Viper, Viper, Viper…the easy-going, well-mannered dog, did not have a spectacular day today. In retrospect, it was really kind of funny at times. It was not the kind of funny however that you would laugh out loud at, quite frankly because all of what he did really affected Amanda more than anyone.

The picture is actually from a couple nights ago. He really does sleep on his back, or on his side with his paws against the wall….and yes, he snores. He rarely does anything bad, but tonight as we were scrambling around getting ready to leave for Holy Spirit, Amanda came downstairs as mad as a snake AND LIMPING. No, she was not hurt, she was just wearing one shoe while looking for the other. Viper doesn’t chew things, but he does like moving shoes….generally just one of them, and tonight he moved one of hers real well. We never did find it, though we will. What we did instead was hear what a moron he was for moving her shoe. And as a note to other husbands out there, my line about how it wouldn’t have been lost had the shoes been put away, really did not go well. (Though I have been told that myself on a variety of occasions!)

Anyway, we got out the door in second-string shoes and made our way towards Brownsburg. Deacon Tony called and said that many of the people attending tonight were not going to be making it (as if there was something like a Colts’ playoff game going on) and since it would be primarily his family, he offered to do the service himself. It was a needed break, so despite her Junior Varsity footwear, we headed to the grocery to pick up a few things before heading home.

Right before we had left the house however, Amanda put something she made for the pitch-in in Kokomo back in the fridge, and to make room for it, she took out a turkey and rice dish that I had made earlier in the week and set it on the counter. And yes, you guessed it, Viper decided to do the dishes for us while we were gone, but not in the conventional human way, but in the good old-fashioned dog way. There was a lot of it, which no one ate earlier in the week, but if there is a blessing in any of this it is to say that at least the dog liked my cooking….all but the part he left all over the kitchen floor.

So Viper and I are laying low, and hopefully the Colts win can be a distraction for her. We still haven’t found the shoe, but I will not mention it to her tonight at all. I will just smile and he will wag his tail, and we will pray to the Lord that neither of us do anything else stupid for the rest of the day!

Keep us in your prayers!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Of course Amanda says posting this picture will make Ben hate us as parents when he is older, but after the day he has given us it really doesn’t matter. We started to work very hard on the potty training today, and though he and I BOTH wore our “big boy pants” all day, he peed in his approximately every five minutes, whereas mine were dry all day. I believe it was really just a ploy to see how many pairs of cartoon undies he could wear in a day, but regardless, it was not what any of us would consider successful.

The picture is of one of the times he led us into the bathroom in order to “go,” but it seemed just another way to get to do the stuff he likes…..to flush, to say “bye bye pee pee,” and to wash his hands in the bubbles….oh yes, and to con us out of an M&M. He seems to know exactly what he is doing, and not only got his way, but also got his mom to go out and buy him approximately 600 new dry pairs of cartoon underpants. Anymore undies here and the free world will declare a shortage.

But potty training is not just a part of life, it is important too. After all, he goes to college in 16 years and we want him to go “sans” diapers. After today we are both convinced that it may be close.

Anyway, pray for us. It is a hoot, but it is a challenge as well. He is a bright boy, and we are counting on that….he just needs to be a little brighter tomorrow!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yep, we are back and though we are exhausted, we are very thankful to be home. It ALSO rained the entire trip home, which pleased me to no end…..NOT!! I was looking forward to a long and relaxing drive, but what I got was a real headache trying to concentrate through the downpour and fog. Tonight sleep will not evade me.

But it was good to be a part of a trip I have worried about her whole entire life…..and especially to see that it did not kill me. I am not sure why my kids leaving for college has always been on my radar and why I have worried about it so. But I guess that is just a part of life. I suppose we should all rejoice in the fact that it hurts to see them go and grow rather than praising God that you can make their rooms into….maybe a second craft room. I am glad it is a bit hard for me, but I am also quite proud. She is ready to venture into the world away from home. She is a great kid and I know she will do well.

Anyway, it is great to be home. I hope you stayed dry! I know we didn’t!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+

I am writing this at about 7:15pm from my BED in the hotel in Tennessee. We are in a town called Athens, and it has been a wonderful day. The people all have been wonderful and the college and team look very promising. The girls are staying overnight on campus, but I am glad the day is done. I am exhausted.

There is a Bible story that I was reminded of today and that is NOAH’S ARK! It was cold but dry as we left Indiana, but the very second we got to Ohio the skies opened up and it did not stop till we arrived. I kept looking for an ark somewhere, and I am certain we must have passed it, but it must have been out of our field of vision since we could only see about 50 feet most of the trip. (Thank God Steph had that bird in her overnight bag to go out and look for land!) But just as the coach promised, it is always nice when they have a recruiting visit….and it was. We had our umbrellas out for about a block and then it turned sunny and nice……just like where I am from, Mishawaka, Indiana where it is always sunny and 75! (If you can look past the snow and cold weather).

Anyway, we will leave for home in the late morning, and it’s a good thing too because Scott has a game tomorrow night in Carmel at 10:50. And yes, I intend to make it. As the women’s coach I rarely get to see Scott play during the regular season, so the indoor games are pretty important to me.

So pray for safe travel and the successful end to our journey…..and no bad weather! We really are driving a car home and not a boat. And we would appreciate all the help we can get!

Felisha Rashad, Arrrrrggggh, and cast off…..of whatever those pirates say.

Goodnight my friends and God bless.

Tommy+

Our new bishop, David “Doc” Loomis, came into town last night for a few meetings and a clergy-spouse gathering. We drove quite a few miles, met some very wonderful people, and were able to end the day with a nice dinner with the clergy wives (all but one of them could come). It was a nice time, but I know clearly my body is telling me I need to nap.

And, I can…..at least for a few hours. Tomorrow morning at 6, I am going on a recruiting visit with my daughter (and another player and her mom) to Tennessee. Both these girls are great lacrosse players and this school is looking at them. Sadly however, since I am not yet packed, it is going to be a long night….or in reality a short one. So I best get to it.

Long and busy days are not unusual for a priest, and today was no exception. I however, am thankful for it. It was a great blessing to me….and I hope your day was blessed as well!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Sometimes I just give up. I do my best to teach my kids about life and one of the things that Ben and I do is look at a lot of flashcards and pictures for him to identify. I have to say, he is as smart as a whip (although I have never understood this analogy, just often used it). He knows a lot for his age, and has the ability to see things I cannot in the pictures.

For instance, he has doggies, kitties, and monkeys down. He also knows all his farm animals as well as most of the people in his life other than himself who he still calls Ben. So I have been pushing him into a few harder things to identify…..the picture here is one of them, the wild boar.

The wild boar is actually in the news in London, England of all places because it is invading the populated areas and rummaging through garbage. The picture was in the article, so I decided to show it to Ben. I said, “what is this?” And he looked at it for a second, then smiled and said, “Elephant daddy,” to which I replied, “No, it’s a boar.”

Of course an argument soon ensued reminiscent of the “tastes great, less filling” ones of the 70’s. He held his ground and by God I held mine. But after a few minutes compromise came upon us (I think when he saw we were not getting to the next picture), so when I asked again (for the 100th time) “what is this?” He answered “Elephant Boar daddy.” We both won, and it was good enough for me…..when he gets the “F” in zoology his mom can deal with it.

He spreads it around too. Two days ago Amanda was in her red coat and asked him what color it was. He said “yellow” and she said “no, honey (the first 5 times) it’s red,” and off to the races they went. I can see his plan, he is just messing with us. But I cannot believe he does it to her….frankly the rest of us have a lot more sense.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+

Today we took a family trip up to Goshen to visit my grandma. My grandma is 93, in great health, and loves to see all of us anytime we can make it there. As an added bonus my aunt and uncle came up as well, and my cousin Matt who just graduated from Notre Dame in May. It was great to see everyone and it made for a wonderful day!

Of course after writing about Scott and Ben and their plans yesterday, today wasn’t exactly what I would have ever predicted or had in mind. Scott and Ben did get to take their drive together, but it was in my grandma’s new scooter that she rides through the halls of Greencroft where she lives. As a matter of fact, by the time I got my turn on it (with Ben, he went on ALL the rides) Matt had him up and down those halls as well. My grandma thought it was a hoot, and it was a great distraction for Ben who is not really retirement home material.

By the time we got home Ben and Scott did have plans to go get pizza, but there was just too much fog. Tomorrow however is another day, and I think they are eying a few places to go out and get into trouble in together.

Anyway, it is good to be home and good to have seen my family. We are very blessed in many ways, but my family is one of the largest blessings I know. I am so very thankful for them all.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

This picture represents his freedom. Yep, six months ago Scott acquired his driver’s license on the very day he could. I have spoken about it before, particularly because it changed my life. I no longer had him driving me around everywhere, but I also did not need to drive him to practice, games, or anything else.

Why is today special? Well in Indiana it is the LAST day he is required to drive passengers with parental supervision. Here, for six months, he can drive anyone as long as a parent sits in the front passenger seat. Today is his last day, tomorrow he can drive anyone.

What makes this a big thing is WHO he wants to drive………and that is Ben. I am certain if he could have talked Amanda into it he would have horsed a carseat in his car and headed somewhere at midnight (Ben would have gone!), but it there is always tomorrow. I am sure Ben will now become the best traveled little brother in the world as the “twins” head out on many an adventure together!

So goodbye restrictions! Tomorrow will be a big day. The five of us intend to see my grandma and then who knows what the boys will do. It is going to be fun to see. They are pretty tight, and Ben loves to talk Scotty into just about anything. I just need to make sure Scotty doesn’t let Ben do the driving!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+