God Been Good Lyrics

(Sung by Legacy Five, I believe written by Tim Parton)

Lately I've been looking back, along this winding road
To the old familiar markers of the mercies I have known
I know it may sound simple but it's more than a cliche
There's no better way to tell you, than to say

Chorus
God's been good in my life
I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to sleep each night
And though I've had my share of hard times, I wouldn't change them if I could
'Cause through it all, God's been good

Times replay and I can see that I've cried some bitter tears
But I felt His arms around me, as I faced my greatest fears
You see I've had more gains than losses and I've known more joy than hurt
As His grace rolled down upon me undeserved

For God has been my Father, my Savior and my Friend
His love was my beginning, and His love will be my end
I could spend forever trying to tell you everything He is
But the best that I can say it is this

Chorus
God's been good in my life
I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to sleep each night
And though I've had my share of hard times, I wouldn't change them if I could
'Cause through it all, God's been good

Fishers of Men

Otherwise known as "fishermen".  How do they do it?  I know it something that they feel deep down inside them to want to go to the sea and work but how do they physically put up with storms that happen.  I think of Jesus walking on the water and calming telling the Apostles "Do not fear" but that scene would be something that would make my mouth drop open. 
"O Jesus, divine Shepard of the spirit, you have called the Apostles in order to make them fishers of men, you still attract to you burning spirits and generous young people, in order to render them your followers and ministers to us"- Pope Paul VI, World Day of Prayer for Vocations , 1964
Today is World Day of Prayer for Vocations and I pray that those that feel the spirit, listen to their vocation and follow the word of God. Thank you Jake for listening....I hope to hear you preach one day.

Goodbye

That is the hardest thing for me to say right now. I am still holding on to the grief and I need to let it go. It is suppose to subside in time, but it still hurts so much. I know I am suppose to “get over it” but no two people grieve the same.

My nephew, Tyler J. Trahan, was killed in Iraq last year on April 30th. His birthday was two days later. My sister had to sign his death certificate on what would have been his 23rd birthday. She said she never imagined 23 years earlier that she would be doing that. I cannot fathom her pain.  My niece lost her only sibling and brother.  My brother-in-law lost his only son. 

I wasn’t the Aunt I should have been, but that is in the past. I cannot change the past. I can only live in the moment and right now I have been grieving (again). I am heading to Elgin AFB in Florida for his first anniversary in two weeks. It just so happens to be the National EOD Memorial weekend. He was a member of Explosive Ordinance Disposal family and they have embraced us into their family. I need both my blood relatives and EOD family to help me memorialize a terrific kid. He would come right over after he opened his birthday/Christmas gifts from me to give me a kiss. He was very sweet, loving and caring. My husband and I scuba dive and talked him into going for his scuba certificate.. He ended up going into the Navy and would tell us about all his scuba diving adventures/training. (Well not all of them but what he could share…he did)

It wasn’t suppose to happen this way. Tyler was suppose to defend our country and return home. He did make it home, but that casket was not the vessel he was suppose to come home in. He was a hero to me before he was even killed. The last conversation I had with him was hearing how excited he was and sharing how he had just met the President (Bush). I told him to stay safe and God bless. That is what I have to remember…he is safe now with God. A flash of white light that sent him straight to heaven and he is now a bright shining white star looking down on us. “And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

Kindergarten way back in 1971

Maybe you didn't quite see those huge freckles on my face.  That is not the picture, although I would have prefered Fotomat glossy instead of matte finish.  This is my kindergarten picture from 1971.  Although I was at Sacred Hearts Catholic School, I think they let the kindergarten kids take their pictures without uniforms on.  I did wear a uniform everyday for Mrs. Aliscio's (sp) class.  It was held in the basement of the school.  We had this huge concrete door that the whole class had to get up and practice shutting for "raids".  I can't really remember what for but I am sure it was for some kind of drill.  I remember my mother was the school secretary back then since she could type very good.  Mom went back to St. Lukes after I started school full time.  She took a nursing sabatical for 7 years.  I think she would have missed out on quite of bite of us growing up had she not stayed home.  My favorite memory of kindergarten was when Mom brought us Burger Chef.  (I don't think McDonald's was around our city back then).  Burger Chef use to give Mom her own ordering pad so she could pre-write all nine of our orders down instead of waiting for each one of us to call out what we wanted.  And you never really knew the whole menu...Mom only probably let us choose between two things.  I like the kids today who come up to the ice cream window and the parents ask what they want.....ummmm....I dunno.....um......  Okay it is either chocolate, vanilla or coffee.  Oh would I love a coffee frappe right now.  Poulas Pharmacy on  Union Street made the best.   But I loved the Starr Store too!

Just walking down memory lane for today.