  What a wonderful day!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

I could tell you I had amnesia, or I have been hospitalized for the past week or so, but in all honesty those things would be a lie.  Amanda did encourage me to begin writing my blog again and I did last night, but she was kind of uncomfortable with what I had written.  I certainly understand that, and I respect her opinion.  I still have the entry written, I will just save it for another time.

But what has happened to me is significant.  It has forced me to really reexamine my life, and my priorities.  To say that it has not been a struggle would also be untrue.  Yet I should confess that I am in a far better place than I was a few weeks ago.

I have had a lot of people contact me too.  They all have had concerns for me and my family, and many reminded me of how I should not be surprised that people wonder and speculate (so far EVERYONE has been wrong) about what has been happening.  I had shared my concern over that, and have come to realize that it should have been an expected by-product from regular readers of my blog.  My blog has been all about me and my life since the stroke, and people really have a glimpse into my life.  My hiatus was probably like the end of the year soap opera cliff hanger.  It was not intended to be, but I probably really did not have a way around it other than to work through the pain.  I chose to take a step back instead.

What I can say is that tomorrow Amanda and I will be celebrating our anniversary (the poor girl) and we have a lot to do.  I am looking forward to it too.  I will type more about she and I tomorrow, but for now let me say that I wanted to just let her know in the morning when she gets up, that I climbed back onto the proverbial (blog) horse.  That will bless her I know.

So this is to say, I am still here and most probably back.  Nope, nothing sarcastic or funny to say tonight…….just a heart full of thankfulness.  I am thankful for my family and for people who care…….and I am surrounded by them on every side.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

As I prepared to write this tonight Amanda made the comment, “you have been pretty mushy lately.”  It confused me as I was not all that sure that it was about my posts, or that my last two weeks of not being in bootcamp has allowed me to get a little soft.  I am better though on the prior not the latter, as I am still losing weight and still making progress.  And even more so, I honestly am happy to be a bit mushy about my life sometimes.  It reminds me of the many blessings God has bestowed upon me.

I know, I know…….I missed another blog entry, and although this has been a constant daily discipline for me, yesterday I really did miss for good reason.  And in truth every time I have ever missed it has been for good reason.  My hiatus has caused a lot of stir and speculation, so let me say this……it was about Amanda and me, period.  Not our kids, our jobs, our relatives, or our pets…..just us.  And we BOTH took the time to work it out.  People should really be more supportive and not gossipy.

But this weekend has been all bout being supportive.  Yesterday was Scotty’s Open House before heading to boot camp, and it was filled with some very amazing people……including a few other Marine recruits….one whom Scotty is with right now because he leaves tomorrow.  All of these young men are men of honor.  I am glad to call one of them my son.

It was a blast too.  We had a lot of food, we had a lot of great friends, and we had a lot of fun.  It was from 5-9 (supposedly) but at 1in the morning I was still up. This would have been fine had it been a Friday, but it was not.  We were leaving for our Church in Nashville between 6-7 AM.  And there was just not enough time.

But we did make it……in two cars.  And St. Matthew’s (Scotty’s last parish visit) had a cookout for him as well.  Fr. Dan and Scotty are pretty close.  PT and Danny really stepped in to help be role models for him.  And Danny (Sgt. Dan Conley USMC) presented Scotty with his Eagle Globe and Anchors that he wore not only though his service in the States, but during all his time in Vietnam, including the Tet Offensive.  It was an emotional time and it was an inspirational time.  Scotty will wear those proudly when he returns from boot camp.  To me, they are BOTH heroes

And tonight’s pictures are from this afternoon.  My favorite is the one of Amanda, Scott, and I…..but her’s is the other because I am smiling. What I can say, is that she brightens every picture to me, so I like her’s best.  But the cool part is to be with our son at a celebration of the sacrifice he is intending to make for our country!  We could not be any prouder.  And tonight, we wanted to share these pictures with you!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

In preparation for tomorrow’s Open House for Scotty (Saturday, 5-9pm at our house) we hired some security to sweep the premises.  Sure, we will have quite a few Marines here (as they tell me ONE Marine is enough) but you should always be more prepared.

Yes, this is Viper, Scotty’s dog who had to get an emergency bath and haircut at the Petsmart today as someone (me) forgot to get him into his regular groomer!! But he was kind of “stinky” and we really felt that it would not be all that nice to have him at the Open House in that condition while people were eating.  So he got all shined up for the big day.

By his attire, you probably are able to tell just who it was who picked him up…..Scotty and Ben.  And when they came in the door, he was already dressed and will remain that way through the party.  I am certain that those who see him guarding us will think “what an incredible ploy it is to look like he is sleeping all the time, he is probably a brilliant killer.”  And perhaps that is just what we ought to let people believe.  He will be 9 in January, and we really do appreciate this important work he does.  He works for cookies you know.

So preparations continue for the big day!  Marines, guard dogs, and good food.  Who could ask for more?

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

I have decided to post this early.  Although I can write it and schedule the posting of it on the blog site, I have to do that in “real time” on Facebook, so I might as well do it now.

I am still at the hotel and I have gotten a TON of work done, but I need to now admit that I am quite lonely.  Amanda stopped by on her lunch hour and as she had a presentation to make this afternoon, she asked me to head out to the parking garage and get her “make-up bag.”  I did a couple of hours ago, and here we still sit together.

No, it is certainly not the first (or the last) embarrassing thing I have carried through a public place for her.  And yes, I am certain that no one looked at me and wondered, “do you think that is HIS make-up bag?”  In fact I am sure they thought, “this guy must be in big trouble with his wife to walk through a busy hotel with her make-up.”  But I really don’t care.  I am kind of fond of her and I like to help, so I did it anyway.

But it is just sitting here and with the time (it is about 4pm here), I am sure she is not coming to get it.  And that is too bad too, because her here at lunch was a great surprise and seeing her again would have been awesome.  I did let her know it was here and it was just a quick elevator ride away, but it appears to have not been enough.  The next time I will have it with a hot fudge sundae with extra hot fudge and it will be sure to merit a visit.

So now I just wait.  I think there’s just about an hour left for her, and I am pretty sure time, as it often does in times like these, it will stand still.

But as for me….I am just thankful it is not 2!

God Bless you my friends!

Tommy+

Well I would post the picture of Amanda I just took at our hotel room if I didn’t think she would have an objection to it.  We have our computers back to back like a game of Battleship, and I took a picture of her working.  It was just too intense, so I have decided to post this one of her at dinner with me instead.  It was a great meal and we had a great time.

Oddly enough, we have come to realize that in all the madness of raising children and being two VERY busy people with out careers, that we have neglected being able to spend time with each other.  I even confessed to her tonight how sorry I was that I have not “dated her” more over the course of our marriage.  We actually have always had a great one on one relationship.  It has always been invaded by life though.  It was great to just have her to myself tonight.  We shared a great dinner (and yes we do share what we order as we are able to try TWO things) and we just laughed and talked.

In all honesty, I would not be who I am today if it were not for her, and I would hope she would feel the same.  Sometimes however, life (the good parts and the bad) gets in the way, and relationships get placed in places they do not belong.  That kind of neglect lead to nowhere good, and I am blessed that we have identified that and are committed to moving in the right direction.  I can be successful in a lot of things in my life, but ultimately I want to be successful here.  Before God Himself we vowed ourselves to each other and we honor that, but we know we are called to do better.

And the truth is that we are…..and it is renewing us as we go along, which is an unexpected blessing.  I however will take it.  Amanda is my wife and I love her.  I am just so very happy we are having this unexpected renewal of our commitment.  It is a blessing to me…..and so is she.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!


Tommy+

Okay, let’s not.  I am actually in Indianapolis tonight with Amanda where she has a conference and a hotel room, and where my drive to Nashville in the morning will be cut in half and hers will be non-existent!  It is a pretty sweet deal, but let’s make sure we do not tell Ben.  He would be ticked he is not coming along.

But tonight’s picture is from the Pork Festival and it is of Ben and his brother riding the dragon roller coaster together.  It was a hoot and something we still cannot stop laughing about.  And on the second ride, Ben kicked out his USMC brother for taking up too much of the car and rode alone!  It was just great to spend the day with them both.

Of course I believe that both of them will be devastated to be away from each other.  I mean Scotty is going in for a 5 year tour.  They are extremely close too, as brothers often are, and it will be an adjustment for sure.

That’s why I am thankful for these last few weeks they can be together.  Scotty’s last day of work was today, and now he has 2 weeks to do all he needs to do.  And I know that Ben is a big part of that.

Distance may separate them for a bit……but we will always be thankful that they both have the pork and the dragon to invoke those fond memories.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

What makes this picture great, other than the fact that I am not in it, is that it is of Scotty playing his last service as the music leader at St. Patrick’s.  He leaves for boot camp in just 15 days and although we are proud of him, it will be difficult to not see him sitting there and listening to him play.  He is a fine musician, and it has been both a blessing and delight to be able to work with him.  Ironically, as late as just a couple of years ago, music was his career of choice…..now it is defending our country.

He even played a song he wrote after Communion.  It was great.  He then came to St. Anne’s to say farewell there too, and played it again.  And next Sunday he will play with George Blair at St. Matthew’s Nashville for a farewell there, hosted by the great people done there who are served by a fine priest…..the Reverend Fr. Dan Conley (Sgt. Conley USMC Vietnam Vet).  He and Scotty are pretty tight, and Danny has helped Scotty with look at this with eyes wide open.

So the times are changing….yet again.  We are so blessed to be living in them, especially me…I have a really great son who I both love and am proud of.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yes, this is a picture of my wife Amanda and I, and it was taken at the Tipton Pork Festival this afternoon, because as always, 1) I know how to show a girl a good time, and 2) this is Indiana.  (Don’t be jealous Aunt Rhonda!) And I will be posting a few pictures of the Pork Festival over the next week on this blog.

But I thought tonight I would post one of Amanda and me, as I realized I do not post pictures of us together that often.  In fact, what I discovered was that, other than our wedding pictures, I have very few of us together at all.  One of the other of us, mostly me, is always taking one of the other with the kids.

But this is my wife and I love her.  She is the very one who brought me out of the abyss and after my stroke, she is the one who nurtured me to recovery, which was a great task indeed.  I not only was difficult through my recovery, but I am also different.  Yet she has stood by me and I want to let you know how much I appreciate that.

You know, I am good at what I do, and most people seem at least to like me.  Yet what I want to confess is that I would not be able to even be close to the man I am without her in my life.  Sure, it is and has not been perfect.  Our marriage has had its struggles and some of them major, including issues over these past few weeks, but in the end they have revealed the deepest and most honest parts of our souls……..two people in love who commit and recommit themselves to a Godly life and marriage.

So take a look at our picture….it is us, and we are committed to it.  And I believe it can give hope and and be a blessing to anyone!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+