Born in Ireland, the oldest of three girls.

She was pulled out of the third grade and sent to care for an aunt who was dying.

After she passed away, grandma was sent to the U.S. to care for an aging priest.

She went back to Ireland and brought her two sisters back to America.

One of her sisters died on the boat during the crossing.

She moved to Chicago where there was a large Irish community.

She met and married a fellow Irishman, timothy Dillon.

He rose to Battalion Chief in the Chicago Fire Department.

When my mother was 22 years old, he passed away.

Grandma lived alone after my mother married a professor at Notre Dame.

Grandma lived to the age of 93 and my mom lived to 91

I wanted to tell you her life story of hardship because she was a model of perseverance.

I’ll be back tomorrow!

How do you measure your degree of happiness?

Is it your relationships, wealth, health or something else?

Some people aren’t happy without all of the above in good quantities.

Others may not have wealth or health, but they have one person who loves them.

Another person recovering from a long illness is very HAPPY to be well again.

There are many people in every society who don’t have enough to eat. I’m sure they would be happier if food was more available & more affordable.

So, it seems that the measure of happiness is unique to each person’s situation.

To each of you, I wish you the HAPPINESS YOU”RE LOOKING FOR!

If not today, when?

We’re always busy in today’s world.

When, however, you need to make an improvement to your home, take the time to check with past customers first. Often they will give you insights that are important on the potential contractor that you won’t find on the contractor’s website.

It’s better to be safe than sorry.

i know this sounds a little far fetched, but with AI on the horizon, you’re not sure who or what you are talking to.

Last thing we need is a more complicated world.

This is especially true when we’re spending our money.

Although we raised six children, I don’t believe I’m an expert.

Here are some observations I’ve made while raising children to adulthood:

Unconditional Love

I don’t think there has been a more difficult time for child raising than now. Your children have many negative influences over which you have no control. Therefore, you must set yourself apart as the one person who will always love them no matter what.

Consistency

You must give praise when they do something praiseworthy and discipline when it is warranted.

Personal Example

They will learn more from what you do than what you say. This requires you to become the role model they strive to be.

Constant Communication

Because you didn’t grow up in times like these, you’ve got to know what’s going on with each child. This requires you to build trust so that they will talk to you.

A Parent Forever

Your responsibilities as a parent don’t end when your children reach 21 years of age. Their problems become more serious and you may be the only one they can trust.

Prayer

Unfortunately, there is no handbook on how to raise children. That is why we must always ask God for guidance in our journey.

Remove your shoes. Take your keys out of your pocket. Step on the scale?

That’s right: New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority is requiring that its national airline weigh passengers departing on international flights from Auckland International Airport through July 2, 2023.

The program, which Air New Zealand calls a passenger weight survey, is a way to gather data on the weight load and distribution for planes.

“We weigh everything that goes on the aircraft.

That includes the cargo to the meals onboard, to the luggage in the hold.”

“For customers, crew and cabin bags, we use average weights, which we get from doing this survey.”

Still, weight is a personal thing that not everyone wishes to disclose.

In order to protect individuals’ privacy, the airline says it has made the data anonymous. (CNN)

INTERESTING!!!

Today’s photo is of the Normandy American Cemetery in France.

The cemetery lies above Omaha Beach where thousands of young Americans gave their lives.

Those brave soldiers and marines will remain forever where they fought and died.

A number of years ago I met a veteran who went ashore in the first wave.

He said everyone was crying as they waded ashore.

Many of his friends died all around him.

Memorial Day is more than a day to enjoy a barbeque with friends and family.

It is a day to remember those thousands of young men who didn’t come home.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!

Unconditional Love is the purest form of love.

It is also the most difficult.

It is a tall order to love someone no matter what!

Probably the most common instance of unconditional love is that of a parent for a child.

It just comes naturally.

Love for a spouse, however, is a different story.

This does not come as easily as a parent and child.

It requires A CONSCIOUS DECISION to allow another person into your life and love that person as you do yourself.

This is much more difficult because every spouse brings some baggage.

God loves us UNCONDITIONALLY!

Let us always attempt to do the same!

If not today, when?

Well, the great weather you wanted all winter IS HERE!

AND where are you?

In the house watching all the bad news on the tube?

I hope not.

The wonderful month of May is almost over.

The trees have decided to burst out once again this SPRING.

You need to refresh YOUR SOUL!

Go for a walk.

Plant some flowers.

Wash the windows.

Go to a Little League Game.

Go on a picnic.

Pull the weeds.

Take a folding chair out to a sunny spot and enjoy.

Do you get my point?

GET OUTSIDE!!!

If not today, when?

We can learn a lot from trees caught in a storm.

They BEND but DON’T BREAK!

How about you?

We all face storms throughout our lives.

When they come, have you learned how to bend (survive)?

When bad things come into your life, please think about all the blessings you have.

That’s hard to do when you’re hurting so much.

But, it helps to put your life in perspective.

Remember “The sun will come up tomorrow!”