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Getting cool…….

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It’s quiet out here on the back porch tonight. The sun is just setting and is a wonderful 65 degrees. Amanda, Ben, Viper and I just returned from a trip over to St. Patrick’s, where I put in all the screens, and we made a list of a few things we need to do there. Hopefully over the next few days we will be able to accomplish a few projects there as well as at the house.

But the reality is that this is the end of Summer. Yes, I know not literally, but in terms of how we as Americans live. And ironically, the weather seems to be playing along. A few weeks back it was just too hot to sit out here……today it is great. I do love all the seasons, but I love sitting out here in the Fall and the Spring the best. (Sure, I have TRIED it in the Winter, but it’s a bit much even for me.)
We have had a great time on this porch, but hopefully this will be my last September 5th here. Scotty will graduate next May, and we would like to move to the country somewhere, mostly as a mental health thing for me. I want to have things like a garden, a fire pit, a barn, and a place to raise and train Goldens. God willing, next year we will be in that place.
But for now I am thankful for this place. It has been a real blessing to be here and I still have a lot of time to enjoy it. So I will sign off for now and head out to the deck and the porch swing with the dog. It’s only 8:30 here, and I intend to enjoy the blessings of the rest of the night!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Hurry hurry hurry………

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I just got off the phone with my mother-in-law. She was calling to say hi, probably not to me or her daughter, but to her grandson Ben who is always VERY interested in telling her every detail of his life. I told her (politely) that I needed to sign on and finish this. Ben and Amanda are visiting Amanda’s good buddy Ann Yolish, who now lives in California (but is here this weekend at home) and is a Purdue graduate (not the chicken…they actually have a college!) and probably pretty depressed since my Notre Dame Fighting Irish handled them mightily this afternoon. But once again….I digress.

Ben and Amanda BOTH made it clear that they were going to Skype with Nanny and Aunt Rhonda tonight, which means that the computer I USE FOR WORK will be commandeered to achieve their evil, I mean just purposes (as opposed to “Just Porpoises” which is a movie starring Justin Timberlake). So needless to say I am faster tonight than Speed Racer, trying to finish both my sermon and blog.
I will be in Kokomo tomorrow with the good people there…among them, the newly ordained Father Kevin Middlesworth and his wife and toddler son. Kevin is a priest we would LOVE to see here, but his wife is due with twins and he has moved from Florida up with his in-laws to Wheaton, Illinois. We intend to plant a church with him someday, but for now he needs a j0b with INSURANCE up there. If you know of anything let me know. He is a talented priest and web designer…a great guy to have on board.
Anyway, I need to be done. I am not afraid of my mother-in-law or sister-in-law, but I am afraid of my wife and son. Last time I crossed them they tried to put me into the nursing home.
SO……goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Choosing the good portion…….

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Tonight we are outside. I am on the porch, Ben and Viper are in the yard, Puddy is on the roof, and Amanda is sitting on the porch swing (it’s on the deck) reading a book. Scott and Steph are both teenagers and Steph is in college. I only hope they are in their respective states.

But in truth, it is the perfect way to head into the holiday weekend. I have to write a sermon, but that’s really all that is on my schedule tomorrow. I may try and do a couple of visits, but it should be a good day to catch up. I know a lot of folks try to pack a lot in on a holiday, but I really like to relax better. Hopefully that is just what we are heading for.
So I am pretty content. I get to spend Sunday with the good people at Christ the King in Kokomo and on Monday Amanda is probably going to surprise me with breakfast in bed, a great lunch and scratch my back all day long. (I am sure I will not be disappointed.)
But for now I will just enjoy the night. I LOVE the cool breeze and watching the clouds blow by.
Life is good, and I am thankful for its blessings!
Tommy+
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Finding my place…….reflections of my mid-life

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A few days ago I posted something upon Facebook about a “mid-life” crisis. It really was a joke because I do not want a sports car (they are too small), a motorcycle (they are dangerous because people just drive too crazy now), or a girlfriend (I have trouble enough just with the wife I have). Sure, I have heard about living one’s life to the fullest, and I know that one of (if not all of) the Billy Crystal cowboy movies deal with seeking it at my age, and I am just too dang young for a “bucket list.” (I don’t watch too much TV or see a lot of movies, so I apologize for the vague references.)
But my post got me thinking…….what would be the very thing I could do that would reflect the fact that I am healthily dealing with middle age, yet also reflect my personality? Honest of God I was thinking about it, when a former player and captain of mine, Hannah Wishart (IU 2012 and yes, someone should give her a high-paying job) sent me just the thing. It may be a commercial, but those who know me will say, “yep, that fits.” Everyone else will probably “unfriend me.” Regardless, I’d gladly do this every year until I die, and maybe then some.
I hope you enjoy! THANKS HANNAH!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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It is what it is…….

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In my life I have come to a deep understanding of the concept that “it is what it is.” I had a doctor appointment today, one of three this month, and I filled out the update form on my medical history. At 49, with a stroke, a load of orthopedic surgeries, two sisters in heaven ahead of me, and a severely diabetic mom with Alzheimer’s i a nursing home, I felt like I was checking every box. (I didn’t check two. I have not had a hysterectomy and I am not pregnant….that I know of.)

I used to get pretty frustrated by all that, but not anymore……..because it is what it is. You know, I have had to deal with a lot in this life, but focusing or obsessing on it doesn’t change a thing. If you ask me, I have it pretty good. I still get to live this life and intend to live it well.
Sure, it would be nice to live it with a buff body (meaning mine) and a brain at 100%. But in all honesty, I am still in pretty good shape for middle age, and as for my brain, well we have become friends! It may not work like it used to, but where one area falters another picks up. I really have learned my blind spots, and the relearning and adapting has opened up for me a life I could not have imagined. My mind whirls and whirls now, but it too is what it is. I have come to enjoy riding its wave, and it truly has opened up a whole new world to me. I am a better man, a better father, and a better priest for what I used to believe to be a tragedy.
Anyway, I will check every box but two again soon, and it is what it is, but isn’t it grand? No, it’s not a delusion, it’s just a fact. God has blessed me with so much and He continues to give me wonderful opportunities. I am in for the long haul too. Too many people focus on the negative, and I could too. That however, would blind me from the truth.
This life is what it is, and it is meant to be lived! I am living it, are you? My hope and prayer is that you are. We can’t change things we have no control over, we can only change ourselves.
I love my life, and I intend to keep at it.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Lacrosse (or goofball) memories……..

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I posted on my Facebook account on Monday that Father Irish and I, because the Internet was not usable at our hotel, headed to his favorite hangout…..Panera. There we could have lunch AND Internet and hopefully be able to finish up our work.

Oddly enough though, this Panera had been one that I had stopped at for lunch with a group of girls from my lacrosse team last summer. These were top-notch lacrosse players, who although just off our very first and only appearance in the Final Four, still chose to head to a Division 1 camp at Ohio State to further develop their skills. I was impressed with their dedication and intensity….right up until we got into the van to head there.
These girls love music, although I am not sure that’s what I would call it. They had a CD of tunes from as early as my day, and all of them were ones I would never listen too, even at gunpoint. They also talked, and almost exclusively about boys, which of course as a dad is never a good conversation to overhear. And then the cell phone prank calls and the singing of show tunes made me wonder why they were all girls that guys wanted to date.
But in truth, I know……they are great girls! One of the things I love about my team is the personalities of the players. Yep, they can be irreverent, and they will laugh always more than they cry. But in the end, they know what they are about. We may not win every game, but it is not for lack of effort or determination. They get things done, and often I think their apparent irreverence disarms opponents who think they are not serious. That is a serious mistake.
So as a core group of the number 4 team in Indiana arrived at that Panera last summer it was hard to tell who they were. They ate, they laughed, they played and then they constructed the famous (or infamous) “pyramid of death” out in front of the Panera in front of all the patrons and in clear sight of all the traffic on the busy street. It was awesome and these pictures prove it.
Within an hour they all checked into the camp and survived the week. And, the trip home was as screwy as the trip there. But a few of those girls in the picture were leaders of team that is now no more, and those leaders have left for college. But the rest remain….well trained and capable of leading us on. Sure, they are just as irreverent and screwy. But when game time comes the smiles are set aside and the intensity kicks up. These girls obviously suck at gymnastics (and group singing) but they are some of the finest players I know. I am blessed to be their coach.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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I can fix that…..

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I was able to return home from Columbus today. We stayed at the Comfort Suites in Columbus on Keim Circle….a hotel I had stayed at before in January on my return from South Carolina to Indiana. That time it was good, this time it was bad.

I spent a good piece of time on my way home with the people at Choice Hotels. They were very gracious and concerned, and promised to address the issue. The night at the hotel was paid for with points from prior stays. I hate to think we were treated any less for using points for our rooms, but it sure seemed that way. My issues were valid, and though I did not ask to have the points reimbursed, Choice Hotels did. They are a good company and that was just good business. My concern was that others need not be treated the way we were, nor be subject to the condition of the rooms we were. Those issues too will be addressed.
I used to travel frequently, but I now travel even more. I switched to Choice Hotels because I liked them, but was not dissatisfied with Holiday Inn or Marriott at all. And although I will NEVER stay at the hotel I stayed at last night again (I sent pictures to Choice Hotels for them to investigate) I will stay at other ones again.
Hotels are expensive, but necessary in my vocation. But hospitality is a Christian concept. If people cannot treat others with simple dignity and provide the agreed contract we pay for, then something needs to change. I am confident it will after talking to the people this afternoon.
I am just thankful I am home. These things will be fixed, but little Ben was waiting in what you see in the picture to fix the frustrations I experienced this trip on the road. Thank God for him!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless.
Tommy+
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On a historic journey……

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A couple of times a year I get together to review my life and ministry with Father Kelly Irish, and tonight is one of those nights. Tonight we are in Columbus, Ohio, where Columbus himself landed and claimed for the French in 1977.

It is always a great and productive time to get together. We have been doing this for many years, the last time was in Dallas earlier this year. (Dallas was settled a bit earlier than Columbus, by the famous Randolph Scott, although it is often credited to Roger Staubach because those Texans love their football….but I digress)
Kelly and I however get together and go over things because it is important. We ask each other the tough questions and speak with complete honesty with each other. Sure, the glaring fact that I am a life-long Cubs fan and he is a life-long Cleveland Indians fan show a propensity to poor decisions, but it is all about balance. Our ministries are pretty good, because we take care of them and ourselves. The only thing that has really changed is that we are no longer the young men that used to meet.
Anyway, I am glad to be in Columbus for yet another review. The next one I think is going to be in Montana, which of course was settled by the Cyrus family in the 1980’s.
Keep me in your prayers. We are getting ready to review my grasp of history.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless.
Tommy+
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The Standoff……….

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Although we are no longer in our “terrible twos” we are in our “stubborn as all get out” threes, and tonight he was testing my patience. We sat at the table for a long time, me eating what I had fixed and him refusing to do so. It was just noodles and rice, both of which he likes, but he was having none of it, saying things like there were ladybugs and dirt in the noodles.

And unfortunately, those were the ONLY times he was opening his mouth. I did consider force-feeding him, but I decided to wait him out. After all, I am 49 and full of patience, whereas he is just three and would certainly bow to my will.
SO……after he wore me out, I cleared the table and saw him head up to bed with his mom. Oh yes, he was smiling. That little rat wins a lot, and I know that they both would throw me under the bus for each other! But I am comfortable with that, and honestly would not want it any other way. It really cracks me up how they are together. He insisted tonight that he didn’t need noodles, but a hug and kiss from mommy. They are secure with each other, but sooner or later he will want to be fed!
So tonight as they are upstairs having their little escape from noodles bash, I am downstairs enjoying a glass of wine. Scotty will be home soon and probably eat those noodles.
You see sooner or later they come around. And when Ben is 17, I will be sitting her waiting for him!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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It starts…..

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Today the first (combo) letter of interest came to Scott about college. What I mean by “combo” is that it was not one of the generic pieces of mail he receives from colleges (there are many) because he is a senior who has gone to a college fair……this was one from a lacrosse coach who is looking for both a student AND a goalie and wanted to get on Scotty’s radar.

Of course I told him that St. Mary’s was an all women’s college, to which he said, “cool, I will be the only guy then, right? No no no, that’s a joke. But I did tell him that he should expect these over the next school year and to keep a level head about it. I am sure he will…..after all he is a Tirman.
But it was great to hear the excitement in his voice and see it in his eyes too. Seeing it all happen to his sister before him has made him hungry for it, and this summer he got a lot of exposure at two very high profile camps. He still has the SAT’s before him on October 9th and the rest of his senior year, but it is a great way to kick it off and keep him focused on the future.
So it has started, and we are excited for him. He works hard to be a good athlete and student. He now has some incentive to kick both areas up a notch and see where it leads.
These are exciting times.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless.
Tommy+