Boomer, Chase Young, and the muffed punt

Giving Thanks

For many reasons, this was one of the best Thanksgiving get-togethers I have experienced in a long while. It saddened me that my beautiful bride could not be there, but I was blessed many a time over through fellowship, conversation and laughter.

My little brother and his girlfriend and her son from Urbana, IL were already there by the time I arrived near noon. So we had time to get acquainted before the house got too crowded (and after the clean-up of the gravy spilt in the kitchen - it's ok, dad,  happens to the best of us :-).

My sister brought her youngest three and recently wed C&C showed up right on time for turkey, stuffing, meatballs, whipped taters, gravy, QVC crescent rolls, Sams dill pickles, and ice cold water. 

We had dessert, then played Apples to Apples, then after doing up the dishes (me, my brother, and my sister and her daughter - made my night :-) we started eating again, in response to two events: Ray-ray coming home from work, and not having the green bean casserole for our first dinner. The smell as it was cooking was motivation enough, so we got all the containers out of the fridge, opened a fresh package of paper plates, and lined up in front of the microwave.

Thanks be to God! He alone can satisfy and meet all our needs! Thanks be to God,for family and friends, and for the wonderful time we shared!

Belle, Nanc, and Super-G during the clean-up time

Mom's table

Mom and her favorite son

Sister and her favorite daughter

Favorite brother, his sweetie, and her absolutely adorable son

North Carolina Fish Stew

North Carolina Fish Stew - Hummingbird Thyme: This hearty, flavorful North Carolina Fish Stew - tastes like it’s been cooking all day, but takes under an hour start-finish. Cod fish, bacon, poached egg!


https://hummingbirdthyme.com/north-carolina-fish-stew/

Crown Him with Many Crowns

We sang this beautiful hymn yestreday at Mass - how fitting on the feast of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe!

Crown him with many crowns,
  The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
  All music but its own:
Awake, my soul, and sing
  Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless king
  Through all eternity.

Crown him the Virgin's Son!
  The God Incarnate born,--
Whose arm those crimson trophies won
  Which now his brow adorn!
Fruit of the mystic Rose
  As of that Rose the Stem:
The Root, whence mercy ever flows,--
  The Babe of Bethlehem!

Crown him the Lord of love!
  Behold his hands and side,--
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
  In beauty glorified:
No angel in the sky
  Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye
  At mysteries so bright!

Crown him the Lord of years!
  The Potentate of time,--
Creator of the rolling spheres,
  Ineffably sublime!
Glassed in a sea of light,
  Where everlasting waves
Reflect his throne,--the Infinite!
  Who lives,--and loves--and saves.

Crown him the Lord of peace!
  Whose power a scepter sways,
From pole to pole,--that wars may cease,
  Absorbed in prayer and praise:
his reign shall know no end,
  And round his pierced feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend
  Their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of heaven!
  One with the Father known,--
And the blest Spirit, through him given
  From yonder triune throne!
All hail! Redeemer,--Hail!
  For Thou hast died for me;
Thy praise shall never, never fail
  Throughout eternity!

Crown him the Lord of life
  Who triumphed o'er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife
  For those he came to save;
His glories now we sing
  Who died, and rose on high.
Who died, eternal life to bring
  And lives that death may die.

All around me, signs of God
People to love; stimulus for the eyes, ears, tongue, nose, skin
Beauty created by Him, created for us.

So much, all around; so good, so creative He is.
Blessed be the Name of the LORD

“Let your door stand open to receive Him, unlock your soul to Him, offer Him a welcome in your mind, and then you will see the riches of simplicity, the treasures of peace, the joy of grace. Throw wide the gate of your heart, stand before the sun of the everlasting light…”

- St. Ambrose

Father I pray this morning for Francis and all the priest, bishops, deacons and their families, for President Trump and his family, Judge Kavanaugh and his family, and all who are fighting to make America great again, for John Martignone, the Bible Christian Society, and me of goodwill everywhere, for Bill Patrick and the team and Candidates for all the upcoming Cursillo weekends, for Mike and Bob and Kurt and Paul, those guys I sat with at table four years ago, for all who are considering abortion, for those who would hurt or kill or steal from others or themselves, for those traveling, for those who work with their hands especially our military folks: bring them home safely, Lord.
Into Your hands I commit all our friends and loved ones: Stan and Rita, Stan, Charlotte, Kathy, Justin, Dana, Aaron, Joey, Mary, Grace, Stosh, Stacie, Carter, Ryan, Emily, Mary Ann, Dean, Courtney, Rusty, Riley, Emory, Mason, Drew, Meggie, Jake, Quinn, Cameron, Deacon, Kacie, Alex, Brett and his girlfriend, Moni, Bob, Jon, Jay, Jen, Joslin and Liam, Pam, Ken, Kenny, Kendal, Carolyn, Doug, Terry, Jeannie, Tye, Sophia, Trent, Kevin, Justin, Tori, Kaylee, Kristine, Mike, Mom, Dad, Nancy, Ruben, Ray, Ricky, Bennie, Belle, Alex, Carlos, Cheyenne, Gary, Susie, Josh, Taylor, Jeremy and Lauren, Mary.

To You oh LORD we lift our hearts
To You we shout our praises
To You alone are majesty, glory and power
To You we look for all things
In You we see all goodness

Praise Your Name, Heavenly Father, Jesus the Son, and Holy Spirit!

As I'm driving, I think of so many topics to write about, and so many songs come to my mind. But when I finally sit down to type, so often I forget what was so vivid, important, and relevant just so many hours (or moments) ago.

One topic that has been heavy on my heart is that our society seems it should be right and proper that a woman can choose to end the life of her baby before birth. All these democrap candidates for Commander in Chief want a woman to be able to kill her unborn baby. The loser left opine likewise.
Even many protesting followers of Christ hold the same point of view.

How is that? How is it that folks who call themselves 'Christian' can with good conscience proclaim that it's up to the mother whether her unborn child lives or dies?!? What part of Christ's teaching, specifically please, would lead one to that conclusion?!? Even taken out of context, as is typical protester wont, I cannot imagine which recorded command of Christ could possibly cause such a heinous conclusion.

The ELCA, in their Social Statement on Abortion, 1991, state: "This church recognizes that there can be sound reasons for ending a pregnancy through induced abortion."

and the Missouri Synod hold similarly : "The LCMS believes that abortion is contrary to God's Word and "is not a moral option, except as a tragically unavoidable byproduct of medical procedures necessary to prevent the death of another human being, viz., the mother" (1979 Res. 3-02A)."

The UMC sanctions 'legal abortion under proper medical procedures'.* The American Baptists do not condemn abortion outright, nor do the Episcopals, Buddists, and Mormons. The Presbyterians call abortion a 'personal decision'. Unitarians and the United Church of Christ support 'safe' abortions.

...

Safe?!? How safe is this practice for the child being murdered - whether legal or illegal?!?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: 'Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to moral law.' **

I thank You, LORD, for the gift of my life, 

And for the lives all my brothers and sisters.

I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion

But I rejoice that You have conquered death

by the resurrection of Your Son.

To-day I commit myself

never to be silent, 

never to be passive,

never to be forgetful of the unborn.

I commit myself to never to stop defending life

until all my brothers and sisters are protected, 

and our Nation once again becomes 

a Nation with liberty and justice

not just for some, but for all.

Forgive us, LORD.

* Pew Research on the official teachings of some groups on abortion: https://www.pewforum.org/2013/01/16/religious-groups-official-positions-on-abortion/

** CCC No. 2271