Link to New Blog

Please visit Charlotte and myself over at our new blog at www.mandiandcharlotte.blogspot.com

Hope to see you there!

My Favorite Tribute Yet

I know everyone is probably wondering what's going on with our little Charlotte. She's doing fantastic, and I PROMISE to sit myself down VERY SOON and give y'all an update. But right now I want to share with you a special tribute that was made in honor of our boys, Jake and Gus. I found this website http://www.namesinthesand.blogspot.com/ where this family in Australia, who lost their son as well, will write the names of angels in the sand. I don't know what's more amazing - how amazing these people are to take the time to do something so beautiful, or how many names they've written.

Those are two of the most beautiful pictures I've ever seen. I miss my boys.

Jake and Gus's tribute can found at http://namesinthesand.blogspot.com/2009/02/jake-and-gus.html, but please also go their home page and have a look.

I'm Sorry I Failed You

The other day my mother brought over a few bags of miscellaneous stories, drawings and what-nots that she had collected during my school years. I guess this is the magic moment in one's life when your mom no longer cares to hold onto that crap for sentimental reasons, and it was determined that I should be the one to go through it. To be honest, I didn't really find much that's worth saving. I mean, of course I'm going to save the cottonball snowman I made in 1st grade, and the self-portrait I drew in 7th grade. But what really peaked my interest was an essay I wrote in the 8th grade. It was an essay that won the 1989 LaGrange VFW Essay Contest, where I was awarded a $50 savings bond that would later buy a few rounds of beer in college. I'd like to share that essay with you now.

What Can I As A Young Catholic Do To Help Prevent World Terrorism?

The first and major things that I, as a young Catholic, could do is pray. God hears and helps with our problems. We have brought this sin upon ourselves and we need to ask for God's forgiveness. If we talk to God and pray then maybe he can help us.

After praying then I could send a letter to my Congressman and maybe if I was lucky then something would happen and one letter would make a difference in the world.

I could also form a group of protestors and demonstrate at the Town Hall telling the dangers of terrorism and what we are doing to our world. This could open the eyes of people to our world and what we stand for.

One thing, which anyone, Catholic or not, can do to prevent world terrorism is to be honest and set an example for others in the generations ahead of us. We are the future and we must prepare it for the people to come.

The next time that anyone is tempted to do anything that he or she knows is wrong and can hurt someone, that person should stop and think. That in itself is terrorism.

Little things like not pushing someone or stopping yourself from stealing something can all help to fight world terrorism. What I as a young Catholic do in my actions today, effects the way I will live when I am an adult. If I act as a Catholic should then I will have a happy life when I am older, but if I live with sin then my adulthood will be one of hatred.

These are some of the things that I, as a young Catholic can do to eliminate world terrorism.


I don't even know where to start. The other essay entries must have been REALLY BAD. But I do know one thing, I didn't do a very good job at stopping terrorism, so for this I apologize. I'll be hosting a rally at the Town Hall tomorrow if anyone would like to join me.