THANKS BE TO GOD!!!

So much to be thankful for, and so little time!!

A week ago Wednesday evening I was studying for a final exam for a theology class I'm taking, when my wife, Linda, came into the room and said that H1, who lives in Houston, had been in a motorcycle accident.  Details were scarce, but first indications were a broken ankle, broken hip, possible spinal injury and perhaps internal damage, as well.

Prayers were said, prayer requests were sent out via FB, email, phone, etc.  H2, along with DLG, started making plans to go to Houston to be with H1/DIL1.  I decided to go along, too.

By Thursday night (prayers already efficacious) it had been determined that the ankle was not broken, and there was no injury to the spine!!  Still some concern about internal injury so the surgery on the hip was delayed while more tests were done.  Ultimately it was determined that H1 had shattered the ball of the femur of his right leg, and cracked the pelvic socket.  The surgeons used a metal plate and screws to piece the ball back together.  This was instead of doing a complete hip replacement, since H1 is fairly young and healthy.

On Friday H1 drove DLG and I to Houston.  KenEllie drove also, and were at the hospital when we arrived, early that evening.  H1 had been through the surgery, and was already sitting up in his bed looking quite good, under the circumstances.  So good, in fact, that he was released and sent home around noon on Saturday!  Wow!!

KenEllie drove back to NOLA with DLG on Saturday.  H1 and I stayed in Houston until Monday.  On Monday we crossed paths with Linda, who is in Houston this week, helping with H1 and enabling DIL1 to return to work.

We have been offering prayers of thanksgiving all week long.  This ordeal could have had such a different outcome.  Six to eight weeks of crutches and rehab is nothing compared to what might have been!!

Many, MANY thanks to all who prayed to long and hard for H1 and DIL1 and all the family!!  We are truly blessed with wonderful family and friends who have given us much needed emotional and spiritual support.  We love you all!!  God bless you!

THANKS GIVING

Since this Thursday is Thanksgiving, I want to share with you all just some of what I am thankful for.

1.  A loving and forgiving God, who sent his Son to redeem us, in spite of our sinfulness and unwillingness or inability to change.
2.  A loving wife, mother, and best friend.  The person who completes me, and without whom I would never have known what true happiness is.  Thank you, sweetheart.  I love you!
3.  Children and grandchildren who are kind, generous, and loving.
4.  Children-in-law who love my kids, and complement (as opposed to compliment) them in so many ways.
5.  My siblings, siblings-in-law, nephews, nieces, their spouses and children.  As wild, wacky, and crazy as we are, I would not trade my family for anyone or anything!!  What can I say, we are just FUN to be around!!!
6.  Good friends and co-workers, both present and past (Miss ya, Big J!!).
7.  The opportunity to serve my brothers and sisters in Christ through the Church as a deacon.
8.  My mom and dad who taught me about love, and honor, and courage, and responsibility.  I miss them.
9.  Days that are sunny and warm, and perfect for riding motorcycles.
10.  Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention The Shed, Texas de  Brazil, Casa Garcia, Central American Restaurant, etc...  I love me some grits!!!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!!!  Bring on the BIRD!!!  And STUFFING!!!

MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT!!!

8 and 0, BABY!!  The Saints are 8 and 0!!  They've got to quit spotting the other team a couple of touchdowns, though.  It's not good for my blood pressure!

It was a really good weekend.  Gave a homily on FAITH at all the masses.  Fr. Deo was the presider at the 8AM Mass.  It's always great to see him!  Looks like he'll be off to Rome in the next few weeks to give his doctoral dissertation.  We wish him success.

 After lunch we were surprised when Ian walked in the door.  He had walked all the way to the Point from his house!  So we drove him back, and had a nice visit with DLG and kids.  BB nailed the riding a two-wheeler while we were there, with G'ma's help.  Got to say "Hi" to MD, Jack and the Dirty Mexican, too!

Next comes two two-day weeks (Wednesday is a holiday).  Life is GOOD (mostly).

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Tomorrow is the big day! It's going to be a little different this year. H1/DIL1 are staying in Houston this year, and KenEllie will, I expect, spend the better part of the day with her parents. MD/DLG and young'uns will be here, as well as H2/H2GF, although they'll probably be worn out from getting the NEX ready for Friday's big sales.

This year Ian will be doing "service hours" by helping give out food to the needy/elderly on Thanksgiving day.

Last week Linda and I went to "Grandparents Day" at Bridget's school. It was very nice, and I think Bridget was happy to have us both there. It was nice to meet her teacher face to face, since we've "known" her for nearly twenty years by sight only. She used to attend our church, and we watched her and her family grow (from two children to, I think, five) and grow up, one Sunday at a time, known only as "the blonde family" or "the blonde family mom".

Mick and Bev are in town for the holiday. We were able to see them Saturday night, when a group of us gathered at Lil G's Cajun restaurant, and then again last night, when just the four of us went to dinner together. It was great to see them again. We really miss them since they moved to Colorado!

I'm still trying to wrap up the semester. Only two weeks to go! Then a short break over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Yay!! I'm still on track to finish up next fall, if I can keep the grades up. Prayers are welcome!!

Y'all be good now, and take it easy on the "bird" tomorrow... leave room for some pie!

God bless you.

I GOT TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS!

I've decided to take DLG up on her idea. So here goes.

7 Things I Like About New Orleans :

1. Mardi Gras
   
2. Go Cups
   
3. Drive-thru Daquiris
   
4. Everone is "Dahlin'"
   
5. Ferry Rides
   
6. Da Audubon Zoo (where "dey all axe for you")
   
7. cajun music and food
   
8. lagniappe (the concept)
   

Or, how about:

7 Favorite New Orleans Restaurants

1. New Orleans Food and Spirits
   
2. Byblos
   
3. Carreta's
   
4. Moe's
   
5. Pascal's Manale
   
6. The Gumbo Shop
   
7. Shogun
   
8. China Doll (lagniappe)
   
9. D'Itali's (more lagniappe)
   
10. Eastern (even MORE lagniappe)
    

7 Things I Like About Our Family

1. We have a great, albeit somewhat skewed, sense of humor.
   
2. We are loving and caring to each other (including spouses!!)
   
3. We have such wonderful and cerebral dinner conversations!
   
4. We are generally considerate and well-mannered to others (well, most of us, most of the time)
   
5. We hide our dysfunction well?!?
   
6. We are loyal to each other
   
7. We ROCK!!!
   
8. Our kids have GREAT TASTE in parents!!
   

So there. Be careful what you ask for (or suggest, I guess in this case)

A note to H1/DIL1: You guys need to make plans to get on back over here so we can have a homemade pizza and crawfish boil weekend!! It's almost that time!

Let's do it!!!

SILENCE IS GOLDEN (AT LEAST SOMETIMES)

I would be terribly remiss if I didn't mention that last Friday the "clan" gathered at Mo's Pizza for delicious food and delightful conversation. It was especially nice because we met Aunt Bev and Uncle Mickey there, along with their grandson, Anthony. Since M&B have moved to Colorado we see them so seldom that it is a huge treat when we are able to get together. They are such a part of the family, I think we should plan a family "road trip" out to Colorado to visit!

Uncle Mick, who is also a deacon, is now assigned to Christ On The Mountain Parish, a parish with apparently loose ties to Rome and the Latin Church. I noticed, in reading their bulletin that at Our Lady of the Benches, I mean Christ On The Mountain, it is more important to be social and chatty than to be reverently and prayerfully predisposed to participate in the sacred liturgy of the Mass. They even point out that although the GIRM explains the need for, and reasoning behind, silence before Mass, the "unique social nature" of their parish shouldn't be changed, so the parishioners should try to hold it to a "quiet hum" (as opposed to a "dull roar") out of respect for those who actually DO want to prepare themselves spritually and mentally for the liturgy! Priorities, people!

God Bless Uncle Mick!! I wouldn't last there a month! Part of the attraction of the Catholic Church for me (aside from its being the church founded by Christ, the church to which He gave His real Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist) is the beauty, reverence, and spiritually inspirational aspects of the sacred liturgies.

All that being said, I am outta here! Peace!!!

WELCOME TO 2008

First, a belated Happy Birthday to SIL-O. I'm sorry I neglected to comment earlier. We hope you had a great birthday on Monday!

It was a quiet New Year. New Year’s Eve found Linda, H2 and I at Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar for dinner, after which we returned home and spent the evening watching TV and listening to the fireworks around the neighborhood. H2 hooked up with Big Boy and BBB, and went out for the evening. Our excitement was hearing a loud “CRACK!!!” against the front window and running outside to find that something (still unidentified) had struck our front window and cracked it. We don’t know if it was a rock, or an errant firecracker, or what.

We spent a couple of hours going through boxes of photos with KenEllie. Some I hadn’t seen in years. It was really fun to reminisce and relive some past experiences.

New Year’s Day started off beautifully. The sun shone and the temperature was not too cold. At noon Linda, KenEllie and I went to the new IHOP for “brunch”. It was crowded with Hawaii fans in for the Sugarbowl. Although our service was only fair (the waitress seemed to be in another world most of the time) the food was good, and the opportunity to just sit and chat was really nice.

Later in the evening I made “orange chicken” for dinner for Linda and KenEllie. Not a favorite of Kenny’s, it was the first time Ellie had tried it and she seemed to like it. After dinner H2 and Brenda came by and we sat and went through the old pictures again, mostly looking for pics of H2. We were able to find a few “embarrassing” pics that gave Brenda a good laugh.

Today is BILB’s (Brother-in-law Bill’s) birthday. We wish him a Happy Birthday and a Happy New Year, and the hope of many more to come!!

HI, LO! HI, LO! IT'S OFF TO '08 WE GO!!

As we look forward to 2008, a quick look back to 2007 shows that it was not without its highs and lows.

Low – H2’s 2nd and 3rd back operations
High- Brother Bill comes to Mardi Gras
High- S2and friends PF1,2,3 visit NOLA and we eat LOTS of oysters!
High- Big Boy marries Beautiful Bride Brittany
High – Linda finally gets to come home from Memphis! (Major High!!)
Low – I end up in the hospital with a strep/staph infection that leads to cellulitis.
High- Two (2) Valedictorians; one at 8th Grade graduation, one at Kndg graduation
High/Low-BB performs beautiful dance recital/ G'pa misses
High- Dinner with Fr. Deo (only in town for a moment!)
High – DLG gets a new job.
Low – Cancelled the family trip to Deal’s Gap in July.
High- DIL2's brother made Chief Petty Officer
High – Rachel and Louis’ wedding in Ohio.
High- Visit from Meatball's little girl—ALL grown up!
High – H2’s health finally gets back to normal.
High – Trip to Houston to visit H1/DIL1.
High – Kenny gets a new job.

Although the year started off Low, the High's sure out weighed them!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

SOMETIMES DNA SUX!!

My apologies to any of my children who are or will be afflicted by migraines. Mea Culpa!!

That is all.

Christmas Present...

It was a great Christmas, for the most part. I do fell very badly that I missed all the Christmas Masses because of whatever this is that is ailing me. Linda ended up going to Midnight Mass alone, which made it even worse.

KenEllie, DLG and kids went to the 5PM Mass, which was super crowded. After Mass, KenEllie went to her folks house for dinner and to exchange gifts, then on across the lake to her aunt's house for their family gathering which lasts into the wee hours of the morning.

Major Dad joined DLG and kids for a quick Popeye's supper at our house, after which we exchanged gifts. Ian was handsome, BB and MG were absolutely adorable in their Christmas finery. Both girls had sparkly red shoes.

I couldn't wait any longer, so I gave Linda her surprise gift. Much to my delight she was not only surprised, but seemed genuinely happy with it. After that she decided to give me my surprise early as well. (hmmm... could this be a new family tradition?)
She had new headlights and LED's added to my ride, really "pimping" it out! I am ecstatic!!

Christmas day began quietly as we prepared a ham, some stuffing and other foodstuffs to take over to Major Dad/DLG's house for dinner. Then KenEllie came over and we finished exchanging gifts with them and H2. I think everyone was pleased with their gifts.

This afternoon we all gathered for dinner, after which KenEllie and MD/DLG et al exchanged gifts. Although H1/DIL1 were absent, we were graced by the presence of H2's very lovely friend, Brenda.

I have to tell you about the dinner. Actually dinner isn't the appropriate word here. I think FEAST is more like it. We had a vegetable tray, deviled eggs, ham, roast beef, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, corn, green beans, asparagus, carrots ala Aunt Bev, rolls, key lime and apple pies. Definitely something for everyone! There was so much food that we're all getting together again for dinner tomorrow night! I'm guessing the menu will be pretty similar!

I hope everyone's Christmas was filled with joy and love. And I pray that joy and love are what we extend to others throughout the coming new year!

IT AIN'T AS EASY AS IT LOOKS!!

Linda's surprise Christmas present arrived today!! It is now wrapped, and under the Christmas tree. In honor of H1 putting so much effort into helping me with this surprise, I used not one... not two... not three... but FOUR different wrapping papers on the gift. And, in defense of H1, it's not that easy to intentionally use four different types of gift wrap!

Many, many thanks to H1/DIL1 for helping me with this one. I wish you could be here tomorrow when she opens it!!

IT'S 3AM, DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR HUSBAND IS?

One thing I've dreaded since ordination is the day I get to Mass only to have the priest tell me I have to preach for whatever reason. Well, yesterday (Saturday) I did just that. I haven't been able to shake whatever it is that I have, so yesterday morning I called Fr. Joseph to say that I was sick and would he be able to preach this weekend. I felt terrible putting him on the spot like that.

If you're interested in what I would have preached about, I posted it on Altar Egeaux. It becomes the first post on my new diaconate-based blog.

I stumbled on this this evening. It's hysterical!
Is it wrong for me to find this so funny on a Sunday morning?

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and 8 days later is 2008. Where did the year go? It seems to have flown by. I hope that 2008 brings us better health than did 2007.

Kudos go out to H1/DIL1 for helping me with L's Christmas gift!



As Santa would say, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I really should be working on my homily for this weekend, but instead I'm adding an entry in LOT(L). I've been home all day trying to fight off what might be another infection, although I have no official verification. A lot of the symptoms from before showed up, but not in as devestating a fashion as in the past. Painful joints, a very mild case of the chills, and a headache that seems to be untouchable by modern medicines. I've started on Bactrim to try and nip it in the bud.

Linda is out at Applebee's with P&J and kids. I'm home with Maynard.

Looks like some movies with real potential for entertainment are opening today: National Treasure:Book of Secrets, P.S. I Love You, Charlie Wilson's War, and Sweeney Todd:The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. They all look like they might be pretty interesting. If I can make it through the first Mass and homily tomorrow evening, maybe a movie night would be a nice treat before the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve and Christmas settles in.

I guess I'd better get back to preparing for tomorrow, but first I want to wish everyone a

.

This Christmas wish goes out in a special way to Keith and Chris, John and Janet, Richard and June, our many Ugandan friends spread across the globe, and especially my family, both nuclear and extended.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU!!

It was a good day after all. I woke up with a migraine that kept me immobilized for most of the day. Linda, being the sweet and loving wife that she is, drove all the way to our workplace to get my prescription meds for me. By 3:30PM I felt a little better and went to KenEllie's where they had prepared a WONDERFUL birthday spaghetti dinner. We were joined by H2, DLG, Major Dad and family, and even Miguel. It was a really nice dinner and afternoon with family. H1/DIL1, sorry you missed it... we certainly missed you!!

Yesterday evening little Molly G fell and hit her mouth against DLG's coffee table. Blood everywhere, of course. After a 3 hour trip to the emergency room the question remained as to whether her two front teeth had been knocked back into her gums, or had the gums just swollen to where they covered the teeth. We should find out Monday when DLG takes her to the dentist for a look-see. MG was SO cute today at dinner. You'd never guess anything had happened.

Yesterday evening was also the wedding that I officiated at. The bride and groom were SO in love. She cried during the ceremony and he gently wiped away her tears. I pray that their life together is long and happy.

Yesterday night we also went to our diaconate class annual Christmas party. It was really great to see our old friends once again, but fewer and fewer show up each year. Two have died since ordination in '99. One moved to Georgia, another to Colorado, and another to Washington state. Still, it was good to see those that did show up.

That's all for now. May the peace of Christ be yours during this Christmas season, and throughout the coming year!! And may God's blessings be on you and yours.

BB Quote of the Weekend - G'PA Style!

Sunday the family gathered at Chevy's Mexican Restaurant. At some point I was talking to Linda about my deanery meeting later that day. BB asks, "What's a deanery?" So I try to explain how there are lots of Catholic churches in New Orleans, and how they are divided into groups by area, and each group is called a deanery. So when I get done explaining it I asked her if she understood. Her reply??? "Actually, grandpa, I wasn't listening." Well, at least she was honest.

HOW OLD R U, G'MA?... I'M 23, BB

H2 has added a musical element to his vast array of entertainment that is really a lot of fun. He has the XBox 360 and recently bought Guitar Hero III and Rock Band. The game controller for Guitar Hero III is wireless, in the form of a guitar. Rock Band adds controllers that resemble a Fender Stratocaster, an electronic drum set, and a microphone. To play the game, you select a rock persona, and a song. As the song plays, "notes" appear scrolling down the neck of a guitar. You try to play the "notes" as they hit a certain fret by pressing buttons on the neck of the controller or striking the right "drum" of the drum set. It's actually a lot of fun and the songs that come with the games are pretty good, too. Even the "old man" got into the act along with KenEllie!!
Last Monday was L's birthday. She's once again!!! Monday for lunch we went to New Orleans Food and Spirits. We go there fairly frequently, probably once a week, at least, so we know some of the wait staff pretty well. When Marcy, our waitress, took our food order I mentioned that it was L's birthday. We had a nice lunch after Marcy told me that I didn't really want the red beans because they weren't very good that day, so I switched to Hawaiian porkchops which was an excellent choice. A-a-a-nyway... we were waiting for our check when suddenly all the waitresses, and even Mr. Mike (he does the seating) showed up at our table. They sang "Happy Birthday" and gave L a small bread pudding topped with whipped cream and a candle. Now, I've been going to NOFS for probably 5 or 6 years, at least, and I've NEVER seen them sing Happy Birthday before! She's just so SPECIAL!
Monday night the family (sans H1/DIL1 and Major Dad) went to Outback for her birthday dinner.

Now fast forward to Friday. H1/DIL1 are in town for their office Christmas party. Major Dad is back from Baton Rouge. Since Monday is H1's birthday but he'll be back in Houston, we decided to celebrate with dinner at the restaurant of his choosing ('thanks, DIL1') so here we are at Outback! This time we are sans KenEllie, as they were with her parents for the evening at a special annual Hispanic event which I will try to describe after I get the scoop. Or, maybe Kenny will post about it on his blog. Dinner was excellent, as usual.

That's about all the exitement for this week. Oh, yeah. The Navy program I've been working on the past four years was "shelved" yesterday. No money to fund it any longer, probably due to the high cost of the "war on terror", so I'll be moving to a new job (same place, just different work assignment) in the next couple of weeks. Wish me luck.

Hopefully the next post won't be too far into the future. Until then, wishing you all a spiritually fulfilling Advent season. As you prepare for the coming of our Lord, may your hearts be filled with peace, love, and joy. May God bless you always!!