Celebrating a Life - Thomas L. Stuck

This past weekend, Otto traveled to L.A. to celebrate the life of his brother, Tom who succumbed to congestive heart failure this past weekend.  Tom didn't live his life silently, with ease or how others would suggest he live. He lived out loud and big and he sometime struggled.  He was Otto's older brother and sometimes bullied him and chased him all over, but when Otto relives the events and tells the stories about their childhood, I can see the love that they had for each other and the memories they shared shine.  I'm sure the family has great memories and enjoyed the time Sunday reliving them, celebrating his life and doing a few shots of Jack or Wild Turkey.  May God welcome you Tom into His Kingdom today!

At Jason's college graduation party, Chino - 2006
J, Tom, Justin, Shawn, Charlene and Buck

San Clemente - 2007
FR - Jamie, Nathan, Chris, Jess, Buck, Shawn
BR - Jennifer, Tom, Charlene, Tim, Chuck, Otto, CJ, Missy, Josh

Catching Up

Well, life goes on.... since I last blogged, I've starting donating a lot of time in the adoption department at Catholic Charities.  They have a project of getting all closed adoptions on an Excel spreadsheet.  They have so many different documents that are associated with an adoption that when they need to review a record, they have a wild goose chase on their hands.  So, I've been going in a few hours each day to try and search the current spreadsheet and document the missing information.  Once that is completed, then I'll review the microfilm or paper records to complete the information missing on the Excel spreadsheet, in hopes that all pertinent information will be located on one page.  Whew.  It is a daunting task since the office has been doing adoptions since the early 50's, there are a LOT of records.  Although the task is large, I feel so good to  be able to help out.  Their staff is small and there just isn't enough time for them to do the leg work whenever an adopted child is searching for their birth mother or visa verse.

I visited the Westmoreland County Food Bank a few weeks ago in hopes to start volunteering there as well, and the COO thought there might be a job.  After meeting with them I discovered that the board didn't approve for an additional person, no bueno on the job, but they do have some volunteer opportunities possibly in the office doing some data entry.  I'm going to focus on the project at CC for now, and hopefully will get my foot in the door at the food bank in hopes of a possible job in the future.

Otto and I are both helping out at one of the church's Food Pantry each month.  The Friday night before the disbursement of food, we pick up the leftover bread from the local Panera bakery and bring it with us the next morning.  We spend about 5 1/2 hours the first Saturday of each month helping to prepare for the 300+ folks in need to pick up a box of groceries, including eggs, fresh veggies and even diapers and toilet paper.

It sure feels good to be helping out others in need and it keeps me focused on what God truly intended for our lives, not making money and hoarding personal items, but to treat others less fortunate with dignity and respect!  I am humbled by the numbers of people in need that come through the line each month.  Some, so embarrassed to look you in the eye, but ever so thankful to those with disabilities needing help to pack their box to the family suffering severe economic turmoil.  I smile and greet each cheerfully although on the inside I am asking God, why?  I pray that I continue to serve with an open heart and mind.

Oh yeah, and our oldest grandkiddo turned 15 last week, is that unbelievable how fast time flies by?

We visited the Cooney's in OH a couple of weekends ago, here are some pictures from near the farm where Sheryl grew up in Somerset.  First, there is the covered bridge, an abandoned church building, an interesting door stop, an old barn and tractor and lastly, a picture of us in Columbus after eating at Katzinger's deli - a great find while we were downtown at the co-op market on Saturday!  Enjoy!