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Fini…..

Today has been an unusual day. The days Amanda does not travel with me are few, yet today has been one of those days. Amanda’s illness has lasted all weekend long, and I hope and pray that the morning will find her better and on the road to health. Scott is also sick, but his symptoms are more flu-like. Please keep both of them in your prayers.

I spent most of the evening putting together two very large bookcases that will replace some of the furniture we lost in the pipe-bursting incident. I was glad to get to the end of this project, as well as to the end of the day, because it seems as if I have not stopped going since I got up. (yes, I know that is improper English….but I am tired) I am just thankful that all the parts were there, that they all went together as they should have, and that Monday will not see a work-in-progress when it dawns. Lord knows we have plenty of those already.

Anyway, I will head up to bed and get a good night’s sleep. Hopefully all this illness will pass without being handed off to anyone else!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

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Of noble causes………

Amanda has been sick all day, and I have been working, so getting home to help out has been important. Unfortunately we had plans to attend a Bone Marrow Registry Drive being held tonight at the Forum in Fishers (a great ice arena) and being sponsored by the Michael Treinen Foundation. As you may remember, Michael was our Assistant Coach for the Noblesville Lady Millers’ Lacrosse Team, and who died of cancer last year after a courageous battle. We miss him all the time, and wanted to be there tonight to show our support.

As a member of a cancer family, I am already on the registry, but if you are not I want to encourage you to do so. Marrow donors and blood donors save lives and are so very appreciated by those going through treatment and their families. I am thankful to learn that many people were added to the registry by the efforts tonight. It warms my heart to see people step forward to do the right thing.

It would have meant a lot to me to be there, but I made the right choice. Amanda is exhausted, and needs help. Please keep her in your prayers, and hopefully tomorrow will find her on the road to better health.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

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An unintentional hiatus…………

My apologies to those of you who follow along on this, but in the midst of all the commotion at our home our cable/Internet also had been intermittently down over these past few days. A technician from Comcast was able to fix the problem after about an hour of work here yesterday. Ironically, the problem apparently stemmed from our old cable company (Insight) being purchased by Comcast. Apparently the Comcast signal is a bit more modern or better than the old one, and therefore it needed to be fine tuned or amped up to run all our stuff. I do not understand all that stuff, but I did graciously nod and in turn got our phones and Internet back!

We also still have no floors!! The boxes of flooring were defective and will be replaced, but in the meantime, our house is sans flooring and it is a difficult way yo live. The contractors and the flooring company are pushing the mill to get new stuff up here, but for now it is like being in a construction zone. It just needs to get done.

Other than that all that, I just want to say it feels good to have the ability to post back. I will be writing my sermon today among other things, and posting again tomorrow. You did not miss anything in this little lull other than chaos here. But hopefully tomorrow things will be better and we will get even more back to normal!

I hope and pray you have a great day! God Bless!

Tom+

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Weather Rodent, please be wrong on this blessed day!

Groundhog Day, though not an official Church holiday, may end up being one of my favorite days this year.

First of all, the Weather-Rodent saw his shadow, predicting of course six more weeks of Winter. That would honk me off normally if it were not for the statistic that he is right only 39% of the time. Sure that may be better than most modern meteorologists, but if history is any teacher he is wrong more than right. Let’s pray that it is the case this year!

Secondly, our flooring was delivered this afternoon! So that means that sooner or later it will be installed and hopefully SOONER! The sad part is that Scotty and I will have to take up all the old flooring this afternoon, but it is really a small price to pay to get to where we need to be!

Anyway, things are moving along! I am thankful for the day….and even more thankful that Scott is almost home!

God Bless you my friends!

Tom+

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Of furniture, cold weather, and prayers for the weather rodent……..

February 1st, how time flies! I just want it to fly a little faster into the warmer weather and then it can slow down. With our house still in transition, and the weather so cold, we can hardly escape! But by this time next week, I hope to be writing from a house completely free of contractors and needing only a little bit of furniture to complete. As I said, it is my hope, but one I will hold onto tightly.

My day was actually very productive. With only St. Patrick’s to cover, we were able to go out and look at some ideas to replace the furniture that was destroyed by the water. With both Amanda and I working, two Bible studies, and all the lacrosse and kid stuff, finding decent blocks of time to do things we need to can be difficult. I think we got a lot of it resolved though. We will see.

But as for me, I am going to call it a day and get ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow is Ground Hog Day, and I need to pray that the world’s most famous rodent meteorologist gets it right…..just in case the house doesn’t get finished!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

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Coming in early for a rare, but appreciated day of rest…….

When I was driving with Deacon PT yesterday, he reminded me, as they often have to do (post-stroke) that I was scheduled at only one parish this weekend and I do not have to do a sermon at all. No offense, but that was pretty exciting news to me! I therefore have all of today to catch up with things around the house, print some bulletins, and go buy a couple of tables for St. Patrick’s……a delightfully easy day!

Tom make matters even better, Ben slept 12 hours straight last night, Scotty was not killed in his goalie-duty against Bishop Chatard High School (though he will not be walking without pain for days), and Steph and Amanda will probably head out to “run errands” meaning the ability to instruct or direct my day will be greatly limited on her part! (run errands probably means shopping). Needless to say, I am sure many men who read this may be jealous!!

So I am posting early to make my responsibilities later less or even non-existent, but am praying for the latter. God occasionally blesses me with a great one, and this day qualifies. And I am very optimistic that there is not too much out there that could mess this up!

God is good! I am thankful for this day!

God Bless you too my friends!

Tom+

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A lacrosse kind of Friday…….

I am posting tonight between lacrosse games. The Noblesville Lady Millers played at 5, and the Noblesville Men’s Squad that Scott plays on plays at 10:50. The women’s team has just one squad in the indoor league, whereas the men’s team has three. We were not all that successful at 5, but perhaps 10:50 may bring us a different story.

Needless to say, I feel as if I live in the world of sports some days. Tonight at least, when I am so very tired, I will be happy to not have to coach. The girls on our team could probably run on auto-pilot, but regardless, I am glad to not have to deal with it. I can hitch a ride there, watch, and hitch a ride back. Having kids that drive can be a real pleasure.

Anyway, I will tuck Ben into bed, and get ready to go. It has been a great day, and I have enjoyed it all to this point. Scott will play goalie tonight, so he may only be able to drive there! But it will be nice to get a diet soda, sit in the stands, and enjoy the game.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tom+

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Of being “in the zone”……the twilight zone that is.

Today has been unusual to say the least, but as I am at the end of it I have very little recollection of what I did. Occasionally, when I do too much, things run together and confusion runs high. Don’t get me wrong, I am immensely better, but days like today that should be big victories seem more frustrating than anything because of all the jumbled thoughts.

So this is to say….I am giving up the day and handing it back to God. I begin very early tomorrow and end very late, and unlike a movie star, I do not have “my peeps” to handle a bunch of stuff for me.

So it has been (I think) a pretty good day. But I can let you know for sure as things level off tomorrow. For now however, sleep is my cure of choice.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+ (I think)

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Of perspectives and their blessings…..

Despite the snow, I was able to have a meeting, a Bible Study, and get Ben to the doctor today (with Amanda). It is now a few minutes after 10pm and the plow has just hit our street for the first time. With all the snow we have had, some reports of a foot, you can imagine how challenging my day has been.

On the upside, we have a plan now with Habitat for Humanity, the Tony Dungy Bible Study book has been completed, a men’s group begins next week (at St. Patrick’s) in its place, and Ben now has medicine for “pink eye” of which two doses have already been given. It’s been a snowy, but productive day.

It surprises me, because all around me the (local) world seems shut down. The snow was a normal one from where I am from, and to me there seemed no reason to not get things done. It didn’t look like a foot to me, more like 6-8 inches, but life is often all about perspective. Perspective can limit or empower and often influences our attitude. This snow would have been a minor, yet expected inconvenience (after all it is winter) in Mishawaka, but here it was a news story…..go figure.

Anyway, the day is done and I am in bed typing away. The cat is on my feet, Amanda is asleep, and Ben is here too, as close as he possibly can be (to her) probably giving her pink eye. But I am thankful for the day, and for the snow and my heritage as a northerner. These snows remind me of home and of my youth, and those thoughts are always good for my soul. I was blessed to grow up in a great place at a great time, and those memories are a real gift. Snow makes everything seem so beautiful and new. I thank God for it and for today. I hope you had a blessed day as well.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+

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Snow days with benefits……..

Praise God, the drywall is almost all up and most of it is taped. The basement is looking like a basement again! That makes me very happy too! I worked from home all day today, and got a lot done, but will have to go out tonight despite the snow to do a few things I didn’t want to haul Ben around with me to do. It should be a quick trip. I have a full schedule on deck for tomorrow.

Days like today when I was a youngster meant money! In the age before snow blowers we used these things that were actually called “snow shovels” and for a couple of bucks we would use them to shovel people’s driveways. Sure, it was the old days, days of horse-drawn carriages and dinosaurs, but shoveling and mowing lawns was how we made our money, and plus it was a lot of fun.

I still enjoy it too, though I know it can be pretty strenuous. I usually take a Golden or two out with me when I do, because each shovel full is an adventure. I am just trying to get it off the drive and the walks, but they think each one is a playful attack on them. It takes a bit longer to shovel with them “helping,” but it warms up even the coldest night. I never laugh so hard working in all my life. And as I look outside I am afraid we have an opportunity tonight!

So off to get my shovel I go. Stay warm my friends, I know I will. And while I am thinking about dogs, say a prayer for Buster and his owners Mike and Barbara. Good old Buster had surgery to remove a tumor on his side this morning and will spend the night tonight at the animal hospital. He stopped by this morning to see me on his way there. But I am sure he could use it, and I know they would appreciate it. Hopefully he will be going home tomorrow.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tom+