March For Life

Hi Friends,

I want to say a few words about the March for Life. OK maybe a more than a few. The March for Life was more than just going on Monday and Marching on our Nations Captial. It was a time for me to find where I stand on the front lines or in the background. It started Saturday Morning, We left for DC at about 6:30 and had a great trip! I could not sleep at all, mostly because when I get a little sleep I stay awake. It was a great trip, along with a trip to the Holocaust Museum. Which I couldn't really appreciate , because of time. But I did get to see all of the Major memorials in our Country. On Sunday we had mass at a hotel, which included music by tony Melendez, which is not not as good as Bob Rice. It is a close second.  Then the sessions started.  I learned So much from all of the speakers. going in I knew I was pro-life...but the question was am I going to act  on being pro-life. Now I know after listening about the battle that is being fought. That I need to be on the front line and storm the beach with all the other pro-lifers. I went to many breakout sessions that talk about things like starting a pro-life group to Overpopulation and how it is a myth. 

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Now to really talk about the March, I heard a number like 18,000 so lets go with that. 18,000 people marched to tell our government that we don't want abortion to be legal and that it should be illegal. We went from the American History Museum to the Supreme Court.  I saw amazing things. Like People chanting, people praying, people with Signs that read things like "I AM PART OF THE PRO-LIFE GENERATION!"  One of the most amazing things I saw was  a group of about 200 singing "Hail Holy Queen" with a statue of the Virgin Mary. I met Congressmen Renssci, Rob Portman. And the Couple who started the March for Life!  I saw amazing things that words can't exactly explain. Beyond just what I did. Seeing a pregnant mother, or a family with a young child touched my heart in ways that can't be explained. 

My status from when we got back: 

"we came, we marched, we now have a long road of prayer for then end of killing inocent babies...people in general. That is the challenge to every one to do that went. sure it is great to march and be know be covered on news networks...be seen by people and chant chants. But what are you doing when the doors are shut are you prayers to stop it. If not NOW is the time God Bless my brothers and Sisters."

 Another Pro-Life quote I love comes from Bob Rice (go figure)   "

"It starts with us. It starts with me. I don’t think everyone who is pro-choice is evil. They are as much my brother and sister as the unborn child I’m trying to speak for, or the elderly person who is “useless” to society, or the prisoner on death row.

I want to view everyone, whether they are pro-life or pro-choice, Catholic or Protestant, Christian or atheist, young or old, black or white, or guilty or innocent, as my brother and sister. And maybe my example can help them do the same."

Now it is the time for action sure it is great to march, but a march won't abolish abortion. PRAY will though. The Bible Says "With God all things are POSSIBLE" (Mathew 19:26)

Tonight I sit hear with a few thoughts, like thank God that the march was last weekend, because now there is a bunch of snow in DC. That I am totally blessed that my parents chose life. and that Obama, Obama...you had a Pro-Life Momma!

Peace to you all 

Bobby

Cloud the "best dog ever"

Yo whats up, 


Today is the 1 year anniversary of having to put my dog Cloud down. Now sure some of you might just say, awwwe I am so sorry to hear that. But some times that isn't what I want to hear. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I woke up and the house it smelled really bad. 


I thought today is probably going to be the day.  I had known for months that he was sick and needed some kind of medical care, we didn't have the money. I cherished  everyday that we had left together. My dog oddly enough was like my best friend, always there with me. He used to just know when I was having a bad day he would just sit by me. Talk about a best friend, he made sure I would wake up in the morning. But that morning he didn't even bark, I knew something was wrong. When I smelled the dog poop I knew something was wrong. and I saw him that morning and well I knew it. So I still went to school (now I don't think I shouldn't have). I kissed him on the head one more time like I always did before I left. When I went down the drive way I let the flood gates loose so to speak. 


Went to school didn't pay attention. I had to stay on campus to go get a passport, and that took longer than I expected. I had to wait for my aunt and was freaking out the whole  time. I rushed home and went like 95 on the highway at one point. It felt just at the time. Got home and park my car side ways on the driveway and my dad told me all I could say is I know. I got in the car and just petted cloud until we got there. Then I picked up my dog, held him, and bathed him in my tears. When we got there after we did everything you do when you go to the vet. I couldn't say or do anything besides cry, and pet Cloud. a week before I said goodbye to him and did that whole thing, because I didn't know he was going to last. 
I remember going home and going downstairs, I sat there for 3 hours just crying, praying and wondering. I cuddled with the blanket I carried him in the vet with.  


My dog had a lot of personality Cloud was the only dog I had ever seen smile.  He was a dog that would just make you smile by watching him. 


Here is to Cloud "the best dog ever" How missed you are, 


Bobby 

Goodbye (Emotionally Charged blog)

Some times I write a blog because I love to write them (even if almost no one reads it). Other times I write them because I have a thought, or a teen asks a question about something. Other times it is emotionally charged. This is emotionally charged.




1st off this isn't goodbye to this blog, it is good bye to some one. My last living grand parent. My Grandma Violet died when My mom was 19, My Grandpa Mechling died when I was 7, My Grandma Rosile died when I was 12, My "step" Grandma died when I was 14. The Only real Grand parent left (that I have contact with) is my Grandpa Al. He has recently lost his sight and quit swallowing  I don't think he could read anyway (at least that is the story)...


Anyway, He is really sick with skin cancer. And is living his last days. I have had a heck of a lot memories with him in my life. So I thought I would share a story or two.


The 1st one is just a funny story, when my sister was in 1st grade her class did some kind of a play. I don't remember much but what I do remember is a brought a stuff animal/puppet. It was a Zooble Zoo Character. I wasn't allowed to have it during the show for some reason, so it sat in a clothes basket for the whole show. I watched this "play" and I was waiting to get my stuffed animal. At the end of the show my grandpa stuck in in his jacket and hid it. I remember finding it very, very very funny as a 4 year old. I also remember he came to a lot of our school events as a young child open houses and such. He always seem to have a smile and a joke or a story to tell...some thing to talk about and of course old rail road stories.


Another story I remember is one night when I was around a freshman in high school my grandpa spent the night at my house. My dad was at my uncles so it was my mom, sister and I with my grandpa. All night we stayed up and I don't think I fell asleep until 6 am. My grandpa had me rolling about stories from his childhood, One in particular: He was staying at his grand parents house and their was this girl. He was about 11 and she was 13ish....and well he was walking by a bush and she grabbed him and touched his "peeny wennie"...he when home and told his grandpa and his grandpa asked what he did and he said he ran away...I still laugh about referring to your...as a peeny weenie.


There are hundreds of stories I could tell you...but those 2 are 2 really good ones, at least I think so. 


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If I had to write a eulogy for my grandpa it would go something like this:


My grandpa was a kind man, He always a joke and a story. I want to share a few laughs that I had with my grandpa, one time at the lake house it was just about the last night and I was getting stuff together and looking for Michelle and he said the pirates got her...now I was tired and not thinking clearly so I just went down by the beach and then I found out the joke was on me...who came up with it all, you guessed it. Grandpa....when I walked back up the stairs and saw that Michelle was right there I just laughed.  You all might remember his hunting habbits, I will never forget another year when he brought his old pictures but it was one that you have to click to go to each slide. It prob. was from the 60's and no one new how to use it.  When it was found out we spent the rest of the night looking at all these old pictures that for some reason Grandpa was not it any of them...and he didn't take them. Well, then we found out that he had the pictures taken so he would know what happened while he was hunting. There are many other memories I have like when I was real young I would hug him and then he would say "You broke my neck" and then I would proceed to try and "fix" it with an invisible screw driver. Now As I am here I think about all those years and all those days leading up to Grandpa's passing. I remember talking to him the last time, and all he could say was I love you, and that is all I could say. But everything else seemed so insignificant to say. It was like that is all I had to say, that was all that was left. I never remember saying those words in the past few years, and to say that. That was it,  and it felt like it was enough. I have spent a lot of time thinking about all those good memories I have, from all those years.  One year I will never forget it, during vacation we spent the whole week waking up to go see the coal car drop the coal. Every day the would say we aren't going to be doing that today. But everyday he insisted we had to go see this. 
Now I want to share some stories I remember being told, one of which has always been my fav. When my mom and siblings were little they went on a drive with my grandpa, this guy wanted to race them in the car. Now full well knowing where a cop car was right around the bend. So my Grandpa said the first one to turn right down the road wins. and they were off, my Grandpa slowed down right before this guy whipped around and a cop car got him right there. And as they drove past they all just looked out the window and waved. A few more great things about my grandfather is that he had a laugh that would make you laugh. Some times at the stupidest things, like a leaf falling from a tree, only he could find humor in that. I would be amiss if I didn't talk about his love for guns, a proud card carrying member of the NRA, his proudest moments in life I think were when he taught his grand kids how to shoot, I can remember the first time I hit the bulls eye dead on with his bb gun from when he was a boy, the look on his face was so proud that I could shoot and hit the target perfectly. He would get that look no matter what it was, whether it was shooting, school, music, sports. He loved it even if we weren't that good. I think my family would remember all my failed attempts at singing, but every time he would look at me and say that was FANTASTIC! He was a hopeless romantic, who admired love, and he could tell when it was really real.  He had a love for the rail road that no one else could match, everything about it. I remember being young and he got these videos from the store, then he wanted to watch them so he sat everyone down, and we had to watch all these shots of trains...He had a smile from ear to ear on his face. Everyone else looked bored and just wanted it to stop.  But he insisted we watch every single video. Grandpa lived a very storied life. He always had one to tell. I loved talking history with him for hours it would go on it wasn't just a short talk. It was about every piece every side, every thing. i remember just talking about the Bazooka gun, and how Americans got a hold of a Nazi one and modeled ours after theirs. Because it was easier to use. He loved to show his love for his family. I am sure he could go on and on and on about each grand kid, everything he was proud about. It didn't matter he would talk your ear off about it.


I really feel like the readings explained my grandpa, He ran the race, it wasn't at all easy but he finished...and he never complained. That is one thing I will never forget he could be having the worst day ever, but he would still give a smile.



Learn How to live, and you'll know how to die; learn how to die, and you will know how to live- Morrie Schwartz

The Road Less Traveled

This past couple weeks have been more than busy, between work, getting ready for school, and Life Teen Starting back up again, along with an Underclassmen Bible Study I am taking the lead and starting on with some great friends. We have a retreat coming up, and conformation going on...I have been thinking lately about the Road Not taken. It is a Poem by one of my favorites Robert Frost. 

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I love the message of that poem. You never know, some times that road that we seldom see taken is the better one to take.  There is a tough choice of our teen leaders and some retreatens from on of our Local Schools, Winter Formal and Our Spring/winter retreat are the same weekend. I feel for our Seniors and I understand the struggle.  My Senior year winter formal, or My last retreat I could experience. 

I feel that in that situation I probably would of chosen retreat, but it would of been a huge struggle. I think I would of also gotten a lot of encouragement from Michelle to go on retreat. The way I see it is yes memories are important, but don't forget what you have learned in past years. You want to finish, Finish the race.  You might have bought your dress, Ironed your suite, ordered the corsage or boutonniere. But don't let all of that make your decision. This is YOUR choice! This is apart of discernment. Take it from me, some one who has gone the distance; Who ran with you when you were younger.  Just don't be afraid to take the Road less traveled,  I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

~Bobby