He Never Misses

Category: Catholicism

  • Mad for…Angie

    You will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. (Phil. 2:15)

    Joyful. That’s the word that comes to mind when I think of Angie Weas. She’s the mom of three– Joey, Billy and Molly– and the wife to an incredibly kind guy named Andy. I met Angie because of high school sports. That’s a recurring theme for our family. Often, we encounter tremendous families who are filled with love and life in this way!

    A friendly and outgoing woman of God, Angie is a parishioner at St. Maria Goretti in Westfield, but she actually lives not far from me and I had her on my mind this week because my daily walks had me passing right in front of her house. It made me smile, therefore, when I discovered it was her birthday today! It was a clear signal from the Holy Spirit that I was meant to point out her goodness and give her a little birthday shout out.

    As my three boys were very small, growing up and attending a nearby Catholic grade school, I discovered a couple of things about myself. Often, I would volunteer to help at school in whatever way was needed. However, I quickly found that I was incredibly comfortable handling middle schoolers and that large groups of kindergarteners and first graders gave me hives! It felt like herding cats, and I would have minor panic attacks worrying that I would lose one of them and have to explain to a distraught parent how sweet Ava went missing while I was tying her cute classmate’s tennis shoes for the 3rd time in 15 minutes. Here’s what I am attempting to tell you. Angie Weas is heroic. She teaches pre-schoolers. Despite that, she seems to maintain her sunny disposition, ha? Thank you, God, for amazing women like Angie!!

    I have long admired Angie from afar for her genuineness and positivity. She speaks words of encouragement and words of life to those in her path. As a mother, she’s incredibly loving and supportive. Her children are respectful and bright just like their mother. It’s hard for me to even hold her love for Notre Dame against her, she is such a fine human being…ha?!!

    Angie? I just wanted to take a moment today to wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY and thank you for being a terrific example of joyfulness and integrity. The world is so so much better because you are in it with us! My prayer for you today is that you will know peace and happiness this year and always! I hope your people are celebrating you in a BIG way. You are a giant scoop of awesome sauce!

  • Mad for…Jennifer

    In everything, give thanks. (1 Thess 5:18)

    As we begin the month of November, I find myself filled with gratitude for many things, mostly people around me who show me the light of Christ by the way they live their lives. Today, I want to give a shout out to one such woman.

    A year ago perhaps, I found myself in the carpool line at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic School, just as I had been nearly every week day for 16 years straight. I had gone inside the church to say hello to Jesus, and when I came out to try and remember where I had parked my Durango, there was the very genial, Jennifer. We began to quiz each other about our children, as moms will do. The details of the conversation elude me to be honest, but I just remember leaving her thinking how authentic and lovely she is…and how deeply she loves her two daughters. I already knew her uber friendly girl, Avery, because she and my son, Zach, were in the same class at SLDM. Her much younger daughter, Grace, I knew less well. She’s pictured with her girls, above. When I left Jennifer that day, it felt like a blessing in my week. Some folks just always seem to leave us a little more joyful than they found us– that’s this gal!

    Genuine, friendly and kind are the adjectives I choose to describe Jennifer Layden. She’s also just sunny, witty, and incredibly beautiful. I think she’s a local who grew up in Carmel, maybe? Also, she’s a Xavier University grad, so we’ve bonded a little over our Muskie connection since my oldest son is a senior Finance major there! Her husband is a handsome guy named Dan who I am not sure I have ever officially met. She’s a St. Louis Cardinals fan, for reasons unknown to myself?

    Here’s what else I know for sure. Jennifer has a warm, kind heart. Her social media posts attract my notice for their consistent positivity. She’s incredibly supportive as a mom, a fact I know from all the events she attends all the times she raises her hands to help others around her. I don’t know her as well as I’d like, but I’d bet she’s the sort of gal who watches the Hallmark Christmas movies, ha? Her heart is of the soft and mushy variety, the kind that reminds me of marshmallows. I mean that as a profound compliment.

    Many months after our talk in the carpool line, a chat I had long forgotten, Jennifer found me again. She reminded me that I had encouraged her to pursue a desire that was gnawing on her heart in a way she hadn’t previously considered…and that she followed my advice! She made a point to find me because she wanted to say thank you. To be candid, I feel like any contribution I made in the matter was extremely small, however her intentional act of gratitude made it’s mark on me. You see, I am hard on myself. Often, I chastise myself for the little failures, and rarely do I remember to be gentle with myself and notice the goodness– that day particularly so. God used her to help me correct course, judge myself less harshly. Her example of a simple “hey, thank you for listening and weighing in– it helped” reminded me ONCE AGAIN how truly important it is that we notice and acknowledge the goodness of those around us and that in ourselves.

    When the Holy Spirit whispers, “say thank you” or “be kind” or “listen carefully”…it’s likely the Lord giving us a chance to be His hands or His face to another. Jennifer Layden is a lovely example of a wife and mother who seems to intuitively grasp that. Today, I just wanted to say I SEE YOU, JENNIFER. Well done.

    The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy. (Henri Nouwen)

  • Mad for…Joni

    You are as much serving God in looking after your own children, training them up in God’s fear, minding the house, and making your household a church for God as you would be if you had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of Hosts. -Charles Spurgeon

    Her birthday was a couple weeks ago, but I intentionally saved Joni Smith Abdalla to share with you today, on All-Saints Day. Joni is the mother of a big, joyful, messy, imperfect, beautiful group of faith-filled children. Physically, Joni is a stunner. She’s incredibly gorgeous, but what’s much more impressive to me is her spectacular heart which positively radiates the love of the Lord.

    I’ve only met Joni briefly a few times, but I’ve been watching her from nearby, and I’ve got to tell you, she blows me away. Instead of excessively swooning about her, I’d like to share with you a tiny glimpse of how she lives her life every single day. She posted this the day after her birthday.

    “Yesterday was truly the perfect birthday. Thanks to all of you for reaching out. The boys and I went shopping on Saturday to purchase things for the homeless. We assembled 60 bags to distribute yesterday. The highlight of our shopping trip to Walmart was the two employees who helped us find the items for our bags. One of the employees walked up to me and handed me a twenty dollar bill as her personal contribution to our purchase! I was blown away by her incredible generosity. After mass and brunch we headed downtown to deliver the bags. There is truly no other way I would want to spend my birthday than loving on others with my family. My heart was so full looking around seeing my kids engaging, serving and loving others. The takeaways for my kids were: that every person is important and deserves unconditional love, that a smile and conversation can make people feel better, that when we are tempted to complain about something, to realize that we have all that we need and that so many others live without. To whom much is given much will be expected (Lk. 12:48). We ended the day with a delicious meal and lots of heartfelt, handmade gifts from my children. Truly such a lovely day.“

    You’re following me now, right? Here’s my point. Joni Abdalla is a woman who knows that the souls of her children are in her hands. She takes time to teach them to love the Lord and others. Her priorities are on things that truly matter. I think she’s a living saint, raising the next generation of saints….and I wanted you to see her light. It shines incredibly bright. There’s so much more I could share about her because the story of (what little) I know of her life that I haven’t shared here is unbelievably compelling.

    Instead, I just offer her to you as a beautiful example of someone who gets it right, and when she doesn’t she just keeps doing her level best to glorify the Lord the next day. I wish I could remember which saint said it and the exact words they used, but it went something like this…sometimes the greatest gift we can give God isn’t something we do, but someone we raise. Thank you, Joni, for the curious, optimistic, joyful and faith-filled woman that you are. Your example inspires me and gives me SO MUCH HOPE!

    HAPPY ALL SAINTS DAY, EVERYONE!! #WhoAreYourFavoriteSaints

    Our Lady of Mt. Carmel…pray for us!

    St. Michael the Archangel…pray for us!

    St. Therese of Lisieux…pray for us!

    St. Louis de Montfort…pray for us!

    St. Padre Pio…pray for us!

  • Mad for…Julie

    It takes courage to live through suffering; and it takes honesty to observe it. (C.S. Lewis)

    Unceasingly wet. That’s what yesterday was like in my hometown. Tom and I brought Zach along and headed to Ross-Ade Stadium all the same to suffer through an ugly day with our Boilermakers. We were dressed like the Gordon’s Fisherman for the occasion. I’ll be honest, in the third quarter when my hands turned to ice cubes, I was not sure they would ever properly thaw. Our team had very little fire in the belly and I am considering sending a bill for my rain gear to the athletic department at Purdue, ha? However, the day had a pretty fantastic turnaround when an old high school friend showed up for a visit!

    Tom and I with Julie!

    Julie Tiller and I were high school friends. She only attended Central Catholic for a short time, but the affection I have for her has endured. She still sports the same beautiful blond hair and aside from perhaps her mother, I don’t know that I have ever known anyone as authentic. I value genuine people who are not driven by ego, money or status. Julie has an honest heart and there is simply not one fake thing about her. It’s a defining quality for sure!!

    As we caught up with Julie and she shared updates on her family, her compassionate heart came through for me loud and clear. She shared rather poignantly about both the joy and difficulty of watching a Purdue Football game from the press box full of pictures and memories of her Dad, Joe, who she lost fairly recently. I loved her honest telling of how she got off that elevator and inadvertently made a strangers eyes well up because she couldn’t hide her own emotions. Grief is a price we pay for love.

    Julie lives in Buffalo, Wyoming. That’s not a place anyone should live who is faint of heart, and my funny friend is certainly far from that! She’s stubborn, spiritual, intelligent…and witty. A natural story teller and a loving soul who cares deeply, Julie hasn’t had the smoothest run these last couple years. Nevertheless, she’s running her race and moving forward.

    Julie, thanks for gracing Mom’s kitchen table last night with your glorious smile and your stories about bins full of socks and barns crammed with antiques. We loved hearing about Renee’s place, Piezano’s…and I hope one day to get a slice of that unorthodox meat lovers pizza that still has my mouth watering!! Don’t be a stranger my friend. You are a fantastic human!! Hugs and love to you and all the Tillers! ❤️

    P.S. If I ever run into a tiny violin, don’t be surprised if you receive a special delivery in the mail from Indiana. Hahaha!!

  • Mad for…Josephine

    When you observe kind and gentle mothers in action, you see women of great strength. (Margaret D Nadavid)

    Tom and Josephine Thieme (at about age 4)

    My husband Tom is the son of Tom and Jane Thieme. What I always found really interesting is that both his parents were twins! Jane was an identical twin and Tom Sr. has a twin sister, Josephine Deible, who lives in the Chicago area. Today is the 80th birthday of Tom and Josephine!! We plan to celebrate this festive occasion with a big gathering in Lafayette, and I for one am really looking forward to that event!

    Today, I wanted to take a moment to honor Aunt Jo with a little shout out on this rather auspicious occasion. I haven’t spend loads of time with her during my 25 years as a member of the Thieme family, but certainly long enough to tell you what I observe as her defining qualities– she’s both gentle and incredibly kind! A soft-spoken woman with a peaceful temperament, I have always observed her to be an incredibly supportive mother and grandmother. She has a tender and pleasant disposition and she’s clearly crazy about her two children, Christine and Rich, as well as her three amazing grandchildren. Grace, Molly and Sean are most definitely the apples of her eye.

    Aunt Jo with her son, Rich

    I’m sure today as she celebrates she’s feeling the loss of her husband, Dick, in a rather profound way. That said, her day simply MUST be celebrated in a big way today, because she’s a woman I’ve always thought displayed great strength of character and tremendous integrity— a life worth celebrating large!! Warm-hearted, truly loving women like Aunt Jo are jewels and they are meant to be treasured. I sure hope she feels the love this weekend!

    HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY, AUNT JO!

  • Mad for…Pam

    Sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts.

    Tonight, I attended the Guerin Catholic High School production of “The Little Mermaid.” So many talented and enthusiastic young people were involved in this play, and it truly was an adventure in joyful noise! Among the stars of the show were two former SLDM ladies, Annabelle and Lindsey Bork. Goodness, these two ladies are full of personality…and WOW…beautiful voices! Their pretty terrific dad is a handsome guy named, Jason, but today I’d like to tell you more about their beautiful mom, Pam!

    The mom of four great kids, Grant, Annabelle, Lindsey and Stella, Pam is incredibly supportive and loving as a mother. What else? I once went to a Luke Bryan concert with Pam and Jason, and it’s then that I learned Pam is from southern Indiana– maybe she said Jeffersonville? In any case, the woman enjoys music and she knows how to laugh and have a good time! See the photo above and tell me I’m wrong? Impossible, right? Over the years, I’ve watched her parent her children from afar and I’ve noticed her faithful heart. Mostly, though, what stands out for me about Pam is that she is just plain kind.

    She’s completely genuine, the type of person who does lovely things for others because of who she is, and not because of what she might receive in return. She keeps it simple. Pam just does the next right thing.

    A successful person to me is being good-hearted, authentic, curious and thoughtful. It’s a bonus if you also know how to laugh and misbehave just a little. Pam Bork is all those things. I’ve watched her shower sunshine on her own very blessed children, random grade school kiddos she was serving in a volunteer capacity, and on moms in the carpool line who just needed a hug or a smile. Among them, yours truly.

    This gal is a truly fantastic human being. That’s why this evening as I watched her daughter, Annabelle, completely sparkle in the role of “Ariel” in the Little Mermaid, then when I spotted her sassy girl Lindsey on stage singing with her sister…well I smiled for her good fortune. Nothing makes a mom’s heart sing like seeing their children happy doing what they love! It was a moment I know she will always cherish. She deserved that moment because she’s one of those people I have always noticed from my nearby perch who is just the salt of the earth.

    I read this quote today, and it made me think of Pam, who numerous times made my day in during that 16-year run I had in the SLDM carpool line by taking a moment to share an affirmation or even just tell me something positive she noticed about one of my sons. We all need those unexpected moments of consolation! If all women affirmed the ladies around them like Pam does, this world would be next level amazing. So, I’ll finish my post today by sharing a quote I love and saying THANK YOU PAM BORK for showing us all what character, integrity and kindness are meant to look like. Kindness oozes right out your eyeballs, and it’s just incredibly beautiful. Color me inspired! BRAVO!

    “Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” (Bob Kerrey)

  • Mad for…Shannon

    The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us everyday in His goodness. (St. Gianna Molla)

    Shannon Buntin

    Raising three boys has been the great adventure of my life to date. We tend to do the child-rearing alongside other families who are traversing a similar path at a like time. In my case, there’s been an unusual twist. We’d often look around at gatherings and there would be maybe 15-20 collective children among say 6 or 7 families…and very often nearly all of those were boys. Shannon Buntin was a beautifully coiffed, sunshine-filled exception to the rule! She was a butterfly amidst the sweaty throng of testosterone.

    Even as a little girl, Shannon was classy and fabulous. Still now, her manners are impeccable and her smile genuine. She’s an outgoing young lady with beautiful eyes. Talented, respectful and confident, Shannon Buntin is also intelligent. She’s a high school senior this year at Guerin Catholic High School where she currently serves as an all-star caliber student manager for the Golden Eagles football team. I’ve also watched her in several plays and she sings in the choir too. Certainly, she’s a young woman with a lot on her plate who is full to the brim with giftedness.

    As my youngest son entered the doors of GC this fall as a freshman, Shannon thoughtfully told me she’d keep her eye on my Z-man. That’s classic Shannon form. Her laugh is contagious and she’s incredibly friendly and kind. Shannon is the younger sister of a Butler senior named Grant, and the daughter of Eric and Kerin Buntin. She’s a faith-filled scoop of awesome sauce and tomorrow is her birthday!

    Today’s post, therefore, is a HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout out to a terrific young lady, a sparkly member of GC’s Class of 2020! If you spot Shannon tomorrow (10/23) be sure to wish her well! This special girl deserves to be loved up on her big day! Hugs to you, Shannon, from all the Thiemes!

  • Mad for…Tony

    Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing. -William James

    An intelligent man with a great sense of humor is well…everything! Tony Bonacuse is such a guy. He’s got an infectious grin and he never fails to make me laugh when I see him. Tony is a good-hearted guy who I met through other St. Louis de Montfort families. He’s got a handsome son named Ian who played some baseball and basketball with my youngest son, Zach, over the years. He’s also the husband to a beautiful and generous wife named Polly.

    If I’m being completely candid, Tony is kind of a smart aleck. I’d use another word, but I’m keeping the blog PG today. He’s got a confident Italian swagger, but at the same time he’s very kind to people in his path. I haven’t got the slightest clue what Tony does for a living but I am pretty sure he is from northern Ohio, as I recall him mentioning his high school years while feeding us all sorts of humorous lies between innings over at Billericay Park a few years back, ha?

    Here’s how Tony won me over, though. Anyone who has spent much time around me or my sons over the years has inevitably met my parents. They are incredibly supportive and loving human beings who have made the 60-mile trek from Lafayette to Indianapolis more times than one could even begin to count over the years. Most of those trips were made to come watch one of their three grandsons play in some sporting contest. My Dad is full up to his eyeballs with personality and if there is anyone approaching his level of orneriness in the area, he will find them like a heat-seeking missile. Therefore, I’ve been known to warn certain folks in advance of the sneak attack that might be coming their way. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to Tony Bonacuse in time, ha? The good news is that with his quick wit and full grasp of the gift that is sarcasm, he had zero trouble with Grandpa Jim, who was heartily laughing and Tony was being utterly monopolized by my Dad by the time I noticed them together the first time at a ball game. I sure do love my Dad, and I have always been grateful for folks like Tony who make him smile and laugh! You, sir, are a good sport!

    Tony is a phenomenal dad, and a class act himself. Yesterday was his birthday. I’ve been chasing birthdays all month, darn it! Tony, please excuse the belated good wishes, but I do often say that I believe strongly in the month long celebration. You’ll have to get on board with my line of thinking today because I’m giving you a BIG ITALIAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUT!! People like you who smile often, laugh frequently, and never hesitate to share their love for life with others around them are the folks who I think inspire me the most, because the world SO needs your joy! Thanks for giving me a little taste of the “Bonacuse secret sauce” every time I see you!

  • Mad for…Vanessa

    There are no traffic jams along the extra mile. (Roger Staubach)

    I’ve heard it said that the goal of a business is to create customers who create customers. Such was the result of our yummy dinner tonight. Great customer service like the kind we experienced at Ristorante DaVinci during our last night Marco Island is a rare and pretty special thing! After five glorious days of sun, sand, loads of laughter and a few too many drinks this week, the six of us headed out for “the last supper” and decided to indulge in some Italian food.

    Celebrating 77 years of marriage between us, Ann and Gerry Hepp, Chris and Rhys Helt, as well as Tom and myself have truly enjoyed our time in Florida.

    Tonight’s dinner was the grand finale, mostly because of a beautiful and thoughtful server named Vanessa! Articulate, attentive and professional, Vanessa did not even find Ann’s signature “Meg Ryan” custom menu-ordering style challenging at all. She just smiled and said “no problem!” More than once, this Sarasota native humored Rhys with the fist bump that blows up when things went his way. If you know him, you will understand the joy this brings him.

    The food at DaVinci’s was spectacular and the drinks were never empty. As the meal ended, Vanessa brought out some desserts we didn’t order to congratulate us on those 77 years and she posed with us for a picture.

    Building a good experience for customers doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because terrific employees like Vanessa go the extra mile! Thanks for being “next level” amazing, Vanessa!! As for the rest of you, if you like good Italian food, check out Ristorante DaVinci the next time you are on Marco Island! You won’t regret it!

  • Mad for…Chris

    My father gave me the greatest gift anyone would give another person, he believed in me. (Jim Valvano)

    Quick-witted, intelligent and kind are the words that first come to mind when I think about my brother-in-law, Chris Beck. He’s the husband to my only sibling, my younger sister, Robin, and he’s the dad to my two talented nieces, Maddie and Ellie. Robin and Chris are pictured above.

    An Indiana University grad and middle school history teacher, Chris is a tall, lanky and sports-loving guy. A native of the Windy City, Chris is a big Chicago Bears and White Sox fan. He’s the one my dad blames for turning my son, Nick, against the Cubs! Grandpa Jim has definitely lost that young man forever to Uncle Chris’s beloved team from the south side. I’m pretty sure it was that trip to Comiskey when Nick was a little guy that sealed the deal.

    He’s a musically gifted person too, and in fact he originally landed at IU to study music. He’s passed his fine arts talent to both of his girls, who excel in the creative and musical arts like their dad. As a father, he is incredibly loving and supportive. He’s funny, well-read guy and he owns a really genuine and contagious laugh. When he smiles, so does the whole room!

    Chris is thoughtful and he’s loving, a man of both character and integrity. He genuinely enjoys helping others and it shows in the charitable and generous way he has helped to raise those two incredible girls of his. As a husband, I can’t imagine hoping for a more solid, authentic guy to be a life long partner to my sister, Robin.

    His sense of humor and the genuineness that shows in his smile are his defining qualities to me. He’s a top shelf human. He’s also celebrating his birthday today, a date I always remember because it falls on “Scary month, scary day.” I hope your gaggle of gals is celebrating you in a big way today, Chris, because yours is definitely a life worth cheering! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Chris!! We love you. ❤️