Category: Uncategorized

Our son Mikos is a great planner.

The Plan

It started several months ago. Mikos wanted to host a small reunion with a few of his high school buddies, but he also wanted to include their families. This get-together was based around their friend Aaron’s schedule. Aaron is the manager of the New York Yankees. With Aaron’s busy schedule, Mikos knew he was taking a chance, but he went ahead and sent out the Evites.

The Friends

Having only one friend from high school that I still keep in contact with, I marvel that Mikos has maintained so many of his friends. Jay was the only local. He, along with his family, live in Orange; Mark  lives in Fort Collins, CO, and Carter lives in Northern California. These three all confirmed that they would attend the gathering.

The Dinner

With Mike making the best chile rellenos and my famous refried beans, it was a no-brainer that Mikos asked us to cook dinner for his guests. It was a small, intimate group: Mikos, Jenny, Jay and his wife Michelle, Carter, Mark, and Mike and me. While the men were reminiscing about their boyhood stories, the subject about the nude beach came up.

The Nude Beach

They were 15 years old when we took a trip up to Santa Barbara. We still have a little cottage a stone’s throw away from Ledbetter Beach. But these boys wanted to be dropped off at Henry’s Beach. I had to load them up in my car to drive them there. I knew that there was a nudist beach, but it was a few miles’ walk and I never expected these guys to venture off that far.

It was well into the afternoon, no cellphones, just a communication to meet me at the front entrance to Henry’s Beach at 3 o’clock. Sonja and I waited and waited; then, as if they had been on a long jog, slowly they started to appear. Mark was the last one to surface, and I was a little suspicious. I will never forget the image of his face, it was flushed red. When the boys got in the car I asked, “You didn’t go to the nude beach, did you?” “Oh, heck no!” they laughed when they answered. I knew something was up, but I let it go. Only after this dinner did I finally get the details.

Of course they walked deep into the private beaches of Hope Ranch because they wanted to experience the nude beach, but they were wearing swimming trunks. To Mikos’ recollection, “We saw an old man playing Hacky Sack and I wanted to turn back, but Mark wanted to continue.” Mark was right and their dreams were about to come true. As they lay in the sand, two beautiful, young college girls came down the steps that led to the beach. The boys held their excitement because the girls were fully dressed. I’m sure these boys waited with bated breath as they watched the girls disrobe.  As if it were a free show, the beautiful young girls stripped to their bare bottoms, their birthday suits!

The Disrobing

As the story continued my eyes were wide with amazement.  Turns out we only knew part of the story. Mark had a great idea: “I think we should take off our trunks.” At first Mikos and Carter were nervously apprehensive but, as groupthink would have it, they made a consensus. “If we do this, we can’t look at each other’s privates,” Mikos added. “Oh my gosh! did you guys take off  your trunks?” I asked. They did but, for some strange reason, only rolled their trunks to their knees.

The BBQ

Aaron finally confirmed that he would make it to the BBQ. It was going to be a big group. With our family alone, we are ten: Aaron, his parents, Bob and Sue, along with his brother Matt and his family. Jay, Michelle, and their son George, Carole, Chris, Jay’s mom. Carter, Rachael, and Jane, Carter’s mom. We had the best time sharing stories about the boys.

Sue shared the sweetest story about Aaron and Sonja. Sonja was a freshman, and Aaron was a senior in high school. Aaron handed Sonja a quarter with a folded piece of paper containing his phone number. He told her that he was just a phone call away if she ever needed anything. This is who Aaron was and still is: a gentle, humble man.

The Video

I’m part of the fans that will go the extra mile to promote my Blog, mycatholicroots.com. Preparing ahead of time how I was going to wrangle Aaron into doing this, I had to hit while the iron was hot. Poor Aaron had barely walked in when I asked if he could do the video.  Of course, as gracious as can be, Aaron made a Reluctant Chef video. Plus I think he liked the bean dip too! Aaron took photos with everyone who was there. He is so sweet and patient.

Aaron had to leave early because he is the manager of the New York Yankees! We all stayed behind and enjoyed the wonderful company. But the day was just beginning.

The Game

Later that evening we had great seats to the game. Maddie, her friend Thompson, Mike and I had a wonderful time at the game. We headed up to the Diamond Club for our farewell to Mark and Carter.

I remember the mounds of nachos I made for those boys. We had a tortilla factory and manufactured our own chips, so the barrel of nachos never went dry. Our home was their safe haven and will always remain that for them.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray for Aaron as he manages the toughest baseball team in the world. May You continue to give him godly wisdom in every decision he makes as a manager. Lord, protect our families. May we grow in the knowledge of Who You are in our everyday lives. Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20   New American Bible (Revised Edition)

¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.

On Saturday, May 10, 2025 over 100 children received their Sacrament of First Holy Communion at St. Norbert. It was a record breaking, sweltering 97 degrees!

Three Years

This is my third year of volunteering to teach First Holy Communion at St. Norbert.  The process to complete this Sacrament in our diocese is two years. So for two years I have had the pleasure of teaching the same students. In this particular class, I also had older children, up to seventh grade; 14 students total, with two sets of siblings.

Miss Teresa and Jacob

I’ve been blessed to have the best helpers. Teresa is a junior at Mater Dei High School, sings in the choir, is on the track team and makes time for volunteering as my assistant. Jacob, my grandson, is also on the track team and is busy with Boy Scouts. For every class Jacob lovingly bakes a special treat for the students. Both Teresa and Jacob share in reading Bible stories to the students.

The Sacrifice

The parents make a huge sacrifice in the their own and their children’s schedules to attend these classes. The classes start at 6:30 p.m. and dinner is sometimes placed on hold until after class. Many of my students played sports, so they would come from a practice or a game.

When these children are confirmed, their parents go to great expense to make sure that they have the right attire, white dresses, shoes, and their hair is perfectly in order. Most of the boys in my class wore suits. Our parish offers a professional photographer. All these expenses add up. Two of my students had two other siblings making their First Holy Communion also.  That’s three per family!

First Holy Communion

First Holy Communion is the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.  Receiving First Holy Communion strengthens us to bond closer with Christ. Through penance and reconciliation our sins are forgiven. The Church wants us whole;  through the forgiveness of sins we can move forward without any guilt. We can repair damaged relationships through reconciliation which restores our spiritual peace. So many graces are bestowed on us when we learn to forgive. The sincere purity of forgiveness restores our weakened character and gives us confidence to move past our sins. It helps us to clear our conscience of any unpleasant thoughts that have held us in bondage. With a clear conscience the Enemy can no longer remind us of our shortcomings. As for myself, not a day goes by without my committing venial sins.  I attend daily Mass because  I desire to remain in the good graces of God.

Teaching the Children

The most important lesson in life for your children is to lead them to Christ. Setting a firm Christian foundation starts with the parents. We are their first role models. If you want your children to live a peaceful life, they need God; without God they will be lost. To instill the love of Christ, is to live a holy life. We will always be surrounded by the world’s annoyances. Only through the love of Christ can we maneuver through life’s challenges by understanding the fundamentals of our Christian faith. The Catholic Church has centuries of experience in laying down the path for our salvation. The sacraments are the fundamentals of our faith; we cannot move forward without Baptism and First Holy Communion.

Children’s minds are pliable for a reason; we must, at a young age, introduce Christ. This is referred to as the “age of reason.” This takes place around the second grade, when children understand the difference between right and wrong. At this age children are aware when they have sinned. They also understand that sin is breaking God’s law. We all want our children to become productive members of society. This is why, as parents, it is our God-given responsibility to introduce them to Christ at a young age.  This is part of the molding of children’s spirits and characters as servants of Christ. Parents who do not instill Christianity in their children’s lives will suffer the consequences of wayward children. These are the kids who will fall for every wind of doctrine. This is all due to the lack of a solid Christian foundation. Yes, many of these children will succeed, but they will always feel that sense of void in their lives. This void is in their spirits waiting to be awakened by serving God. There is nothing more fulfilling.

Priorities

What’s most important in your child’s life? Making sure they get on the traveling Club Team? Getting the highest grades in school? In the end the most important thing you can give your children is to lead them to Christ. Because when they have Christ-centered minds, they will be better equipped to take on the matters of life in a more confident manner. When you understand the essentials that are taught in these classes, you know that God is your protector. I teach my students how to deal with fearful situations by giving them examples of Bible Characters. They know that by praying the Our Father or a Hail Mary or both, their fear will no longer rule their hearts. In our class they learn about  forgiving others and not harboring anger.

Our job as parents is never done because we must continue to pray for our children. I have been praying for my grandchildren to continue in their Christian walk and I’m also praying for their future helpmates. I know that both of my grown children are instilling Christ in their families. Nothing is more pleasing to me as a Christian parent, because what the future holds for them will be fulfilled, they will be complete.

My Prayer

Dear Lord, move upon the hearts of parents who are failing to introduce Christianity in their children’s lives. I pray for all students who received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.  May their hearts be filled with the desire to serve You,  and may they ingest Your most precious body. Amen.

The Phone Call

In early February, a phone call arrived from our niece Julia. Her request was simple and beautiful: would I be her Confirmation sponsor?

In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is “sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” and strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. It is the second of the three sacraments of Christian initiation — Baptism being the beginning of new life, Confirmation its strengthening, and the Eucharist its nourishment. To be asked to walk alongside someone through that moment is no small thing.

The Sponsor

Three years of teaching Confirmation classes had opened something deeper — a richer understanding of what this sacrament truly does and what the role of a sponsor truly means. A sponsor takes on the role of a spiritual parent, presenting the candidate to receive the sacrament and committing to help them fulfill their baptismal promises faithfully under the influence of the Holy Spirit. That weight was felt — and welcomed. Julia was added to the daily prayers without hesitation.

The Planning

As soon as the news was shared with Mike, he was already searching for flights. Care was taken to ensure the travel dates would not conflict with the two classes being taught at St. Norbert. Since Torie no longer lived in New Orleans, the trip became an opportunity to visit with sister Jo and her other sons as well.

Torie made reservations at the cottages of their country club. Jo and Myra — Stacie’s mother — would stay at the family home.

Torie

Torie owns and operates an insurance agency in Gretna, a city situated on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. The decision he and Stacie made to leave their New Orleans home for the open countryside of Northern Louisiana caught the rest of the family off guard — and for good reason. Not only were they leaving extended family behind, but the move meant Torie would face a grueling commute: four and a half hours each way between Gretna and Choudrant, twice a week.

Every Tuesday, he is out the door before dawn. Every Thursday, after a full day’s work, he makes the long drive back home.

Stacie

Stacie recently opened a brick-and-mortar boutique called Adore. A pair of dressy-casual shoes and a black dress were too beautiful to pass up — but more on that later.

Jo

Conversations with sister Jo are a regular part of life, and as the trip drew closer, the excitement between the two of us was building. The topic of the Confirmation ceremony came up naturally — specifically, the all-important question of what to wear. Two dresses were already waiting at home. Shopping isn’t something that usually requires a special occasion, but this was different. The right dress simply hadn’t appeared yet.

The Two Dresses

Jo listened as the two options were described: a canary yellow spaghetti-strap dress or a bright pink sleeveless dress.

She didn’t let the sentence finish.

“You can’t wear that — you’re almost 80 years old. You can’t wear a strapless dress!”

“You didn’t let me finish. I’m wearing a lightweight ruana to cover my shoulders.”

“No. It’s out of the question. You’re going to Stacie’s boutique and buying something decent to wear.”

The advice was noted — and cheerfully ignored. Both dresses are beautiful, and that’s the end of it.

Myra

Myra — Stacie’s mother — hitched a ride along for the trip to Choudrant. Before the car door had even closed, Jo made her announcement:

“Guess what Lynda’s wearing to the church? A strapless dress!”

Myra needed no time to deliberate. “You can’t wear that! It’s a Confirmation and you’re the sponsor — uh-uh, no, no, no!”

Another attempt was made to explain. No one listened. Instead, the two of them formed a firm and united alliance that would hold for the duration of the trip. Suddenly, the crime list had expanded: not only was the dress unacceptable, but I was also accused of not knowing what to order for dinner — and apparently, my taste in clothing was simply too loud.

The laughter, at least, was unanimous.

As for the pink dress — it had certainly been worn before, but the photo was nowhere to be found. With over 7,000 photos and no date to search by, it was a lost cause before it began.

The Drive

The long stretch of road to Choudrant called for a good distraction. Matthew McConaughey’s memoir Greenlights, read aloud in his own voice on audio, turned out to be just that — an engaging companion for the miles and a welcome break from the monotony of the drive.

Duck Dynasty

The following day, while Mike and Torie played a round of golf, Stacie, Jo, Myra, Jake, Tyson, and Lynda made the trip to West Monroe to visit the Duck Dynasty Museum. It turned out to be a genuine surprise — an experience that delighted everyone who walked through the door.

–

The Food

Not every restaurant can be recalled by name — but from the outdoor pizza place to the food trucks, every bite was memorable. On the day of the Confirmation ceremony, the group landed at the food trucks for lunch. With so many tempting options, the choice was an açaí bowl.

That lasted about thirty seconds.

The moment Myra sat down with a sweet potato smothered in pulled pork and drizzled with white cheese, the açaí bowl lost all appeal. Mike, without missing a beat, came back with a sweet potato loaded with all the fixings. It was shared with Julia — and by the end of lunch, nearly everyone’s plate had been sampled at least once.

By 2 o’clock, the group was back in the room getting ready. The verdict on the dress: the pink one, worn with the lightweight ruana covering the shoulders. Jo and Myra had lost.

The Volcano

The moment the pink dress was on, something felt off.

A subtle expansion. A quiet but unmistakable discomfort. By the time everyone arrived at Torie’s home, there was no longer any question — there was seismic activity happening somewhere south of the ribcage.

Jo was the first person tracked down. “I don’t feel well. I think I’m going to be sick.”

“Go drink warm salt water — you’ll be fine.”

I was not fine.

In the small bathroom near the kitchen, the eruption came. The ruana was pulled off in a hurry, but it was too late. The damage was done. The beautiful pink dress — the one that had survived Jo’s objections, Myra’s agreement with Jo, and four and a half hours in a car — was no longer fit for a Confirmation ceremony.

The Decision

Coming out of the bathroom, Torie was the first face seen. He looked over and asked the obvious question: “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to be sick again.”

The timing could not have been worse. They were already running late, and Julia was at the church — waiting for her sponsor to walk through the door. There was only one answer left.

“I can’t go. I’m too sick.”

The room went quiet for a moment. Then, all at once: “Oh no — what are we going to do?”

The Disappointment

There was no fighting it. The only thing on earth that mattered in that moment was getting rid of the rancid memory of sweet potato and pulled pork. Mike, without hesitation, stayed behind.

Which meant the nearest drugstore — twenty minutes away, in the middle of nowhere — was now his problem to solve.

By the grace of God, he made it there and back. Pedialyte. Dramamine. The essentials. Somehow, the mysterious illness had claimed only one victim. Everyone else was fine.

The rest of the afternoon was spent back in bed, weathering several more eruptions, and quietly grieving missing the moment that had been months in the making.

My Proxy

Poor Julia. She was completely surprised to find Uncle Rocky standing in place of her sponsor.

“Where is Aunt Lynda?”

“She’s sick.”

The main event had been missed. All the planning. The two dresses. The deliberations over the ruana. None of it had mattered in the end. And to this day, there is no clear explanation — the same meals had been shared around the same table, and yet only one person went down.

There is, of course, a verse for exactly this kind of moment.

As Proverbs 16:1 puts it: “Plans are made in human hearts, but from the LORD comes the tongue’s response.” Human beings make their arrangements, pack their bags, choose their dresses, and drive four and a half hours — and then God gently, sometimes dramatically, redirects. Not out of indifference, but out of sovereignty. The plans were good. The love was real. The moment still belonged to Julia. And the Lord knew exactly what He was doing.

The celebration, me, Julia and her friends

Crawfish Boil

The crawfish were calling — but a faint reminder of the day’s earlier seismic activity said otherwise. It was enough just to be there.

Julia

Amid the celebration, there was a moment that made every missed bite of crawfish, every eruption, every minute spent in that cottage bed, worth it.

Julia I asked how she felt when the Chrism Oil was applied.

She thought for a moment. “At first I was worried it would fall on my dress — but then I felt something warm move through my body.”

“That was the Holy Spirit sealing you.”

In the end, that was all that mattered.

My Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, bless all who are newly confirmed to remain faithful and to grow ever deeper in the knowledge of Your holy presence. May the seal of the Spirit they have received bear fruit in lives of love, courage, and devotion to You. Amen.