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Emily, Ben, Johnny, me, Mac, Jake, Zack and their dad John last Thanksgiving.



Friday August 22 on the Queenship of Mary I celebrated my birthday with my sons and my daughter-in-law Emily who thanked me on mother's day for giving  her her best friend.  Isn't that who every girl wants...


to marry-their best friend?!  Anywho I'd now like to share this blog I recently wrote but never posted because, quite frankly, I couldn't get the picture uploaded.  Technically challenged.


So I woke up tonite as I often do in the middle of the night..and I thought of how grateful I am for my five sons….I’ve written  in the past about our struggles, however today, I want you to know the power of unrelenting prayer.

My oldest son Johnny is getting his Doctorate in International Development.  He is a missionary in Liberia west Africa where he spent 8 years….earned his mba (straight A’s) online to run a Catholic school there for orphans and other children…now he’s stateside as Executive Director of Fransiscan Works, a non profit in Chicago that raises the money for the school...And he's engaged to a Liberian woman who is in nursing school.  Johnny boy as we affectionately call him is a soulful, faith inspired young man with a generous heart for humankind.  Like me, he is a daily communicant.

My 2nd son Mackie is an entrepreneur who has taught health programs for the elderly and public school kids -a program which he designed by the way.  He is a passionate, strong willed human ...and warm hearted and artistic…always has been. Both he and Johnny are the survivors of pedophilia. That’s  a big accomplishment.  They are wonderful young men with a burning desire to help the less fortunate.  I admire them.

Benjamin my middle son is the essence of Agape Love.  He is a 4th year anesthesiology resident…a doctor who is anesthetizing the pain of sick people.  Ben chose life over death in high school because he loves me.  His choice is miraculous …but then, he is the old soul who always understood the heart of what is important  in this life…he is now married to his best friend…a doctor who loves him with an everlasting love.  Thank you Ben for the gift you gave me...and for the gift of new life-a baby due in January!

Jacob my 4th son is such a quick witted smart and kind young man.  He can say in one sentence what it takes me to say in 3 sentences.  After college he went to coding school….a mathematical

challenge that only the very bright can venture into.  Who knew how bright he is?!  I did.  As a young child Jake always had a quirky, colorful personality.  Such  JOY!

So the caboose…Zachary is a big teddy bear.  He is bright and kind and gifted with a confidence that is infectious.  He's the guy every girl wants to marry...he calls regularly to check up on me since he now lives in Houston and works in industrial real estate at Stream.  I am certain Zack is making his mark there because wherever he goes, people absolutely love him…his friends, their parents…

They love him. And so do we.  

Never give up on your kids.  Never.  Where there is life there is hope...because life equates to God…and He is the God of miracles!



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