Category: Positivity

Let us reflect gratitude for fathers. Father is ever willing to sacrifice his own comfort for that of his children. Daily he toils to provide the necessities of life, never complaining, ever concerned for the well-being of his family. This love for children, this desire to see them well and happy, is a constant in a time of change. –Thomas Monson

If ever your car has broken down on the side of the road, the guy you need to be hoping will pass by soon is the man pictured above, John Zimmerman. I’m not kidding. He can’t help himself. He’s just a generous everyday hero to his core. This jovial and amiable jack-of-all trades and consummate “good Samaritan” is a father of six grown children (John Ryan, Katie, Michael, Mary, Sarah and Joseph) and the grandfather of an ever growing brood of cuties. He’s pictured here with another stunningly beautiful soul, his wife Tina.

As we inch closer to Father’s Day this weekend, I find myself inspired to celebrate a few of the great men among us! That certainly includes my friend, JZ. I can’t really do him justice in a few paragraphs. He’s just flat out a lover of Christ. Next to the phrase “salt of the earth” is where I think his photo belongs. He’s a man who focuses on the positive and trust me when I tell you that if he is laughing, soon you will be doing the same! His authentic sense of humor as well as his big heart are impossible to miss. That laugh of his is infectious and his smile is like sunshine! I’m sure his life is not without plenty of stress, but you’d never know it from the warm greeting you get from John each time you see him!

I read once that every father should remember one day his child will follow his example rather than his advice. If that’s true, then John’s kids are in excellent shape. Their lives will be filled with faith and fun! This man has served on countless mission trips, he’s coached many young people in youth sports, he’s served his parish, St. Louis de Montfort, in virtually every way conceivable. He’s prayerful, often encouraging others in his path to step up their faith life too. He’s hard-working, uncomplicated, non-judgmental– and filled with joy. He knows imperfections are merely an invitation for God’s grace to go to work in us all.

John is as proud a parent as I know. He loves to watch his family shine! The truth is, he finds great happiness in the successes of everyone around him. He’s a “the more, the merrier” kind of guy. I think John lives a lot like Jesus, if I’m honest. He loves like the Lord wants us to love. He’s an inspiring witness of what fatherhood is meant to look like and a light to all in his path. THANK YOU, JOHN, for being the fact of Christ to so many of us! I hope you enjoy a very HAPPY FATHER’S DAY this weekend!

A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society. –Billy Graham

I’m gonna have to say I couldn’t agree more with Billy Graham’s thoughts about good dads. Pictured above with his pretty amazing wife and 5 children is a quiet hero, Doug Stine. As Father’s Day approaches this weekend, I find myself grateful for the courage and strength of many phenomenal men whose love and leadership make all the difference for others. Among those I most admire is this positive, reserved young dad with the quick smile and big heart.

A Missouri native and rabid St. Louis Cardinals fan, Doug Stine married into the O’Malia clan from Carmel, Indiana. He and his new bride, Colleen (O’Malia) Stine settled into their new home in the St. Louis area shortly after their glorious wedding. Unfortunately, it wasn’t many years after that when tragedy struck. His sister-in-law, Shannon, was lost in a terrible act of domestic violence that left two nephews without either parent, as their dad was lost too on that brutal day. What Doug did next is remarkably beautiful to me. He looked at his broken-hearted wife and he left his job, his parents, and his hometown with his then two babies, Ryan and Maddie, and he moved with Colleen back to her hometown back in the Hoosier state. When the entire extended family seemed to agree that the best thing for the boys would be to be taken in and loved up by Doug and Colleen, he and his wife adopted those amazing boys, Connor and Danny, who continued in their familiar school, surrounded by glorious love from family and community. The Stines went on to have one more gorgeous baby, who they named Shannon.

It doesn’t stop there, though. The soft-spoken Stine, who is a financial advisor at RBC Wealth Management, has embraced his big family with aplomb! With seemingly imperturbable self-possession, Doug confidently and kindly holds, lifts, and serves his family. He’s a rock in the middle of the whirlwind. Stine is faith-filled and his fingers are probably sticky from holding someone’s ring pop while they play in the dirt beside big brother’s baseball game as we speak. He wipes away tears of little ones like a boss, and he seems unflappable to the outsider looking in. He has helped coach the baseball teams of both Con, Danny and probably by now Ryan too? Our family has been the lucky recipient of some of Coach Stine’s time, as our Z-man has played on teams with both boys now.

Doug Stine, you are a stunning example of selfless love and deep integrity. The work of your hands might not always seem important to you and the community around you might sometimes be oblivious to your goodness, but there are few gifts more precious than the ones you are offering. The Lord sees you, and so do I! THANK YOU, for your amazing example of what fatherhood should look like when it’s done right. You are so inspiring to me! HAPPY FATHER’S DAY (in advance), DOUG!!

“The Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.” (Dt. 16:15)

Be friendly first. Service starts with a friendly person with a friendly smile, who offers friendly words first. How friendly are you? –Jeffrey Gitomer

Last night, Tom and I met some of our very favorite people for dinner at a fairly new place in downtown Carmel called Fork + Ale House. It sits neatly just off the Monon Trail a little south of Main Street on Veteran’s Way in a cool little outdoor plaza, flanked by Sun King Brewery. When we arrived, the hostess told us the wait would be an hour and a half, but we were undeterred. The whole plaza was ripe for people watching and laughter, filled with families and friends playing ping-pong, cornhole, and billiards. Those waiting for seats inside at either Sun King or Fork + Ale were having a good time and nearly everyone had a drink in their hands. “No worries, we’ll wait! ” I smiled at the hostess.

After only about 25 minutes, my phone rang and our seats were ready. Tom and I, along with Gerry and Ann were seated outside and were quickly greeted by a sunny waitress named Meagan, who is pictured between us above. She became a fast hit with the 4 of us because the beverages were arriving in quick succession. In fact, it got to be a little comical when she would arrive with a beer or glass of wine just after one had arrived from another member of the wait staff. “Well, you all can drink for me too, I guess! I have a 13 week old at home and I can’t drink yet!” So, some of us did just that! Below is a photo I took of Tom and Ann double-fisting it with Gerry laughing in the background.

Our experience at Fork and Ale was a good one for many reasons, including good food and a solid, casual atmosphere, but the sunny and attentive Meagan put it over the top! She is attentive but also the type of person that doesn’t wait for the other guy to be friendly, she opens with a warm and genuine smile.

As the evening wore on, we learned that Meagan is the mom of two boys, Adontae who is 2 1/2, and her 13 week old, Adonis. Considering the woman cannot be getting appropriate rest with a toddler and a newborn at home, one would never know it from the positive and good-natured attitude she displayed with her customers. She reminded me that open, social and approachable humans really do make all the difference. It’s just a lot more fun to spend an evening out with friends when you land in a great spot and are greeted with graciousness and kind service!

So, THANK YOU, MEAGAN (and Fork and Ale) for a super experience last night. Affable, outgoing, and agreeable people are folks that really do make all the difference for others! You made our double date night out with great friends even more fantastic! We’ll definitely be back…and encouraging our friends to try your place as well.

…And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)

Low hanging fruit is what one would call today’s choice for my little column. Ditto for the quote above from the 25th chapter of Matthew’s gospel. I mean, this is the insanely bright and hard working woman who literally spends herself running the Merciful H.E.L.P. Center at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Carmel, Indiana for goodness sakes! This piece of scriptural goodness is all over the building, out of which more than 20 ministries are operating providing remarkably generous and compassionate care to many thousands of needy folks each year.

Jayne Slaton, who is pictured above with her grandson, is just flat out a stunning human being. She’s the integrity-filled wife, mom and grandmother whose smile lights up the area she inhabits. She’s sassy, outspoken, fierce, and full of the joy of the Lord.

What makes Jayne truly remarkable to me is that every person who I know (that also knows her fairly well) essentially says the same thing when I ask them to tell me more about her. It’s always how she shines the brightest when she discovers a way to help someone else find the sunshine. She’s one of those glittering jewels we run into rarely in life. She’s an encourager who is often heard saying things like, “I know you can do it!” Jayne is a beautiful witness of faith because she knows how to laugh through tears and praise through pain. Her sense humor is phenomenal and her laugh is contagious. That’s only possible, of course, when we know that the Lord will never leave us to weather our storms all alone. The strength of her conviction is spoken loudly in her actions. Jayne absolutely wants the best for others. She’s made it her priority in all aspects of her life– sometimes at great personal cost.

St. Augustine said this, “Love has hands to help others. It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has ears to hear the sights and sorrows of men. This is what love looks like.” Simply put, these words remind me of Jayne Slaton. She doesn’t wonder about the worthiness of anyone. She just loves the other guy and… does it better than nearly everyone I know.

Today, I just wanted to take a moment to share a few affirming words with the birthday girl. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAYNE! Thank you for all you do each day for others. Yours is the face of Christ, lovely lady. YOU ARE SO INSPIRING THAT IT BLOWS MY MIND!! I sure hope that very blessed family of yours is loving you up, because yours is certainly a life worth celebrating in a BIG way!!

Faithfulness in little things is a big thing. (St. John Crysostom)

Many years ago when our youngest children (my Zach and her Grace) were not yet in school, Julie Olovich and I got to know each other in the babysitting co-op at SLDM. We had older children enrolled at school and we wanted to help out in the lunchroom, so we were members of this little group of moms who took turns working in the lunchroom, or else being the babysitter for the younger siblings. Julie was soft-spoken, positive and filled with kindness every single time I encountered her.

As our children began to grow, her son Matt played some CYO and then high school baseball with my older boys. I am pretty sure there’s actually a CYO Championship baseball banner hanging in the gym at SLDM because Matt Olovich was a one-man archdiocesan baseball wrecking crew. I think he pitched every game we played that undefeated season, if memory serves. There, always nearby was Julie. She could be heard cheering on the other kids just as loudly as she rooted for Matt.

We were in a book club together too. These amazing ladies are still meeting, I think, though I haven’t seen them for some time. The books were always fantastic and faith related reads that opened our eyes up to the love of Christ. Julie was such a warm and gracious contributor at those events. What I most recall is that she seemed to somehow always land on the fact that we should be so grateful– because the Lord loves us no matter how life is coming along, and regardless of obstacles in our path, or how we might fail, say the wrong thing, or just plain stink it up.

Julie is the wife to Ken and the mom to Matt, Ashley and Grace, with whom she is pictured above at Ashley’s recent college graduation. After all these years of running in similar circle, I don’t think I have ever taken the time to let her know how she always inspires me with her positivity, smile, and most importantly her focus on faithfulness. She’s one of those people that flavors the world with the love of Christ by her stunning example of simply treating others well. When you are speaking to Julie, she is uber gracious, paying attention like you are the only person in the room. It is a small thing that makes all the difference to others around her.

Thank you, Julie, for being a person who has frequently served as a reminder to me that the One who loves us is right by our side always. Yours is the face of Christ to so many!! I am a little late to the festival, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope your birthday yesterday was a terrific one filled with laughter and lots of smiling!

If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1Cor 13:3)

Love is what life is really about. This beautiful woman, pictured above left with her husband, Joe, and daughters, Carly and Kristen, is a phenomenal example of someone who gets it. If you don’t already know her, then it’s my great honor to introduce you to Kim Santucci! Over the years, our paths have crossed now and then as we have several mutual friends. That said, I don’t mean to seem like a creeper, but in Kim’s case that’s probably more accurate than not. Her personality is magnetic, so I’ve kept tabs on her over time, watching from a distance mostly.

She’s the perfect combination of saucy, sassy and smart-alecky! It’s not that she’s at all insolent, Kim is simply a wise woman who seems to instinctively understand what is important. She’s articulate, bold and a lover of the Lord. You know, Jesus never said we needed to be bff’s with everyone, what He calls us to do is LOVE everyone. Kim does an exceptional job of genuinely desiring the best for others. She reminds me by her example that it’s doable to love the way God asks.

Difficult situations or trying people truly are challenges that we can choose to see as opportunities. I’ve witnessed a lot of compassion from Kim in the face of such circumstances over the years. For instance, Kim’s (amazing) godson, Will, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes several years ago. She dug in with Will and his mom, Lisa Oberndorfer to help others facing that same challenge but who have less resources. She serves as COO of Diabetes Will’s Way, which they’ve grown from the ground up…and along the way they have been able to provide grants to well over 100 diabetic young people in need! This is just one small example of how she uses her giftedness to benefit others. (If you’d like to know more about this phenomenal organization, I encourage you to visit http://www.diabeteswillsway.com.)

Her daughters, not surprisingly, are remarkable young women– confident, articulate and shiny. You see, they were raised by a sunny, sparkly mama who didn’t allow life and it’s dreary moments to hijack her thoughts or actions. One learns by example. Just as I watched from nearby as she ministered to friends who were ill or in crisis…or who just needed a smile…so did the girls. Kim smiles, she’s funny, and she’s a merciful and loving woman. Because I think the Lord has an irreplaceable role for us to play with our families and in the world, I am certain that the faithful heart and big, warm heart of Kim Santucci opens up others to His amazing love.

Thank you, Kim, for sprinkling blessings to all in your wake! Like you, I sometimes have volume control issues…ha? Here’s the thing. Your heart is loud too!! You are someone whose example of embracing the gifts God gave you to love up the world around you has always inspired me. I’m long overdue to say so! Much love, Santucci!!

Wherever God has put you, that is your vocation. It is not what we do but how much love we put into it. –St. (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta

You know that room mom at your kid’s elementary school that made the customized t-shirt for all 26 children in the classroom? Yeah, Tami Durle is THAT mom! The thing is, she’s so darn full of Jesus, kindness and authentic joy that you can’t even be annoyed she’s making you look bad…ha?!

In all seriousness, though, I recall the year Gabi Durle and Zach were in the 2nd grade, and my friend Shannon Hall told me, “Shelly, this gal is unbelievably generous and creative. I vote the rest of us mostly just stay out of her way and let her be Tami! Did you see those All-Saints Day t-shirts? They were customized for every kid in here!!” We were mesmerized by her energy and graciousness, then, and I don’t think much has changed about how she treats those around her from what I can see from my nearby observation deck.

Tami is a wife and mother of three beautiful girls, and she’s pictured above with her oldest daughter, Gabi, who will start high school in the fall with my youngest son. She truly has a genuine and beautiful smile. At every encounter I’ve had with her over about the past decade, she’s been friendly, thoughtful, and courteous. It’s clear that her faith in the Lord is at the center of her life, because she is just a loving witness of what a mother should be to her three girls.

I read several quotes by Mother Teresa that reminded me of Tami, and I shared one of them above. I’d like you to indulge me for one more today, in honor of Tami’s birthday, which was yesterday! I’m a day late, but am I really…? I mean the festival is meant to continue all week for this lovely lady, right?

“Whatever you do for your family, for your children, for your husband, for your wife, you do for God. All we do, our prayers, our work, our suffering, is for Jesus.”

Tami, you are a wonderful mom and tremendous witness of what it looks like to love Christ and those around you joyfully! Thank you for being such a fine example to all of us lucky enough to spend a little time around you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by kindly words; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love. (St. Therese of Lisieux)

At about 4pm on the first day of our chaperoning adventure in the nation’s capital back in 2012, I looked up at my assigned partner for the journey, Jill Folstrom, from a prone position on a bench at the FDR Memorial. Lacking all decorum and politeness, I said something like, “Jill, if I don’t get a diet coke soon, I may have to live right here in this spot for the rest of my life!” In my defense, we’d woken that day at about 3am and headed to the airport with a plane load full of 8th graders. I loved those kids then and still now, but the McDonalds at the Indy Airport wasn’t even open yet when we had to move through security, and that disappointment had remained with my nervous system for over 12 hours, painfully unattended.

She could see that I’d hit a brick wall, and my whining was so convincing that she actually volunteered to sneak away from the group in search of caffeine for yours truly. Mostly owing to shame and humiliation in the face of her graciousness, I waived off that incredible kindness and forced myself to cease with the bad behavior and move on. Though we had both been parents at SLDM for many years by this time, this trip was my first real opportunity to witness the almost absurd kindness and grace that is Jill Folstrom.

A loving mother of two children, Rachel and Jacob, and wife to a truly lovely man named Jim, she’s unimaginably thoughtful, sunny, and altruistic. She’s filled to the brim with the love of Christ and treats all around her with compassion and charity. She’s gifted in a special way with friendliness and courtesy. In short, she’s the face of Jesus to all with whom she comes into contact.

Just last night, I received the most considerate text message from Jill. Let’s keep in mind she chose to take the time to reach out despite having been on duty at GC from early morning through very late in the evening yesterday. She noted that she had seen my youngest son at GC a couple of times throughout her day and she shared a very charitable compliment about his behavior, noting that she was excited to have a Thieme boy back in the building after our family’s one year high school pause. As my love language is clearly “words of affirmation”, the generosity of her comments struck me as a great gift from the Lord. It’s a familiar pattern I’ve noticed with Jill.

Today, I wanted to take a moment to do something I should have done many, many years ago! I’ve known Jill for something like 16 years and in all that time I don’t think I have previously expressed to her my respect and admiration for the quality of her character and the intentionality with which she shares her kind heart to all in her wake. Jill Folstrom, YOU ARE THE BOMB! Thank you, friend, for reminding me how important it is to smile and treat others with respect– all the time– by your example! I am incredibly grateful to you for your witness of how important it is to be kind.

Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary use words. -St. Francis of Assisi

A year ago this week, Fr. Christian DeCarlo, who is a Zionsville native and grew up as a parishioner at nearby St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church, was ordained to the priesthood. Since then, he has been both learning the ropes, so to speak, and also serving the people at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Carmel, Indiana. It’s a task, I’ll add, he’s been doing admirably.

That first year of priesthood, I’m told, is a bit of a doozy. Therefore, I felt his significant milestone should be both celebrated and acknowledged! While I don’t know Fr. DeCarlo personally, we have met briefly a few times and I’ve been to MANY masses at which he was the celebrant. In such a big parish as OLMC, with over 4,000 families, I’d argue his age is a huge asset for the youth of the parish, for whom he naturally feels relevant. He’s also a very genuine person with a cheerful countenance.

Fr. DeCarlo is soft-spoken, and with his words he utters truth. He is an authentic man who wears a kind smile. That’s why I chose the words of St. Francis for his little tribute today. The day to day life of a priest often involves walking alongside folks for whom life is currently messy or mangled. However, Fr. DeCarlo points people to the Lord, where I’m certain he knows that our Awesome God can be counted on to turn even our most stunning sorrows into something useful and good to Him. He is the face of Jesus to folks of all ages every single week!

If you haven’t been to one of Fr. DeCarlo’s masses, I’d encourage you to give it a whirl. He is musically gifted and has a beautiful singing voice, which always makes the experience feel reverent and altogether lovely. THANK YOU, Fr. DeCarlo, for all you do each day for so many! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ. (Col. 3: 23-24)

Fr. Josh Janko is Chaplain at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Before that, he served at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, Japan. However, he’s a Carmel, Indiana native and a priest of the diocese here. I met him when he was serving as the Director of Catholic Mission at Guerin Catholic High School, when my oldest son, Nick, was there. He later served a short time at St. Louis de Montfort in Fishers before making the move to serve our great nation!

This weekend as many terrific young people graduate from GCHS and the priestly ordinations took place yesterday, I heard from a few folks that our world traveling friend was in the area. On Facebook, I was able to find confirmation of this, as you can see from the great photo above!

Fr. Janko has a heart that loves the Lord, and he glorifies God by the way he lives his life– filled with zest and positivity. His smile is glorious and he has an infectious laugh too! I saw a quote this week that reminded me of him, and then his name kept popping up in my week, so I decided that the Holy Spirit was nudging me to share with you about this truly terrific priest.

“To truly have a zest for life, you must squeeze all the juice out of it…especially the lemons. Believe it or not, they make life even more delicious. The lessons you get out of them make you strong, resilient, and amazing.” (JG Perry)

Strong, resilient and amazing are adjectives which describe this man very aptly. He’s gifted with young people, because he is full of life himself. Without a doubt, Fr. Josh has done the tough work of the priesthood, walking alongside folks at their most vulnerable times, administering the sacraments at crazy hours of the day or night, but even on the most mundane of days, his mood energizes others around him and he is the face of Christ to many.

I am grateful for his witness of what it means to be an authentic and enthusiastic man who loves the Lord with zeal! Thanks, Fr. Janko, for all you do each day…no matter where you live!!