Soda Sabbatical

Here we are again, poised at the end of another year’s Lenten Season.  The end of Lent also signals the end of my annual “Soda Sabbatical”.  Each Lenten season (within the Catholic Tradition) I give up something that would constitute a sacrifice. 

Since soda is one of my biggest vices (and part of the reason I have to shop in the tall and fat departments), I make it a point (for my health if nothing else) to give up soda for the duration of Lent.  Lent (being 40 days) represents 10.9% of a calendar year.  Reducing the soda I drink by almost eleven percent per year has to be a good thing, right??

Each year as Lent draws to an end, the anticipation of that first soda is FIERCE!  I start thinking about it a week ahead of time.  Two years ago it was an R.C. Cola.  Last year it was a Mountain Dew. 

This year it was looking like R.C. Cola again until one fateful moment.

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Cue the flashback music…

Two (or maybe three) years ago during duck hunting season up at Best Bud Ed’s cabin, we patronized one of the local grocery stores in town to stock up on needed supplies.  While there I noticed a display of “Frostop" brand sodas.  There was Root Beer, Cream Soda (both which I have had previously) and a third flavor I had had always wanted to try but has never actually tasted. 

The flavor?  Sarsaparilla.

I bought two bottles of it.  I really enjoyed it – I would describe it as root beer with a hint of spiced wintergreen flavor. 

Since that time I have sought out the Frostop Sarsaparilla to no avail.  I wrote Frostop looking for a local distributor, but never got a response back.  Even Frostop’s website no longer lists Sarsaparilla as a product.  I was very disappointed. 

I have located other sources (on line – aka expensive specialty craft sodas with limited or outrageous shipping costs) – but the heavenly smell and taste of sarsaparilla soda has not passed my palate since.

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Cue the “return to reality” music.

On a multi purpose trip (more on that later) to the northern reaches of Minnesota known as Duluth (aka – the home of “Best Bud Ed”) we made a special trip to a wonderful little place known as Superior Meats.  Superior Meats is a butcher shop and small convenience store in Superior, WI.  Upon entering the store, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye.  I spotted a display of what looked like Frostop Root Beer.  Then as if as if a ray of sunshine from heaven above spotlighted the display!  I saw them.   

I spotted bottles (plural) of SARSPARILLA!! 

After conducting our business with the butcher (more on that later) I went back to the entrance and grabbed a shopping basket.  With the empty shopping basket in hand, I returned to the display and loaded up EVERY SINGLE BOTTLE of “Kansas City Sarsaparilla” they had (eight in total).

It’s an odd combination.  This is branded “Kansas City Sarsaparilla” but pressed into the plastic of the bottle is the Frostop logo…  Since Frostop is no longer making their sarsaparilla, I have to wonder if the distributors of the Kansas City Sarsaparilla bought some bottles from the Frostop company.  The other thing I noticed…  The Kansas City Sarsaparilla is distributed by C B Beverage Corporation, which is based not far from me in Hopkins!

Since we were still in Lent, I have been unable to actually partake in the wondrous pleasures of the sarsaparilla.  We opened one bottle for Best Bud Ed’s kids (I left the rest of that quart there for them) and have fallen asleep each night since, dreaming of that first pull from a cold glass of Kansas City Sarsaparilla!

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A New Challenge

As most readers here know, my boys are involved in the Boy Scouts of America.  I now have two boys who have achieved the rank of Life Scout, and are only a few steps (albeit some significant steps) away from achieving their Eagle Scout.

This is something I am VERY proud of them for having achieved.  I have tried my best to maintain involvement in their troop because as a young man myself, I had always wanted to be a Boy Scout – but alas, I never took the step.  In some ways, I am living my dream of being a Boy Scout vicariously though my boys. 

Over the past four years I have been asked about, and debated becoming an Assistant Scoutmaster.  I have taken two of the four required courses, but have struggled to find the time to take the remaining two courses.  Not having the time to commit to completing the training makes me question my ability to commit to becoming an Assistant Scoutmaster.

A few days ago a different opportunity for working within our troop was presented to me.  I was asked if I would consider taking on the duties and responsibilities of the Troop’s Unit Advancement Chairperson.

I listened to the current Advancement Chairperson’s description of what she does for the troop, and some of her own personal “tweaks” she does to make the position run as smoothly as it has for our troop.  I started realizing that this position may prove to be a good fit.  It matches with my interests (in the troop, computer technology, and organizing computerized data), and seems to be a better match for the time I can commit to the troop.  My availability is in shorter, more frequent “bursts” of time verses the longer “extended” commitments such as campouts.

I accepted the position. 

I am (truly) excited about, and looking forward to the challenge that this position within the troop will offer.  I am also a little nervous about it too (to be honest)… After all, I have some big shoes to fill.  The current Advancement Chairperson has done an AMAZING job at establishing, organizing, and maintaining the troop’s records.  I truly hope I can continue meeting the high level of standards she has established, and our troop has come to expect.

Wish me luck as I prepare for, and begin this new endeavor!

Side note:  I am still considering completion of the Assistant Scout Master training.  If nothing else I can support our Scouts, the Scoutmaster (and other Assistant Scoutmasters) during the weekly meetings, and other activities that I CAN fit into my busy / hectic schedule  hoping I can still squeeze in a few campouts before my boys achieve their Eagle Scout rank.  My thinking is that even though I am unable to attend many of the troop’s extended weekend camping trips – I am able to help out with single-day events, and am present at most of the meetings – where perhaps I could fulfill the Assistant Scout Master duties…

MSHSCTL

Earlier this year #3 of 5 came home with a flier from school.  The flyer was for a new (to our district) extra-circular activity that was being offered to the junior high and high school students.  He told us that was interested in joining, but was a little apprehensive about asking us because of the associated cost.  He first brought it up to the Mother of Five who told #3 of 5 to speak to me about it – which he did. 

I have to admit, the cost is noticeably more expensive than the “typical” extra-circular activity - and that did give me a pause.  Yet, when asked why he was interested in this particular activity, he was able to articulate a number of good reasons why he wanted to join.  #3 of 5 was told that the Mother of Five and I would have to talk about it, and thanked him for bringing it to us.  We talked about it, and decided to find a way to make it happen.  What is this extra-circular activity?

 

It’s the MSHSCTL.

MSHSCTL stands for…
Minnesota State High School Clay Target League. 

 

 

 

After #3 of 5 and I (together) signed up for and passed the Minnesota Firearms Safety class, he told us that he was interested in joining the 4-H shooting club.  We liked the idea, but since it was “off season” it went on the back burner, only later to be forgotten by all.   When he asked about the school’s league I was not completely surprised.

The district held an informational meeting where we were given all the pertinent info and required forms, and learned all about how our school district got involved into the league.  The coaches (who, interestingly enough, were also our Firearms Safety Instructors) went above and beyond to get this all set up and operational.  They had to work with the League and the School District to initiate this new activity.  Then, once established, they are also volunteering their time as coaches too!

Both the coaches bring years of knowledge, experience, and experience in various forms of shooting sports to share with the students. 

The team has had two “classroom” sessions.  The first one covered “fundamentals” (a refresher on gun safety, and the basics of leading, shot placement, and follow through) and the second session was all about shotgun chokes, shot patterning and pattern density.  The kids all got to “pattern” their guns see the what their gun is shooting like.

Then, we had the first practice held at the River Valley Trap range.  The kids were broken up into squads of five.  Each squad was able to run one round.

A little bit about Trap Shooting.

A trap range has five shooting positions and a centralized “trap house” that the clay pigeons are launched from.  Each member of the squad takes a shooting position on the range.  Starting with the left position (standing behind), the first shooter indicates he/she is ready by shouting “pull”.  The puller releases the clay (which varies the clay’s trajectory each pull) and the shooter fires.  This is repeated with the second through fifth shooters.  After each position has fired five times, the shooters rotate one position and another five round per shooter cycle is started.  This is repeated until each of the five shooters has had an opportunity to shoot five shots at each of the five positions.  In the photo to the right, #3 of 5 is shooting in position #4 (the second shooter from the right)

This was #3 of 5’s first REAL opportunity to fire my shotgun.  Last year’s duck season was overbooked, and we never made it out.  The year before that (the year he got his firearm safety certificate) we went out, but had no real shooting opportunities.  At this practice, I watched as the first three clays gently drifted out after he took his shot, and I began to get a little worried.  He was successful in breaking a few by the end of his round – he finished with a score of 7/25…  Not the best, but for being his first time behind the trigger, it could have been a lot worse too.  I look at it this way.  He has five years worth of practice ahead of him!   

 

Of course – with a new team in town, comes some news coverage (especially in a small town like ours)!  ScoreboardMN did a STORY on the team with an accompanying photo SLIDE SHOW.  Our local newspaper also did a short little BLURB on it as well (with hopefully more coverage to follow – although you can be sure there will be a bit of coverage here on Father-of-Five). 

From my perspective as a parent I have to say how exciting it has been to watch my son getting involved in the team's inaugural season.  In fact, I may go as far as saying I’m a little bit jealous.  I would have LOVED to have had this opportunity as a teen, and now as an adult – I’d love to find a casual group that is in need of a middle aged, slightly shy (socially anxious), mediocre (at best) shooter.   (If you know of one, be sure to contact me with the info!)

 

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A Weird Thought

Today on my drive into work (at 3am) the roads were eerily deserted – so much so that it felt a lot like I was a lone survivor driving around after a “zombie apocalypse”.

I gotta say… In an odd sort of way, I kind of liked it.   

Not… One... Single… Thing…

For the first time in…  I do not know how long (at least since school started) there was one whole calendar day that nothing was scheduled.

Not…  One...  Single… Thing…

No work (for either of us), no overtime, no after school sports (practices or games), no driver’s ed, no dance class, no Boy Scout campouts, no prescheduled commitments…  NOTHING.  We had a whole day to ourselves!

It was the perfect excuse for a family day!

We wanted to get out and do something ANYTHING after being cooped up all winter.  Since the spring thaw has (significantly) flooded the rivers all around us, we decided to make a road trip. The Mother of Five’s old college town is about an hour south of us.  The journey to Mankato criss-crosses over and through the Minnesota River Valley so we could check out the floods as we traveled (something we wanted to do anyway) then we could spend some time checking out the town – hitting some of our old favorite spots, and checking out what’s new since our last visit.

We arrived in North Mankato, driving past the first house the Mother of Five and #1 of 5 lived in when they first moved into town.  We did a bit more exploring around N. Mankato, then headed to old town Mankato.

Our first “get out and stretch our legs” stop was Generations Antiques.  One of the things the Mother of Five and I enjoy doing together is milling around old antique shops.  This was has a little more “nostalgia” for me as Generation Antiques is located at the old Minnesota Warehouse Furniture building I used to work in.  MWF is no longer at the same location having moved up the hill.  MWF has also been renamed to Rooms and Rest.  Having visited Rooms and Rest a few times throughout the years, I have been able to ascertain that it is still owned by the same guy who owned it (and hired me) when it was still Minnesota Warehouse Furniture back on Front Street.  I’ve never run into him there, but have inquired about him while shopping Rooms and Rest a couple of times.  It would be nice to see him again sometime.

We left Generation Antiques, and drove by the house that I lived in while I was living in Mankato.  We then proceeded up the hill to the second and then the third apartments the Mother of Five and #1 of 5 lived in.  These locations brought back some fond and happy memories of time long since past!

We drove up to Mankato State University.  I never attended school there, but it was fun listening to the stories and pointing out spots the Mother of Five recognized, and things that were apparently new since she attended.

Last December I received an email about a deal that Restaurant.com was having.  I could pre-pay for twelve $25 gift certificates – one for each month in 2011.  I bought the deal and have a folder of all these unused gift certificates (because we never have the time to go out to eat).  So, I checked on Restaurant.com and noticed there were four participating restaurants in Mankato.  We selected Busters Bar and Grill – and so we all went out and had dinner at Busters.  The portions were big, the food was great and for a change (with the restaurant.com certificate) going out as a family (to anyplace that you do not order a “meal by the number” did not not require a second third mortgage! 

After eating, we all wanted to get out and “walk dinner off”.  I had preloaded my GPS up with a ton of GeoCaches from the Mankato area – so we picked a nearby park that had two within it.  We arrived at Erlandson Park, but unfortunately, the only person eager to go out caching with me was #4 of 5.  So, while the others sat in the car listening to the radio - #4 of 5 and I headed out and made these two finds.  I spotted the first one – but the log was a soaked and actually even a little “slimy”.  No way to log that find – so we took a photo with the soaked log.  The second cache had me a little stumped, but #4 of 5 spotted pretty quickly.  We logged that find and headed back to the van.

With the weather as cool as it was, and no one else wanting to get out and GeoCache, we headed to the next stop. 

The River Hills Mall.

When the Mother of Five first moved to Mankato, there was no such thing as the “River Hills Mall”.  When it opened, it was a MAJOR event for the area.  A huge improvement in the retail community – and for being a small college town, the mall is actually pretty big.

There was one GeoCache just outside the front door that #4 of 5 and I could find (and we did).  We could get some walking done (inside) – the boys could do some window shopping (GameStop), the Mother of Five and the girls could do some window shopping (Herbergers), I could do some window shopping (Sheels) – the we could all head in and peek through the shelves of Barnes and Noble.

By the time we were back at the van (tired out from a fun family day) it was already 9:30 pm – and so the drive back home (through the river valley) was much less “scenic” and I was unable to get a good look at the flooding on the other side of the river.  

Afterwards, I told the Mother of Five that this was one of the best days I have had in a LONG time.  Were were all together (sans #1 of 5), there was no major complaining, no meltdowns, no arguing, and no fighting and everyone got to do a little something that they wanted to do. 

It’s almost a week later, and I can still feel the positive effects of that day! 

Five

Five is my favorite number.  It has been as far back as I can remember.

There is the “obvious” reason (ahem… father of FIVE…), but that’s not (originally) why five was my favorite number.  Five became my favorite number somewhere around the age of seven or eight (long before I knew I would be the father of a basketball team).  You see, that’s about the age I started learning my “multiplication tables”.  Zeros, Ones and Twos were (understandably) very easy.  Threes and Fours were a little more challenging.  Then came Fives.  Fives were (for me) easy-breezy-lemon-peezy, and so because of that, “five” became my favorite number of all!

Had I known then, what the significance of my “favorite number” would have on the title of this blog, perhaps I would have chosen something slightly different… Something like “one” or maybe even “zero”…

Yeah, yeah… I’m just kiddin’ with you all.  I would not trade one of them for anything!
(Well, at least I don’t think I would, but who knows.  Make me an offer…  Ya never know!)

Today’s post is not about how many kids I have, or about my favorite elementary school multiplication table number, or how much I would take in exchange for one of the kids - No, today’s post is about celebrating an achievement, a milestone, a landmark.  It’s about a dedication and commitment to something.

The Life of a Father of Five is FIVE YEARS OLD TODAY!!

Yes, five years ago my little spot on the web started with THIS POST describing why I wanted to start blogging.   (By the way, I still read “Many Things”… and that song still makes me tear up...)
Five years, 654 posts, and over 33,350 web hits later – and here I am, still plugging away.

After five years I can say that coming up with fresh (and interesting) topics can get a little “challenging” at times.  I still find maintaining “The Life of a Father of Five” a therapeutic outlet.  Although the “frequency” of new material is not what it once was, I have no means of giving it up.  Together, we have been through a lot over these past five years…  I’ve shared a lot about myself, had a few laughs, shed a couple of tears, and learned a lot from others - all while making (and even meeting) some really great people along the way.  Some, I am quite proud to call “friend”.  It has been an interesting journey indeed.

In honor of this fifth anniversary, I have done a couple of things. 

First, I gave the site a facelift.  If you read this post through a feed reader, be sure to click through and take a peek at the new and (in my opinion) improved look!! 

Secondly, I have two pending guest posts.  #2 of 5, and #4 of 5 are GUEST POSTING sometime in the very new future.  (I’m very excited about this)

I also want to take this opportunity to thank the folks that keep me doing this.  First and foremost, my beautiful, lovely, and wonderful wife – The Mother of Five.  Without her I am not sure where I would be today, and I certainly would not have the rest of the crazy “cast and crew”.  She also is very patient with me when it comes to working on this site.  Sometimes (when I get on a roll) I may (or may not) “zone out” from the chaos around me.  I’m not sayin’ I do, I’m only saying it “may” happen from time time.  Right honey?? 

Then, there is  #1 of 5, #2 of 5, #3 of 5, #4 of 5, and #5 of 5.  This group of hooligans is what keep me motivated day in and day out – motivated to (try to) be the best man, the best father, the best role model I can be. (Although, being that person will often make them mad at me – but, then I know I am doing my job correctly, right?)

Last, but certainly not least is YOU.  As I stated earlier – through this site I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know many new people – all so very interesting - from various locations around the US, and even around the globe.  Sometimes it’s a “rogue” visitor.  Often it’s a regular visitor.  Regardless, many have come, some have stuck around, some have moved on, some have never returned – but all have been appreciated for their perspective, input, and for helping to keep me motivated.

Here is my gift to you all.  As a means of thanks for being loyal readers, and for being there for me through the laughs and the tears, the ups and the downs, the good times and the bad times - on this fifth anniversary of “The Life of a Father of Five” I’m going to take you back in time.  I am going to walk with you hand in had through the collection of the “headers” that have adorned the top of “The Life of a Father of Five” over the past five years…  Some were prototypes, some were trials, some stuck around for a short time, and others were there so long even I grew board of them.  I’ll do my best to keep them in order, but I suspect there may be one or two quite a few that “slightly” out of sequence and a few that are not here.   

Thank you all for having been there for and with me over the past five years.  I look forward to the next five years of laughter, tears, and friendship!
I hope you enjoy!

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A Journey of Faith Part 4 - Finding a Home Again

I have (for quite some time now) wanted to document my personal journey of faith.  How I became who I am today in an attempt to try and understand my faith.  I started by doing just that.  I sat down, and wrote out my personal journey of faith.

I know people choose to “evangelize” by sharing their journey.  That is not my mission.  I am not writing these posts to convert.  I am not writing these posts to persuade.  I am not writing these posts to influence.  I AM writing these posts (first and foremost) for myself. 

Previous entries in this series...

A Journey of Faith Part 1 - An Introduction
A Journey of Faith Part 2 – The Early Years
A Journey of Faith Part 3 – Transitions

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By this time in my life, my core beliefs and values were all pretty much set, and I was comfortable with my “faith”.

I met the Mother of Five while in college. She and I share a similar family and religious background. During the three years we were dating, The Mother of Five had moved to Mankato for school while I finished my education here in the Twin Cities. Once I completed my degree and “Skills Training”, I rented my own apartment and moved to Mankato to be closer to her (“my own” as in we did not live together). While there we attended two different parishes –St. Peter & Paul and St. Joseph the Worker. During this time the feeling of familiarity, recognition and connection I once felt started weaning.

We moved back to the metro area, and shortly thereafter married at St. Peter’s in Richfield. This was meaningful because it was her family (and my grandmother’s) parish. We moved into our first apartment together and joined St. John Neumann in Eagan.  St. John Neumann was the only parish that I really did not care much for.  There was no particular reason for me not liking it – I think I finally gave up trying to feel as connected to my parish as I did growing up.

After our first year of marriage, we bought our first house.  It was located in Richfield, Minnesota.  Richfield has three Catholic Churches in the city limits…  There was St. Peter (where we were married), Assumption, and St. Richard’s (that we lived (literally) across the street from).  The three churches also combined their schools into one. 

#1 of 5 (now 23 years old) was enrolled into Blessed Trinity and also went to school across the street (his grade level was located in the St. Richard’s campus). Despite the proximity of St. Richards we still attended St. Peter’s (3 miles away).  I considered it my “home” parish.  St. Richards was our “we are running late” or “convenience” church.

Having the connection we did with St. Peter’s (my grandma’s parish, my in-law’s parish, having been married there, and having a child enrolled in the school) the feeling of being “connected” with my parish started returning.

Coming soon:  A Journey of Faith Part 5 –Troubled Waters

Washington DC or Bust!

Bonus surprise at the bottom of this post!

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I have not yet mentioned much about this, but today is the day #2 of 5 headed out on a whirlwind adventure!
Last year #2 of 5 came home from school with a packet of information about an upcoming school sponsored “WorldStrides” (Educational Student Travel) trip that his Social Studies teacher was hosting. 

Before I go much further, let me explain something.  Keeping #2 of 5 focused on anything that does not have a “Xbox 360” label on it (or anything video game related for that matter) is difficult at best.  “Social Studies” (more specifically, American History) has been the one school subject that seems to have piqued (and maintained) a modicum of his interest and attention (while maintaining an “acceptable” grade without having to torture him to do so).

The trip that he wanted to talk to us about… Washington DC.

That seemed natural enough, given his interest in all things “American History”.  We carefully weighed the options (and cost), ultimately deciding to enroll him in the trip.  That was a year ago.  A lot has passed since we made that decision.  It almost drifted out of our thoughts, but not long after the bill was paid, the emails and notes home started showing up, and the trip that almost drifted out of our thoughts began to approach reality. 

Then came the parent meeting (previously mentioned in the I need Two of Me post), which changed our focus from “reality-mode” to “scramble to get ready-mode”.  Digging out the luggage, packing, stocking up on supplies, cash for his trip, spare Cellular phone charger, new camera, etc, etc, etc.  This all went on during an unusually busy work-week for me.  Things got a little hectic – but (in the end) I think he was all ready to go. 

Honestly, I think I was more worked up about his being ready that he was.

So, at 0230 hours this morning, our alarm clock rang and (despite my numerous offers to get up and take him so she could sleep in) the Mother of Five braved the world of 3am to get him delivered to the chaperones and coach bus waiting to whisk him off to his impending adventure.  (Honestly, I think she WANTED to take him herself…)

I had a confirmation text message (only after sending him one first) confirming that they arrived (safely) in Milwaukee, and another one (also only after my sending him one first) confirming his (safe) arrival in Washington DC.

From there, the kids have a BUSY schedule planned….  Below is a list of the things they are going to be seeing.

Day 1 to include - Library of Congress (as a photo stop), the Supreme Court (as a photo stop), the U.S. Capitol Visitor’s Center, the National Archives, the Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, and Kennedy Center,

Day 2 to include - the Embassy Row, the National Zoo, the National Cathedral, Ford’s Theater, Arlington National Cemetery (with special stops at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial, and the Kennedy Gravesites), and the September 11^th Memorial.

Day 3 to include – Mount Vernon, the Union Station, the Holocaust Museum, theAlbert Einstein Memorial, and the evening spent at the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Women’s Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Iwo Jima Marine War Memorial, and finally the World War II Memorial.

Day 4 to include – The White House (as a photo stop), the Air and Space Museum, the Museum of American History, and one final stop at the Natural History Museumbefore heading back to the airport, and back home.

In addition to the historic landmarks listed above – they will have a couple of different dining experiences.  In addition to a couple of food court stops, and hotel breakfasts, they will be dining at the Air and Space Café, an Old Country Buffet, a Sizzling Express, and a Vie De France,

As you can see, it is going to be a whirlwind four days.  I expect him to come home very tired, and a little bit more knowledgeable about U.S. History (after all, I better get SOMETHING for the $$ I shelled out, right?). 


Here is “bonus” as promised…


The best part of all of this (for me) is that since I cannot be there to experience this trip myself (first hand) – I have “persuaded” (and I am using that term loosely) #2 of 5 to write a “Guest Blogger” post (or two) about his trip here on The Life of a Father of Five!!

I’m so very excited!!

I Need Two of Me

Last night was a prime example of one of the more challenging aspects of parenting a “larger” family.  Between three of the five children, we had one activity, four “parent meetings”, and one meeting of my own to attend.  To make it even more tricky, most of these events were clustered into two (simultaneous) groupings. 

The events included, #5 of 5’s dance class, #2 of 5’s High School Registration for next school year, #2 of 5’s drivers ed parent meeting, #2 of 5’s impending school sponsored trip to Washington DC parent meeting, #2 and #3 of 5’s monthly Boy Scout Troop parent meeting, and finally a union meeting at work for me.

We took the “tag team” approach.  While the Mother of Five ran #2 of 5 to High School Registration, I took #5 of 5 to dance.  Thankfully, one of her friends parents was able to take her back home for us, so I was able to get her unpacked, ballet slippers on, and settled into class before I rushed out to meet the Mother of Five and #2 of 5 for the driver’s ed parent meeting.

Once the drivers ed meeting was complete I had fifteen minutes spare time before the start of the Washington DC trip parent meeting.  Of course those fifteen minutes were used to rush home for the paperwork I had neglected to bring along.  I was only a few minutes late meeting the Mother of Five and #2 of 5 at DC trip meeting.

Since the DC trip is a “single event” (and contained some fairly important information) we decided it was best if we both attended. I agreed.  This caused us to miss the first half the monthly Boy Scout Troop parent meeting meeting.  I make almost every one of those, so I did not feel too bad missing half of this one.  As soon as the DC trip meeting adjourned I rushed down the hall (thankfully they were held in the same facility) and joined in the Boy Scout Troop parent meeting (already in progress).

By the time I had gotten home from the DC Trip / Boy Scout meetings, the union meeting had already started.  Adding the time it would take me to get to work, I suspect that the meeting would have already concluded, so I chose to forgo trying to attend that.

In the end, I managed to attend four of the six events I needed to (or should have) attended.  That’s 67%.  Hmmm.. I think that would be a D- on a report card (if not an F).  Thankfully, between the Mother of Five and I (together and separately) we were able to pull off an A attend (at least part of) all six events.

I’ve been told there will come a day and a time that I will miss all this…  I have to wonder about that.

Don’t Stop Believin’ (but please stop calling)

Having engaged in a bit of Facebook “cacophony” with my buddy AtHomeDaddy recently, I was reminded of a short little story I had planned on sharing, but had forgotten all about…

Now that #2 of 5 is a full fledged “high schooler” he is attending more school activities and functions – like last month’s “Frosty Fun Days Dance”.

The night of the dance the Mother of Five had to work, and I had to be up at 2am for a 4am shift assignment.  Needless to say I was in a hurry to drop #2 of 5 off at the dance and rush home to head off to bed.  When going to bed that early, it’s often hard to (initially) fall asleep, so I was both grateful and thankful that this evening.  Sleep did find me, and least until…

>>RING<<  >>RING<<  The sound of my cell phone. 

I could not turn off the phones because I needed to be available “just in case of an emergency”, and so when I looked at my cell phone (displaying #2 of 5’s name) – I got a little worried.  My “Hello?” was answered with the unmistakable sounds of a loud party or dance.  Loud music, loud voices, but no voice back.  I gave another “Hello”, this time a little louder.  Still nothing.  One last “HELLO?!?!?” that was met with nothing more that the ambient background noise of a teenage dance, and it was “third strike, yer out”.  Dang pocket dials.  I deal with them ALL DAY LONG at work…

What?  My cell phone dialed 911?  How did that happen???

I rolled over and tried to get back to sleep.  Just as I was reaching that point where I could feel myself falling asleep…

>>RING<<  >>RING<<  The sound of my cell phone…  Again. 

Again, it was #2 of 5’s name on the caller I.D.  Fearing he could not hear me the first time and still needed to get in touch with me, I jumped up and grabbed the phone.  My three attempts to say hello were all followed with northing more than the sounds of the dance going on.  By this time I can almost feel the sleepiness bidding me a fond farewell.  An extended shift on 2 or 3 hours of sleep is not a lot of fun (believe me!).  I attempt to roll over and go back to sleep.

Just as sleepiness and I started getting reacquainted (about thirty minutes later) my cell phone rings again, and again it’s #2 of 5’s number on the I.D.  This time, I only give him one ”Hello”, with no answer when the idea struck me.

I decided to use this opportunity like any good sneaky Dad would do!

I decided to listen in and see what sort of “juice” I could pick up.  Who knows what knowledge I could obtain?!?!  I placed my cell phone on my ear as I laid my head back on the pillow, and proceeded to try and obtain any useful tidbits.

Do you know what I heard??

As I listened, I realized I was listening to nearly two hundred teenagers singing screaming along as the D.J. spun the 1980’s hit “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” by Journey.

Ugh….  Gag me with a spoon!

As the song finished (and before the DJ spun another cheezy mega wonder hit from one of the many nauseating 1980’s  stadium rock bands) I hung up. 

I hung up, but with a smile on my face, remember all the roller skating, and school and youth group dances I attended listening to that same song.  I hope #2 of 5 is having as much fun as I did when I was his age.

A Journey of Faith Part 3 - Transitions

I have (for quite some time now) wanted to document my personal journey of faith.  How I became who I am today in an attempt to try and understand my faith.  I started by doing just that.  I sat down, and wrote out my personal journey of faith.

I know people choose to “evangelize” by sharing their journey.  That is not my mission.  I am not writing these posts to convert.  I am not writing these posts to persuade.  I am not writing these posts to influence.  I AM writing these posts (first and foremost) for myself. 

Previous entries in this series...

A Journey of Faith Part 1 - An Introduction
A Journey of Faith Part 2 – The Early Years

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Transitions

After graduating eighth grade at Nativity, my parents were fortunate enough to be able to afford my enrollment at The Academy of the Holy Angels high school.

It was also a time that our parish had a successful and thriving Youth Group program for kids in grades 9-12. Initially, it was not the "Youth Group" that really interested me, but it was their annual Boundary Waters Canoe trip that I really wanted to attend. Somewhere along the line I ran into a friend of mine from Nativity (who also attended AHA). I knew he was going on the BWCA trip, so I asked him for more information. Not only did he urge me go on the trip, but he suggested that I start attending Youth Group so I could start to meet the other Youth Groupers who were going. I had my initial reservations but in the end I decided to attend.  Looking back, I find that this decision being another one of the defining moments in my life.

I began attending Nativity's Youth Group, and over the next four years, NYG (as it was affectionately referred to) became my second family.  (I still stay in touch with some of the closest friends I made during my involvement in NYG.)

My spiritual journey through these years was assisted in ways that I did not even realize at the time by our youth minister.  He had a way of blending (maybe even “hiding”) the right amount of faith based education into fun and activities for the youth of our Parish.  He had a unique personality that allowed him to be a mentor while at the same time being someone I could consider a friend. He left an indelible mark on an impressionable young man that can still be seen within me to this day.

It was during my involvement in NYG that I connected on a personal level with our parish priest who had been our pastor for many years. Through my years at Nativity School and through alter serving – I became familiar with him, and I suspect he would have been able to recognize me by face, but there was a moment in time that our priest became something more than “just” the church’s pastoral officiant in my eyes.  We connected on a personal level.

Our priest was moving residences, and was looking for some assistance. He turned to the Youth Minister (and the Youth Group) for some volunteer “muscle”. I was one of three or four members who stepped up and volunteered to help him move.  After spending the day with him(away from formal setting of our church) – and helping him get situated in his new residence, I was able to see him as more than “that guy up front” at mass on Sunday. I got to know him as a person. As someone I could approach, say hello to, and have a conversation with. For the first time in my life, I really felt comfortable speaking to a priest. Getting to know our parish priest in this way helped give the Church a more “personal” feel.

After high school graduation and into the college years - my involvement in our church continued. In addition to my involvement in the Youth Group (now as a chaperone for the BWCA trips and helping out our new Youth Minister from time to time) I filled a seat on one of the parish committees, filled in as temporary “collection counter”, and even ran for the seat on the Parish Council reserved for the young adults of the congregation (unfortunately, I came in a close second).

As the old saying goes… “Time and tide wait for no man”, and soon my “youth” and “young adulthood” transformed into the pressures and responsibilities of adulthood.