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A special day of blessings……..

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Despite a Noblesville loss today, as well as a Scott Tirman possible concussion and half game, we finally made it to a hotel right by the Grand Ole Opry and more than that, a hotel that the Lindenwood Lady Lions women’s lacrosse team was staying at on their way home to Missouri. That’s right, we got to see all the kids together tonight, albeit briefly.

The picture is of Steph and her buddies commandeering not just my laptop, but our bed to type/Skype on. It was a real blessing, especially in that her friends/teammates are some very impressive young women…..and Ben loves them all. He is in heaven when they are around them.
So tonight was a special time. Scott appears well on his way to recovery. Ben has spent the night surrounded by young women who think he is wonderful. We got to see Steph and her friends.
AND with a Butler win I have to ask….how could this day be any better?
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Traffic, kids, and the Rockstar…..

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Ben clearly hates getting his picture taken, but tonight I do not care. I have had a long and miserable day and needed a picture……and he was going to comply.

The picture was taken at Scotty’s lacrosse game in Nashville……yes, Tennessee this time (normally Nashville, Indiana). But it took forever to get there and traffic was a NIGHTMARE. But being able to see Scotty play like a rockstar was what made it all worthwhile. He had a great game and it was so wonderful to see it. And in the JV game, because they were short-handed, Scotty got in as an offensive player (he is the Varsity goalie) and he SCORED. He is going to be able to live with from now on.
But the blessing was being able to be there to see him in goal. It really kills me to miss my kids games, and as the high school women’s coach I have missed a lot of Scott’s. As for Steph, I have never seen her in a college game…..and I regret all of it. It is cool to get to see them both play.
But for now I will just enjoy what I can and force the youngster into pictures when I catch him. I am not as young as I used to be, but my kids are important to me. And as long as I can I will be there to support them!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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March on…….

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I always heard the expression as I was growing up about March either going in like a lamb and out like a lion, or visa-versa. But it seems it went both in and out like a lamb, which after a winter which was really “all lion” that is fine with me. And not that anyone is really interested in how I feel about it, but it does make me feel better to say it.

So this means that the cold weather is most probably gone, and I can now turn my anxious mind toward getting my body into swimsuit shape. Of course that task seems so very daunting to me, so perhaps I will turn it to trading the positions of the snow blower and the lawn tractor in the garage. Yes, I know it will be hard, but I will take a break in between driving them out and then backing them back into the garage. It’s hard work, but somebody needs to do it.
Then awaits the lawn. No it is not needing a mow yet, but April always brings such things. And I must say, it will be a challenge. First of all, it is not square. And secondly, it is much larger than our prior lawn. A parishioner of mine in the business is coming out to tell me what I need to do in terms of fertilizer and upkeep. I may need to get a job as a pastor on TBN where they make that kind of cash…..though I am pretty sure none of them mows their own lawn……so that was just a joke. I will be doing it all myself to save save save.
But the same people also say, “April showers bring May flowers,” but I know that is not really true. The flowers come up in April and so does the grass, along with MUD. But in all honesty, I love it. Yard work is a peaceful distraction from my normal day to day and a blessing to my soul.
March on March…..let’s start up that mower!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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The Break……

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Since I am no longer a student, I tend to calculate my breaks on the ones we take during lacrosse season. And since there is no school Friday due to Spring Break for the students, and because many families leave for vacation after school on Thursday, tonight was our last practice until April 11th. And although I do not think we are quite ready for such a rest as a team at this point, I will say I will be enjoying the time off.

But of course for me it is pretty hard to just rest. I am plenty busy and often resting puts me behind….an being behind just makes things worse. So I try to stay focused, and keep the ship afloat…..and if were just a sailor I would have a bat’s chance of knowing what that means.
But for now I must just declare that I am on break. No, lacrosse will not disappear. The men’s coach actually scheduled two games during break so I know I will get to them. But I will only have to watch. Scott is fun to watch too. And I HOPE to get to a game of Steph’s too, since they play at least three this week somewhere within 10,000 miles from here, which is far closer than usual.

So break will be……some kind of break, but quite honestly I do not know what. But once again, my life revolves around what is happening with my kids. Go figure!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Family….really.

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Although Ben calls her Cindy, she is really more like her second mom. And oddly enough when I mention her it is almost always as the “sitter.” But Cindy is really family to us, and also above me on the list of people Ben would rather hang with. I used to believe I was in the top five…..but in all honesty, I am probably a lot further down the list.

But kids are shaped by the people around them, and Cindy is a big influence on his life…..and we are so thankful for her. Of course my experience in all this is limited. In all honesty, I am normally just transportation. But Amanda and Cindy are always texting and talking…..and giggling. They share a deep love for the boy and his presence in both their lives seems to make their bond pretty strong. And I am glad they are friends too…..anything to distract Amanda from my faults is a real blessing.
But I thought tonight I might just post this note about Cindy. I am blessed that she is Ben’s second mom! Tonight’s picture is of she and Ben together!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Hot Tub Pool…….

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Sure it is dark, but tonight (my to Stephanie’s chagrin…she wanted to use it when she was home but it was not ready) the boys took the first dip in what Ben identifies as the “hot tub pool.” No, it’s not the hot tub. Nor is it the spa or hot pool. This, like most things in our home, have a “Ben definition,” and this is the Hot Tub Pool.

And although Scotty was tired and really not too enthused about heading out there, he is the model big brother and went out and wrestled around with Ben. They are a hoot together, and tonight was no exception. And I am certain this is only the first of many “dips” in the pool (no that was not a statement of judgement on my children, I’m just using authentic 1970’s lingo to make an observation of what the boys were doing).
But it was fun for them, and fun to watch. Ben’s focus has been on that for days and it was a real blessing to finally get there. Scotty’s departure looms in times like these and I wonder just how Ben will be, because they are very close. But the one sure thing about life is that there will be changes. I am just thankful for the great times in between them…..tonight, of course, being a great example.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Confirming the obvious…….

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There is a lot happening in our churches, and today it was evident as Bishop Loomis confirmed quite a few people in 2 different churches today. (The picture is from St. Patrick’s, the smaller of the two services where there were just four people Confirmed, well actually 3 and one Reaffirmation, but in all honesty we are just as good looking in all of our churches!)

But today reminded me of not so long ago where as a priest I would struggle to see people really step up and out professing their faith. It seems to be a problem we no longer have, but then the leadership I/we are under is different. The expectation of the leadership of my past was focused upon the principles of tolerance and acceptance, which are both great principles…….as long as they are grounded in the Gospel. When they are not, things become diluted, and dilution, by definition, is something that weakens something else. And when that something is the power of Christ to change lives, well then, it really not something anyone should profess.
So gladly I watched the Bishop lay his hands upon people who are getting it and heading in the right direction…..not diluting their lives and asking for God’s blessing upon mediocrity, but humbly confessing who they are and then willingly professing Christ. It’s a powerful way forward and not a stopping point. And I am so blessed to see it happening before me in our midst!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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It starts……..

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Today was the first games of our season, and we won a Varsity and JV game from Concord High School and then lost to a team from Chicago by one goal with just six seconds left on a VERY questionable call. And though this upset our team deeply, in sports things like that invoke demons that become hard to shake. Refs are part of the game, and just like us, sometimes they get it right and sometimes they get it wrong. You always need to correct what you can and look to the next play……that’s what we will do on Monday.

From the games, since they were in the northern part of the state, I travelled to the rehabilitation center my grandma is now in. She was in the hospital last week, and gave us all a scare. She looked great today though and we had a great visit too. She is probably giving up her apartment at the retirement center and moving into assisted living sometime after rehab. But she is as sharp as they come…..she will be 95 next month. And her big line is always that getting old isn’t all that bad, what is bad is having to tell people your oldest grandchild is as old as he is…….after all, I will be 32 in June!
But one delusion I do not have is how well my Butler Bulldogs are doing in the NCAA tourney. We are now in the Final Four for the SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR (Capitalized by State Law in Indiana) and it has been awesome! Of course I was traveling today and had to listen on the radio, but it was worth it. Actually every part of my day was worth it, and I am truly blessed.
And tomorrow the Bishop will be with us at two of our Churches, and I have to pick him up quite early to be there…..so I will not bore you with the more thrilling details of tonight. But I will say I am already thinking of my bed.
No, not for tonight, but for tomorrow as early as I can find it. Yep indeed…..I am making a preemptive plan!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Eskimo Sports……

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Tonight we braved the weather to watch Scotty’s game, and no one was really prepared for how cold it would be. I love Hare Chevrolet Field, but as the sun goes down the home bleachers become shaded, and as the wind kicks up and whips through you get the feeling that you are sitting in front of the blower in your freezer.

Of course I hail from an area that must be the freezer part of God’s very own icebox, Northern Indiana (always capitalized for respect). It is hallowed ground, yet you will have to take my word for it because for about 90% of the year it feels like it is covered with snow. But it is God’s Country, the home of Notre Dame, Polkas (also always capitalized – see above), and the south-side of the Great Barrier Reef (of snow) which ends in Plymouth, Indiana but runs north to the Pole.
My dad came and could not stay through the warm-up, which wasn’t warm at all. And the team we played was from South Bend (the NORTH), so the conditions for them were ideal. And they were in great shape too, since their normal footwear for games are mainly snow boots, so cleats made them faster.
And ironically, our season opener takes place up north tomorrow. We play two in Elkhart (V and JV) and one in South Bend (V only) against a team from Illinois (home of high taxes and government officials they either pass onto the nation too readily or send to trial). So tomorrow will be an interesting day.
At least I know what I am getting into. And I may be the only one from our school wearing the proper cleats.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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TO DANG OLD…..

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Oh sure, I wanted to watch the Butler v. Wisconsin game tonight, but I just did not have it in me. It has been a tremendously stressful day for me, and one so stressful that I absolutely BLEW my diet tonight as I was unsupervised downstairs. It has been a disaster, yet I am hopeful for two things.

First and foremost, I am hopeful that Butler plays well tonight and moves into the Elite Eight. But more than that, I hope I can get a grip on my life tomorrow and get back on the right path. Stress is a killer with my name on it, and lately it has been killing me. I just pray that tomorrow will be a better day and I can move forward. We will see.
But for now I need to head to bed. The game is on, yet I am not going to make it. I will just have to find it all out in the morning.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+