Shelly Thieme:

Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. It’s a holy day of obligation for Catholics here in the US, and this morning my soul was singing along joyfully with the overflowing crowd at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, flanked by two of my three sons. The Assumption is about our Catholic belief that the Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory. The grade school cantors at the mass did a glorious job, and it was so uplifting to hear so many people singing Hail, Holy Queen, Immaculate Mary and Let it Be Done to Me so beautifully. I was deeply moved.

If you ever feel distressed during your day, call upon Our Lady. Just say this simple prayer: ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.’ I must admit, this prayer has never failed me. -St. (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta

This leads me to the young lady I’d like to introduce you to today. Her name is Lily Smith. The daughter of Adam and Mollie Smith and the sister of, well, MANY, she’s a vivacious, sparkly, intelligent, outgoing and faith-filled young woman who gives the most incredible hugs! It’s been a while since I’ve seen her, but she graduated from St. Louis de Montfort in 2014 with Drew and they continued on in school together until they graduated from Guerin Catholic in 2018. Lily was impossible to miss. She may be little, but she is filled up to her eyeballs with grace and love for Jesus, and also, she sings like an absolute angel. She’s college age now, and last I heard she was set to start her 2nd year of college at my alma mater, Purdue University! Boiler Up, Lily!! How blessed her fellow students as well as her family and friends are to have this gorgeous human in their lives is impossible for me to impart here in any adequate way.

When I contemplate about Our Blessed Mother, I have often pictured Mary’s youth and humanity. God asked her to trust Him completely, and she answered yes. She would have been a very young woman who was full of faith, and in love with the Lord– just like Lily Smith.

When the SLDM class of 2014 lost a classmate rather suddenly their sophomore year in high school, they all gathered together at church to pray. I’ll never forget the stunningly beautiful Divine Mercy Chaplet that Lily led her classmates in that evening. She certainly glorified the Lord that day by the way she used her incredible voice. Her classmates sang along to honor Jen, but make no mistake, Lily was their leader. Jesus was powerfully present that evening, just like He was this morning.

Spunky, outgoing and full of laughter and fun, Lily Smith is a young woman who just epitomizes servant leadership to me. She says yes. Just like Mary. Today, I wanted to tell Lily what I am long overdue to say. You, sweet girl, inspire me to love Jesus more. I haven’t even seen you in months, yet your light shines so brightly that yours was the face I saw in my mind when I was thinking “who can I choose to write about for the Assumption?”

Thank you, Lily Smith, for being a bearer of light. The world needs all the light that we can get! You are a treasure.

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. (St. Anthony of Padua)

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This is my friend Diane Conover. She’s inspiring to me for her steadfastness in faith and today when I read a piece about how much the world is in need of women who know how to do hard and holy things, she came to mind. There is something powerful about her quiet graceful spirit that I find intriguing.

Diane is a beautiful woman with eyes that sparkle. She’s a sensitive and spiritual woman of God who is both tender and gentle. Through grace, she seems to have developed her divinity and nurtured her gifts. She’s also a mom and wife, and her family is certainly blessed to have such a remarkable woman among them everyday!

I met Diane at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, where she’s incredibly generous with her time in practical and meaningful ways. As I was writing this evening, it occurs to me that there’s much more I’d like to know about her. Here’s what I am clear about. She plays a pivotal role on the Gospel of Life committee at OLMC, taking down notes and details for the group. It’s a generous service to the rest of us to have her attend to this important but not glamorous piece of the puzzle, and each time she sends us her terrific email summaries she reminds me I need to be more like her in my life. She is a whiz at handling promotions, and a bright, articulate woman. Diane also teaches NFP, and I am certain she’s made a positive difference for many Catholic couples on their faith journeys.

Our Blessed Mother has a friend in Diane. She’s prayerful and her love of the Lord is obvious. Rather than tiptoe around obstacles to faith, Diane seems to overcome them by focusing on the goodness and generosity of the Lord. The fruits of her prayerful life are clear. She’s anxious to share her time and her gifts with others around her. Diane is one of those rare gems we come across who witness to the fact that the word of God is alive and has the power to transform us.

Thank you for being such a beautiful example of authentic faithfulness, Diane. Knowing you really has helped me desire to conform my own life more closely to the image of Christ. Desire is an important first step, am I right? The world is a much more beautiful place because you are in it, my friend!

This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35)

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Are you old enough to remember the old Warner Brothers cartoon, The Road Runner Show? I know, I know, I am revealing my age today. This animated series featured the adventures of the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote. When I discovered the Road Runner, it was a little later in the game when he appeared with the “wascally wabbit” Bugs Bunny. Nevertheless, the premise was always the same with the Road Runner. He never stopped moving…and always at top speed! Because I decided to honor a plucky woman with seemingly boundless energy today, I very nearly ran a photo of the Road Runner instead of my friend, Jackie Mewborn! She’s too cute to omit her photo, though, so you can see her above with her husband, Mike, and sons Joey and Matt.

Jackie lives nearby and her sons went through both grade school and high school with my guys, although neither of the Mewborn boys were a match for one of my sons, age wise. That did NOT stop me from noticing the force of nature that is their mother! She’s an organizer. Jackie is the kind of gal who will never be accused of standing still too long or spending too much time mulling over an idea– she is a doer of deeds, a woman who gets stuff done! Her laser focus is on what she can do to help the people around her. What’s even better is that she ALWAYS invites others around her into her goodness!

I’ve been roped into all sorts of wonderfulness because of Jackie and her husband, Mike, too over the years. For instance, I had everyone I know buying sleeping bags and books for grade school kiddos in Indy a few winters back. You see, Jackie had decided to make it her mission to see to it that a group of 8 year old students in need each got some meaningful love from the community that year. She made it happen. There have been school and sports fundraisers and meals that were needed by mutual friends, and on and on. When I get an email from Jackie, I generally know she’s up to some “do- gooder” activity and the chances are excellent that I might want to jump on in.

If you’re not sure if you’ve met Jackie, then you probably haven’t. She’s rather unforgettable with her terrific laugh and her unmistakable appeal. She’s fully monogrammed and color coordinated…and absolutely sunny, energetic and filled with positivity. She has never met a stranger and she speaks quickly and at volume! Jackie is the kind of person who doesn’t ever saunter into a group. The uninitiated always look around after she flees the area and ask, “Oh my gosh! Who was that?!” No one ever needs to ask that question twice it seems.

Yesterday, I got another lovely invite from Jackie. She wanted to gather some mutual friends for a drink to laugh, celebrate and honor a friend we all love who died recently and who would have celebrated her birthday on August 24. It was a classic Jackie move– just beautiful!

Do you know the popular church song, “They’ll Know We are Christians By Our Love”? It really makes me think of Jackie Mewborn. It’s a little known fact that the song was inspired by John 13:35 but originates in a phrase that non-believers used to describe the members of the early Church. “Behold, how they love one another.”

If there’s ever a move to convict Christians, then this gal is in real trouble. It’s an open and shut case. Thanks for being a bright light in this world, Jackie! You inspire me by your goodness and faithfulness.

persevere (verb): to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.

Take a look at the beautiful Urban family! On the right, you’ll see my cousin, Alana (Langdon) Urban. From the time she was very small, she was just a gorgeous human. She remains just as lovely today as ever, and she’s the mother to two and the wife of Chad. She grew up in Sheridan, Indiana and moved about a year ago from the Fishers area to North Carolina!

Soft-spoken, funny and wearing a bright smile, Alana is an incredibly bright woman. She’s a fellow Boilermaker fan who graduated from Purdue University! As long as I have known her, (which in this case is literally for her entire life) she’s been both kind and engaging. Her work ethic is impressive and Alana is a character and faith-filled person.

On the day the moving trucks were scheduled to pick up all their belongings and haul them across the country to Wake Forest, North Carolina, Alana found herself at the funeral of her brother, Justin, sister-in-law, Amanda, and niece, Kendall. It was an incredibly difficult situation– a tragedy beyond all reason. On top of her grief, Alana was faced with a stressful move. The house closing had already taken place, and really there was no turning back. She called and asked me to help manage the movers so she and her sweet family could be fully present for the difficult day. I was so thankful to have SOMETHING meaningful to do for her, however small. God rained down grace on Alana during that time, because I marvel still at her undeniable grace in the midst of an unfathomable set of circumstances.

Some time has passed and I hear that the Urbans are adjusting well to their new city and situation. I’m so pleased to hear that because they so deserve peace and happiness! Alana was home for a visit recently and I missed seeing her because it happened while we were out of state on vacation. Mom and Dad were sweet enough to send a selfie of the three of them having an ice cream cone together in downtown Zionsville.

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I have prayed hard for them all– Alana, Chad, Avery, and Connor– as well as Alana’s parents (my aunt and uncle). I read this bit of wisdom a few months back and tucked it away for the right moment. It seems to fit correctly today, and I hope in it all of us who occasionally need an extra dose of sunshine ourselves will also find the strength and generosity to be needed bearers of light for others.

“The world may bring deep darkness, but we are the bearers of light. We’ll join our flames together and shine in the blackest of nights.” (John Mark Green)

Alana, you are a strong, compassionate woman because you were raised by a strong, compassionate woman. You’re an incredible mom and wife and a person who has always inspired me by the gentle positivity you always share with others. I know that while the world is filled with suffering, it’s also full of folks overcoming it…just like you! Best wishes to all the Urbans as you tackle the new school year with all it’s challenges and fun. Also, BOILER UP!! If you and Chad make a trip back this fall to see a game, give us a shout! Tom and I would love to buy you a beer in West Lala!!

The best thing to hold onto in life is each other. (Audrey Hepburn)

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I saw this photo of the beautiful Zweibel family and since my mind was already on all the college kids I am going to miss horribly as they head back to school, I knew the Lord was urging me to write for just a moment about the very sunny and loveable Lara Zwiebel. I could just as easily have chosen her gorgeous and talented sister, Anna, but today I have a few things to say about her little sis. Lara is an utterly stunning young lady, both inside and out! She’s pictured at left, above, with her parents and her older sister, Anna!

Lara is a Louisville native who is a student at the University of South Carolina. I’m not sure if her sorority sisters know what a beautiful voice she has, (she’s incredibly gifted) but I am certain that those friends of hers are better for having met this intelligent, compassionate and sunny young woman! Thanks to her Aunt Lisa and her cousin Christian, the Thieme family has had the chance to get to know her a bit over the years. This past winter when I was struggling with my health, I received the most lovely handwritten note from Lara. How many college students do you know who will take time out of their crazy world to write a thoughtful note to a woman across the country they really don’t even know that well? This is an integrity filled, selfless gal– that’s my point.

Her words were bright and in them she revealed to me the depth of beauty that resides in her heart. It was a meaningful gesture. She was not only articulate and kind, but her words were filled with gratefulness for the small moments and her faithfulness and good sense of humor were both readily apparent. As I re-read her note (which you KNOW I kept because I am a woman who adores a nice piece of mail filled with kind words) it reminded me of this sort of quirky awesome quote I noticed this week.

“With optimism, you look upon the sunny side of things. People say, ‘Studs, you’re an optimist!’ I never said I was a optimist. I have hope because what’s the alternative to hope? Despair? If you have despair, you might as well put your head in the oven.” (Studs Terkel)

That made me laugh and it pretty much sums up things up nicely, huh? We might as well choose to see blessings and giggle a little through this life, like Lara clearly tries to do, because what do we gain from choosing otherwise, am I right sweet girl?

As you begin your junior year, I hope you will see the sunny side of everything, work for the best, press past any mistakes, and achieve great things! The sunshine you sent me back in February? I’m sending it right back at you, wonderful, smart, big-hearted Lara! Thanks for being a giant scoop of awesome sauce! Go Gamecocks!

Then the Lord will guide you always, and satisfy your thirst in parched places, will give strength to your bones and you shall be like a watered garden, like a flowing spring whose waters never fail. (Isaiah 58:11)

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When my oldest son, Nick, was a freshman at Guerin Catholic High School, his principal was a remarkable man named Rick Wagner. He is now Deacon Wagner, and he is a Christ-filled man as well as a gifted school administrator. Following a rock star is tough. That was the task assigned to James McNeany when he arrived at GC nearly 7 years ago.

This morning, I attended Guerin Catholic’s “Nest Fest” which is sort of a freshman family orientation event. It was incredibly well run and organized. I was remembering those earlier years as a GC parent and marveling at the evolution that has occurred there. It was an impressive event and I really do believe many newbies around me felt the warm welcome that was intended by McNeany and his team.

When James McNeany first arrived at GC, I’ll be honest….I was wary. His background was as an elementary school principal which is a whole different animal. His own family was also very young. That was two strikes in my mind. When you pair that with the fabulous predecessor, well, I just wasn’t sure AT ALL that his hiring was a good idea. However, when he arrived I noticed immediately one of his clear strengths as a leader. Excellent leaders are people who show others how it’s done by their own example, and James did something I truly respected right out of the gate. It made more impact on me and on many other parents than anything else he did. He started showing up. He was present for EVERYTHING. He was at the play, he attended the Golden Voice concert, the baseball game, the basketball games…at home and on the road. I saw him at the all-school masses. In short, he was very present, and he was smiling.

This is a man who clearly cares about young people– his own children as well as yours and mine. He is willing to listen to frustrated parents even when his schedule is full. Trust me, I know this by personal experience. This is a school administrator who makes every attempt to hire folks who really do love the children first. He’s character-filled and he’s doing his best, which is an important quality in a leader. However, the thing that I respect most about James McNeany is that he realizes that he’s not the most intelligent person in the room at all times, and THIS above all is what makes him a leader for whom we Golden Eagle families should all be grateful!

Thank you for all you do each day for the young people and families of the Guerin Catholic community, Mr. McNeany! Godspeed in your role this year– and good luck to you while you navigate this year as the father of a senior for the first time! What lucky kiddos those McNeany children surely are to call you Dad.

There is no personal charm so great as the charm of a cheerful temperament. (Henry Van Dyke)

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August 9, 2019–

Sweating profusely from my long walk and with a bottle of water in my hands, I meandered out to the back porch where Tom promptly said, “Don’t sit down. We have an urgent situation.” He then led me to the garage where he explained that while I was gone, there was a loud popping sound apparently generated by the large springs that operate the garage door, which was now utterly inoperable. An attempt to manually open said door was also a fail. That meant that Tom’s car and Drew’s car were stuck in the garage. Both of these handsome gentlemen of mine were not just a little concerned about how we were going to get that resolved ASAP. A guy’s got to get to work, you know! Enter the handsome and affable Darrell Drane! He’s pictured above with his very sharp truck!!

In this family, there are certain tasks for which I am permanently in charge. Among those are the acquisition of all birthday and Christmas presents, gift wrapping, laundry, grocery shopping, kids school and church “stuff”, resume updates, fireside s’mores assembly, bill paying…and last but not least, the scheduling and managing of all broken things that require outside assistance. Don’t feel one bit bad for me, because I am a princess who gets door-side drop off at Sam’s Club on rainy days and I literally never mow my own yard. When you add to that the fact that all summer long my husband grills our dinner, I am a pretty lucky girl. Anyway, I snagged the phone number from the sticker on the back of the broken door and placed a call. Indy Overhead Door came to my rescue right away!

Now, back to my new big brother, Darrell, who I learned is the owner of the company. He took to calling me “sis” while he was here and I am completely cool with that, because he seems like the kind of positive human anyone would love to have as a family member! The man drove here at 9pm from the other side of Indy to replace the broken garage door parts– springing my men loose– so to speak!! Not only did he show up at that late hour, but he entertained us with stories about his family and asked us about ours too. He made us giggle and marveled at Drew’s size 14 feet, sharing that his son has the same large foot “affliction”. It was clear as a bell that this cheerful man loves his people, heck, all people… and is incredibly proud of his four children!

Today, Darrell was back at the Thieme house to pre-empt a similar situation on our other door and I was able to take the picture above. Doesn’t he have just the most sunny smile? He’s got a fantastic sense of humor and a heart of gold. I truly enjoyed listening to him share with me a little bit about each of his kids, and he showed me a picture of his youngest son (who at 16 is just a little older than Zach) and his daughter, Paige (I hope I’m spelling her name right), who is frankly one of the most stunning young women I have ever laid eyes on. Holy cow, she’s beautiful– and apparently quite bright too– as she’s attending IU Kelley School of Business on a rather impressive academic scholarship! Darrell is a proud dad with a soft spot for those 4 kids that was impossible to miss.

Darrell Drane is one of those folks who is a blessing to all in his path. He’s a pro at customer service and utterly full of personality. Thank you, Darrell, for reminding me how important it is to treat everyone with kindness and to BE CHEERFUL ALWAYS! The world is so much better with you in it! Also, if you ever need a garage door guy and you don’t call my new friend from Indy Overhead Door, then it’s your loss. He’s top shelf!

Kindness is free. Sprinkle that stuff everywhere.

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She’s a fun-loving mom who roots for the wrong college team, ha? Angi Micheels is a Hoosiers fan with a bright smile and a very quick wit. She and her husband, Rich, live nearby here in Carmel. I’m pretty sure she’s a Carmel native who attended high school here too. My memory isn’t what it used to be, but what I know for sure is that she’s a beautiful human being, inside and out!

I met Angi several years ago. She has 3 sons just like I do. Her middle son, Sam, played baseball for several seasons with our Nick. They became pals and Sam rode along with us to games or practices a few times over the years. He’s got a pretty terrific and genuine grin, just like his mom, and he always made me laugh! All three of her sons– Calvin, Sam and Jackson– are just incredibly handsome young men. Jackson (who is maybe 2 years older than Zach) is her baby but he’s like 6’7 or some crazy thing! I wouldn’t have guessed that’s where he was headed when he and Z would throw tennis balls off the side of their big brother’s dugout for hours on end as little guys!

I always enjoyed having Angi around to enjoy the summer fun with us, because she was just as fired up and into the action as I have always been at my boys sporting events…plus she made me giggle. However, that’s not why I am writing about her today. Do you see the quote above? That’s the header on her Facebook page, and I think she has figured out life pretty well if she’s chosen to spread that fabulousness to her people! Not only that, but in small things she’s living it out. I’ve seen her advocating for humane treatment of both people and animals. Also, there’s this. I’ve been posting a few words each day in 2019 about someone who I think is making a positive difference for others, and Angi has been doing that for ME!

I think Angi has posted a comment of some affirming kind nearly every day of my 221 day (so far) “Mad for 2019” adventure. I’ll be honest, I haven’t felt like writing every single day. On the few days here and there where I was just worn out physically or emotionally and I considered hanging it up, because, really it was a nice idea and a good run….but will anyone really notice if I stop now….? I’d often think about an encouraging soul who lives just a little bit down Hazel Dell Parkway named Angi Micheels WHO ALWAYS COMMENTS and decide to just keep on trucking. Obviously, I’m under no obligation to continue this silly little idea, except that spreading kindness just does not take that much time and it’s a good thing!

So, today I wanted to honor my friend Angi. She’s a phenomenal mom, daughter, sister and wife…and a compassionate soulful woman. I’ve witnessed all of that for myself over the years. She’s a competitive and selfless hard worker. Also, she knows how to encourage others to persevere. For that last bit, I am especially thankful. The world needs more folks like you, Angi, who understand that kindness is contagious. We’d all be wise to take a few cues from your beautiful humanity! Let’s find an excuse to lay eyeballs on each other soon, old friend? You are a fantastic human and I am grateful to know you!!

All are called to holiness, and holy people alone can renew humanity — St. (Pope) John Paul II.

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In the middle of this sea of gorgeous faces (above) sits Wendy Pottratz. She’s the mom in this beautiful family, and a woman of deep, inspiring faith. I have only recently come to know her a bit better.

Wendy and I work together on the Gospel of Life committee at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church. When she joined our group, she made an immediate impact with her holiness as well as her leadership and passion for our pro-life ministry. We are also both parents with children attending Guerin Catholic High School. Wendy is sunny, articulate, witty, and an authentic lover of the Lord. I find her energy and passion inspiring!

Several months back, I agreed to take on a writing and editing role for the high school’s new “parent to parent” newsletter. I mentioned to Wendy that the principal and chaplain at GC were both interested in us running something which might help parents navigate the terrain when it comes to overseeing teens and their technology. She promptly volunteered to contribute a piece that spoke to this topic from the perspective of spirituality and our responsibility as parents.

Today, I finally read her work and it made me sit down my iced tea and take a deep breath. I said a prayer and thanked Jesus for sending this wise mom into my life. When she suggested to the readers in this article (that I am editing now) that it might be wise to ask oneself as a parent if a child would watch a particular program, YouTube video, or use the app if Jesus was sitting on the couch with them…? Well, she made me think. She talked about how we vowed before God at their baptisms to keep our children safe from the poison of sin, and she suggested that our concern should be whether or not our decisions as parents are glorifying God.

I’m going to be brutally honest. It’s been a while since I’ve given consideration to how I might stand before the Lord and answer to God about baptismal promises. Heck, I barely remember my kids baptism days. I was probably sleeping standing up with baby spit up all over my shoulder. It’s a blur. That’s the thing about Wendy. When I am around her, I leave her thinking MORE about Jesus and less about myself and my own petty concerns and excuses. Her goodness and faithfulness is fruitful. She helps me remember who I am and to whom I ultimately belong.

Thank you, Wendy, for sharing your sunshine and your beautiful, faithful heart…with all of us in your path. You inspire in me a desire to love the Lord a little more each time I see you!

“For you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light. Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are. (H. Kushner)

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August 6, 2019–

The handsome young man pictured on the left above with his beautiful mom, Julia, is Michael Mattei. Michael turns 25 today, and that fact seems nearly impossible to believe! He’s the oldest son of Julia and her husband, Steve, and the brother to Jack, Megan, and Joey Mattei. This entire family has a special place in our hearts. They were our long-time neighbors and church/school friends and they remain treasures in our lives, even though we don’t see them as often as we’d like.

I have often told Michael’s mom that she’s my “mom mentor”. The reason is simple! She was in the middle of raising the most phenomenal young man who is 3 years older than my oldest kiddo when I commandeered her guidance many years back. Here’s a hot tip. If you’re looking for someone to guide you as a parent, always choose the one with the most respectful, character-filled children. That was Michael (and his siblings too).

Too often we underestimate the power of a friendly smile, a kind word, or even just a silly fist bump in the hallway. My son, Nick, (who is 3 years younger) always noticed how Michael was spreading sunshine in the hallways back in their grade school days at SLDM. More than once, he came home to excitedly tell me that the “way cool” Michael had given him a high five in the hallway or some such thing. He’d shoot hoops in the driveway with the younger guys and encourage Nick as he hung on for dear life on an innertube at Lake Sweetwater too. I bet you had no idea that that tree you planted sprouted roots and lived on when you left, Michael…but it did! You see, I recall when Nick became the “pretty big deal 8th grader” and I heard from some moms with younger kids about his smiles and hallway fist bumps. When I questioned him about this (awesome) behavior, he said, “I just always wanted to be like Michael, and he was so nice to all of us younger guys!”

A few weeks ago at his grandmother’s funeral, I ran into Michael for the first time in a while. It was a somber occasion, but he greeted me with his bright smile and warm hug. His joyful spirit and quick grin were as present as ever. He’s an enthusiastic, responsible, bright, handsome and witty young man. He is a Cathedral grad and was a Fiji at IU, who now lives in Manhattan! What the heck is happening? How are so many of my favorite kids now adulting?

Today, on your birthday, Michael, I just wanted to give you a little shout out and let you know that the positivity that you project is a piece of needed sunshine in this world! Your future is so incredibly bright!! I hope that today on your special day that you know how much you are appreciated and loved by SO MANY, including the entire Thieme family! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MICHAEL!!