JOHNNY'S GIFT OF LIFE!

Twenty seven years ago my world opened up to amazing new possibilities! The birth of my firstborn son-the leader of a pack of five-entered the world kicking and screaming and letting me know that life would never be the same!

In fact, my life would become better than I ever imagined! You see, as a young professional...A self absorbed television news person, I never thought about having a child. I was centered on my career and my future-which I believed would lead me to the network news in the Big Apple!

Never once did I dream that the best production of my life, would be the first gift of life-that God had deemed me worthy of receiving-on that wonderful evening in May.

Ironically, my young husband and I hadn't been going to church when we conceived our first son. Yet, I distinctly remember the day he entered my womb. During a few stolen moments with my spouse, new life filtered in and I heard in my head, "You are now pregnant!" I tried to ignore the heads up from God-but within a matter of weeks there was no dodging the facts...New life was definitely in transit...A gift that would keep on giving through eternity!

Johnny probably doesn't really know it, but his surprise entrance melted my heart, and led to the desire to mother even more little bundles of joy-and I did.

And so on his blessed birthday-I am thanking Johnny-who is now living in Comunita Cenacolo in Italy-for giving me the gift of motherhood, which inspired within me, the desire to be open to more children and to the sacred understanding that all life is absolutely a gift from God-from the moment of our conception until our natural death!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY!

PROM NIGHT, BEN'S NIGHT!

I just kissed my 18 year old son goodbye, and whispered a prayer under my breath. It's prom night-need I say more!

It's also his historic last day of High School! Hard to believe? A little bit, but quite honestly he's been such a "man" for so long, an old soul, since the day he was born, that it's hard for me to consider him a teenager.

Benjamin is the quintessential middle child, easy going, quietly reserved, yet relentlessly vigilant about everything he sets out to accomplish. His 4.4 grade average is proof that academics come easy and so does his desire to excel. In fact, he's exempt from all his exams!

Yes, that's pretty impressive, but tonight it's all about the fun and the food and the frivolous joy of being young, and free and oh yes-I almost forgot...It's also about the date! I honestly don't know her personally, but if I know Ben, she must be pretty special, especially since she caught my son's discerning eye.

Ben has come a longgg way and from where I sit, he is going to go veryyyyy-far!
As his mom, it is so lovely watching this young man step into the future of unlimited possibilities...And it's consoling to see that all the parental controls, consequences and commitment is absolutely paying off!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANUELA!

This is the day the Lord hath made, and on this day many moons removed, he chose to make a miracle-of life-my sister Manuela. She came kicking and screaming into this great big world, way across the mighty Atlantic ocean-on the inner shores of our beloved Deutschland!

Brainy and bold, steadfast and determined, "Ela's" unconventional entry into planet earth-immediately commanded attention, letting everyone know she was a force to be reackoned with. And believe me-she is! My sons are always amazed at my sister's generosity and loyalty, amid a myriad of challenges that have been thrown flat at our feet! And we often talk about the abundant blessing of knowing that she is always in our corner-caring, consoling and keeping us secure.

Though she is miles removed, way across the country in the cool, California sunshine...the warmth of her Love and the sacrificial spirit of her soul has left an indellible imprint on our lives-and we are so grateful she is alive! HAPPY BLESSED BIRTHDAY!

PROVERBS 22:6

As I knelt down before Jesus tonight, I noticed he was a little off center inside the monstrance. I smiled and thought, "He probably had an off day-like me."

I always feel a little disheveled when I hear that my children have been subjected to an unhealthy situation...Physically or emotionally, spiritually or morally. I wonder what people are thinking and why adults often think only about themselves.

It's a big responsibility raising children, and the responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the people who brought them into the world-the parents. We're the ones who need to learn the art of soulful sacrifice instead of practicing self centered selfishness.

Study after study suggests that parents are the driving force in the lives of children and when all else fails, the kids turn to their moms and dads for direction and decision making. What we say matters and what we do-often matters more.

Our example-is the witness of our lives and gives testimony to the foundation of our belief system, which becomes the legacy we pass on to our kids and their kids and all the others who follow in our footsteps!

If we want to raise responsible kids...We-need to be responsible adults!

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

KAT-BIRTHDAY GIRL!

There are some people who are a quiet driving force, moving mountains without anyone ever knowing about it. That's my friend Kat.

She celebrated her birthday this past week...Friday the 13th...in the same soft manner in which she lives her life...With grace and generosity and timeless tenderness.

Kat hails from Hong Kong, from hard working salt of the earth people who believe in the power of education, and the responsibility of taking care of those we love. She sees through the eyes of unconditional Love-and that is a rarity in our reality world!

I've always admired her loyal determination and her childlike wonder of the world around her...Especially her love for nature, the free flying birds, and the funny little dogs that make our lives a little more loveable and lighthearted.

But mostly I am grateful that she is in our lives, because Kat has been a rock of strength and a sensible guiding force in the sea of confusion that nearly consumed my children and me.

She is God's gift to us...and I'll bet you, she doens't even know it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAT, EVERY DAY!

"DREAM STORIES" Monica Pierre

I woke up this morning, thinking about last night. My friend Monica Pierre is a one woman show-literally!

She wrote, produced, directed and starred in "Dream Stories," the inspiring realization of her life long dream, to become an actress! I have to tell you, as I watched this woman of grace, gracefully maneuver the stage-tears filled my eyes and pride filled my heart.

Monica's words of wisdom pulled at my heartstrings and her hopeful message left me feeling empowered and richly blessed. Her monologue dipped into the sacred center of our being where we carry our struggles and doubts, our fears and our conquests.

As I sat there, soaking in the warmth of her inffectious coviction that suffering can be transformed into the gift of hope, and that life is meant to be lived through the power of unconditional love, I felt renewed-and richly blessed.

This sharecropper's daughter is evidence of the persevering power of prayer,the joy of heartfelt heavenly hope and the steadfast, consistent belief in the gift and the purpose of her beautiful life!

Monica's theatrical production will continue tonight and tomorrow at Dillard University in New Orleans, but I believe that it is the kind of show that deserves to be seen and heard, far and wide, wherever we live, for however long it takes to teach audiences everywhere, that their "Dream Stories" can not only be realized, but that they deserve to be!

You go girlfriend!!!

"VERIFICA" COMUNITA CENACOLO

It was mesmerizing poetry in motion...Watching my oldest son wade through the halls of his childhood, and for the first time that I can ever remember, scrub the bathroom floors on his hands and knees no less, because cleanliness is "Godliness!"

Johnny returned home for his first visit in more than two and a half years, and for me-it was as though he never left. He's nearly 27 years old yet, he still reminds me of that baby faced boy wonder-who slipped into my world and immediately taught me the true meaning of loving someone, unconditionally.

Johnny "boy"-has been living in Comunita Cenacolo in Borgoro Italy, amid an international group of men from Italy, Poland, Bosnia, France, and the U.S.A; inside a convent where the nuns lead and the boys follow-in Italian of course. The community learns Italian because that is the universal language in all the european houses...and I'm happy to say, Johnny is proficient, though he pretends he's not.

His return to the nest is called "verifica"-a time to verify what he has learned about himself and an opportunity to discover which issues he still needs to conquer. It was his chance to honestly look at the man he's becoming and the one he left behind. I imagine it was quite unnerving to be back in the "real world" free to roam the highways and byways after having lived for so long in the sacred center of monasticism.

We celebrated his return with friends and family who came to our home for a Mass celebrated by a wonderful priest, Fr. Dennis Hayes-who gathered all five of my sons before the altar of Christ for a special blessing-and a call to become christian men of character. It was absolutely one of the most precious moments I haver ever witnessed!

You see, the Cenacolo journey is not just for my oldest son, it is our family's journey; an opportunity to transcend the things of this world which have left us feeling fearful, cynical, hopeless and overwhelmed, in order to embrace the supernatural gifts of the next; which will free us from the chains that bind and hopefully-transform us into life giving stewards of God's everlasting Love.

I am so grateful to my son for the sacrificial giving of himself, for staying the course even when the road gets rocky, and for offering his ole mom sage words of wisdom that make me want to be a better person. How often do we parents find ourselves in a role reversal, where our child thinks more clearly or speaks more authoritatively than we do?!

It is quite humbling-and I have to tell you, his community walk has stirred within me-the desire to avoid settling for mediocrity, while his profoundly committed witness has renewed my commitment to the author of truth and mercy, justice and human dignity; the infallible source of authentic peace and hope, the merciful person of Jesus Christ.