Happy Birthday Steph……




Though my sister Stephanie died in 2001, I never fail to remember today, January 4th, her birthday. Steph was an amazing woman, and though we spent most of our lives in the typical brother/sister adversarial relationship, I have to confess I miss her terribly. My daughter was named for her and they enjoyed 10 great years together before Steph died. And though I wish she was still here, I thank God for her and for the time I had with her.

Though many people just knew her as a young woman who fought cancer for 15 years, she was so much more than that. Often they looked at her broken body, overlooking her as a person, and never understanding at one time she was a first class NCAA all-around gymnast. She could stand in one spot and flip from front to back or back to front landing within inches from where she launched. She could run through a series of flips and handsprings, finishing by flying five or six feet into the air in some sort of contorting move and landing cleanly. At 4’6″ and 75 pounds, she competed with often with taped ankles and wrists, but always a smile. She never complained, and it was a trait she carried from athletics into fighting for her life. She was the epitome of a fighter, never weak, and thankful for each and every day. And you know, if I end this life even half as brave and dedicated as she was, it would a spectacular life. The two pictures with the baby are actually Steph with her niece, my daughter Stephanie.

Steph would have been 47 today. I think about her and my sister Sarah everyday. I love them, and I miss them both.

Happy Birthday Steph.

Tommy+

Day two of the boys in the house full time……….


Today is the second day of having our two male dogs, Viper and Bernard, in the house full time. Until we get Bernard placed in a loving home I am sure there are going to be plenty of times I am going to regret converting that dog room into craft-central. I really should have agreed to that post-placement. Viper, the dad (Charisma’s AngelCreek SnakenShake), is very easy going and loves to lay around and sleep. Bernard, the son, (AngelCreek’s I Ain’t No Saint) is a typical mischievous pup (he turned 1 today…happy birthday B). He looks so angelic in his picture, doesn’t he? But though he is still quite sweet and angelic-looking, he is really now “moose-size” and interested in playing all the time. The cat has also filed a complaint about his incessant need to chase her too.

Though chaotic, it is still a lot of fun. Ben thinks he lives in a petting zoo, and they enjoy being in the thick of things. So I suppose even they would have voted for the craft room had I asked……

Anyway, it has been a long long long day, and I am going to hit the hay. Fortunately the herd sleeps with Scott, so I will have a bit of peace. But tomorrow I know it starts again.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

As one door opens and another closes….or something like that


Life is often interesting living with a toddler, and it always seems to be with Ben. He is in that shut and open every door I see 10,000 times, and the same is true with turning off and on light. It is always so cute at the start, but after a while it grates!

So far, he has yet to shut his fingers in the door, but the odds are already WAY against him. What he has appeared to become an expert in is shutting doors into my face as I am walking toward him. Of course everyone else thinks it’s funny, but I have broken my nose before and it is about all I think about in that nanosecond before the door hits me. Sure he has the benefit of being cute and my son, so it is doubtful that revenge would be an option, but in truth, I really don’t want to see it get that far. At 16 and 18, Steph and Scott make messes and it is I that shut the door so as to have to look at it. There has to be an age where that transition takes place. I just pray if it is not tonight that it is tomorrow.

Keep praying for him, and if you see me later in the week I will most probably be the guy with that bandage across my nose!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+

A picture is apparently worth a thousand words…..


First of all, Happy New Year from the Tirman’s! We have had quite a day and although it is about 10:15 it is not quite over. Though we breed and show Golden Retrievers, we are thinning down to one dog here for a while. And with the cold that means that remaining two, the boys Viper and Bernard, are coming into the house from their outdoor pen. We are bathing, grooming, and praying……praying for the very best. After all, Bernard is two days away from being 1, and quite mischievous! We hope to have him placed into a home within the next few days.

But the big news is that though this is my 530th post, I have only posted pictures TWICE…..but both times I got a big response. Thank you for all the kind words about how cute Ben was…..it makes me almost forget that NO ONE said anything about me! But it did make me think, not just about growing my hair and losing weight, but that pictures would add quite a bit the the things that I share about my family and the church. I talked with Amanda about it, and have decided to try and share one every day.

The one I am posting today is of the kids as we set up the tree. Steph is the pretty one, and then there are the twins…..Scott and Ben. Technically, Scott is older, but often it is hard to tell.

Keep us in your prayers as we add two more boys inside to the two we already keep here, Scott and Ben. It is a herd of potential trouble, we know, but we love them and are committed to making it work!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!
Tommy+

The future Guy Lafleur…….


Yep, we went, and it was spectacular! Ben was a bit wobbly on his skates walking onto the ice, and a bit more wobbly on it, but soon he was running like he was in shoes off and balancing real well out skating. As a life-long skater myself it gave me great pride. I am now ready to get him a stick and a helmet! (And of course the mouth guard which is a necessity in ice hockey. It’s a lesson I learned the hard way…..yes, I fit the stereotype…I have lost teeth to a stick to the mouth!)

It was an amazing time. The only problem for me was I was that I was wearing a new pair of skates, which is not quite ideal for what we were there for. My feet hurt like mad, and they probably will for the next few times we skate as they get broken in, but it was well worth it. Ben at two and a half is a real natural on skates. (genetics, genetics, genetics!)

Amanda did not get out there with us, but she did film and smile from off the ice. That was a real blessing, in that she was scared to death that he would die on the ice. (She is not yet the hockey mom she will be.) Stephanie had to work, so it was just Scott and I that supervised his first venture out onto the ice. Yep, the other two kids skate too. When your dad was an ice hockey player things like that are just a requirement. Ben has a lot of passionate teachers!

The great thing is that as Ben gets better this will give us all another fun family thing to do. Plus with his brother and sister both driving, I am sure they will hit the rink without us at times too.

The best part was how Ben wailed and cried as we took off his skates! Yep, he wanted to get back out their. It’s clearly in his blood….thank God, because it is in mine as well. I hope you enjoy the picture.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+

Renate is the answer…….

It has been quite an interesting day. We were supposed to go up to Muncie to see little Miss Renate, the beautiful young daughter of my cousin who is 1 today…..but the day exploded and we were not able to make it up. She lives in Washington DC, so we will not see her for a while, but since she is 1, maybe it’s better she’s there. The government certainly could use the mind of a 1 year old, because they seem a mess right now. Plus Renate is family, so I am sure she would do a great job…..after all, she is quite cute!

Other than that trip that didn’t happen not much has gone on. After everyone was in bed, and Scott came home from work, he and I did sneak out to the Target so he could look at a few things. He is pretty funny. He wants to drive and then suddenly he is too tired to drive. So I tell him I am too old to drive and he pulls into a Speedway station taking a path that only a pro could take……this was not his first rodeo. He ran in and came out with a iced Mountain Dew that barely fit into my car. Only Scott could sleep after that kind of caffeine jolt. It woke me up just looking at it.

I really wanted to go to the party, but what can you do? Tomorrow is another day and tomorrow, in addition to it being the last day of 2009, will be Ben’s first day on skates. Yep, Scotty and I are taking him out…much to his mom’s horror. But I skate better than I walk, and Steph and Scott were taught by me and skate very well. Ben is fearless…..we will see what he does! For now however, my day is done!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+

A report on God’s favorite pro football team, and a priest who loves them…….

As a person who has had a stroke, you sometimes hear me mention struggles, and occasionally those revolve around confusion. By the time I finally went to bed last night I was perhaps more confused as I ever have been, and surprisingly, it had nothing to do with my stroke.

Yep, I stayed up and watched my beloved Chicago Bears play Brett Farve and the Minnesota Vikings last night on Monday night football. After all, I figured I was already in pain, I would just stay up and watch the Bears get clocked, be a fantastic arm-chair quarterback, and go to bed with the hopes my team would at least show up next year.

Why the confusion? Well, they actually showed up last night and beat the Vikings! I had to keep pinching myself to see if I was awake, and then even for awhile thought I was probably unconscious in a hospital somewhere and when I woke up I would see reality. But in fact I was awake, not dreaming, and actually I can confess, quite pleased. We already had a ton of injuries, and two of our starters were hurt and taken off the field in a scary way (on stretchers and carts) during the game. But in the end every remaining Bear stepped up and at times looked like the Bears of old.

Occasionally the Good Lord allows us a vision of the Promised Land even when we are deep into the wilderness. And last night there were times when I saw the milk and honey! After hurting all day yesterday, and even hurting all day today, remembering last night eased my suffering immensely.

We are still going no where this year, but for one night I had a glimpse. Thank you Lord for that….I would ask Him to ease my pain, but I think He would agree that His priority needs to be getting our starters back pronto!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Garfield am I???

Oh Monday Monday……..I would not despise thee today if I just felt better, but I do not. I have had occasional pain, mainly in my legs, for years. It was mostly resolved a few years ago when I went onto an apnea machine. But it is back today, meaning I suspect it is sleep related.

I have tried to catch up with rest all day, but I can pretty well say it is shot! I am not that tired and I am still in pain. Of course in my house I always think, “better to be in pain than to be A pain.” Being a pain always seems to cause me more stress later…..being in pain often begets a little sympathy. I may be hurting, but I am no dummy!

So, with these amazing words of wisdom it is back to rest for me. Tuesday needs to be a better day….I can only hope and pray that it is.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+

Praying for him to wake up……

Today is traditionally a “low Sunday” in the Church, meaning that attendance is low. Of course the snow and the ice did not help things, but I am happy to report we completed the Sunday! It certainly wasn’t crowded anywhere, but it was a very very meaningful day.

My wife is still working on organizing her “craft room” and my office, okay actually “our office” (there are two desks) that we share. Since we do not have a central office for St. Michael the Archangel, my office at home is essential. It is often the nerve center of all that we do here in Indiana.

As I sit here and type listening to the monitor, Ben is waking up…..in just a short minute he will start saying, “mommy, where are you?” Of course I know….she is downstairs creating more work for me in the office. I do hope he yells louder! After all, if he gets her to come upstairs there will be far less work for me!

A guy can dream, can’t he?

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Boxing Day……

I know they call this day “Boxing Day,” but I have never understood why. Amanda and I have been home all day and she has not hit me once. Strange customs just do not make it into the Tirman home I guess.

Although I love Christmas, it is one of those difficult Holy Days for me, especially in that it messes up my concept of time. I spent all day today not really knowing what day it was, only to remember that I better have bulletins and a sermon ready for tomorrow. Fortunately for me I have been around the block a few times. It is now just about 6:30 and I am actually done.

I have to say Christmas was pretty meaningful to me this year. Next year Stephanie will be home from college and though I am quite proud of her, her leaving and living elsewhere will be hard on us. The three kids went in together this year and bought me a winter coat. It’s black of course, and one I can wear for work and causally. It was a tremendously thoughtful (and useful gift). My wife then gave me a very nice suitcase, which is also tremendously thoughtful. I am traveling a lot more for work, and I certainly need it. And thank God….it is also black! I have a great family.

Ben is now running around in an orange shirt, Spongebob boxers, and Woody/Buzz cowboy boots. If I didn’t know already about his personality, I would swear I was drinking too much! He is a hoot. Watching him will be a wonderful way to finish up boxing day!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+