sometimes you just gotta whine....

... and laugh, of course.

Like how can this picture of HOBL cracking

himself up not make you feel better

and love him all the more?

hahahahaha lol!!!!

Now for the whining part....

If I can catch the darn groundhog that

decided to have 6 weeks more of this blustery

weather he will be going to the closest

taxidermist I can find.

He should be scared, the boys in my life

are avid hunters and they rarely miss a shot.

So today I will put aside my

"Bear your cross attitude"

and say,

I AM SICK OF THIS COLD WEATHER

THAT MAKES MY BACK HURT AND KEEPS

ME FROM DOING WHAT I WANT TO DO

AND MAKES ME GROUCHY TO THE ONES I LOVE

THE MOST!!!!

Okay, I feel better.

All kidding aside, sometimes for just a little while,

you need to complain, get it out of your system

and move on to make life what you want it once again.

So now, going take a shower, going to 8 am mass.

Need to get back on tract with or without

that darn groundhog....

LOVE LETTERS...

It is a known fact that I am in love with love letters.

Not the type that comes across email or text

but the handwritten type that come by the mail.

I am known for randomly making cards and filling

them with the words of sweet nothings and mailing

to whomever I am thinking of at the time.

A gift will not come from me without a handwritten note.

My children get a love note from me for each Christmas

and each birthday.

As they were growing up they knew that if they

asked me what I wanted for a holiday the answer would be

" A love letter"

So yesterday, I get home and there is a fat business size

envelope from C.

I don't open it right away because I believed it to

have a schedule on how to read the Bible in one year.

When HOBL and I come back from supper I settle

down to check it out and what is there?

An old fashioned love letter written by my sister

who is not one to send these types of things.

This even makes it more special.

You see because it is not written in a store bought

card or typed on her computer.

It is on regular lined school paper and it

is in the handwriting that I have known my whole life,

the handwriting that I would recognize in a line up of handwritings.

It is filled with hand drawn drawings all done

with highlighters. This too makes it even

more special, it is her talent at its best.

She is a business woman and what else would her

drawings be done in but highlighter markers?

Five pages filled with love...

How she loves me. I shed some tears, you know I do.

She mentions in her letter that she knows I will save it.

Yep, if you have ever given me something with your words on it

I have it saved. However somehow, I will be scrapping

this diamond so that I can see and read it often.

There is no store bought item that would mean more to me

than this gift.

Thank you is just not enough for how I feel about

this wonderful gift that costed C's time and 44 cents.

I love you, C and thanks again!

Terminology corrected: WHITE TIGRESS

My friend Cathy who I work with has corrected me.

She sends me on facebook:

THE TITILE OF "COUGAR" IS FAR OUTDATED

AND DEMEANING- THE NEW TITLE IS

"WHITE TIGRESS"

A BEAUTIFUL OLDER WOMAN THAT IS HAPPY

WITH HER LIFE AND THE WISDOM SHE HAS

ACQUIRED OVER THE YEARS.

This term I do believe fits me better,

except I can't be so excited when the cubs comment,

"You be looking good!"

So thank you Cathy,

I just love this new terminology...

grrrrrrrr

cell phones vs. Bible

In my religious upbringing, we were not

taught to avidly read the Bible.

We were told stories and parables about

the Bible but to actually sit down and read

the Great Book, it just wasn't taught.

Even as an adult, I find it a hard thing

to read. At church on Sunday in our

bulletin there is this short comparison

of the Bible to a cell phone:

CELL PHONES VS. BIBLE

I wonder what would happen if we treated

our Bible like we treated our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergencies?

This is something to make you go....hmmmm...

Where is my Bible?

So remember this...

You'll never have dropped calls and unlike

cell phones, we don't have to worry about our

Bible being disconnected because Jesus

already paid the bill.

But most important of all....

you will never have to ask:

"Can you hear me now?"

Thought I would share this with all of you guys.

Have a good Thursday!

TO SOME I ALREADY AM A COUGAR

While working at a local high school

I over hear two learning and physically disabled students in the cafeteria having

a disagreement. I remind them to be nice.

One tells me that the other said to him

that if he eats his cornbread he is

"GUNNA KICK HIS A-S-S"

He spells the word because you know,

you can't curse in school.

I tell the adolescent who made the original comment

to be nice. he responds,

"I am always nice but if he touches my cornbread I will kick his ass"

he seems to forget the school rule of no cursing.

Now we are involved in a conversation.

One asks me where I graduated from.

I explain that I graduated from South Lafourche

but it was a long time ago, even before they were born.

"What year?" they are now both curious.

"1981"

Now here is why I love some adolescents, especially

those who have a rougher time with learning or their

medical handicaps.

"YOU BE LOOKING GOOD NURSE!"

Now I am happy and I add, "Yes I am now 46"

"46?! You be looking darn good"

He turns to his buddy who by now has devoured his cornbread.

"SHE BE LOOKING LIKE A FINE YOUNG LADY"

His friend agrees and Ol' Auntie Lil is smiling big, big.

So you see, to some I already am a COUGAR...

Does it count, heck yes,

to me it counts.

Chuckles on Auntie Lil this morning.

Why did I fight Facebook for so long?!!

Yep I am loving facebook.

It was built for people like me who are all

into their history, finding old friends,

keeping in touch with extended family.

So during the weekend I click on my chat line

and see there an old friend of C and I's

LINDA JACKSON

So we start chatting and I find out that

she lives within walking distance from me.

We reminisce of old times when her

sisters and herself were the same age

as Rosie, C and I so we would all play

at each others house.

I catch her up on the family and tell her

since she lives in Thibodaux that one day

she should meet C, Mom and I at Bingo

one Monday night...

Well last night who surprises us but

LINDA JACKSON!

Yes it was awesome to see her and

catch up on many, many years of missed time.

C was especially surprised and pleased

since she and Linda were the closest...

Good night had by all

Kris won the bucks

but C and I also won the company of an old friend.

Crosses, anyone?

At church we have this young adult who serves mass.

He has Down's syndrome.

Just like most people who have Down's syndrome,

it is hard to judge just how old he is.

However, I do know by watching him that

he has hearing loss, he wears a hearing aid

and he struggles with walking.

So I watch him yesterday at 8AM mass because

it is what I do.

He very early holds onto the railing to climb

up to the altar.

It takes him a while to get up.

He grabs the huge cross as to be able to carry it

down the aisle for the beginning of mass.

Then I watch how he carefully comes to the railing

to make his way down three marble steps

holding onto this cross and the golden handrails

that line the altar.

He carefully puts one foot down, then the other

watching his feet, watching his cross.

The one thing that never changes?

The big smile on his face.

He then holds that cross in two hands while

waiting for Father Dean to begin mass.

It is finally time for him to process down the aisle

as our church family watches.

He limps holding the big cross but again his smile

never leaves his face.

Father Dean is very patient as he climbs the three

steps once again to place his cross in its

place where it will stay until the end of mass.

Fr. Dean makes his way to his spot and

this adult stands in front of him

waiting to see what is next for him.

Fr. Dean tells him thank you, bows

and shows him where he is to sit for the rest of the mass.

You see, until the end of the mass, his job is done.

May we all carry our own crosses with so much

energy with smiles on our faces,

remembering those less fortunate than us

who still pick up their own crosses and carry them

for all the world to see, never complaining

always smiling.

Monday, Monday....

Plans for today?

(Tanial Guidry, Lisa Duet, Karen Guidroz, Laurie Adams, Peggy Malcombe)

So what will this Sunday see you doing?

For myself, up early, going to 8 am mass.

Then myself, HOBL, my best bud, Tanial and her honey, Matthew

are going eat and see SHUTTER ISLAND

Have been waiting for this movie to come out since I

saw the first preview at least 4 months ago.

Not for the faint-hearted.

That means you, Mikie...

Have a great Sunday, back to work for me tomorrow

gotta make this day special.

post-paprika pictures

Yes, Paprika the breast lump is out

and again Dr. Marino, who I love by the way,

assured us that this looks like just a benign fibroadenoma.

Brudah was quite relieved that his

lil sis was going to be alright.

However he was just a little aggravating to baby girl.

I must say that HOBL (ron) and baby boy are just like

my pups, Jake and Trixie...

Whenever they have an audience they get all hyper and excited

and it takes them a while to calm down to their normal state.

The problem with that is that the audience really must think

they are always like that, just like my poor pups...

Now Kd, however, oh she is one of us girls, just learning to

adjust to the Riera boys. She always makes me and baby girl happy.

Jesi requested a lady gaga build-a-bear and Kd came through.

Wish I had taken a picture to post here but maybe later today I will.

I must once again mention.... I so love this girl I call

my daughter-in-law, so much that daughter-in-law is

just not personal enough...

Thinking of a more intimate name for her, if you guys have any

suggestions.

Aunt Ronnie and Tedi-girl were also there for the big event.

Just for Tedi:

(you know my girl I love you and that is why I must put my

two cents in when discussing your life.

Yet last night when I was reflecting I felt like I wanted

to let you know that I do trust you and know you are

a wonderful young girl. You will make good decisions

no matter what comes about. So I will say what I think

from now on and leave it at that. I love you

and that is what all that was about...)

Again, Brudah happy and aggravating Jesi.

I should have gotten pictures of Roddie imitating his cat,

but I had had enough of his antics by then.

Aunt Ronnie brought her "required by Jesi" surprises

from her Nannie and Aunt Ronnie herself but the Paprika

was a big hit. Think we will have to save this as a little trophy

to remember the real paprika by.

Kd says when baby boy has his Starbucks and caffeine

he is always just a little more over the top.

Explains the top and bottom pictures.

Yes, they were back from Starbucks.

Thanks for all of you who prayed for my Jesi.

So many out in the world do not believe that prayers work

in the way I believe them to, but I know for a fact

that prayers can change an outcome and for

whatever reason, the BIG MAN

has been very gentle on my family.

I praise him always.

Paprika, be gone!!!!!!!!

Today we will go to Thib. Regional to

have Paprika removed from her comfortable spot

in Jesi's breast.

No lude comments here!!!

Anyway, Paprika's bucket list is

over....

Pray for a fast surgery and a faster recovery.

Baby girl being a patient is

not usually fun...

What do you get...

What do you get when you keep Aunt Lil up past 10:00PM

on a week night?

Well you may see that like Cinderella, my Tiburon

has turned into a pumpkin...

and a late blog of course!

What kept me up late last night?

Well this fantastic couple.

After many invites from Mikie, my bfob to attend

a Hornets game we finally settled on a date

that I didn't have to go to school the next day.

Ash Wednesday happened to be that day.

Rebecca picked the most awesome place to eat,

Red Fish Grill that was somewhat close to Bourbon Street.

As we waited for our seafood entrees, it being lent and all

we spent time visiting and watching to cooks prepare food

behind a glass wall where we sat.

Quite interesting I must say.

Hugh was part of my date for the night, but Mikie

had to assist since the child cannot afford a date with his

Auntie Lil on his allowance

(Thanks Mikie for the treat)

Hugh had to eat one of his Dad's raw oysters, for prosperity,

you know. The first take really just got a picture of his

bruised elbow that looks more like a OCS investigation.

He assured me he got the bruise from his ripstick.

We had to do a retake but the oyster was already down.

However, I must say the retake picture is much better

than the actual face that accompanied the eating of the oyster.

B0urbon is not a place to bring an 11 year old after dark.

I just could not resist stopping for just one second

to get this picture of Hugh and Baby girl

in front of Bourbon Cowboy.

We then proceeded to the Hornets game where I really

enjoyed myself. I let Rebecca sit by Mikie,

just so they could get in some much deserved quality time

but my real reason was because I just had to sit

by Hughsky-Doo.

So we clapped and did the chicken dance.

We played thumb war and discussed

what a bad parent Baby girl may be,

since she left her kids at the pool...

However she did bring the Browns to the Superbowl...

(Inside joke for my Hugh)

We danced to try and get on the dance-cam

and just had way to much fun.

(thanks again BFOB, you are the greatest date)

So yes, Auntie Lil didn't get to sleep until midnight

but all is right, I woke up in time for church and did the gym.

The castle is clean and I am getting ready

to go pick up the King,

...Now if I could only find that slipper...

ASH WEDNESDAY

Yes it is here, the time of year for prayer and reflection.

Gone is the Superbowl, Lombardi Gras, and Fat Tuesday.

Time to focus more on ourselves, to understand

a closer relationship with God.

It is only two months since the new year began.

Already I have had time to falter on some of my resolutions.

However I am paving a road, and just like road paving,

the weather sometimes gets in the way

and there is a delay in the paving.

So today I will once again begin.

I am up early and will receive my ashes at 7 am.

I will go to the gym and once again make

my health and my spiritual life a priority.

I will remember once again that I am a sinner

and I will falter.

Even though I falter I will pick myself up,

dust myself off and continue to pave the road

that others are to follow.

I am always better during Lenten season than

I am at New years resolutions.

There is something about doing it for myself and

doing it for God that makes a difference in my life.

So goodbye chocolate and junk foods,

hello church and Larousse gym.

Goodbye meat on Fridays, hello crawfish at Bubba's.

Whether you are a Catholic or not,

try and use this time for reflection of changes

you may need to make in your life.

I love Lenten season, I really do.

l

Grilled Cheese like Poppee used to make

I was talking to Thaisy last night on facebook

when I mentioned I had to go because grilled cheese

"Like Poppee used to make"

was for supper.

She answered back, "Mmmmm grilled cheese"

Yet as I cooked my sandwiches I realized she probably has

no idea just how Poppee used to make them.

So this morning I share with all of you

Poppee's Grilled cheese:

Ingredients: 4 pieces of Evangeline Maid bread (no other will do)

Margarine in a tub

4 slices of American cheese

Directions:

Butter the 4 pieces of bread from crust to crust on both sides

(Don't be lazy here, you must go crust to crust)

While buttering have your skillet on medium temp.

Not too high because then your bread will fry too dark.

Not too low because then your bread will be soggy.

Once all the breads are buttered on both sides

your skillet will be perfectly ready for the bread.

Lay all 4 down on warmed skillet but stand close

with spatula in hand.

In about 3 minutes flip those babies over.

Place two pieces of cheese on two pieces of the bread.

Wait another three minutes then put a top bread

to the cheese side.

flip them over until the bread is the color you like

kind of like a new copper penny.

Place on your plate and cut into 4 triangle pieces.

Allow to cool approximately 3 minutes so hot cheese does not

burn your chin as it oozes out the sides.

Before you take your first bite say,

"Chaa, your damn grilled cheese sandwich, Moodee"

like Poppee would say.

Enjoy.

Oh and if you have mongrels like these two cuties,

don't drop any ingredients on the floor as they will be

waiting to clean it up.

Love to all on Mardi Gras.

Make it a FAT TUESDAY and whip up a grilled cheese

sandwich tonight.

Only my baby girl...

Only my baby girl can go to watch a Ladies night parade

and find herself riding on the float.

I am still not clear on how it happened and

figure I will never know the whole story.

However, I do know how I found out.

After getting back from Lafayette and fighting

the crazy people in Thibodaux who are

leaving the parade route by the manor,

I decide to put the old PJ's on early and

sit down in the quiet of my cute little home

with my two cuter pups to watch

BEVERLY HILLS Chihuahua

Text from Mikie says

that he can't believe that Jesi was riding on a float

in the Ladies Golden Meadow parade and I wasn't there

to see it.

Mikie is known for pulling legs so of course I don't believe him,

Like Jesi would be riding in a parade and not know it

and not call me to tell me.

I tell Mikie he is a storyteller and proceed to

watch my movie.

He is so upset that I don't believe him, like he would

make up such a thing?! He begins to call

my home and then my cell and I ignore the rings.

I text back that I am watching a movie and won't answer.

He continues to text telling me she was masked and screaming,

"I LOVE YA"LL" and dancing it up on the float.

Whatever Mikie, I just know she is probably sitting

right next to him laughing at the fact that I would

believe such a thing.

I am not biting and he is insistent that I call after

the dumb movie, that by the way he hated, so

Rebecca could tell me the truth because she don't lie

and it is important that I believe him.

Then I get a text from big sis Ronnie.

She says she didn't know Jesi was riding in a parade.

I think Mikie is really going out of his way to have me

fall for this joke.

He just won't let up so I call him after my movie

and Rebecca has me believing this may be true.

Cuz my niece won't lie to her Auntie Lil.

HMMMM maybe there is some truth to this.

I text Chase and sure enough he confirms the fact

that Jesi did ride in the parade and is very

evasive on how it happened.

Jesi calls at 11:30 pm and I am already asleep

but she too says she was a float rider

and she too can't tell me how it happened.

All I know is only my baby girl,

could skip all the preparation that comes

with riding in a float, the months

of work it takes to prepare and find

herself on the day of the parade on that thing

screaming and dancing, saying she loves everybody.

I am telling you, that girl should work in politics...

4th generations, another baptized

Zachary David Broussard was baptized today,

on his parents first anniversary,

on Valentine's day,

by the same priest who married them.

He was the best baby out of the 4 who was baptized.

Didn't even cry when he took his dunk.

He was admired and adored by everyone who was there.

He is the most beautiful baby, just perfect in all ways.

A fourth generation which seems to continue on.

My own grandchildren will also be part of the fourth generation

but so is Bronson and Tedi.

Many years between all this generation.

In today's world I sometimes worry about this generation

but then again I shouldn't. With so many loving people having

their hands in our children why shouldn't they be okay?

Yet to Zachary I would like to say something I have said before:

You my little man are a lucky boy.

You see on our way from the church to your home,

your parents and yourself were behind me and because I am

a people watcher, I was watching in my rear view

mirror as I waited for the red light to turn green.

I watched your parents talking to each other,

I watched them feel the heater vent to see

if it were blowing too hard on you.

Then I saw the most simple gesture that made me know

you are lucky.

Your Daddy took your Mommy's hand in his,

he looked at her and he kissed the top of her hand.

She smiled back at him and the light turned green.

So you, my child, have one of the most important parts

in which to make a happy family.

The best thing a father can give his children is to love their Mother.

There is no doubt that your Daddy adores your Mommy.

Welcome to the faith we call Catholicism.

As the priest said today, you will never again be so pure

as you are now. He said we should genuflect at the sight

of a newly baptized baby because it is the closest you

will ever get to the purity of God himself.

The party after was fun. Fun to just hang out and talk,

Peter made the most awesome gumbo.

Chicken, sausage, Taso and eggs..

(yes, Peter they were the most perfect eggs)

The rice was a small problem but that is a story for

a whole "nother" blog

Of course, there was cake.

Oh and I must say how very proud I am of Cheryl.

After many years of working, working, working,

She has now cut down her days to three a week so she could

babysit for Zachary when M goes back to work.

Did I mention what a lucky boy he is, that Zachary?

Winter Olympics

Tonight we begin the 2010 Winter Olympics

in Vancouver Canada.

The opening begins tonight.

I am a fan of the Olympics.

This may seem odd to some but not if you

think of all the personal, tear jerking stories

you find out about while watching these

athletes from all over the world.

Each comes to win gold,

each comes with a life full of stories to tell.

Commercials are already telling the stories of

Olympics past, like the one of Dan Jansen

who was skating for gold the day his sister Jane died of cancer.

He promised her the gold but slipped on the ice

and went home only to bury his sister.

Six years later he returned not only to win

the gold for his sister but to parade his baby daughter

around the ice, the baby's name:

No other than Jane.

I remember that year because I remember the story.

So tonight I will be glued to the opening ceremony

as I scrap to get to know the teams of 2010

and may the best country (ahem, USA) win!!!!

TWO PET PEEVES

Yes, two things bother me this morning.

First, I AM TIRED OF ALL THIS COLD WEATHER!

Like why in the heck do we still do that

groundhog thing and set ourselves up to know

that 6 more weeks of cold weather will surround us.

Tomorrow they give possible snow,

sorry children of Louisiana, but I am over all

of this cold weather.

The only thing that would make me happy about

snowy weather at this point is if

I get that phone call from Ms. Becky

our TES secretary that tells me to stay home,

in my PJ's and scrapbook all day because

SCHOOL IS CLOSED

The prospect of that happening is the only thing

about this burst of cold that puts a smile on my face this am.

SECOND: I am so darn tired of

Senator David Vitter calling me every afternoon

as I sit to eat my supper.

Yes, at that time of the day I do answer the phone

because I always think it may be my

"HOBL" ( hunk of burning love)

calling me from Alaska to tell me how much he loves me.

(hahahaha)

Yet every afternoon I hear David Vitter trying to tell

me something I don't want to know.

Of course, it is a taped recording.

I wish he would leave a number where I could call

him back after I eat. Or have the

courage to call himself.

Then I'd have lots to talk to him about.

Like, "How's your marriage going?"

" How did that affair go for you?"

" Has your wife truly forgiven you or does she still

make you pay for your fun?"

" Do you still speak to the cougar who made your

family miserable?"

Of course, I will never get to ask those questions.

However I do know that is what we all really want to know.

Do you get the sense that old auntie Lil

doesn't like cheaters very much?

THE WORLD WANTS TO KNOW DAVID VITTER

... and they talk about where our tax dollars are going...

Happy birthday, C!!!!!

Today is C's birthday, Today c also has her gallbladder removed.

I love my sis C!

Yes and she still is HOT

"NOW IT COMES IN FLASHES"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

She was always a cutie Patootie, still is, I say!

Ahhhhh sha! C before I was born

See that innocence in her eyes,

she was waiting for me to come along

so I could show her the ropes.

Or she was looking in fear of Rosie who

probably was not far away waiting to "let her have it"

hahahahahahahahahahah

love you too, Rosie!

today we celebrate...

Today Roddie John Riera celebrates 6 years of sobriety.

Six years ago today my baby boy chose life.

I can write so many stories of tragedy and miracles

that led up to his admittance into rehabilitation.

I have even thought many times yesterday just what I would

post today. Yet I realize that the story is not really mines to tell.

It is Roddie's story and the glory, the miracle belongs to him.

Yet in saving himself, he saved our whole family.

So today, I leave you with a journal entry I wrote

while my baby was fighting to live.

A story that still touches me and brings tears to my eyes each

time I tell it.

Enjoy the words I wrote 6 years ago :

MARCH 12, 2004

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT

OUR MOTHER MARY, THE MOTHER OF CHRIST.

NOW WITH RODDIE IN TREATMENT I HAVE

EVEN A BIGGER LOVE FOR HER.

SINCE I HAVE SEEN "THE PASSION OF CHRIST"

I'VE CONTEMPLATED MANY THINGS.

MY FIRST REACTION WAS FOR THE PART WHEN

JESUS FALLS CARRYING HIS CROSS.

MARY RUNS TO HIM AND AS SHE IS RUNNING SHE

FLASHES BACK TO JESUS AS A YOUNG CHILD.

HE FALLS AND SHE IS RUNNING TOWARDS HIM.

SHE REACHES HIM DOWN ON THE GROUND-

WITH TEARS FALLING SHE SAYS, "MY SON".

I CRIED AND THOUGHT'

"MARY, YOU DO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I LOVE

MY SON."

STILL I COULDN'T GRASP THE ACTUAL LESSON

I FELT WAS THERE FOR ME.

I WENT TO AN ALANON MEETING LAST NIGHT

AND WE SPOKE OF DETACHMENT.

THEN THIS MORNING THE LESSON HITS ME.

THROUGH THE WHOLE MOVIE, THE WHOLE

PROCESS OF HER BABY'S DEATH, MARY IS QUITE

UPSET. HOWEVER SHE NEVER INTERFERES WITH

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO HER SON, OUR JESUS.

SHE CRIES SILENTLY BUT NEVER PROTESTS,

NEVER SAYS, " LEAVE MY SON ALONE"

NOT EVEN AS THEY NAIL HER BABY TO A CROSS.

SHE NEVER TRIES TO INTERCEDE.

THE MESSAGE FOR ME HERE?

LET GO AND LET GOD

I HAVE TO ALLOW GOD TO DO HIS WORK

WITH RODDIE AND JESI WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.

I AM HERE TO LOVE AND SUPPORT THEM, TO LOVE THEM

BUT I MUST ALLOW GOD TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

ONLY IN THIS WAY CAN GOD SHOW HIS MIRACLES TO US.

So today, on Roddie's day to celebrate,

remember that those babies do not belong to us.

They are part of a much bigger picture.

To my baby boy:

THERE IS NO BIGGER HERO IN MY LIFE

THAN YOU. TO HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE

YOU CALL ME YOUR MOTHER IS ONE OF THE BEST

GIFTS I WILL EVER RECEIVE.

YOUR SISTER AND YOU ARE THE BEST THINGS

I HAVE EVER ACCOMPLISHED IN MY LIFE.

I AM PROUD OF ALL YOU HAVE DONE NOT JUST IN THE

LAST 6 YEARS BUT ALSO IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

I NOW KNOW THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE THE MAN

YOU ARE TODAY IF YOU HAD NOT GONE THROUGH

THE HARD YEARS THAT LED UP TO SOBRIETY.

GIVE BACK TO THE WORLD AND KNOW

YOUR MOTHER LOVES YOU.

HAPPY LOMBARDI GRAS

Yep we bring the Lombardi trophy home

and tomorrow is the Lombardi Gras parade.

Tom Benson said it best:

This is not just for myself or the city of New Orleans,

this is for the whole state of Louisiana.

Today on my big brothers' birthday

we are expected to go to work and carry on as usual.

Yes, we will go to work but nothing today

will be "AS USUAL"

not for anyone here in Louisiana!

Happy Birthday, Peter

Happy Lombardi Gras to the rest of you

Saints facts

Yes, I know two blogs in one day.

Addicted? Possibly

but today I am proud to be a Catholic.

This morning at mass we had a retired priest

do our service. He based his whole homily on the Saints

and facts he remembers from 43 years ago.

None of this I knew or even thought about until today.

He shares this story with the congregation:

43 YEARS AGO THE SAINTS WAS BOUGHT ON

ALL SAINTS DAY. THE OWNER AT THE TIME,

BEING CATHOLIC ASKED THE ARCH-BISHOP AT THE TIME

IF IT WOULD BE OKAY TO NAME HIS NEWLY

BOUGHT FOOTBALL TEAM THE SAINTS SINCE

IT WAS PURCHASED ON ALL SAINTS DAY.

HE WAS FEARFUL THAT CATHOLICS MAY BE OFFENDED.

THE ARCH SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA

THAT CATHOLICS WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE A TEAM

NAMED AFTER SOMETHING WE REGARDED SO HIGHLY.

HE ALSO HOWEVER, REMINDED THE OWNER THAT MOST

SAINTS DIE MARTYRS. SO THE TEAM WAS NAMED THE SAINTS.

AFTER THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THE ARCH-BISHOP

WHO IS NOW 97 YEARS OLD WAS INTERVIEWED.

HE WAS ASKED WHETHER THE STORY WAS TRUE.

HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IS WAS IN FACT TRUE AND

THAT HE HAD EVEN WROTE A PRAYER IN THE

TEAMS HONOR. THEN HE CONFESSED TO THE INTERVIEWER

"EVEN I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD TAKE 43 YEARS.

Isn't that a cool story?

So the whole homily was that God does hear all prayers

but only in his time will prayers be answered.

Enjoy this most beautiful day that

history may be made in

a proud day for Louisiana

and extra proud for me when all beliefs and all religions

come together to support our one team

just like our one God

Amen? Amen!