Yes, yet another gratuitous picture of our trip to West Virginia, as I have been gone all day to the far side of Illinois to take the Novitiate vows of Father John Hellrung at Grace Anglican Church in Edwardsville, Illinois.  I was too involved however to remember to take any pictures, so I had to use this one instead.  AND, this sleepy little monster is actually what I found in my bed and ON my pillows.  He told Amanda before bed that when daddy gets home if we did not want to move him that it would be okay…..that he would be “one happy boy.”  SO I may let him stay, but I have yet to make a firm decision.  If he were wearing the eye black tonight, I would most like let my fear of him guide my decision…..but he doesn’t look so tough tonight.

But the big thing is that it is great to be home.  Father PT and Deacon Jon Back traveled to Illinois with me.  It was a great privilege to be with Jon especially as next Sunday he will be ordained a priest here in Indiana.  So PT and I saw his last Sunday as a deacon and will be a part of his first Sunday as a priest.

And what made it even more special for me (in addition to that and the vows) was that 23 years ago TODAY I was ordained a priest.  I was just 6 years old at the time, but I have learned a lot through the years.  Father Kelly Irish delivered the sermon at that service, and we were once known as the “boy priests.”  Now of course we are known as those “two guys that ought to retire.” But at our age we rarely listen to good advice.

So it has been a busy and productive day, and a meaningful day as well.  What an honor it is to do what I do!!  It is a real blessing……..a real blessing just like coming home!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+