for everything else there's... the power of prayer

Booster's Club family membership: $250
Quick dinner before game: $15
Concession stand (because kids aren't really ever full) $5
Having a whole stadium full of people praying for an injured player reminding you that God Is In Control: 

Priceless.

 

 

 

**Player from opposing team while getting tackled, grabbed his neck, went limp, and fell down.  Forty five minutes later, in and out of consciousness, not able to move his lower body, the player was loaded into an ambulance and taken to the trauma unit of a local hospital.  One of our very favorite priests was on hand to lead the stadium full of people in prayer.  At the moment this picture was taken, you could have heard a pin drop.  No exaggeration.  

Even if I had not had a son on the team, my mother instincts would have still kicked in as much as they did.  I was sick about this young man all night.  Prayers.  Many prayers went up.  Next morning we get the glorious news that the same wonderful priest went to see the injured player at the hospital.  He said the young man was alert, in good spirits and moving all his limbs.  I wept. 

 

Praise and Glory to His Holy Name!

anybody seen my glasses?

You know a trip to Dollar Tree's reading glass display is in your future when you can't see anything and are wildly looking around for your glasses, which you JUST had and find that they are right on your nose and you are looking at the blurry world through them. 

guess who?

"I love bananas.  If only they weren't so fragile.

You just shake them a little and *bam* they break." 

why we sacrifice for our children's education

because Catholic Education Matters!

I grew up during a spiritually impoverished time when Catechism was severely lacking! Also, I was raised in a town where ours was one of only a dozen or so Catholic families.  We were in the minority and weekly, if not more often than that, I had to explain the fact that we did not worship statues nor did we worship Mary. 

I firmly believe that in our lifetime, Christians in America will suffer persecution of all sorts.  I pray that each member of our little brood will be strong enough to withstand it, and not knuckle under.  I pray that I am raising firm members of the Church Militant. 

My kids already know so much more than I do in regards to the faith because of the fantastic education they are getting at the elementary and secondary levels.  I am thankful that my children will not know the Spiritual Poverty that I knew and pray that they will take their rich faith into the world, bringing as many people as possible into the fold of the Fullness of Christ.

and, trust me, that's a lot!

she loves me more
than
sugar!

 

never doubt what you mean to people

We are at a softball tournament this weekend in the ATL. Our daughter's team won all three games and ended up taking first place. There was some amazing ball playing going on. Strong teams which were not easy to take down. Our team hung in there and stayed the course.

Seeing the happy faces on their faces sort of made my eyes

all stingy and leaky.

So, here we are, getting the girls together for a team picture with the lovely 1st place trophy and I look beside me and there is my cousin! 

Elation!  Joy! 

This is the son of my father's only brother. The one who reminds me so much of my sweet Daddy. All I could do was hug his broad shoulders as hard as I could.

There are no coincidences in this world.

We talked about his new college freshman son, who is loving school! So much so that I think they may have to remind him to call home. We talked about our kids, their sports teams, and how it is that he happened to be walking by. His daughter was watching a football game on the field next to the softball field.

 

 "I normally go a different way,

but I decided to come this way today for some reason."

Later I thought about it:

• How much I sorely miss my dad and wished he could be enjoying these games, sitting beside me, cheering on his grandchildren.
• How nice it was to, out of the blue, in an unfamiliar setting, hug the neck of someone whose genes I share.

Someone who shares some of the same memories that I do about summers at the lake; horseshoes hitting the dust; baseball with the uncles; playing Rook until late at night by the light of lanterns.  A man whose bright, shiny brown eyes, genuine smile, and gentle disposition remind me so much of the wonderful man who I missed so much.

I kind of doubt my cousin will ever realize how he brightened my world and helped reassure me that Daddy's never that far away. When I say my prayers, you can bet your last dollar that I will offer prayers of praise and thanksgiving for so much today.

Tangible things like a hard earned trophy,
and intangibles like being in the right place at the right time, and
the wonderful love of a Father.

maybe a toothpick will work?

Unfortunately, they don't make dental floss strong enough to get these chunks out from betwixt my teeth, which still have remnants of "chewing them a new one."
Moral of today's lesson:
1) If Mom tells you to, then get it done!
2) Take care of the things you have been given.  Or lose them forever.
ps- Your room smells like something unholy - see above.