Yep, tonight Stephanie walked across the stage and received her diploma. It was quite a wonderful night and we were so glad to be there.

So I am not writing a lot tonight, but instead posting this picture of our graduate. As you can tell we are very proud!

Way to go Stephanie! Next stop college! And oh yes…..HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMANDA!!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Today we finally replaced Stephanie’s loft bed (it is amazing AND FOR SALE) with BUNK BEDS that separate into two very nice twin beds. Stephanie of course got one, and then Ben the other. But both of them are excited about their new sleeping arrangements.

Of course Ben will probably not ever even sleep in his new bed until late June when we return from Disney. It will be our last family vacation together and there is a lot to do in preparation for it too. But Amanda wanted to be sure to decorate his room and bed with an appropriate super hero so that he will sleep there. Steph needs no such nonsense. She for close to 10 years has climbed a ladder and the last six months with a bum leg. I have not seen her so happy in years! She would be fine with a used horse blanket as long as she didn’t have to climb.

But at a quarter till 12 Steph is asleep in her room and Ben is awaiting my arrival in my bed! It is not quite fair but a move in the right direction. Steph graduates tomorrow and deserves a good night’s sleep. Ben will graduate long after I am dead and deserves me waking him up when I head to bed!

God is good, and it has been a great day! Thanks to Deacon Morgan for driving me to Kokomo to get the beds!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Okay, high school classes are officially over. And Scotty is now a SENIOR, but graduation is not until Friday night, so Stephanie is technically a senior still….at least until they confer her diploma. So much to her dismay I am sure, for a little more than 48 hours,they will both be the same.

Of course that goes against both their natures. They have both spent a lifetime trying to out do each other. Every year we take them out for dinner on this night, and all night long Scotty has been trying to get her to call him “senior,” while making sure she knows she is a freshman. I do not think she is buying any of that, and she is most likely just being polite in front of us. Though Scotty is bigger, about 6’1″, Steph is still the oldest and will probably dish out some sort of payback out of my site.

The good news is that I have successfully guided at least one child through high school. At least that is my belief…..I need to see the diploma. I am not worried, like my parents I am sure were. I am just excited for them both!

So tonight we had perhaps our last everyone got through this year dinner, and it was a blast. I am not sure if Steph will be home next year on the day, but if she is we will continue to all be together for it. But for now I am thankful just for the day. I have great kids and I am proud of them all. Congratulations to them both for completing another year of school, and congratulations to Ben for throwing that crayon at dinner ALMOST into that lady’s macaroni and cheese at the next table. He needs some work I tell you. Both the older kids would have nailed it right in her plate.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yep, this is a staged picture. It is the jug of green sun tea I made today next to Viper’s stuffed squirrel, since we have no real squirrels of our own in my neighborhood. But it was as close as I could get to recreating the relaxing scene from the window of my grandparents back yard.

You see, as a kid, my grandparents lived in Goshen, Indiana (my grandma still lives there) and they had what they called a “squirrel gym.” There are LOTS of squirrels in Goshen, and the majority of them are jet black, and they were a friendly bunch too.

In the backyard my grandparents had the gym tied between two trees. It was basically a rope strung between the trees and with small buckets of peanuts and bells stun on other ropes attached to the main one. The squirrels, and I am not kidding about this either, would tightrope there way out to a bucket, hang upside down, and pull the bucket up to get a peanut. (They really could care less about the bells.) And they would eat it, either there upside down or head back to the tree to eat before going out on the gym to get more. It was fun to watch too.

In retrospect, I suppose that may be because there wasn’t much else to do, but even if there were video games and such back then, I’d bet I would still be watching the squirrels. I learned a lot from my grandparents, and one of those things was to take great joy in the simple things that God provides.

Viper’s stuffed squirrel coveting tea is perhaps not reality, but it does remind me of a simpler and important time in my life. I do not need a lot of stimuli and stuff to fill up my every waking moment. And tonight I thank God for an accidental, but meaningful memory. I may not have a squirrel gym, but I have a dog and he has a squirrel….albeit stuffed. But tonight it was enough to take me back. Thanks grandma and grandpa for the great times. And thank you God for reminding me of them tonight!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+

Today I am posting late, very frustrated and struggling. I know I don’t do things for any type of praise or glory, and I try and encourage others to have the same attitude, but it is so very discouraging for me to see and deal with disrespectful people. I really do hate seeing people get hurt, and though I often try to make sure that doesn’t happen, unfortunately I do not have that kind of influence or control. I only wish I did.

So I am up right now and it is late. I am not seeing sleep in my future anytime soon either. I just hope and pray for people to come around. Keep me in your prayers. Tonight for me has not been a good night!

I hope you have had a good one! Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Well, I gave my daughter for the last time as a high school student. She graduates next Friday night and to be honest, it felt pretty weird. I guess I just need to resolve myself to the fact that I am going to have a lot of these moments over the next few months. Because I just had another….this blog is now the first blog after the last time that I gave my daughter communion as a high school student. Dear Lord, it is a vicious cycle!

But all and all I am having a lot of fun. There is a lot of excitement in the air, and I am happy for Stephanie and all her friends. They are a remarkable group of kids who have been a blessing to know. I am going to enjoy the summer with them around.

But of course we have a lot to do over these next few weeks, and without the lacrosse season being my excuse for being too busy, I am clearly available for the list of chores my wife has in store for us before the graduation and open house. I will gladly do them too.

But for now I will call this day over. I have been given “landscape” tasks for my day tomorrow. I am praying for a nice cool day too. Regardless, I will get it done. I have posted tonight’s picture of me mowing. These are very important times for our family, and I want to do my part to make it nice!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+

Yep, today was it. The State Final took place, and though we were not in it, Stephanie ended her high school athletic career by being named 1st Team All State. It was quite and honor, and for me one of the pinnacles of my life. She has worked hard and really deserved it. I am certain this picture will be one of my favorites of all time. I cannot even begin to tell you how proud I am.

AND, in usual style, though we wanted to take her out to dinner, a few of her friends are over at the house and we just grilled out. I know she is moving, but I hope that doesn’t end. It seems like there are always people here and I am sure if they suddenly do not show up one day we will miss them. Of course I will get by if no one is here, it is Amanda who will have to adjust because she will have to talk to me!

But in all seriousness, it has been a great time. Three of our players were All Region and two All State. And though I know I have to write a sermon for tomorrow and get ready, somehow I feel God calling me to just enjoy and stay in this time here. I can wake up early if I have to, but this is a moment in time I need to enjoy.

On this night I thank God for the blessing He has giving me in a wonderful daughter and all she has accomplished. It was her day and I am proud of her. She now enters a new era and I am no longer her coach. But I am always satisfied and more comfortable to just be her dad. I couldn’t ask for a better daughter, and even if I could, I cannot imagine a better one. Thank God for her, and for this wonderful day!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

I spent all evening at the State Semi-Finals watching the Final Four. And although it was fun to be there and not have the pressure of playing such an important game, my mind went back over and over to our game on Wednesday night where we fell just one goal short of playing here. Carmel, the team who beat us was beaten handily by Culver in the first game. The second game was a real barn-burner and was won by Zionsville, who beat Park Tudor 13-12 in overtime.

Tomorrow morning I will be one of the coaches who will coach one of the Indiana Rising Stars teams. Then, I will just hang out and watch the other two final games….first the consolation game, then the State Final. We have awards after that, which some of my girls will be receiving, then it will be off to my office to write a sermon for Sunday. All things considered, I should be able to pack all that into one day as long as I do not take time to eat or talk to anyone. We will see.

But for now I need to call it a night. I am just happy to have made it through the day. Congratulations to Zionsville and Culver. Tomorrow is the big day!

Goodnight my friends and God bless!

Tommy+

I had already worked all day and was exhausted. My intention was to clean out all the lacrosse stuff from my car, and get some church work done too since this St. Patrick stuff has put me very far behind. But just suddenly I found myself needing to do work here at the house, and it was physical….and exhausting.

When Amanda got home she had Ben, and I was still not quite done. She reminded me that she was teaching Financial Peace University tonight and that Ben and I would be here alone. She also said to make sure I gave him a bath too.

Generally, this is no problem, because I usually have a lot of energy and enjoy laughing at him in the tub. But in truth, I was whooped! I made him dinner (macaroni and peas) and I sat in the chair barely able to move. AND, to show you how bad it was for me, I even sat through most of the episode of “Thomas the Train,” which is so bad that they show it to people in emergency rooms in place of Ipecac to induce illness.

But there we were, and as he finished I got up to give him his chocolate pudding…….but it was then that he finished me. As I looked over at him, he had decided to use that pudding (which he loves) as some sort of a face mask. And it that were not enough, when I said “NO” he panicked and wiped his hands into his hair, because we have told him not to wipe his hands on his shirt.

I have to confess, I really did plan on just sitting and resting tonight, watching whatever I had to in order to pass the time before the return of his mom. And in all honesty, I was intending to wait on the bath too, because I really didn’t have the energy. I am sure she would have understood, because I have been working so hard. But I doubt if she would have understood my waiting for her with pudding crusting all over his head……though I did weigh every option.

The blessing of all of this though, is not that he is clean and in my bed now watching that stupid train while I type, the blessing is that one day he will have children of his own. Ultimately it is all about payback, and as my dad would probably tell you, grandchildren work for their grandparents….particularly in the revenge business.

So I will patiently wait, not just for Amanda to come home, but for that right woman to walk into his life, the marriage, and then the bouncing baby paybacks….I mean grandchildren. I know it will be worth it, and I am not making a list, I have one. Stephanie and Scott’s are extensive…….but their little brother still has quite a bit of time!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Our season, and our second consecutive run at an appearance in the Final Four came to and end tonight in a one goal overtime loss to the Carmel Greyhounds. So before I go any further, let me congratulate them on their win and title as Regional Champions. We will be rooting for them in the Final Four. And yes, I know the picture does not make sense, but it was a close as I could come to finding a picture about moving ahead!

Tonight was however, a disappointment to many of our girls. I know they wanted to win very badly. Oddly enough we kept it close the whole night, even leading at points, but it was a night that we never had our “A-game.” Had we been healthy and on, it might have been another story. But that’s just how sports are. You cannot cry over spilled milk. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t.

But what I want to share is how very proud I am of each and every one of them. To place this high in the state with the amount of adversity we have faced is a real tribute to the hard work and dedication of the team that we coach. In my entire life, I have never had to work around injuries and illness like I have this year. We had girls out with Mono, strep throat, and just about every kind of orthopedic injury imaginable. Yet despite that, they came to play. They are a tough group of girls…..and they will continue to be.

We however are losing 7 seniors, including my daughter. That worries me every year, but in truth there are always underclassmen who are inspired to fill the big shoes left behind. It will be different without Stephanie out there playing for me, but we will both have to make do. I am sure however that we will both continue successful lacrosse careers apart from each other! I just am hoping to get to a few of her games.

Anyway, there is no practice tomorrow…..but there is always work to do. Our banquet is June 9th and I am looking forward to it. Whatever the outcome of the night, I still coach the best team in the league and I am convinced of that thoroughly. What a blessing it has been and is.

Way to go Lady Millers!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+