As a resident of Adrian, Michigan, I am deeply saddened by the double murder of an Adrian couple by their 17 year-old son. I would be shocked and upset by this tragedy even if it weren't so close to home, but the community is kind of like a small town, and any crime against another seems like such an assault on all of us.

My youngest son is a Junior at Adrian High School, in the same class as the teenager who did the shooting. I recognize the father from his photo in The Blade, although I probably only saw him in passing at some event. When I asked my son if he knew the boy, he said, "Yeah, that's just crazy. I can't believe it." And yesterday, I (and all the other parents of Adrian High School students, I'm sure) got a recorded phone call from the Superintendent of Schools, telling that there had been a tragedy involving a student, and urging us to hug our children and talk to them about it. Yes, it's crazy.

Several lives have been ruined by this event. I find it hard to understand that some odd or inappropriate behavior had not been observed earlier in this young man, that might have alarmed someone enough to get some help. But we don't know the secret thoughts of others, and asking what could have been done to prevent this (or to prevent something like this from happening again) is a guessing game. Terrible things happen, and can't be undone.

But horrible events like this do change us, if only in that we might pay more attention to a troubled person who needs intervention. We might appreciate our family more, and show them love we might have been stingy with before. We might think about anger and how we can learn and model anger management so that emotions have less control over us and others. We might focus on what is really important in life, and let go of the trivial, in order to make our lives more meaningful.

No, there isn't a silver lining to this cloud. But we go on living, we pray for those who have died or whose lives have been permanently altered, and, hopefully, we find a way to counteract hate and fear. I propose treating others with more love to do just that.

Thursday, September 25, 2008 3:24:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

Rosary Congress, Feat. Benedict Groeschel and

Steve Pokorny, Oct. 7-12, Cleveland, OH

Thursday, September 25, 2008 7:30:28 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

On Sunday, October 12, the Lourdes College Department of Music will present its Fall Music Showcase at 3 p.m. in the Franciscan Theatre and Conference Center. This free event kicks-off the 25^th season of Lourdes’ choral program.

The Fall Music Showcase will feature three mini-concerts of vocal, instrumental and choral music as well as a special presentation on music therapy and health by Lourdes faculty members Roberta Wigle Justice and Karen T. Biscay. The schedule for the event is as follows:

3 p.m.     Opening Concert: Lourdes College faculty, students and friends

4 p.m.     Presentation: “What is Music Therapy and What Do music Therapists Do?”

5 p.m.     Chorale Finale: “Voices of Earth,” celebrating the Earth, the human spirit and the power of music

For more information on the Fall Music Showcase or to join the Lourdes College Chorus, please contact Karen T. Biscay, Chairperson of the Department of Music, at 419-824-3772 or email kbiscay@lourdes.edu.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:46:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

On Wednesday, October 8, a poetic mouse, math loving worm and an adventurous fish help Theater Vision kick-off  its 24^th season with a presentation of Leo Lionni’s Swimmy, Frederick and Inch by Inch. 

Shows at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m in the Franciscan Theatre.

Tickets $7 per student. Call 419-824-3999.

Click here for more about the story of Leo Lionni and Theater Vision.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:40:36 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Get Out The Vote! is a new LourdesWorld blog! Welcome Get Out The Vote!

Monday, September 22, 2008 11:47:54 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

My question is this...

As a Catholic, I am open to consider an argument proposing there is something of greater porportion than the violent death by abortion of over 40,000,000 innocent human beings. Is there one? Iraq War? Minimum wage? Death penalty? Immigration? Energy policy?

Monday, September 22, 2008 6:58:47 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Over the weekend I’ve done a lot of thinking. It seems that the older I get, the faster the time goes. It seems like it was just yesterday when it was New Years  Day; it seems like I just had my baby, when in actuality she’s now 4 ½ months old! I just had my oldest daughter’s 5^th birthday party…I can still remember staring into her bright blue eyes when she was born in the hospital, and at the party I couldn’t help but get teary-eyed because I guess I never accepted how big she truly was. Anywho- I guess my point is that time flies!!! And so far in this semester, there’s no difference there! We’re already pretty much a month in, and all of my poor study habits have kicked in. I no longer do my homework right when I get home…in fact, I leave the book bag in the car, telling myself I’ll get it out later. That doesn’t happen. It sits there, until I literally FORCE myself to sit down and do the work. It is gentle to say that I am COMPLETELY exhausted. Between working part-time, 4 classes, and 3 kids---my nerves are pretty much shot and my body aches of fatigue. I look forward to that moment at 8:30pm when I can lay down and try to watch a movie or something, but always fall asleep within the first 20 minutes or so. I can specifically remember 2 separate nights this weekend when I tried to watch a movie with my husband, and both times there was no way I was making it. Eventually I either went to bed in apology, or was awakened by him after the movie. It’s that sleep when you don’t even realize you’re sleeping…that’s how relaxed you are---I haven’t experienced this in years. I used to be somewhat an insomniac, but I think coming back to school and work and adding another child on top of it has cured me! Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise…

So anyway- as I said before, I’ve done a lot of thinking over the weekend. The world is truly a small place. It seems that anywhere I go, I know someone, they know someone I know, or they know me because of someone they know. Did that make any sense? It is really weird; people I haven’t seen in years are popping up everywhere…it’s awesome to see these people…to see where their life has taken them. It is especially awesome when its people you’ve searched for and wondered about for years…you start to question why you’ve run into them again. Is there a reason? Were you supposed to see these people for a specific cause? Do they enter your life because you need them in yours, or because they need you in theirs? This is what I have been thinking about practically all weekend: IS THERE A REASON WHY WE ENDED UP IN THE SAME PLACE, AT THE SAME TIME, MANY YEARS LATER? I just have so many unanswered questions and curiosities…this whole thing about reuniting with people can be so exciting, and new, and yet it can be confusing too. I need to just not question things so much. I truly need to just believe that everything happens for a reason, and eventually I’ll discover the reason…whatever it is- it’s providing me with many blessings in my life.

So I told you I was in a contemplative mood. I hate it when I get like this; because usually I end up having a worse headache than when I first started (I get headaches a lot).  I realize with each and every day that family is the most important thing in my world. My mom serves as one of my inspirations, my dad-I am so grateful for the relationship I now have with him, my husband-words cannot even express the love and gratitude I have for him…my siblings have helped me to learn a lot over the years, my kids are my cheerleaders and my biggest weakness and hold every inch of my heart, and my nieces and nephews know that their Aunt Savannah will always be there for them-regardless if they need me to be or not. Sometimes I just get amazed by the different generations we are building…and we may be a dysfunctional family that came from a poverty-stricken family, but we’ve all done something to change that. We are all in better places than where we began, and I think that’s something to be proud of. These members of my family are grateful for the things they have, they’re proud of their individual families, and they strive to reach their full potential. If there’s one thing I would love for my nieces and nephews to take away from having a relationship with me, it would be that hard work, determination, and perseverance pays off. I would love for them to see the dedication people have to have in their lives in order to succeed. College isn’t easy, either are jobs, or careers, or parenting…you have to keep working hard and ‘keep on, keeping on.” That’s what I tell myself when I get to this point in the semester right before midterms…otherwise I’d go crazy!

So to sum up this blog-I’M RAMBLING! I’m letting you in on some of the thoughts that were flowing through my brain this weekend.  First thought: I’m tired. I’m exhausted. My body aches with fatigue. Second thought: Is there a reason why we’ve ended up in the same place, at the same time, many years later? Third thought: I love my family including my kids, nieces and nephews, whom I hope learn that hard work, perseverance, and determination pays off in life. And my fourth thought: Keep on keeping on!!!!

Sunday, September 21, 2008 11:03:35 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] | 

Last Saturday afternoon I was teaching a class in SFH when I saw a man, woman and small child walk by the classroom. Nobody seems to be here on Saturday afternoons unless they are lost, so I expected to see them again soon. I had a speaker in my classroom at the time, so when a student working in the Center for Professional Studies came to my room to tell me that there was a family here and they don’t know where they need to be, I could easily leave.

I found out quickly that they were Martin and Maria with their son Jesus. The parents were here to find in advance where the ceremony that will make them American citizens will take place. They didn’t want to get lost Wednesday morning and then be late for this.

I pointed out the Franciscan Center to them. (thanks to whomever sent all the emails leading up to this.) They looked at that building and the rest of the campus from that spot in front of SFH on a really nice day and you would have thought they were seeing heaven. They tried to explain to Jesus what was going to happen in a few days, but the boy seemed just as happy to look at something on the ground. They were so pleased to hear that Sisters lived and taught here, and Martin told me that he thought Lourdes was a very large campus, certainly bigger than BGSU. They are from near Defiance and had some familiarity with Bowling Green I guess. I was sorry to dispel that thought for him, but it didn’t seem to diminish anything much. I wish I could describe their mood and spirit at that time of anticipation, but I could never do it justice. It was a great encounter for me, I am grateful to have met them.

I decided then to attend the Naturalization myself on Wednesday. If this is such a huge deal to people, I should be there. I didn’t foresee that it would be a huge deal to me as well.

As almost all of you business students know, my parents were born in the old country. Both are gone now, and I am embarrassed to admit that I don’t know anything about their naturalization. That hole in my background really hit me hard as I saw the 78 people about to take their oath. How could I not know every detail? I should be able to recall stories. What was it like? How did they feel? Where was it? Did it happen this same way? I got a little panicky and I feared them slipping further away from me.

I thought “You dope! Why did you come here today? Was it just to make yourself feel rotten?”

A pretty great thing happened to me then. As the soon-to-be-citizens walked into the theater two by two, I caught sight of Martin. He was wearing a nice suit and a red tie, and he and Maria were beaming. He saw me at the same time and waved from across a small distance. Then he got out of line to come and shake my hand and I got to wish them well before he had to reassume his position next to his wife. We went into the theater and just about the time one of our students read the Emma Lazarus poem “The New Colossus” which is on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty I realized that I actually felt closer to my mom and dad then. It was as if I was able to see them in Martin and the rest of these excellent people. Just like my folks did, they want a better life and they want it here. I guess it didn’t matter anymore when and where it happened for my parents. It matters why it happened. Those stories I know all about and I know I won’t forget them.

Friday, September 19, 2008 3:57:35 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

I will write a non-traditional blog. This my dear readers is where i wish i was...............................................................................

It is a place of calm, relaxing air. When at the beach all the cares of the world seem to be lifted. Even the most important matters almost vanish as the wind rushes around. There is no place as beautiful as the beach. It is therapy enough to heal any quandary of a weary soul.

            Stepping onto the sun-warmed sand is like walking through a door to a much more magical place, with the grains of sand becoming one between every toe. Every step is greeted by the warm embrace of a caring gentle friend. Bending over to sift the sand through your fingers it is apparent all that exists is right here and right now.

            As each and every speck falls, the cool ocean breeze sweeps it away. The palm trees rustle with glee in the mid-afternoon's sun. The gulls all around seem to just float merrily as if not for the current of air they would be lost. It whistles through your hair as though to gently massage every woe away. The sea smells of salty air, so strong the taste is over whelming.  

            In the distance is a cabana, a little wooden paradise. The thatched roof made of old palm leaves glows in the sun light. It is so close on the horizon that it seems easily attainable while still so far off. Finally, reaching the cabana, sweat dripping from the brow; it is imaginable that there is no other place on earth with so much allure.

Underneath the make-shift roof is a cold refreshing beverage. The glass has condensation on every side. The drink hits your lips with a splash of sour lemonade, with the sweet after taste of mint. It is instantaneously refreshing like a cool mountain stream.

Gazing out from the hut there are two noticeably strong coconut trees standing with pure satisfaction. In their grasp sways a cloth held tightly on both sides, trusting these gentle trees. Languidly inside the hammock, the wind sways it to and fro. Images shoot through the mind as it wanders idly from this nonsense to that.

The noises all around ensure your security from all civilization. The waves rolling up onto the beach come to a calming rumble. The birds sing a gay tune in the air above. The rustling and bustling of the trees float in and out of idle ears. In the distance there is a thunderous roar from the waves smashing against mammoth cliffs. A soft Caribbean tune comes from the cabana down the beach where others enjoy their own personal heaven.

The healing powers of a private beach, on the soul, can be matched by no other. Whether it is here or there, the sights, the smells, and the atmosphere as a whole, stand alone. When troubles weigh heavy, there is only one way to go and that my friend is to the beach.

I just thought it might be nice to get away from all the crap politics. Have a drink, kick your feet up and having a good weekend. Come Monday Wallstreet will have opened back up and one can only wait to see what life will have in store.

                                                               Tell Me A Story I Love You?

Friday, September 19, 2008 3:05:19 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

The Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is a national organization that works primarily for CCW issues on College campuses. SCCC applaudes another victory for Ohio CCW permit holders that has come down from the Ohio Supreme Court:

Today’s ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court that strikes down a ban on legal concealed carry in public parks was “a proper decision that upholds the state’s concealed carry preemption statute,” the Second Amendment Foundation said.

Ohio’s current concealed carry statute, adopted by the State Legislature in 2006, prohibits local governments from adopting more stringent gun control regulations than the state. The City of Clyde passed an ordinance banning legal concealed carry in city parks. The law was challenged by Ohioans for Concealed Carry.

“Anti-gun municipalities across the country have been cooking up ways to challenge state preemption statutes,” noted SAF founder Alan Gottlieb, “as a means of harassing legally-armed, law-abiding citizens. Today’s ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court struck a necessary blow in the Buckeye State for civil rights and the rule of law.”

The court ruled 4-3 against Clyde in a case that was being closely watched by both sides in the gun rights debate. It was a SAF-supported lawsuit against the City of Cincinnati that was the catalyst for concealed carry legislation in Ohio.

“The right of self-defense does not end on the sidewalk at the entrance of a public park,” Gottlieb observed. “The rights of law-abiding gun owners are not subject to the whims of anti-gun municipal governments that think they have the authority to ignore state statute. It’s because of city officials like those responsible for the Clyde ordinance that the State Legislature acted correctly two years ago and stripped them of the power to adopt such harassment laws.

“Ohio gun rights activists, and especially Ohioans for Concealed Carry, have every right to be proud,” Gottlieb concluded. “Ohio’s concealed carry statute is both sensible and responsible, and municipal governments have no business interfering with the lawful exercise of a constitutionally-protected civil right.”

Thursday, September 18, 2008 7:28:26 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] |