I Was A Doubting Thomas . . . .

This morning I was a Doubting Thomas. Recall that Thomas did not believe that Jesus was really Jesus until he actually put his finger in His wound. He then believed and Jesus told him "“Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

I was running behind schedule. I got up at the same time but decided to put dinner together in the crockpot so that I wouldn't have to deal with it when I got home. So instead of leaving home at 7:40 it was almost 7:50 before I frantically rushed out the door. I got in my car, backed out of the garage and said "Lord, you are going to have to give me all green lights if I'm going to make it in time." Well, I was able to pull out on the main street without having to wait for traffic - a miracle in itself - but then said to myself "There's no way I'm going to make it in time." Doubting Thomas!!!! I had just asked God to help me get to work on time and then only moments later I doubted that it would happen. Well, He showed me. Out of 8 stop lights I come across on my way to Purdue there was only one - one that is usually the very, very longest light - that I only had to wait for a few seconds to turn green. ALL the others were green when I got to them. I started laughing!!!! God showed me didn't he. I laughed and praised God all the way into the office. I walked in ON TIME. Half the morning I kept reflecting on it. Definite "God Moment".  He is so totally indescribable!!!!!!!!!

There is Some Occasion Coming Up . . .

My anniversary has passed, but coming up is Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas,  my birthday (February) and then Mother's Day (May). SO, I really think that Bob probably has this in mind to get me. Such a sweet guy!!!!!

Your fantasy of living in a castle in the French countryside may not be so farfetched. For the price of a Manhattan condo, you can own one of the estimated 2,000 to 3,000 historic French chateaux that are now up for sale.

Many of these estates have been put on the market because their current owners can no longer afford the taxes and upkeep, according to Michael Braunholtz, sales director for Prestige Property Group, which maintains an international property database.

While the French government is trying to unload hundreds of properties to cut debt, it owns fewer than 1 percent of the chateaux up for sale.

They may look like bargains at first glance, but Braunholtz warns that many of these properties require extensive renovation. Real estate agent Anne Chassaigne-De La Sauzay of Agence Internationale Mercure estimates that total property taxes run about $5,500 to $9,600 per year, insurance costs range from $2,700 to $6,800, and heating for year-round residents costs $4,100 to $9,600.

Strange Things . . . . . .

A rabbit jumps over a hurdle near Jena, Germany, on June15. This rabbit belongs to the First Thuringia Rabbit Sport Jena Society, whose members devote themselves to 'Kaninhop.' It consists in rabbits running a course and jumping over obstacles while being timed.

How very bizarre! Nevermind the fact that they look like q-tips, I'd be afraid I would run into something. And what about getting overheated. I don't think this look will make it.

A model wears a creation by Belgian fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck as part of his Spring/Summer 2012 fashion collection presented in Paris

The Feast of Corpus Christi

My favorite feast!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday we celebrated The Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ. This feast day goes back to the 13th century, but it celebrates something far older: the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the Last Supper.

Every week in our bulletin we have a section titled "Catholic Faith Facts" by Father Eric Underwood, where he answers questions asked by parishioners. This was in the bulletin yesterday and I think he did such a great job explaining what we as Catholics believe.

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Q: In John 6, Jesus says that His flesh is real food and his blood is real drink. Why is it that some Christians think Jesus is speaking figuratively and not about the real-presence in the Eucharist?

A:  As Catholics, we find it challenging to comprehend how someone could not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. After all, Jesus said it himself: "This is my body. This is my blood." He continued to say that "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man... you will not have life in you." It would seem obvious, therefore, that Jesus meant what he said. In order to best understand our faith, we need to turn prayerfully to the Sacred Scriptures and contemplate Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 6. In prayer, we come to understand that:

1.) The Jews took Jesus as speaking literally,
2.) His disciples took him literally, and
3.) The Apostles took him literally.

If those who heard him 2000 years ago took him literally, they why doesn't everyone do so today? The answer is complex, but is likely because it is more challenging than ever to hear Jesus. Because of the noise in our lives and our selfreliance, it is more difficult than ever to hear Jesus revealing his truth to us. This is precisely why we need to embrace the quiet, ponder these chapters in the Bible, and open our hearts to Jesus in the Eucharist. Jesus said: "This is my body, this is my blood." He also said that the Eucharist is "real food." May we fully embrace Jesus' great gift of himself to us!

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I think the key point is: After all, Jesus said it himself: "This is my body. This is my blood."

If people believe everything else that Jesus said why do people not believe this statement?

The feast of Corpus Christi is one time when our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is exposed not just to faithful Catholics but to all the world. This is a time when Catholics can show their love for Christ in the Real Presence by honoring Him in a very public way. It is also a wonderful way in which we can show our love for our neighbors by bringing Our Lord and Savior closer to them. So many conversions are a result of Eucharistic Adoration experienced from inside the Church. How many more there would be if we could reach those who only drive by the church in worldly pursuits.

Here are some photos of different outside processions:

And then my friend Von shared this video with me. It's a long video but worth the time. I hope that you will be able to watch all of it. But if you can't, I hope whatever portion you can watch will make you think about the gift that we have been given in the Eucharist. I love it because when the people passing by realize what they are seeing, many of them kneel down before our Lord. Some don't recognize Him and pass on by, but you never know what miracles He is performing at that moment. Maybe He will bring a non-believer or someone who as left the Church, back to Him. You never know. He can do all things.

Technically, this doesn’t quite qualify as a flash mob, but I love it nonetheless. The video features two Capuchin Franciscan friars who bring the body of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist right into the center of Preston, England’s marketplace. While one friar recites a litany of Christ’s titles, the other friar holds up Christ in the monstrance. The monk who is speaking into the amplifier repeatedly says, “Come and kneel before Him now,” and it’s truly beautiful to see people in the midst of their shopping, stopping to kneel before the Lord. Others laugh, while still others stand with puzzled looks on their faces.

It’s an appropriate video before the Feast of Corpus Christi, a feast upon which many parish priests still lead public Eucharistic processions. We desperately need to bring Christ back out into the streets and the marketplaces and the public square.

And Our God Made It All . . . .

If after you watch the following video you still don't firmly, without a doubt, believe that God formed the universe and ALL that is in it, contact me and I will convince you otherwise.

Turn the volume up on your computer and immerse yourself in God's beauty.

Hope for the Penguin - a.k.a. Happy Feet

Sounds like there may be hope for the lost penguin who the people of New Zealand have named Happy Feet. Still don't know whether Happy Feet is a girl or a boy - they are running DNA tests to determine that. Happy Feet - HF -  is currently recovering at the New Zealand zoo after an endoscopy to remove all the sand in his stomach. HF had enough sand to fill its stomach and esophagus. In Antarctica, they normally eat ice to cool down and to hydrate. It's possible HF mistook or tried to substitute the sand for snow or ice. HF has undergone multiple stomach flushes, but getting all the sand out remains a challenge. They are worried that the sand could cause a rupture.

The zoo currently has four little blue penguins, which are native in New Zealand. All have been rehabilitated; one is missing an eye, and one is missing a flipper. But taking care of an emperor penguin is an entirely different story. The bird's temporary quarters include air conditioning set as cold as possible and shaved ice to help the emperor stay cool. Keeping the bird at the zoo permanently isn't feasible. Not only would building an exhibit to house an emperor penguin be extremely expensive, the wild bird is "a very social animal. They would need more penguins.

The top priority is helping the bird recover. If all goes well, representatives from the Wellington zoo, New Zealand's Department of Conservation and other experts will decide where the penguin should go. They hope HF will be able to return to the wild.

Lost Penguin Update . . . .

Very, very sad news about the lost penguin I posted about earlier. Can't SOMEONE help?!?!?!?!? It's eating wet sand thinking that it's snow. Such a cutie. Hope someone over there in New Zealand is able to do something.

There will be no free ride back to Antarctica for a young penguin who defied the odds by swimming all the way to New Zealand. The trip could spread infections, authorities say, and there's no way to transport the animal this time of year.

Wildlife officials said Wednesday they will let "nature take its course" after the Emperor penguin ended up on picturesque Peka Peka Beach on New Zealand's North Island — 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) from Antarctic waters — in the country's first sighting of the bird in the wild in 44 years.

The penguin could have caught a disease by swimming through warmer climes, and wildlife officials would not want to be responsible for introducing illnesses into the insulated Antarctic penguin colony, said Peter Simpson, a program manager for New Zealand's Department of Conservation.

Then there are the logistics.

Right now, it is dark almost 24 hours a day in Antarctica. Virtually no one travels there this time of year, Simpson said, and even if they did, there would be no simple way to transport and cool a bird that stands almost three 3 feet (1 meter) high and is well insulated with fat.

Wildlife officials say the penguin has been eating wet sand, likely mistaking it for snow, and Simpson said its plight has sparked entreaties from around the world asking New Zealand to help the penguin get home since it was spotted by a resident on Monday.

"We are going to let nature take its course," he said. "It roamed here naturally. What is wrong with that?"

Simpson said he hopes the bird will find its own way back — particularly as it starts to become hungry. The penguin appears healthy and well fed, he added, and may not need another meal for several weeks.

The unusual bird attracted all sorts of attention at the beach Wednesday. School groups visited, television crews took footage, and onlookers snapped photos and even sketched it.

The penguin has been resting on the sand throughout the day but apparently has been taking to the water at night, Simpson said.

Experts don't know if the bird is a male or female — because the two sexes are almost indistinguishable among Emperor penguins.

The last confirmed sighting of a wild Emperor in New Zealand was in 1967 at the southern Oreti Beach, Simpson said.

Help Our Troops Call Home

When you go to the link shown below and click on the Flag Cake link (before July 4th, 2011), Taste of Home will donate 10¢ per click to the USO which will allow a service member to call home free for 2 minutes. You can do this as many times as you want! I've already contributed to donations of $1.00!!!!!!!

Thanks Taste of Home for helping our soldiers stay in touch with their family!

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Holiday---Celebration-Recipes/July-4th-Recipes/Flag-Recipes

Where Was His Dad & Mom?!?!?!?!

I love penguins. Whenever we go to a zoo or an aquarium that has penguins, that is where I want to spend most of my time! To me, they are so very comical in the way they walk and play. Plus, they look like little tiny people in tuxes.

When I read this story about a lost baby penguin it made me sad. He, or she, was all alone. Only 10 months old. How did this happen?!?!?! It's like "Finding Nemo" only with penguins.

In a lot of the pictures I've seen of these Emperor Penguins, it appears that they are very family oriented. Isn't this a beautiful picture?

Here's the story . . . . .

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A young Emperor penguin took a rare wrong turn from the Antarctic and ended up stranded on a New Zealand beach — the first time in 44 years the aquatic bird has been sighted in the wild in the South Pacific country.

Conservation experts say the penguin is about 10 months old and stands about 32 inches high. Colin Miskelly, a curator at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, said the bird was likely born during the last Antarctic winter. It may have been searching for squid and krill when it took a wrong turn and landed about 2,000 miles from the Antarctic coast.

Emperor penguins are the tallest and largest species of penguin and can grow up to 4 feet high and weigh more than 75 pounds.

Their amazing journey to breeding grounds deep in the Antarctic was chronicled in the 2005 documentary "March of the Penguins," which highlighted their ability to survive the brutal winter.
Miskelly said Emperor penguins can spend months at a time in the ocean, coming ashore only to molt or rest. He doesn't know what might have caused this particular one to become disoriented. Miskelly said the penguin appeared healthy and well-fed, with plenty of body fat, and probably came ashore for a rest.

However, Miskelly said the penguin would need to find its way back south soon if it were to survive. Despite the onset of the New Zealand winter, the bird was probably hot and thirsty, he said, and it had been eating wet sand.

"It doesn't realize that the sand isn't going to melt inside it," Miskelly said. "They typically eat snow, because it's their only liquid."

However, he said the bird was in no immediate danger from dehydration because Emperor penguins can also drink salt water in the summer.

Peter Simpson, a program manager for New Zealand's Department of Conservation, said officials are asking people to stand back about 30 feet from the creature and to avoid letting dogs near it.
Other than that, he said, officials plan to let nature take its course. Simpson said the bird could live several weeks before needing another meal.

The last confirmed sighting of a wild Emperor in New Zealand was in 1967 at the southern Oreti Beach, Simpson said.

Miskelly, the curator, said the bird appears to weigh about 22 pounds — healthy for its age, but only about one-third of the weight the penguin would need to reach before it could survive a breeding cycle on the Antarctic ice.

Where has the time gone ?????????

I just realized that I have not posted a new entry since last Wednesday!!!!!!! Where has the time gone? I'll tell you. I had a card party (making cards not playing cards) on Saturday morning, a Father's Day gathering Saturday evening, and a Cursillo picnic Sunday afternoon. So, I spent Thursday evening getting the house in some kind of presentable shape.

Then on Friday I picked Leah up from daycare and we went grocery shopping for food for the card party, Father's Day party and the Cursillo picnic. While at the grocery store I had a reality check moment. I am no longer used to having an almost 2 year old with me while grocery shopping. Leah is so much the perfect child, but when a child is in a grocery store there is only so much control you can have. She really really wanted to HELP me shop. What can a Grandma do but to encourage her helpful nature?!?!?!? It took us twice as long as it should have!!!!! But she is just so cute!!!

By the time I got home I was hot (it was so HOT here Friday) and tired. But I started baking and finishing up last minute cleaning chores.

 Things happened - like burnt cookies and other disasters - and I did not end up getting to bed until 12:30. I started questioning whether I was really meant to host this gathering. As is usual, I wait until the last minute to make sure that everything is pulled together. Add to that my inherited genes from my maternal grandmother that everything has to be perfect and you may just have a recipe for disaster. And yes, that came true. But in reality, I think God was trying to tell me that all the fluff that I was so worried about was of no concern. I was being a Martha in a Mary world.

Then is was up bright and early on Saturday because people were arriving by 9:30. The card party was so much fun. I learned a lot of new techniques and I made a really cute card. The picture is of just part of the card in which I used an embossing technique. Sounds impressive, huh???

 I then had time for a quick nap before heading to my brother and sister-in-law's house for a family gathering for Fathers Day. We had so much fun. They have the perfect set-up for outside gatherings. Lots for the kids to do and the adults had so much fun watching the kids playing. Great time! Thanks Wendy and Joel!!! Here is a picture, not from the Father's Day gathering however, of Leah and Ashley. Leah loves Ashley.

Then on Sunday, after 9:30 Mass, we came home and I prepared the next round of food for the Cursillo picnic.  (For more information on Cursillo see http://www.cursillo.org/indy/) That morning when we got up the weather looked like it might get ugly. The sky was dark and the forecast did not give encouraging news. I thought that there was no way the God would let it rain on a Cursillo picnic. We started the picnic with Mass outside. It was absolutely beautiful. Bob mentioned that it would be great if we could attend Mass outside all the time - except maybe winter. Mass was followed by A LOT of food. You know how church gatherings are. There is enough food for everyone to spend the night and eat the next day! Bob scoped out the desserts and found the most delicious concoction. I meant to find out who brought it but forgot. So, whoever brought the yummy cherry looking thing with pineapple and some kind of crust - YUMMY!!!! It was so nice to spend an afternoon with the Cursillo community. What a great, great bunch of God's people. If you have not attended a Cursillo weekend, you are MISSING out on something great. I attended my weekend some years ago and have since been twice on the team that puts the weekend on. It is such a great way to get to know others and become more grounded in your faith.

So, that is why I have not blogged for awhile. There is much I have wanted to post, so now there will be multiple posts in one day.

Back to School for Jason

Jason has gone back to college to finish up his degree in accounting. He is currently taking classes at Fayetteville State University (population about 6000 students) and will eventually finish up at University of North Carolina.

GO JASON!!!!!!!!!

In total over the summer he will be taking 4 classes and then will start full-time in the fall.

Hard to get back into the study habit, huh? Have to have your cat help you????????

Watching the Clouds

I thought this painting was really neat. These birds are just sitting there watching the clouds float past. Notice that the cloud looks like the wings of an angel.

The Stethoscope

This is a really cute video with a GREAT message at the end.

Thanks Mom for sending this to me!!!!!!

The Perfect Place

It is raining, raining, raining here in Lafayette this morning. Lots of thunder and huge streaks of lightening. Dreary. The kind of day that you just want to stay home in your comfy chair with a great book and a cup of Chai Tea Latte with soy from Starbucks. But that's not possible because I have to go to work. So instead I will keep this picture in my mind. I can see my lawn chair perched on the hill.

Smart Flamingoes!!!!!

They have worked together to produce living art!!!!!!!

I've always wondered why they stood on one foot, but I guess it didn't perplex me to much because this is the first time that I've actually taken time to find out! And it is rather interesting.

Flamingoes stand on one leg to conserve body heat and energy. A bird’s leg receives three times as much blood per heartbeat as their major muscles do, and that blood provides a great deal of warmth to the animal. Flamingos have very long legs, which provide a great deal of surface area for the loss of heat. If you are outside when it is very cold and all you have on is a short-sleeve T-shirt, what do you do with your arms to keep them warm? Most of the time you tuck them in your shirt, close to your body. That is exactly what the flamingo does. By tucking one leg in close to its body, the flamingo is able to stay warmer in cooler weather.

God sure has given the flamingo a neat way to stay warm, hunt food, and stay "unwrinkled," and He has given us an interesting bird to enjoy.

Pa. school district turns lawn care over to sheep

A central Pennsylvania school has a woolly plan to keep its grass neatly trimmed.

Sheep are taking over some of Carlisle Area School District groundskeeping chores. Instead of workers spending six hours a week mowing and trimming near solar panels, sheep have moved in for the summer. They nibble grass and weeds each morning and laze under panels during hot afternoons. With the food already on hand, the district need only supply the sheep with water.

They are saving the district up to $15,000 a year and cutting local air pollution.

And the district didn’t have to recruit the animals.

Sands is the assistant principal at Wilson Middle School in the district. He’s also the owner, with wife Tracy, of the Wooly Wonders Sheep and Fiber farm in Dickinson Twp.  

Not baaaad!!!!!!!!!!!

Insect Fine Dining - Would You Partake??

I don't understand. I realize that many cultures eat bugs such as Cicadas and Grasshoppers, but I don't think that is really the "norm" here in the US of A. Of course, I don't think the good 'ol US of A any longer has a "norm".  Anyhoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

An ice cream parlor in Missouri was serving up Cicada Ice Cream. NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! I say. And not only were they using bugs in their ice cream, they were not even getting the Cicadas from a reputable Cicada dealer (or is there such a thing???). They had the employees catch them and bring them in. Had the employees washed their hands before catching the Cicadas?? I bet not. So then you have unsanitary conditions on top of the bug condition. EWWWW.

At any rate, looks like the Health Department has put an end to this. Although if it was that popular maybe they will be bootlegging Cicada Ice  Cream in the back room.

And earlier in the month La Oaxaquena Bakery and Restaurant in San Francisco had been selling deep-fried grasshopper tacos, a regional specialty of Mexico's Oaxaca region, until health inspectors ordered restaurant owner Harry Persaud to stop.

Patrons described the dish as resembling crunchy ‘McNuggets' and chips, with a "hint of chicken taste." What would Ronald McDonald think??? He is probably rolling over in his grave right now.

Here's the story . . . . . . .

Cicada ice cream, the dark horse ice cream flavor that made a Columbia, Missouri parlor famous, has been axed by health officials.

Sparky’s Homemade Ice Cream had been serving the dessert since the beginning of June, meeting customers with fanfare. Now, county health officials say, they will have to stop operations on the odd dessert.

Gerry Worley, an environmental health chief with the Columbia County Department of Public Health, said in a statement that the agency’s food code “doesn’t directly address cicadas,” and he has therefore advised against their use as an ingredient.

The ice cream was based in brown sugar and butter flavoring, while cicadas were supplied by employees catching the insect in their backyards. Their wings were then removed, and their bodies boiled and covered in brown sugar and milk chocolate.

One employee compared the insect’s flavor to a peanut, the Associated Press reported. The shop manager told the news service that he did not expect the original batch to be popular, but was hoping to reintroduce the flavor as the insects once-every-13-years appearance came again in 2024.

This is what I picture in my mind when I think of this - - - - - 

Which Path?

There are many times in our lives when we come to a crossroads.

Decisions must be made about which road we take.

Sometimes we find out right away that the road we chose was the wrong one. But, maybe, in the long run it will turn out to be the right one. We can't know that when we make our choice. We make our choice on instinct. When we realize that the choice we chose has hurt another, we are devastated.

We must ask for forgiveness from the offended and ask God to give us the patience to wait for that forgivness.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. - Colossians 3:13

Praising God In the Storms of Life

This is how I feel today . . . .

But I do praise in the storm because I know that God will give me a rainbow at the end of the storm.

Make Sure You Are Going In the Right Direction . . . .

Where you end up in life depends heavily on which direction you’re aiming.

Don't worry...God will help you!

 While driving home from work today, a Friday after a very long week, I was encourged by what I heard on my favorite radio station, KLOVE!!!!!!  Not surprising - I always hear inspiring things on KLOVE. Whether God is speaking to me through "the perfect song" or something someone says.

The devotional "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young is so encouraging!

The reading for today is based on Isaiah 41:10; Zephaniah 3:17 and Psalm 34:19 and says:

 "Your mind leaps from problem to problem to problem, tangling your thoughts in anxious knots...Though I yearn to help, I will not violate your freedom. I stand silently in the background of your mind...When you turn from your problems to My Presence, your load is immediately lighter...Together we can handle whatever this day brings."

Isaiah 41:10 -  Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice.

 

 Zephaniah 3:17 - The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you.

Psalm 34:18-20 - When the just cry out, the LORD hears and rescues them from all distress. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed. Many are the troubles of the just, but the LORD delivers from them all.

Ukraine Host City for Euro 2012 Soccer Tournament

I'm not really into soccer, but thought that this was absolutely a beautiful site.

The Assumption Cathedral of the 1,000-year-old Monastery of Caves is seen at sunset in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Kiev is one of Ukraine's four host cities for the Euro 2012 soccer tournament.

Cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra - one of the oldest churches of Kievan Rus, a unique monument of architecture, as well as the tomb of many prominent personalities. For many centuries it was one of the most revered shrines of the Orthodox Church

During its long history of the church was repeatedly destroyed.

In 1722 - 1729 years the cathedral was rebuilt and re-decorated. Cathedral walls were plastered and painted.

After restoring the Cathedral of the Assumption in 1729 the architecture remained essentially unchanged until 1941 during the occupation of Kiev. Nazis looted the Assumption Cathedral, and on Nov. 3, 1941, it was blown up by the Red Army. During the war, shipped to Germany were a lot of material and artistic treasures, including the Silver King's Gate, 120 silver vestments, precious glasses that adorned the altar and the altar, 3 silver and a few tombs of the Gospels in salaries. Only a small fraction of these unique works of art were returned.

The destruction of the cathedral has caused irreparable damage not only to the architectural ensemble of the Reserve, but the historical appearance of Kiev. According to Presidential Decree of 9 November 1995 the Assumption Cathedral was built in 1999-2000.

Rebuilt Uspensky cathedral was consecrated by the Primate of the Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine Vladimir in Ukraine Independence Day August 24, 2000.

Gorgeous at night. Wow.

Heaven Has Another Angel - Claire Mackey

God saw u getting tired and a cure was not to be

So he put his arms around u, whispered come with me

With tearful eyes, we watched and we saw u pass away

Although we love u dearly, we could not make u stay

A golden heart stopped beating
Hard working hands at rest

God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the BEST

Someone wrote that poem about Claire and I just thought it was so beautiful.

Claire passed away yesterday afternoon due to complications from Leukemia. She only found out she was ill at the beginning of the week.  She was a Sophomore at Central Catholic.

I have been deeply touched by the way the whole Central Catholic student body have stuck together through this and have spent many hours at the St. Elizabeth Adoration Chapel, in front of Our Lord, praying for Claire and her family. It is a small school and everyone knows everyone and they have all felt the pain of this. Please keep her whole family in prayer.

You know, I just blogged about blessings through tough times. There seems like there has been too much pain. Here's another family and another group of friends that are going through very tough times. But with strong faith we can say:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."-Romans 8:28

What Are Our Real Blessings? . . . . . . .

"Blessings" by Laura Story, is one of my new favorite songs. It really makes you think about how God blesses us. There have been so many bad things happening - we are STILL at war and young men and women are losing their lives. There have recently been numerous tornadoes in the Midwest that have taken lives and homes.  The economy is so unreliable - there are so many people out of work who have lost their homes and in some cases their families. And  it seems like every time you talk with someone or read the prayer chain,  you learn that someone you know - or don't even know - has been diagnosed with cancer or some other illness or has lost someone close. And on and on and on it goes. Is God blessing us through these things? People question why God would allow these things to happen. Why would He allow a young father to die? Why would He allow a whole family to be taken away by a tornado? Why would He allow a young child to die? You hear people questioning why God allows bad things to happen to good people, and, at least for me, it's really hard to answer. It doesn't seem fair or just. I have come to believe, by experience, that God does bless us with more good then the bad we went through.  We must believe, because God has told us it is true, that He will always work good from the bad.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  - Romans 8:28

In an interview with Laura Story about the story behind the song she says:

"I think we have to have a different definition for blessing than just "health, wealth and prosperity." It has to be something different, because there's too many people that don't fear God that are living seemingly prosperous lives, and there's too many people that walk with the Lord that suffer."

Here's the song with a beautiful video. I hope it gives you hope and inspires you to keep on keepin' on. It has done that and more for me!!!

God Bless.

What A Fun Job!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a great job for me! Out on the water, cruising all day long, meeting fellow boaters. I guess I need to move to London. Not sure that will go over real great with my family. Maybe I could start something like this that would go down the Wabash!!!!!! What do you think?????!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

The world’s first amphibious ice cream truck, dubbed the HMS Flake 99, took it’s maiden voyage on the River Thames this week. It has a top speed of five knots and chimes the Rod Stewart classic “We are sailing”.

The vessel was commissioned by Fredericks, the makers of Cadbury’s ice cream, to mark National Ice Cream Week (30th May – 5th June). It will now embark on a tour of Britain’s beaches, bringing treatsto the high seas.

Here's a video of it. What fun!!!!!!!!!!!

Deal of the Day . . . . . . . . .

I have posted on my blog "Thought for the Day" or "Reflection of the Day" ...... things that are thought provoking and spiritually calming.

Well, today it all comes down to money! Today I'm posting "Deal of the Day".

I get daily emails from Groupon (www.groupon.com) with discounts on different services. I mentioned one of the deals in my post of May 13 titled "This Made Me Laugh". It was a Groupon Coupon for a romantic gondola ride . . . . in INDIANAPOLIS!!!!

Anyway, I have gotton quite a few great deals with Groupon and I'm thinking that the more they grow the more great values they post.

So today the deal were tickets for Indiana Beach. The normal cost for the Combination Ride and Waterpark Pass is $39.95. They were running a special for $19.00 per ticket.

Katelyn and a group of friends had mentioned a couple of weeks ago that they wanted to plan a trip there this summer so when I saw this I thought, WOW, look at the money they will be saving!!!!! So I sent her a text (yes, that's how I now communicate with my daughter) and she said "Heck YES!!!!!!"

So, eight people will be able to go to Indiana Beach, both waterpark and rides, for
$152.00 instead of $319.60.

I say WOW!!!!!!!

Check out Groupon. You put in your zip code and then you get deals that are area specific and at the same time all around deals. And if you decide to purchase a deal, somehow, if you mention me, I get a $10 credit with them.

Remember all . . . . .

Where Has The Time Gone ? ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ?

Today was the last day of school for Katelyn which means that she is now a

!!!!!!!!SENIOR!!!!!!!!

It is so hard to believe that my baby is a Senior in high school.

Seriously everyone, where has the time gone?

I'm serious. Where??????

Part of the Summer Club has Graduated!!!!!!!!

Last summer Katelyn and her friends Erica, Drew, Nate and Sam formed the "Summer Club". They made shirts and hung out together.

On Saturday, Katelyn's friends Danny, Nate and Sam graduated from Faith Christian. They decided to have their party together so everyone went out to Sam's house. Katelyn and Erica helped with putting together the photo collages and there was lots of good food. Congratulations guys!!!

To the left is Katelyn & Danny









Suzanne, Erica & Katelyn

















Drew & Katelyn