Monthly Archives: October 2010

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Posting on a wing and a prayer……

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Yes, I am still in Little Rock, and I still am struggling to get a good signal and be able to post this blog. I am worried that even this one may not go through. So no pictures and it will be short.

Today has been a blessing and an eventful day. This gathering is one of the 20+ people who also serve as Network Leaders in the Anglican Mission and they are truly some of the most amazing people I have ever worked with. It is like being in the midst of this wealth of knowledge and it is just awesome to take in.
Today is also my brother Mike’s birthday. It is his 21st too, so he will probably have his first taste of alcohol today, especially since he has spent all his college career living in the fraternity. And as a former student at Butler myself, and of course as a fraternity guy, I can assure those pre-21 college years are all about the studying. Regardless of this weak attempt to make my dad believe this…..happy birthday Mike!
Okay, off to save and then hit post. It is going to take a big prayer to make it!
Goodnight from the home of the Razorbacks…..and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Ferncliff…….once more……

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Yep, I am finally in Arkansas for my meeting and Ferncliff is beautiful! I will look up when I was here last, but I did post on it…..I believe about 6 months ago. I even wrote about the camp dog, who I hope to once again see on this trip. He was just a little guy then.

But the day has been eventful to say the least. I realized very quickly that my brain is still “math-damaged” and that Lindenwood where Stephanie goes to college is no where near half way to Ferncliff. I had an 8 hour drive! It was uneventful, but it was just too much! I had a couple of hours tonight to gather with the other Network Leaders and AM Leadership, but I honestly was not at my best.
And to make it all even worse, I had to run across the lake to post this because the Internet does not reach my side of the lake. Tomorrow I will post in the day, and I will even have a picture. There is nothing to take a picture of tonight….just darkness.
AND….while I have been gone (just 2 days) Ben has decided to become completely potty-trained. (He was just not yet peeing all the time in the right place but does now) What stinks about all this is that I had bought him most of that superhero underwear and now I will not see him in it or get to high five with him for a week. But, I am thankful he is now there!
So it is off to bed for me! Goodnight and God Bless from peaceful Arkansas……somewhere around the equator I am sure, and I know because I am certain I drove that far!
Tommy+
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At college…….

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Oh yes, I am a college parent, and had I been a bit more savvy about it there would have been a picture of Stephanie and I at dinner or something. This one from when I was in college will have to do. (yep, that was in my era)

Of course the time change highlights our age difference more than it would had she stayed home for school. I was back to the hotel at 8:30 MY TIME, which is just 7:30 for her. It availed her the opportunity to go out to a party with her friends and gave me the opportunity to recover, I mean rest up. Fortunately for me I have plenty to do, including update her laptop here at the hotel. We will meet in the morning for breakfast and some shopping and end our time together with lunch before I head off to Arkansas for my meeting.
I have to say, it is really great to see her. She loves it here, and although she is pretty low on the lacrosse depth chart here after being on the pinnacle for the last three years in Indiana, her resolve is no less than it has ever been. She has already plotted out her entire Thanksgiving break. It seems it will be all lacrosse on her equipment there. I do hope she takes some time to have some turkey and visit with us though.
So for now I will just wait for Amanda, Scott, and Ben to call. I am always the 5th wheel in the family. But at least I can have the room as cold as I like, and I can even fall asleep watching TV. (The TV doesn’t work in the garage where Amanda makes me sleep). I will finish this an plan out my day and drive for tomorrow.
I hope your day has been as much a blessing as mine.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Danger! Danger! Beware lacrosse teams, Missouri, and Arkansas!

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Danger, danger!! Yep, I just LOVE our lacrosse team. After losing a real solid group of girls our team has really stepped up. Where last year we a great team with a few big stars, this year we seem to have a great team with our own galaxy!

Tonight we played Cathedral, and although we lost, it was not by much. Our defense was solid, our skills were certainly B+ material, and the best part was that our scoring was spread out all over. This is BIG, because when the season starts in February (right now we are just playing indoor as a warm-up/development) having teams not know who will put the ball in the net is a big thing! I have been more excited about this than any other year I have coached.
And of course now I will miss the next game and put it into the hands of one of my Assistant Coaches……Jack Russell. I will be leaving tomorrow for a week long, mostly work, trip to Little Rock, Arkansas. I say “mostly work” because my first stop will be in St. Charles, Missouri to take Stephanie out to dinner. Yep, I am driving just so I can do that too! But if it is like the last time I will get to take her to dinner, buy her a few things, and then sit in my hotel why she does the college Saturday night thing. I do not mind though, because ultimately it is not about me…..and I am old and will be fine in the hotel.
So it is off to bed for me! Scotty will be taking his SAT tomorrow while I am driving so I can visit him next year like his sister. These kids will do anything for a dinner with their dad!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Showtime……

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I am trying to write this blog in bed, and Ben is here and he feels this is a wrestling ring instead of a bed. Of course, he should be in his own bed, but there is no one to climb on or to watch his comedy routine, so for now the show goes on here.

Unfortunately, it is not too conducive to writing…….nor is in to sleeping as well. What I do know is that these things do resolve themselves in time…..after all he will get married and move away someday. But for now I will just enjoy it. Ben, like his brother before him, is genuinely funny. And, it is always a hoot to see what he will do next. I have often prayed it will be to say “goodnight” and go to sleep, but alas, I have always been wrong.
I have actually not been home that long. I had a nice visit with my dad, who called me Mike about half the time (it’s okay, Mike and I enjoy it…..he calls Mike Tom). He (my dad) is doing great. It is good to see him looking so well. And I came to visit after watching Scotty’s lacrosse game. They won, but Scott was frustrated with his performance. He did a good job, but I told him we could go over some things tomorrow night. He is going to go far knowing that he is still coachable. I am proud of him.
But for now I am going back to the show, especially since I have these front row tickets. I didn’t pay for them, I just pay for them daily if you know what I mean. It is well worth it though and it keeps me young………at least in my mind.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Intensity and trust……

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It has been a pretty intense few days here at the Tirman home. We are in the middle of a few major decisions that not could, but will effect, our family for years to come. These decisions do not involve illegal organ donations or selling any of the kids, but they are pretty big ones for us.

Unfortunately however, they are also matters that I am not at liberty to share at this point, but ones that I am asking you to pray for guidance for us as we make them. It is difficult, particularly for Amanda, and I just hope things will become clearer over these next few days.
Ultimately, despite gathering all the data and picking our path, we must put things into the Hand of God and trust that He is walking with us in this. In truth, there is no better place to trust and hope.
So thank you in advance for your prayers and support. We appreciate them a great deal.
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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A promotion of sorts……

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I had my six month neurology appointment today, and although these are routine for someone who has had a stroke, what I didn’t anticipate but will take, is that now my appointments will be annual! So this is to say, I guess I have been promoted.

Of course today went like all the others, with both the same questions and answers. How are you doing? Fine. Any problems? No. Still have trouble with the memory? Yes. Any other issues? No. Okay, let me listen to your heart. (Listening to the heart is what all doctors do, since I have already had my lifetime shares of the MRI)
He did however have me get a blood test for my thyroid. I will know on Thursday whether I have a problem with that or if I am just an overweight middle aged man. At this point I cannot decide which to pray for. If it is just an imbalance and then a pill I am all for a thyroid problem. But if it involves any more doctor visits I am just sticking with the dieting. I have been to my regular doctor only ONCE this year, and next year I intend to only be there for a flu shot. And of course with my promotion today, I am feeling a bit cocky. I just may get away with a shot next year (with the nurse) and my annual neurology appointment! I am sure going to give it a try.
Anyway, it has been a good day with good news and at least six months in my mind of progress. Tomorrow will be another day, and one on which I intend to conquer France….so thank God my mind is still good! (I thought about using that line today in the doctor’s office but am now glad I didn’t….I would have been seeing him every 90 days most likely)
So for now it is off to bed! I hope your day was wonderful. I know mine was!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Observations of aging……..

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They say that home is where the heart is, but tonight it is also where I have the rest of my tired self as well. It has been a long two days, with plenty of driving, and the thought of my own bed seems exciting to me.

Traveling though, even for a short time, gets my schedule all out of whack. Part of me thinks it is Sunday night, while another thinks it is 1946. Neither of course is right, but that’s why I keep a calendar. Tomorrow I do know that I have my neurologist appointment. First of all, no one should ever have to see one, but if you ever have a stroke, you will get to see one for the rest of your life!
I will be asked how I am doing, if I am having any other issues, I will get the standard evaluation, and then an invite to come back again in six months. But I will do whatever it takes to see him when he wants, rather than getting back to a point where he is being called in….if you know what I mean. These appointments are pretty tame, but it is all part of being monitored. At least I don’t have to wear a bracelet or something like my good buddy Lindsay!
Anyway, it seems as if time has been flying since the stroke over 2.5 years ago. I am just thankful most of the symptoms are gone too. Anyway, it seems as if time has been flying since the stroke over 2.5 years ago. I am just thankful most of the symptoms are gone too. (hahahaha…..nope, not crazy, just funny….a little brain damaged humor, albeit a little) I actually feel pretty good, and so sharp at times that people probably shouldn’t run with me in their hands. In all honesty I am just thankful to be here and to have the opportunities I do in this life. Each day is a blessing.
So all this is to say….the heck with this blessed day and I am going to bed! It may be pretty early, but I am secure about my codgery ways! After all I need my sleep to be able to stay sharp and be that burden to my children in my old age I have always promised them I would be!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Praying our way through some time……

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I need to share that my dad had some surgery last Friday. It was a scheduled surgery to resolve some issues doctors discovered on a trip to England in the early summer. And my dad has spent the last couple of months prepping for last Friday.

The surgery all went well, very well in fact, and he will be recovering, and regaining his strength, now for the next couple of months. I do want to apologize however for not sharing this news pre-surgery, but my dad is really more popular than Kim Kardashian these days (though even he would say Kim looks a lot better than he does), but we worried that if people knew in advance, he really could have been over-inundated with well wishes of people who truly love him, but even then he needed to rest up. Even our family visits, have pushed the limit, but the good news is that he is doing great and will make a full recovery.

What I can say is that we would appreciate your prayers for him. He has been on a lot of prayer lists, and we are just thankful to get to this point and see the progress he has made! Thanks for your continued prayers as well.
Okay…..off to bed, I mean to watch the Bears….
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+
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Time to get more time…….

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I know the days are supposed to be getting shorter and shorter, but they certainly feel longer to me. Today has been a day that seems as if it will never end.

Fortunately however, it has. The Lady Millers started their day at the Butler Invitational, where former team captain Maddi Corry now plays as a freshman, and we went 3-0! It was a great day to be both a Lady Miller and a duck as they say, because it rained ALL DAY. It has not rained like that all summer, but the first day that we actually have something to do outside it rains like it did for Noah. The wins helped, and seeing Maddi made it even better, but the potential pneumonia is a drag to think about. Hopefully everyone took a hot shower, had a nap, and are all feeling fine.
The rest of the day was all traveling to and fro. There is too much detail to list, though much of it interesting, but I will get back to it in a post a few days from now. But for now my crazy life just continues! 12 hours ago we were taking the field for our second game in the Invitational. 12 hours from now I will be finishing up a service 100 miles from here and starting the trip home. It’s busy, but it is my life and I love it.
So I guess I will close and LET this day end. My bed is calling my name and I am excited to get there. The days do seem to last forever, but the nights are always too short!
Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+