Scott was diagnosed today with the full-blown flu. And though there is no real way to tell at this point whether it is the swine flu, the doctors were sure to tell us that we treat it as such. He is quarantined and off school until Friday.

Steph was able to head back to school today. She was diagnosed with bronchitis, and is on antibiotics, but as they mentioned, she and everyone else still run a significant risk from Scotty. I remain feverish and feeling like a dog. Ben is still warm and was a saint all day here at home with me. This all will pass I am certain, but I just wish it would pass more quickly than it is. Keep up in your prayers.

Off to take some Advil! Goodnight, a toasty goodnight my friends , and God Bless.

Tom+

As much as I hate to admit it, our home has been hot with illness. Everyone but Amanda is sick, and with the way she dotes on Ben, she is probably not far behind. Steph was able to see the doctor today, but that was because they had only one available appointment and she was the worst! My hope and prayer is that tomorrow we see some real progress in terms of getting better.

So now I can say, there was actually a reason I didn’t post yesterday…a first! A valid excuse!

But there now is also a reason I am calling it a day. I am exhausted. Keep us in your prayers.

Goodnight (I hope) my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Okay, it took a call from Deacon Dan Conley tonight as I was on my way home from Chicago to inform me that I had not posted since last SUNDAY. If I could have pulled over and posted right then I would have, because forgetting bothers me more than you could ever know. I like to think of myself as “sharp” or “hip” or “with it” as you young people say these days……..but clearly I am about as sharp as a big red rubber ball!

But this week has been a busy week. In addition to many regular duties I have done, I also said good-bye to a friend. On Wednesday, Deacon PT called me to the home of his aunt and uncle, where his Uncle Earl, had accidentally shot and killed himself wile cleaning a gun in his garage. Earl and his wife Barbara are both parishioners at St. Anne’s, and it was a real tragedy. PT and I both said prayers in the garage, though separately because PT got there first, before the funeral home came to get Earl. But what strikes me so deeply is the character of the people I work with. I know it must have been incredibly hard for PT there with his Uncle, but he stepped up to care for his Aunt and family. We are all blessed to have that kind of man as clergy.

Our good buddy Mike Sams (from St. Patrick’s) also had a pretty extensive knee surgery this week as well. I saw him before surgery and PT saw him after. When I spoke to him tonight on the phone, he was talking about being in church tomorrow! That kind of lunacy is what makes what we do so great! And as a member of the extensive knee surgery club myself, I will be happy to welcome him as a member in the morning!

On a last but not least note, I spoke to my dear friend and parishioner Jo Piece tonight. Jo and her mother Flo were in California at the beginning of the week to intern her father, Harold, in a military cemetery in Riverside. I tried and tried to find a priest out there that I knew to do it, and ALMOST had a Bishop there, but he was traveling that day. So the burial went exclusively to the military, and looked back to the service we had here. Military services however, are oh so important, and I have the deepest respect for them. I was within INCHES of enlisting at 17 in the Marines, and often regret that I didn’t (shame on that recruited for lying to me and doubting that call). But those who serve our country, Harry included, deserve our utmost respect. It is an honor to know them, and for me, an honor to be the priest to send him to his resting place among so many other heroes of our nation. May God grant them all eternal rest!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+

Although my dance career, or at least dance-watching career is over, apparently my wife’s is not. Tonight she is down in Indianapolis with some friends at what I think was called, “So you think you can dance,” or something like that. I believe it is some kind of TV show, but I cannot be sure. The important thing is that she is happy, and that I am not watching dancers.

So with Steph at work, and Scotty with a rare Sunday night off, Ben and Scott and I went to Red Robin for dinner. Red Robin was their choice and it was great, particularly in that there we no men in tights, nor a lady sitting next to me going “oooohh and ahhhh” (not Amanda) to everything happening in front of us. It was just the boys doing “man stuff,” you know, eating fries with ketchup, throwing crayons on the floor and drinking from sippy-cups. We ad a ball.

But it is now 10:30 and I am exhausted. I have been able to watch some Colts (God’s second favorite pro team) football with my boys, but I am not too hopeful I can make it to the end….plus it is not a Bears game. They could stay up forever, I have to give it up! There is no show called,”So you think you can stay up longer than your boys.” Off to bed I go!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

What a great day! Our lacrosse team played three games in the Butler Invitational and won all three. Many of our freshmen, who had never played in a real game before and had a baptism by fire experience for sure. It turned out well though. We had a successful day as well as a great time. I am proud to have such a great team.

My day ended with a night with my wife at Butler again, but this time for the ballet. Amanda was a ballerina herself for many years, and this might surprise you….but I have never been to one. I used to think that such a thing was a badge of honor, but apparently when you are married to a ballerina such a profession is, let’s just say, a mistake.

This performance however, was not classical ballet, but called something like Ballet Hispanico. Since I know absolutely nothing about ballet or dance, I had to ask a lot of questions. Apparently only a bit of it was classical. But the big thing was that I survived, though I know I am going to take a lot of ribbing.

Tomorrow will be another day, and no dance anything for me. All I can say is that I am blessed….and especially more tomorrow!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Okay, no lacrosse today, but also I confess that I am not going to make anything up! We are all home tonight, although Steph did see a movie, but we are going to bed early because tomorrow my team is playing in the Butler Invitational! We play three games at 12, 1 and 2 with our Varsity team that will take the field in March! It is pretty exciting and to be honest I cannot wait.

Of course it is not without tension. 5 of our starters are taking their SAT’s until 12:30. Playing time will be had by all, and it should be an interesting day! It will give area coaches a look at us early, but it will be our third game when we will really be showing our wares! I am ready for it all…..but I am particularly ready to get a glimpse of our 2010 team in action.

Pray for me and for my heart!! It is going to be a BIG DAY!

And pray for the shortest SAT day in history…..I have a good heart, but it will be better with my entire team on the field!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Oh of course indoor lacrosse has started, and tonight both our women’s teams won, as well as Scotty’s team. My daughter’s boyfriend plays for the other Noblesville men’s team, and he mentioned they were beaten, but indoor is really in our programs about development….not necessarily about the end!

It reminded me of life itself. We often live this life thinking about the end-all, when in fact it is just preparation for something else……eternal life. Oh but we are impatient creatures! We want it all now….we like things all wrapped up and the answers in our own time.

But we are not really in charge. This life is practice, and though important, just the development for the next! Take it seriously….it matters. But know we will only be at our best down the line!

Sports has often been a good teacher for me and I am thankful for its witness. Friday however will see no games….I will have to make something up!!! 😉

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Like most everyone I know, I carry a cell phone. I suppose it’s no big deal, but mine is connected to the Church so that every call that comes in is directed to me immediately. We have no real office or secretary, so it is certainly the best we can do. But with all the use, I occasionally need a new phone, and though I am about a month away from trading mine in, I went to the store today to take a look at what has changed.

Of course the store was filled with people who were on their phones….some texting and some talking. It brought to mind how different things have become over the years. For instance, when I was my older kids’ age we did have phones, but they were all corded, they all had rotary dials, and we didn’t have voice mail or recorders. If you wanted to talk with someone you needed to wait until they picked up the phone, and knowing their every move, thought and location was something we only imagined in science-fiction!

I was involved in a ton of calls today and even texts. Times have changed. But boy oh boy I still long for the old days. I really don’t need to be that connected. I guess I am just a dinosaur!

Goodnight from the prehistoric times my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

Today was the last day of the “Ben and Dad Show,” at least for now……and it did not slow me down one bit today at all. He and I were both at St. Patrick’s today as well as Christ the King in Kokomo. And, had he not a date with his mom to walk in the late afternoon, he would have hit a few other stops with me as well. It was a fun day.

Tonight I finally have a night at home, and I am glad…..I have been tired all day long. There are times when things all seem to run together, and I am thankful for the break. Tomorrow will be a similar day, stuff to do, just not overwhelming!

I am thankful for the opportunities that God gives me to do what I do….I even thank Him for the busy times. It may seem like a lot, as it does sometimes to me as well, but I’d rather have a lot to do than a little. There’s an old line about that, but all that comes to mind is that “the busy bird catches the worm,” which even I know is not right! Perhaps that is a signal that sleep is not too far away!

So goodnight my friends and God Bless. I will catch you all tomorrow.

Tom+

Wow, after over 20 years in the ministry, and after making jokes about it for the entire time, last night I finally ALMOST got peed on while blessing a dog. Being a dog breeder myself, I suppose I should be honored that this dog really wanted to mark me as his own, but in reality I think he should have just sent me a note! He missed due to my quick action, and ironically he was the last animal blessed out of five services at all our missions! It really was the perfect way to end the run!

This year it was mostly dogs, but we did have four cats show up in Anderson, two kittens and two adults. It was a fun adventure with very few mishaps. We did have a couple of labs pull down their owner in the parking lot in Westfield, AND our youngest dog, Bernard, did get car sick on me and all over my car (30 seconds from home) on Sunday. But all in all it was a great weekend.

We are now back to the regular schedule for all our missions. I hope to see all these pets again in just one short year!

A dry goodnight my friends, and God Bless!

Tom+