Sunday Homily, May 15, 2016, Pentecost

 

Welcome in, Dearest Emma.  So nice to see you.

 

 

Readings: 

 

 Ezekiel 2, 2-5,  Son of Man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels.

 Psalm 123,   Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy

 2 Corinthians 12, 7-10, A thorn in the flesh was given to me.

Mark 6, 1-6, A prophet is not without honor except in his native place 

 

 

 

The Best Music thanks to Katie and David.

 

 

Ezekiel observations:

Who:  Ezekiel is one of the Big 3 prophets.  Why?  48 chapters.  The other 2: Isaiah & Jeremiah.  These 3 have lots of chapters & material.

Ezekiel was born into the priest class.  He later was considered a prophet.  He got The Call from God.  When he was about 25 he was swept up in the Babylonian captivity, around 590. 

When: It covers the period of the Captivity, 600-550 before Christ, which Ezekiel lived personally.  But the work is composed toward the end of the Captivity, around 550.  This is Ezekiel’s material, but it has been saved and edited by his fellow priests.

 

 

 

Thanks, CC, for lighting our candles and thanks, Georgie, for reading the Blessing of the Summer Candles.

 

Message:

1. Ezekiel criticises the people and warns them that their bad ways will be punished, for example, by being defeated and led into slavery and the Captivity.
2. He promises comfort and a brighter future for the captive people, especially envisioning a restored temple (which then lasted until when?  The year 70, when the Romans finally destroyed the temple & the priestly cast ceased to function, to this day).
3. An amusing vision: The Dry Bones, chapter 37.

Today’s selection:   Ezekiel gets The Call or invitation from God to go tell the Israelite people that God sees what is going on.  Which means, tell them they are behaving horribly and they will pay dearly for their misbehavior. 

 

 

 

The Dinsmores at work, David with the music, and with the offertory, DarbiAnna, Dana, Donna, and Dawson. 

 

4 Reasons why I am (still) proud to be an American

I am still celebrating July 4^th this week.   And I’m still proud to be an American.  What got me reflecting on this was what happened in our neighborhood July 4 morning.  But, as I reflected, other events came to mind.  Let me give you 4 quick stories.

The first took place when I first went to work in Africa on a one year contract.  I was directing spiritual retreats mostly for nuns, often with another Jesuit friend from PA.

 

 

 

July 4, let the Parade begin

 

Before I went over to East Africa I was scheduled to give a number of programs in Nigeria.  There was an old veteran Jesuit who had a house in Lagos, the capital at that time, Joe McKenna from NY.   I used that house as my base.

I used to fly out of Lagos, give a number of programs, and fly back.

Every time I returned I had to take a taxi to get to his house in the suburb of  Sirulere.  He would ask me how much I paid.  It was always too much.  “5 Naira only,” he would say.

 

 

 

Training wheels welcome.

 

So, I’m returning one day determined.  I walk into the terminal where there are numerous taxi driver, beginning with the richest.  I pass them all and pick a raggedy guy outside the terminal.  “5 Naira to Sirulere,  “ I say.  Okay.

Hanging onto my bag I get into the back seat of this old contraption.l  I could see through the floor to the street.

 

 

 

The annual Preston Hollow parade is on.

 

By going over medians and across sidewalks we arrive in like no time.  I give him 8 Naira.  “No,” he says, “We agreed on 15.”

We go back & forth until I get out.  We are in a cul-de-sac, fortunately in my mind.  He gets out.  We argue. 

Suddenly he grabs my bag and attempts to jump back his taxi.  We have a physical tussle right there in the street.  He is a big guy, but no muscle I discover.  No contest.  I take my bag and walk to the door of the house.  McKenna is inside chuckling away.  It is dinner time. “I am going to kill you for this, McKenna,” I think to myself.

 

 

 

If you are nice you might find space in a wagon and somebody will pull you.

 

The guy follows me and is screaming.  I don’t know what more to do and am nervous that he will gather a group of fellow Nigerians and they will join him.  In fact, the contrary takes place.  The little guy who is the house cook comes from around the back of the house , screaming himself that this guy has insulted a guest.  Neighbors gather and all say the same. 

Finally, a young Nigerian Jesuit novice rides up on his little motor scooter and takes the guy off.  I think he actually give the guy 15 Naira.  By now I could care less.  It was not worth all the drama.

That day I was proud to be both a Jesuit and an American.

 

 

The Refreshment Committee in action.  Want to know how success is measured?  22 dozen donut holes were consumed in an hour and maybe two more dozen could have found takers.   This is  plus cookies, grapes, lemon aide, and bottled water.

 

 

Three more quickies.

In the Metro section of the newspaper this week, a lady from NY, Claire Scoville, late thirties, attractive, a film producer, dropped everything and flew into S. TX to help nurture the little kids.  Claire Scoville gives me reason to be proud to be American.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Paul.  Does Paul look like a man of 57 years?  Looks more like 59 to me.

 

Secondly, one afternoon this  week I am northbound at the stop light at Preston & Royal, going to give blood platelets at Carter Blood.  3 northbound lanes,  2 left turn lanes.  I‘m about 3 cars back. The light goes green for all of us.  Everyone   accelerates, when suddenly in front of us from the right comes an SUV slowly making a left turn.  Everyone had to brake.  In fact, I thought that SUV is going to get hit.  It made it, but, get this, not one northbound car honked.  No rage, no critical parent, Kindness. 

 

 

 

Thanks for coming to visit us again, My Dearest Kayla.

 

Finally, why I am proud to be an American: our annual neighborhood parade.   So many delightful young families.    Rosemary & I are the refreshment team, so you know it was good.    It was 22 dozen donut holes good.  Yes, I am proud to be an an American.

 

 

It is scary when former Jesuit students show up at the parade and say this year is 50 years since graduation.  Meanwhile, for me it is 60 years since graduation and entrance into the Jesuit order.  Scary??  Yes!!

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome in, Everybody.  Abrasos for todos.

 

 

Readings:

Genesis 9, 8-15,  Never again shall all creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood.

Psalm 147,  Your way, Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

 1 Peter 3, 18-22,  God patiently waited in the days of Noah.

Mark 1, 12-15, The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert.

 

 

 

Hi, Harper.  How many Girl Scout cookies you going to sell us today?  (Lots!)

 

 

Genesis:  observations–

What:  First book of the Bible, starts with creation & ends with the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob (Israel).  Any reading from this book should start with Once upon a time.   Why?  Because we have here a literary genre that is like myth or a fairy tale in our language.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for bringing up the bread & grape juice, Joe & Brent & Cheryl.
 

 

 

Author: Not Moses as was thought for centuries before people began to study the work.  At least 3 sources: 

• a Y (or J) source for the group that addressed God as Yahweh;
• an E for the group who addressed God as Elohim (Like two historians calling NYC The Big Apple or New York City, or Denver by its name or Mile High City);
• and a P group that focused on the priestly class, activities, & customs, the Levite tribe.

Time: compiled and put together from 950 to 500 BCE.

Today's Selection: the flood has just receded and Noah is receiving a promise (called covenant) from Yahweh that never again will people be wiped out by a flood.  Guess what the sign of the promise is.

 

 

 

Hey, You People, did not your mommas tell you not to go out on a cold and rainy morning?!

 

 

A Happy Lent

I want to talk this morning about having a happy Lent.  Why?  Because God created us to be happy. 

I admit again that this is my least favorite season of the year.  I always look for something positive to do and am never really satisfied with what I come up with.

 

 

 

 

Getting bored?  Join the kids in the playroom.

 

 

Some years ago Diane McMahon recommended to me a facebook article by a lady named Karen Ehrman.  She says, “For this Lent don’t give something up, take something up.”  She has 4 positive suggestions for taking something up.  I add a 5^th.   I like her suggestions.

 

 

Get your Wednesday ashes at Marlene's comfy house.

 

 

1.       Take up note writing to people with whom you don’t communicate that often, but who are friends.  She says she buys 40 cards, envelopes, and stamps.  Each morning she sends one out to a friend, just saying that she likes the person.

2.       Take up the phone and call someone every day or once a week and tell them you are calling just to tell them thanks for being a good friend.  

 

 

 

People come from the north.

 

3.       Take up a simple gift for a friend or family member.  Like bring flowers to someone, bring a Starbucks, offer to wash the dishes, or clean or dust the house, mow the grass (welcome to Tulip Lane).  Invite someone to lunch.  This is a once a week or occasional take up.

 

 

 

People come from the South. 

 

4.       Take up a simple gift for a stranger.  Like the recycle men, the garbage men, the checkers at the grocery.  Compliment the checker on her finger nails, give $10 to each of the garbage men (watch out for their over the top gratitude). 

5.       Take up visiting someone in retirement or in a hospital.  (This is my addition, not Karen’s)  We got lots of people you may choose from.

 

 

 

Ashes for Debbie & Bobby.

 

 

As you can see, some of these suggestions are occasional or once a week ideas.  Plus, what we have here are only seeds.  Even while you were listening to the five I put forward, you may be been thinking about other possibilities.

How can you have a happy Lent?

Source: Karen Ehman, on line.

 

 

 

 

Ashes for Cindy.  A good Ash Wednesday gathering.

Readings: Genesis 2, 7-9, 3, 1-7; Psalm 51, Be Merciful, O Lord, for We have sinned; Romans 5, 12-19; Matthew 4, 1-11.

 

First Sunday in Lent 2011– Intro to Readings

 Our first reading today comes from the Book of Genesis chapters two and three, and gives the second account of the creation of the world.  This is actually the older of the two versions. 

 The first chapter creation story was written around the 5^th century BCE and today’s one came from around the 8^th century BCE.  The story in today’s reading is primarily about the temptation by the serpent and the eviction from the garden.  There are just a few points I would like to draw your attention to about these creation stories. 

 This material must be understood for what it is and is not.  It is not accurate scientific information about the beginning of the world.  It is myth.  Now myth, properly understood, is not simply just make believe, but a style of writing which has a clear purpose. Myths are a society’s founding poetic narrative that provides the basic understanding of a society and its reason for being.  There are very similar stories found in other even earlier cultures.

 

 It is from St. Paul that we get the idea that this action by Adam and Eve of disobeying God was what we have come to know as Original Sin.  There is nowhere in the rest of the Old Testament that we have any suggestion that the people viewed the event as being “Original Sin”.  This idea was later taken up by St. Augustine and got its own legs from there.

 If we pay close attention to the story, there are several things worth noting.  The relationship between God and man, at the outset is perfect!  Everything has been made for man’s enjoyment.  Enter the serpent, and the temptation is “to be like God”.  The relationship was broken by the decision, and from that moment the relationship changed.  Remember that immediately after eating they hide from God.  The humans made the gap between the two.

 Our second reading takes up the same event, Paul to the Romans and this is where that idea of Original Sin is developed and then, as I mentioned above, greatly developed by Augustine and others.

 

First Sunday in Lent 2011 – Homily

 Welcome to Lent, a time traditionally to ask, so what are you giving up for Lent.  And my usual answer was something like, candy or homework!  Today I am not sure that I am giving up anything, I am going to try to take up something instead.  The original meaning of lent is Spring, and spring is a time of new beginnings. 

 Lent is also the time when those preparing for baptism and entry into the Church through the RCIA program begin their final steps, by signing the Book of the Elect.  I am pretty sure that just as an athlete will train for a competitive event, so too the Church sees lent as a time for us to prepare for Easter. 

 

Given that I have previously said just this past Easter that if you can understand the Resurrection you are probably committing some kind of heresy, then for me the easiest way to get my head around the whole death/resurrection event is to see it as some kind of sign of God’s unbelievable love for each one of us – and leave it at that.

 The gospel today gives us some ideas for lent.  It is the story of Jesus spending 40 days in the desert prior to beginning His public ministry.  Remember so much of Matthew’s gospel points back to the Old Testament, and we will then recall the 40 years of wandering in the desert. At the end of the 40 days we are told he is faced with three temptations.  The three temptations are best summarized as follows:

 

1. Change the rocks into bread.  It is a temptation to take the easy way out, there is no one else around, no one will see, no one will know.  We too can be tempted in this way.
2. Jump from the Temple, the place where surely God is most present.  He will save you.  How often do we tempt God?  In our heads how often do we see, if God doesn’t want this to happen, then it won’t.
3. Promise of power, if only Jesus will worship the devil.  The danger of abuse of power, it is such a tempting thing to have power over others.

 My plan for this lent is to focus on these three temptations, and reflect on my own life in terms of each of the temptations.  Perhaps Lent should be a time of reflection on this journey we call life, a time for a thorough examination of conscience.  Remember when NASA was sending rockets to the moon, there was a phrase used “a mid course correction”.  Maybe by taking time during lent, taking a closer look at our own lives, maybe we too could use a mid course correction.

 

Picture 1:   We begin

Picture 2:   Leo

Picture 3:   Emma

Picture 4:   The Pastry Shoppe

Picture 5:   Curtis & Mabel with Cindy 

  

Readings:    

Isaiah  53, 10-11,  The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity.

Psalm 33,   Lord, Let you mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Hebrews 4, 14-16,   Let us confidently approach the throne of grace.

Mark 10, 35-45,  Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.

Isaiah:

A review:  

Authors: at least 3 because there are 3 distinct parts to Isaiah the book.    

Time of Composition: near the end of the Babylonian Captivity, i.e., ca. 550 BCE.

 Subject Matter: warnings about impending doom because of the badness of the people in part 1 up to chapter 39.  The remaining two parts are called the Book of Consolation, letting the people know that a more peaceful & prosperous time is coming. 

  

Today’s Selection:  (read all of chapter 53), Isaiah II,  4 observations—         

          A. This chapter in 2 Isaiah is not included as one of the 4 Suffering Servant Songs, though it presents the same theme.           

          B. The he, the servant that is talked about is

                    –for the Hebrews, the Jewish nation/people;

                    –for Christians, Christ.         

          C.  False Belief number 1?  The Jews thought Yahweh demanded suffering or sacrifice of valuable items ( e.g., sacrificial lamb, scape goat ) as payment for badness.   

          D.  False Belief number 2?  The Jews & Christians believed that an original great sin had been committed by our ancestors & that sin could only be paid for by a human-divine hero, Jesus.  He had to be sacrificed to this god.  Or as the first line of our official reading says, “The lord was pleased to crush him with infirmity.”  

Do you think God crushes people with infirmity?   Was there really an original sin?   Contemporary theology says no.

 

Harper's granny, Cathy.

If I don’t want to be 1^st, do I have to be a slave?

I want to talk today about being first and being a slave, or if I don’t want to be first, do I have to be a slave?  A story. 

You all know that Rosemary & I love to ride our bikes around White Rock Lake.  We go south on the White Rock Creek Trail from Royal Lane, then circle the lake clockwise with stops at the north bridge and the boat house at the south end, near the dam.  About 20 miles.

Homeward bound from the boat house we use West Lawther Drive, a beautiful little lane running between the lake and gorgeous mansions. Lots of bikers use this road and walkers and runners use the path meandering along closer to the lake.

There can be mini, spur of the moment competitions on this road heading north.

One day I come down the hill near the boat house and see ahead of me about 3 bikers.  That sight can give me motivation and adrenaline.  “I am going to take those people.”  And so I do, two of them.

The third guy, a young black man, I pull up behind him.  After hesitating a bit because he was moving pretty good, I pass him too.  And I kick on the gas expecting to leave him behind. 

 

About a mile later I look in my little helmet mirror to see if I can still see him way back there.  Where is he?  Right on my rear wheel.  I am stunned.  So 2-3 times more I go all out thinking I will get some distance.  Never.  He stays with me all the way under the Northwest Highway Bridge, where Rosemary had her accident, and all the way up the Creek trail to Royal Lane. 

As I prepare to turn off to the parking lot, I signal him to come along, and I thank him for an excellent ride.  He laughed and agreed.  We parted.  I have never seen him again.   

Anybody not want to be first once in a while?  Be best in something?  Absolutely normal.  Look at sports, academics, appearance.  Despite having long ago accepted the fact that I am not first in anything, and that is okay, even at 72 I find the competitive passion kicking in occasionally.

So does that mean I have to be a slave or servant?  Very tricky statement psychologically. 

3 Observations:

1.  It is normal and okay to want to be first.  Certainly kids without much experience in life have the desire.
2. When Mark says “servant” and “slave,” do you see Mark’s hyperbole, his exaggeration, and his use of infinite demand?   This is his literary tool to make a point.  Which does not mean we dismiss it straight off.
3. Here is where I have seen the danger.  A person who is religiously obsessed poorly trained, spiritually & psychologically insecure, or scrupulous, this poor person can take the servant idea literally.  The motto, “Always better to give than to receive.”  No way.

I have known & worked with people in this situation.  The person cannot allow anyone to do anything for them.  For that matter, I have some of that stuff.  I don’t always like to be on the receiving end.  Giving and serving can be quite satisfying.

Maturity does two things. It helps me to accept myself as I am.  It also challenges me to make a difference in our world.

How do you handle not being number one?  How do you make a difference? 

 

 Readings:    

1 Kings  17, 10-16,   When we have eaten it, we shall die.

Psalm 146,   Praise the Lord, my soul.

Hebrews 9, 24-28,   He will bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Mark 12, 38-44,  A poor widow came and put in two small coins.

 Kings:

     Author & date of composition: the work is a compilation of numerous sources put together near the end of the Babylonian Captivity, ca. 550.

    Subject Matter: 1 Kings is part of a 4 book work that includes 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings.  The 3 kings are Saul, David, and his son, Solomon.

 The work begins with Samuel, the last great judge, continues through the lives of the 3 kings, and finally shows how Solomon’s sons’ squabbles led to the division of the Jewish nation into two states, north & south, Israel & Judah.  Both states were defeated and the people of Judah taken into the Babylonian Captivity.  It ends on a high note when Cyrus of Persia defeats Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, and allows the Jews to return to Jerusalem.

    The Theme: you be good, good things happen to you; you be bad, bad things happen to you.

    Our selection: 2 great prophets lived when the kingdom divided, Elijah & Elisha.  They criticized the bad ways of the sons.  In this selection, Elijah tells the king he is going to send a drought to the king's land.  Then Elijah goes away & meets a poor, starving widow with a son.  Watch what happens.  This is setting us up for a little widow in the gospel.

 

   Contribute all I have, my whole livelihood?

I want to talk about a marvelous event I saw take place on a Southwest airplane.  

Last week Rosemary & I went to Chicago to visit a friend of mine since all the way back to our days at Christ the King grade school.  My friend, Pete, he and I parted after high school and we saw each other maybe half a dozen times all these years up until recently.

When I entered the Jesuits in Louisiana, he entered the F.B.I. and worked his whole life in and out of Chicago.  He was always athletic and last year told me he ran the Chicago Marathon 10 times.

So we fly Southwest to Chicago on Tuesday and return Wednesday.  The visit goes fine and we prepare to return home.  When we boarded in Chicago we were a bit nervous because the plane homeward bound was booked solid and we were on standby.  We make it okay.

 

Before arriving at Love Field we make a quick stop in Kansas City.  Half the plane empties, and refills just short of full.  Rather quickly all the new passengers are seated.  The overhead bins are stuffed full and closed.

Rosemary and I are seated two thirds of the way back, together this time.  Everything is copasetic and ready for departure.

 At this point down the aisle comes a slightly heavy lady.  She is pulling a roll on, max size. 

When she gets to us she sees a flight attendant approaching from the back.   “Where can I place my bag?” she asks. 

“I think all the bins are full, Ma’am.  Would you like to check your bag?”

“No,” responds the woman somewhat bluntly. 

Meanwhile the flight attendant is patiently opening and trying to find space, but this lady’s roll on is not small.  And her posture says she is not backing down.  The flight attendant is pleasant but starting to get a bit frustrated.

We are at crisis point, I think to myself. 

Then, the most amazing thing happens.  The woman in the aisle seat right across from me and Rosemary says to the flight attendant, “You may check my bag that is overhead and put her bag in my place.” 

I could not believe. 

The woman then mentions that she has $20,000 worth of equipment in her bag and she cannot stow it.   It would have helped to know this from the start.  However, the bag in the bin went underneath and the late arriving bag went in the bin.

I talk about this because the woman who offered her bag resembled the two women in the stories.  Both women gave a lot of themselves.

Three observations.

First, I bet a lot of parishioners are hearing how they should be donating to their parish like this little lady in Mark.   It is a set up.  And it is a really narrow approach to the story.

Secondly, watch out for Mark’s use of infinite demand.  Am I supposed to likewise contribute all I have, my whole livelihood?  Not quite, which leads to my next point.

Thirdly, we are called to help and to contribute, not just money, but so much else, my roll on, my time, my positive strokes of others, my efforts to help people recover from a hurricane, like the St. Bonaventure kids and staff are doing. 

Of course, when leaving that plane I complimented the lady on her offering her roll on to be stowed and I asked the flight attendant her name so I could send in a compliment to corporate, which I did.  That was my small offering to the event.

Whom are you helping today?

 

 

 

 

 

Guess who is back, Everybody, Wendy!  And she is expecting. 

 

Readings

Isaiah 22, 19-23,    I will pull you down from your station.

Psalm 138,   Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands (one of the best psalms on gratitude)

Roman s 11, 33-36,  How unsearchable his ways.

Matthew 16, 13-20,  You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.  

 

 

Not only is Wendy back, but also her parents, her sisters, and their kids.

 

Matthew observations–

Biblical scholars agree that Jesus did not say what is in this little story.  Rather, the Matthean community shaped a highly stylized scene that attempted to establish Peter's position as leader of the new community.  The writer, because he wants to authenticate Peter, creates a scenario where Jesus makes Peter The Man.

 

 

 

Like, Sheena and her Rocco.

 

Isaiah observations—

1. Notice the chapter, number, 22.  Students, as you are, of Isaiah, my favorite, will immediately know this is Isaiah 1.  Chapter 1-39 make up Isaiah 1.  Isaiah 2 and 3 follow.
2. Since it is Isaiah 1, you will know that the composer lived before the Babylonian Captivity, which took place around 555 before Christ.  Isaiah 2 is composed during the Captivity.  Isaiah 3, whom we had last week, works after the Captivity.
3. Knowing that things were not good before the Captivity, you can guess that Isaiah 1 is critical of Israeli life.  You would be correct.
4. Our selection today is both critical, “I will pull you down.”  But it is also talking about a better day.  

 

 

Emma, our Candle Lighter of The Week in action.

 

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart ;

In the presence of the angels I will sing you praise

When I told Rosemary a day or so ago that I wanted to talk about thanksgiving and did she have any ideas, ( She often has good ones.)  she says to me, “Why do you want to talk about thanksgiving ?  This is August, not November.” 

“You love this Psalm 138 almost as much as I and I can’t be grateful enough,” I responded.  Consequently, I have 4 delights I am grateful for this morning, and Rosemary reminded me of all 4.  They are an unexpected delight, a seasonal delight, a nocturnal delight, and a constant delight.

 

 

 

Says Tori, "Hi, Everybody."

 

The first delight, then.  Parakeets, wild parakeets.

When Rosemary & I ride our bikes around the jewel of White Rock Lake, we begin at Royal Lane & Greenville, we ride south on the White Rock Creek path to NW Highway, and then we pass along the eastern shore of the lake to the very southern edge, where we stop for a break at a shady boat house.  Not always, but occasionally we are welcomed by a whole bevy of green parakeets.  These parakeets are famous in Dallas

This past week they welcomed us raucously every day.  It was especially a delight because we introduced Carrie to our little friends.   For this unexpected delight,  I give thanks.

 

 

Hi, Carol, you look great, along with Richard and Bernadette.

 

 Secondly, the delight of a landscape.  The seasonal delight took place on the White Rock Creek path.  Rosemary & I are going north on the path back to our car.  We have passed under the Skillman St. Bridge and passed over a small scenic, steel & wood bridge heading for the tunnel under Abrams Rd. 

I glance up from watching the cement path and what I see was so touching, about 300 yards of the path winding ahead of me through dark woods, the rich green grass recently mowed, and, framed by the forest in a V image, the  sky so blue it took my breath away.  I wanted to stop.   For a seasonal delight, I give thanks.

 

 

 

The Minor Elevation.

 

The nocturnal delight took place after I had gone to sleep Thursday night.  Rosemary comes into the bedroom and whispers that the movie event for Souls Harbor came off really well and that the best part for her was that a whole bunch of our community was all there together.  I went back to sleep proud of you people. For a nocturnal delight, I give thanks.

The constant delight is the non-stop generosity and the always ready to help presence of John Cade and Mike Carrell.  What would we all do when Rosemary wants go on a cruise or go visit her sister in Hilton Head, if it were not for you two guys?

For you two constant delights, I give thanks.

What delights you are grateful for?

 

 

 

Say Harper and Victoria, "Wow, that  was really good."