Rites of Spring

Ahhh, Spring!
Ask a grown-up what signifies a perfect spring day.

You'll get answers like: 72 degree weather, flowers blooming, playing hooky from work to tee off at 9 a.m., top down on the convertible, windows open letting in a fresh breeze.

A two-year-old sees things differently.

Alison came to visit this weekend. To her, a perfect spring day is swinging, going so high that you feel upside down! (Thanks Uncle Bo for the avante garde pic!)





Spring is reconnecting with the dog next door. His name is Alex, so we have an Alison and an Alex on the front lawn. She loves him. He her.




He shows her that a perfect spring day means rolling around and scratching your back on the grass!
"Oh yeah....feels so good! I could do it all day long! Now you try, Alison !!! "











"Well, Alex, it't not quite as good as bare feet in the sand or going without your Pull-Ups at the Pool, but if this is what you like to do....then I'm gonna join ya !!! "









Playing peek-a-boo with the adults from the top of the gymn set is especially fun!





A perfect spring day to a two-year-old:

New Sunglasses

Hair in pigtails

No more heavy coats, gloves, boots, snow
pants and cold weather

Swinging to the Sky

A wonderful dog named Alex

Staying Awake until 3:00 p.m.

Kissing everyone goodbye, grabbing a glass of juice and sleeping all the way back to Noblesville!!

Thank you St. Patrick. Without your life of apostolic duty to Christ, March 17 would be just another ho-hum day in the pursuit of spring. Instead, it is a day of celebration, parades, dyeing the river green (note to self: Wabash River green???? 2010 possibility???), Irish stew and Green Beer, Masses said the world over in your remembrance (Thank you Fr. Sextus Don). Our little world of St. Patrick's Church in Lagro IN is no exception, for it is on this day that the Friends of St. Patrick work diligently toward a wonderful soup supper, an inspiring mass and excellent entertainment to wrap up the day.

Jo and Janet cut pies in preparation for the soup supper. THANK YOU LAGRO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH for letting St. Patrick's use your wonderful facility to host our soup supper each year. Without your support, our efforts would be much harder to complete!

The Friends of St. Patrick's is a small but earnest group. We are Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran. We are teachers, business owners, farmers, housewives, office workers, retirees, and the self-employed and we all come together for the purpose of promoting and expanding the knowledge of the history of St. Patrick's Church in Lagro, and its role in the expansion of Catholicism in the Ft Wayne/South Bend Diocese.

Velva , one of the FOSP, returned on March 17 to assist as a greeter to folks coming to the soup supper. Velva has had a difficult four years, but with God's help will be coming back to her home in rural Lagro the end of the month.

Friends of St. Patrick's plays an important role in many of our lives. We each bring gifts to the group. Small but mighty, it is amazing how God has called us to be a part of St. Patrick's legacy.

Janet is a leader and friend to all; Peggy is so gifted in music and was a lightning rod behind the restoration of the Erben organ. Cindy is a leprechaun with a loving spirit and talents in the kitchen and the stage. Her husband, Pat is a Connoisseur in the kitchen and can do wonderful things with beer and food! Mike is always willing to give a smile and a helping hand; Tom D. is Mr. Fix-It; Mary Jane keeps track of our money and brings her daughter and daughters-in-law to help us when needed. Thank you Gayle, Peggy and Jane!!! Jo is the most organized person I have ever met and is pro-active in the kitchen, knowing what needs done before anyone else....Steve is a new member, quiet and a worker bee, as well as Thom C.....Then there is Ann, Frank, Matt and their families....They are the face of St. Patrick's and we are so grateful to them all....Paul is the elder of St. Patrick's and the very reason the FOSP is an organization. He has loved St. Patrick's longer than any of us and his guidance has been so invaluable....Brenda is Paul's driver and sidekick and is willing to help in any way she can....Tom W. always has a smile on his face and rides a John Deere around the Church every week all summer long.....Becki has her words, Blog and camera....
Many other people are silent soldiers to St. Patrick's and help us in ways large and small. There are the two Ann's from St. Bernard's, who spread the word about our festivities and devote themselves quietly to St. Patrick's efforts. There is Minda, who sends out our thank you notes, Cherryl and Doug, who donate pies and come out to make sure we are set up for the evening, Nancy and Bill, who are there when called on and needed, the columnists at "the paper" and the Wabash Plain Dealer who make sure our events are recorded in a timely manner, and the women of the Lagro UMC, who come to open the fellowship Hall and stay around to assist us each year. Last, but not least, there is Fr. Sextus Don and Bishop D'Arcy. Although they cannot be at each and every activity the FOSPer's foster, we know they are with us in spirit and love.


The Friends Quartet, from the Friends Church in Wabash, performed for us this year. They did a wonderful job !!! Mike, second from left, was an Altar Boy at
St. Patrick's over 50 years ago!!!

Finally, St. Patrick's would not exist without people like you!!! You come to our events, you enjoy the mass, the food, the fellowship and the beauty of the church. Every time the doors of St. Patrick's are open, someone will come in who has never been in the church before.
They enter and then exclaim, "Oh, how beautiful! I've never been here! This church is just wonderful!!!
Yesterday I took two people on a quick tour of the church. Both of them were lifelong residents of Wabash County but were novices to St. Patrick's. They just wanted to see the church and took the opportunity to come to St. Patrick's Day. They are not Catholic, but will spread the word to their friends about the wonders of the venerable old cathedral.



In each and every life there should be a catalyst that pushes us to be better people. For the Friend's of St. Patrick's, it is the church. Standing stately on Main Street in Lagro IN since 1873, the church has welcomed thousands into her arms. She has a spirit that cannot be quieted, and once She touches your heart, you are willing to ask God's help and guidance in keeping her vigil. Our friendships that have begun because of St. Patrick's will be life-long. We are better people because of our selfless involvement with this church and we Thank God for leading us to her.


Be sure to come to Lagro Days on Saturday, June 27 and be part of the celebration of Lagro's 150th Anniversary and St. Patrick's role in this Irish community!!!

St. Patrick's Day Celebration - St. Patrick's Church, Lagro

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION - MARCH 17, 2009
HISTORIC ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH - LAGRO, IN

A very special day and event is nearing for all Catholics, and particularly for the people who support the historic St. Patrick's Church in Lagro, IN. Each year, supporters (known as Friends of St. Patrick's - FOSP) of the beautiful old church, host a soup supper, Mass and evening entertainment. The following is the schedule:

4:30 to 7:30 p.m. - Soup supper at Lagro United Methodist Fellowship Hall. Potato soup, Beef Stew, assorted desserts and refreshments will be served. Donation taken at the door.

5:30 p.m. - Mass at Historic St. Patrick Church - Fr. Sextus Don

7:30 p.m. - Friend's Men Quartet entertaining at the church, donation accepted but not required

Plan on coming for a great meal, Mass and entertainment! Attend all three events, or pick and choose what suits you best!

Every time an event takes place at Historic St. Pat's, I hear someone say, "I've lived here my whole life and never been inside this church before." I would like to help erase this problem! If you receive this Blog, please forward it to at least ten people you know who are interested in St. Patrick's, are Catholic, from the Lagro area, interested in the refurbished Erben organ, or like to wear green! We need to get the word out that this Historic church - on the National Register of Historic Places - is a wonderful asset to the Ft. Wayne - South Bend Diocese, to the county of Wabash and to the community of Lagro!

In closing, I share with you St. Patrick's Evening Hymn:

O Christ, Son of the living God

May your Holy Angels guard our sleep,

May they watch us as we rest

And Hover around our beds.

Let them reveal to us in our dreams,

Visions of your glorious truth,

O High Prince of the universe,

O High Priest of the mysteries,May no dreams disturb our rest,

And no nightmares darken our dreams,

May no fears or worries delay our sleep,

Our willing, prompt repose.

May the virtue of our daily work

Hallow our nightly prayers,

May our sleep be deep and soft,

So our work be fresh and hard.

(Pray recited at Friends of St. Patrick's meetings at the close of each meeting.)

HOPE TO SEE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 17!!!

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Birthdays to You!!!

We had a very busy weekend celebrating Valentine's Day and two very important birthdays! The first picture shows Alison, modeling her "tutu" that she received from Valentine's Day. She asked Jesus for it, and then mommy and daddy told her maybe she should ask Cupid!! Funny!

Picture Number 2 is Madison, our niece who turned 13 on Valentine's Day. Her mom and dad threw her a surprise party (family only) and once she was over her embarrassment at being the center of attention, I think actually enjoyed being celebrated!

Picture Number 3 is Izabielle. She will be 3 on February 17 and her daddy had a party for her at Mcdonald's. What a time that was! Kids everywhere having a great time. Izi was so excited at the presents, the cake, the fun!

It is hard to believe all that has come and gone in our lives in thirteen years, but for sure the most important are Madison (13), Danielle (10), Gabrielle (6), Izabielle (3) and Alison (2).

The End of the Season and Happy New Year

The girls came to visit for a couple of days last week before school started back up. They were so busy with all the presents from Christmas, and a few that were older than that. The first thing they wanted to do was cut the Barbie dolls hair. Gabi (the oldest) has done this before and most of her Barbie dolls look like Skinheads...nearly bald. After the cutting ceremony, the dolls were thrown into the drink and washed off. It was easier for Izi to jump into the tub with them than to sit on the side and bend over!

This is my normally pulled-together TV room. Not on Thursday and Friday! All the toys from Christmas were in there, waiting to be played with by the Grands!

When the new toys lost their initial appeal, it was on to playdough time. I made the dough for them, then let them knead in food color and have at it with cookie cutters. Homemade playdough is mostly flour and salt (3 C. Flour, 1.5 C salt, 3 T. oil, 1 C. water and food color). Once it dries out, it doesn't stick to anything, which is far better than purchased Playdough which has a tendency to harden and stick like glue to solid surfaces!

Why not use child labor when it is handy? After all, we fed them lunch! With that, the ornaments from the porch tree and the inside tree were lovingly removed from the tree and placed in their boxes. Only three ornaments bit the dust on the porch. Papaw was in charge of making the Christmas tree naked and it amazes me how he can have such authority!!!

When the day is over.....the dolls have been sheared, the new ones played with, Playdough is in the trash, the tree is out the door and the kids still have energy left (while Mimi is ready for a nap) we play the age-old and honored game, "Poke Your Sister's Eye Out." Izi won this round!!

Happy New Year everyone! January is officially upon us. Once we have Ryan's birthday (35 big ones on 1-10), the month will begin to drag on and on and on!!!! Only 82 days until April 1, which I officially call spring and flip-flop weather! I'm making my countdown calendar as soon as I log off!!!

Post-Christmas Wrap-Up

Alison isn't taking any chances! She gives last minute gift ideas to two Santas!!!










I am not sure what the look on Izi's face is from, but obviously Santa didn't do something right. Gabi's expression (left) seems to confirm it: "Yeah, Santa screwed up!"
















Izi (left) and Alison (below) with their new Bitty Baby dolls.

My very favorite Christmas song is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". In keeping with the song, we certainly had a merry time on Christmas Eve. All our girls, aged 10 and under, makes for a fun time. We had dolls, doll accessories, doll clothes, beauty shop items and other assorted girlie items, all unwrapped and strewn on the rug within five minutes of blast-off.

I had also wanted a "Mary Wagoner" Christmas as part of our Merry Little Christmas. My dear late mother-in-law orchestrated Christmas Eve like a seasoned conductor. First was dinner, then an organized gift event in the living room. Each person had to guess what was in the gift, then unwrap and display to the rest of those assembled. Afterwards, we all took posed pictures for posterity and Grandpa Junior was in charge of cleaning up the wrappings and boxes to make sure nothing of value was thrown away.

I don't know what went wrong, but my Merry Little Mary Wagoner Christmas turned into a Merry Little Griswald Christmas within two seconds. I lost control (my niece suggested that I never HAD control!) , soon after saying "May I have your attention"...... The littlest of the bunch were ripping the paper, trying to open the boxes, perusing the contents and going to the next gift. It made for mass confusion and lots of fun! After all, anyone can have organization....it takes nerves of steel to let the spirit of Christmas take over and not suggest to a child to WAIT!!! I am sure Mary Wagoner was looking down from Heaven with a big smile! After having had 3 sons, she would have absolutely loved all this girlishness we have in our household!!

On Christmas Day we drove to Kitty and Chris' and enjoyed the evening with them. We had a good meal and a great game of Euchre (although Tom and I were beaten severely!). On Friday, we ventured to the mall to return assorted items of Kitty and Chris'. We were the official "Keep Alison Happy" elves while mom and dad stood in the Returns line and then browsed the markdowns for more good deals! Every year, when the season is over and I am revisiting all the moments of the Holiday, I declare that it has been the best Christmas ever. This year was no exception. It truly was the best Christmas ever and all our Grands are at such a wonderful age! Santa is still very real to them and true magic occurs when you look at the wonder of Christmas through the eyes of a child.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES 2008

We had a great time at Cookie Day. The oldest taught the youngest all about the intricacies of sugar cookies....how to roll them, cut them and ice them. Everyone knew how to eat them!!! In all, about eight dozen cookies were cut and baked, and most of them were decorated and sent home with everyone!

Meet Tom. He turned 64 this week and in two more days, will have been my other half for 42 years. I can't believe how quickly we have spent our time. I am old-fashioned. I still believe in true....smack your face and fall down stupid...love. I met Tom at 16 and just knew he was "the one." For me, Tom's humor and zest for living (especially Ball State Football) keep me going. He sees humor in absolutely everything and that is important in this world....and sometimes even more so in our life. Thanks, hon, for just being you.

Gabi, age 6 and in Kindergarten, is absolutely thrilled to be learning to read. Here, she is
reading to Uncle Chris.



We are now down to the final few days before Christmas. It's the best week of the year for many of us. Family, memories, and one moment at some time on Christmas Eve when the world seems peaceful.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Sleep in heavenly peace.....