Monthly Archives: October 2008

Uncategorized

Standing in the line of fire……….

Leave a comment

Tonight I watched proudly as my son Scott took his turn in the net as goalie for his lacrosse team. Each player takes a turn, but I do not think they all enjoy it. Scott survived it, and he has the war-wounds to prove it. But I am certain he is not anxious to get in there again anytime soon. The team they were playing tonight was pretty good.

Sometimes it’s hard to just sit back and watch your kids do things without interjecting yourself. You just love them and you want to protect them. I remember the first time I left him at school, the first time I put him on the school bus, the first sleep-over, the first time away. All of them produced anxiety, yet somehow, someway, he managed to survive without me.

Tonight his knees are a bit torn up, his body is a bit achy, and he is bruised in a couple of places pretty good……but there is nothing wrong with his self-esteem. He looks at it more as a right of passage I think, and in looking back to my own life, I guess that is how I’d see it as well. It was a battle, and he was in it, taking his turn, being part of the team. I am sure he will always remember it too. I know I will.

Scott’s a pretty great kid, with a heart of gold. I am proud to be his dad. I don’t take it for granted…..I know that I am truly blessed!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

Uncategorized

Of coaching, of haunting and blessings…….

Leave a comment

Tonight St. Patrick’s Men’s Bible Study met at our home. We are using Tony Dungy’s “Quiet Strength” and its accompanying Bible study manual as our guide. It is an opportunity to look at our lives from a different perspective. For instance, last night’s lesson was all about “our game plans.” As an (former) athlete, it is a model I truly enjoy and I am looking forward to the next five lessons as well as the opportunity I have to study with other men.

About an hour after the study I had to go pick Scott up from “The Haunted Trail,” where he was working in order to not have to write a paper for one of his classes. There were two things about that that I found bizarre…..one, that scaring people could lead to credit, and then two that people actually pay to be scared. Go figure. I just hope the other team finds him just as scary tomorrow night when he suits up for his lacrosse game……my bet is they will not be as anxious!

Anyway, all the ghouls and goblins are home and the little shark (on Friday) is in bed. I need to head there as well. It has been a busy day, and tomorrow looms on the horizon. I am just thankful on this one, for family, friends, and the opportunity the Lord gives me in all of them.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

Uncategorized

Viva a cool Fall evening!!!

Leave a comment

Today we finally got Steph’s car to the body shop and she and I are on our way to no longer sharing a car, although it may be a while. Ben is back on a pretty regular schedule, and Puddy and I are out on the back porch at a wonderfully cool 37 degrees! To me it feels just about perfect!

I know that most people love the warmth of Summer, and though it is nice, for me I prefer it about like it is tonight. In fact, the breeze I feel tonight is about the same way the breeze feels when I skate. It brings back a lot to me. It centers me and actually makes me feel quite good. Of course when I type out here in this weather it also assures no distractions other than the cat waiting for the birds to return (which I hate to tell her will be in the Spring).

I always wondered why the Lord made the different seasons, since each one is so different. Maybe it’s because people are different too and have all sorts of different likes and dislikes, needs and wants. And though I love to cold, I really enjoy all the seasons. That’s one of the reasons I like Indiana…..you get them all. No offense to Florida, but when I lived there I could never get used to hearing “Merry Christmas” from someone in a winter coat when it was 75 degrees!

Anyway I will sign off for now and head back into the inferno (65 degrees) inside the house. I live in a house of apparent potential Floridians…but cheap ones since it is just 65 degrees! But I am glad to have this brief time to enjoy the Lord’s blessing of this crisp cool night and to share it with you as well. I hope you have had a great day….warm or cold, and one filled with the Lord’s many and abundant blessings!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tom+

Uncategorized

The toddler son returneth, but he sleepeth not……

Leave a comment

Where in the world does he get his energy? Dear Lord, I do not know! Ben arrived (with his mommy) at the Indianapolis International Airport at 12:45, and after a short power nap in the car (about 10 minutes), he was up and remained up and active until he was put to bed FINALLY at 9:45. BUT, I can hear him screaming for someone to come get him even now, so I am pretty sure his awake and active streak is still alive.

But really I do not care. I am so happy to have them home. Scotty, Stephy and I have all felt it has been way too quiet around here (and clean)…..a situation he remedied within minutes of his return. It has been a delight to see our lives get back to normal almost instantaneously!

Anyway, the down-side is that I am exhausted and do need to call it a night. I have played and played all day, but clearly Ben has won every game. I have hardly talked to Amanda at all, but I will if she can get to me before I am unconscious. Unfortunately, I see that happening anytime!

Off to bed for me. Pray for me! Ben and I have a date all day tomorrow!!

Goodnight and God Bless!

Tom+

Uncategorized

The prodigal son, or at least the toddler son, returns……

Leave a comment

Oh finally!!! The night before the return of Ben and Amanda! On the phone tonight we all commented about how weird this has all been. We are not used to the house being so silent. No one has been hit in the head with a toy, the TV has had shows on other than Veggietales, and more than anything, we are just desperately lonely for their return.

But tomorrow will come and we will rejoice. Steph has to work shortly after school, but was excited to know that Ben would be here for the short time she will be home. Scott will be home later, but is anxious to wrestle with his brother. Ben on the other hand, probably doesn’t know a thing. Last we heard he was on his grandma’s lap being read a Dr. Suess book. I am sure he is miserable without us (at least that is what I tell the kids). But in reality, he will be so excited to be with us all.

I am looking forward to 12:35! Amanda, I know is as well. We have a pretty great family, but we are really at our best when we are all together. I know we will all rejoice tomorrow when the noise level will once again go up and the toys will be everywhere. It may seem chaotic, but it’s our life and we enjoy its many blessings. Thanks be to God that tomorrow we will finally all be under one roof again!

I am going to bed so it gets here more quickly!! Goodnight and God Bless!

Tom+

Uncategorized

The end of a busy day…….

Leave a comment

Today many members of St. Patrick’s in Noblesville joined us in Nashville at St. Matthew’s to get an idea of they type of facility we might be able to acquire up north. It was a great day. The people of each mission are so different, and it was great to give them a glimpse of the possibilities! And though there was no cake, there certainly was coffee and donuts as well a lunch…..as I said, it was a great day!

BUT, it was a long day! With all I had to do, I am just finishing up….just prior to 11. I did get to speak with Amanda and Ben, though I understood Ben better. I miss them both and Scotty and I got to talk to them on the phone. Steph, who has a boyfriend AND a life currently, was at the movies. She seemed disappointed to miss their call. We are just two days from their return, so we will just be patient.

I have to say though that I miss Ben running us ragged. I miss Amanda coming to bed talking about how exhausted she is. I miss having Ben as an excuse in order to watch Nickelodeon and Sponge Bob. And I know we all do! Though it is often chaotic, our house is best and blessed when we are all here.

Anyway, that’s it for tonight. I am beat and can go to bed without the expectation of being disturbed…..at least until Monday night. Tonight will be great, but I am looking forward to Monday more!

Good night my friends and God bless!

Tom+

Uncategorized

Being thankful for the important and right things……

Leave a comment

It has been a stressful day. Amanda and Ben are still out of town, and this morning Steph (who was driving) and Scott got in an accident with two other cars on their way to school. A friend of theirs was also riding in the car, and although no one was hurt, as a parent it still weighs heavily on your heart. I am so very thankful they are all fine. A car we can fix.

But the stress and worry has me struggling to keep things straight! I have a gathering tomorrow to be at in Nashville in the morning at St. Matthew’s, but I am supposed to bring quite a few things with me, and in the fog I am wondering whether or not I will remember. Fortunately people are pretty forgiving and what I do forget, if indeed I do, I can go buy someplace down there.

With all of it though I need to say I must now go to bed. The posting times of these entries do not reflect the time or time zone I write them in. It is now 1:30 in the morning and I am leaving in 6 hours. Stress and too many things happening is never my friend, but I will not make it worse…..I will sign off and go try and sleep.

Thanks for checking in! Say a prayer of thanksgiving with me today! I hope you have had a blessed day!

Good night and God Bless!

Tom+

Uncategorized

Home Sweet Home, with qualifications…..

Leave a comment

I am SO HAPPY to finally be home. The sad part is that Amanda and Ben are not here, but are in Kansas visiting Amanda’s mother. It disappoints me greatly to not be able to lay down on the floor and have him run and jump on me like he loves to. But I am going to wait on that until Monday, because Steph and Scott would not only jump at the chance, but it would probably hurt!

So anyway, it’s going to be the three Musketeers until Monday, but we will do our best to get by. I was originally worried that without Amanda here that Scott and I might not know when we were wrong, but apparently Steph is working for the darkside and will not just remind us of the rules, but certainly will tattle. She is on Amanda’s team and deeply devoted to Ben, but one day she will see that Ben is really on our team, and drawn to the ever rule-avoiding world of guy-dom! Scotty and I can hardly wait.

Anyway, my trip home, though slow, was good. My dad’s family is from Brooklyn, New York, but my mom’s side is from Ohio. So, as I often do when traveling through, I stopped at the cemeteries to visit the graves of my Great-Grandparents. It was a difficult time, because though I had been to both cemeteries often, the need to think in a linear fashion and handle confusion made itself well-known. The cemetery office was open in Urbana, and they were helpful in getting me to my grandfather’s parents. (I had actually buried my great grandma during Holy Week in 1998 at 103!!) But the office in Springfield was closed, and despite my “remembering” I could not find the graves. I intend however, to call before I go back.

I know many people believe visiting the cemetery is unnecessary, but it is important to me. Though I didn’t grow up knowing my grandma’s dad, I did know everyone else. They were all important to me too, and the parents of the most influential people in my life, my grandparents. I owe them all a lot and going to their graves is an important way for me to remember. I am glad I did…I am just sorry I was just 50% successful.

They say that home is where the heart is. I believe that to be true. I also know that cemeteries are just places……but I don’t worry, because I still hold all of them in my heart. Who you are and what you become is often a reflection of the people in your life, particularly those who love you. I am truly blessed, and I am glad I went.

Anyway, it is great to be home. Pray for my wife….I am sure she misses me terribly!!!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

Uncategorized

Conferencing my brains out……..

Leave a comment

Today has been an exhausting day. I have worked hard to pace myself, particularly since our conference today was loaded with some of the most influential Bishops in the Church. It was a blessed day! And the conference ended for the day with a service where the preacher was Bishop Bob Duncan, the Bishop of Pittsburgh. He has been the lead Bishop of most the reformation in the American Anglican Church for years, and he was recently charged, tried, and deposed by the Episcopal Church for “abandonment of the Communion.” What a farce! He, like me and many others run through the Kangaroo Court, all seem to be still hard at work for the Lord. I just thank God for brave leaders like him.

Tomorrow however is the final day, and after a 6 hour drive home, I hope to get my life back to normal! I have lots of work to do when I get there, but the very fact that my bed will be there waiting for me is kind of exciting! Hotels can be nice, but Dorothy was right, there really is no place like home. I look forward to getting there!

Anyway, I will sign off for now. Please keep me in your prayers as I travel tomorrow afternoon. I am looking forward to coming home!

Good night and God Bless.

Tom+

Uncategorized

Awakening? How can it be? I’m tired!

Leave a comment

Today has been a long day, but overall a good one. The clergy of our district (that made up my first meeting here in Akron) are some of the finest people I know, and it is always uplifting to be around them. We are not just colleagues, but good friends. I truly feel blessed to spend time with them.

The second part (the part that now lasts until Thursday) is what is called the Anglican Awakening. It is a gathering of Anglicans from across many jurisdictions to talk about a variety of issues facing the Church as well as to worship with each other and pray for each other. It is an important gathering, particularly with the current ongoing Reformation taking place in the Anglican Communion. These are people on the front lines of this work, and it is exciting to be here.

It is, however, exhausting. I am just not used to sitting and listening that long, even when it is interesting! I am SO THANKFUL I was there after a good night’s sleep, but even with that it was trying. Pray that I will have more energy tomorrow….particularly in that it is a longer day! I would rather come back with a report of what went on, rather than having to report how many naps I had to take!

Anyway, I miss my family and of course the good people of Indiana, God’s FAVORITE STATE! I love Ohio, but I love home more…….and I am looking forward to being home very soon!

Goodnight my friends from the Home of the Akron Zips (really) and God Bless.

Fr. Tom+