Modern Medicine and Miracles

Modern Medicine and Miracles- We made our way to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN to meet with some Orthopaedic Surgeons about Ian's knees. We were on pins and needles, but no sooner had we passed into Minnesota than a beautiful rainbow greeted us and gave us hope. We believe in miracles, and we have been waiting to claim one for quite some time.

By the end of the visit, Ian said that he believes that we received the second best prognosis he could have hoped for. The team were amazed that Ian's knees were so "rock solid" on the outside given what is happening on the inside. (They did a lot of head shaking with amazed looks on their faces.) They were further amazed that Ian denies feeling any pain, popping or locking. There is no swelling whatsoever. His knee alignment is perfect. They did not believe it. We do ....because we know that we serve an amazing God.

They complimented the previous care provide by our beloved Dr. Moran, but the MRIs and xrays haven't changed. Missing meniscus, wearing bone and other issues... they are all things that still need to be addressed. With that being said, they said that when Ian develops any pain, trauma or swelling, we need to return to Mayo immediately. Until then, we pray and they monitor. They said that even the meniscal transplants are not going to be a long term solution for Ian, but that we need to keep him moving forward.

God is good. It is humbling how sitting in a hospital waiting room for three hours can help to take my mind off my own problems. As we sat in the inspiring Pediatric orthopedic waiting room, we saw so many sick or injured children. They were the brave ones, with their brilliant smiles on their faces. It reminded me how much need there is in the world. Sometimes, I get so caught up in my own little world that I lose sight of the bigger picture. Thank God there are so many visionaries who fund incredible institutions like the Mayo Clinic. The waiting room was more like walking through a zoo or museum than a hospital waiting room. There were interactive exhibits at every turn and then... a visit from our angel.

There was a gentleman, a hospital volunteer walking around the waiting room giving away free books to the children. Even though Ian was like a giant in the waiting room, the book man came over to us anyway. After visiting with us awhile, he turned to walk away and return to the small children who were always coming and going. He looked at us and said, "I hope you find what you came here looking for." Wow... what a powerful prayer to us all. It was almost like he knew, we came looking for a miracle. Now, I am sure he didn't just disappear at this point. I mean, honestly, I got distracted by Toy Story. My attention was drawn away when Buzz was kidnapped by Syd, but when I went to locate the bookman again, he was no where to be seen.

Thank you for all of your prayers.

Creighton University - Best College - Education - US News

Creighton University - Best College - Education - US News

Mrs. Custeau

Mrs. Custeau

When I was growing up, I practically lived at my best friend Michelle's house. When her Mom died this July 2010, I thought about all of those times. I had so many great memories there. I remember sitting in their kitchen on Sunset Avenue, convening around that table and talking about all of life's mysteries: college, boys in general, but specifically those handsome brothers who lived across the street from the Custeaus, and, of course, faith. This family was so different from my family, but I loved everything about being there: their passionate debates, their humorous anecdotes from Dad Custeau's life on the road as a fertilizer salesman, their exotic home cooking and all that they could do. Dad Custeau and Michelle's brothers, my brothers by adoption, Chuck and Tom had their heads under the hoods of their various vehicles (Old Blue, The General...) every weekend when I was there. I am so blessed to have this time with this wonderful family because they too helped to shape me and my perceptions of life. I discovered that I wanted to always learn more about the things I didn't know. I am sure that I bragged to my surrogate family once or twice after I had taken a Continuing Education course on how to do your own tune-ups and had completed my first tune-up. I could sling car lingo with the best of them... well, for that month anyway.

They each had their own gifts and talented they were. Mom Custeau, who would giggle around with us for hours, was the musical one in the family, I think. She was a gifted pianist, and their home was always filled with music. They must have been appalled when I came into their lives... not only can I not sing on key, I am hopeless when it comes to singing the rights words to songs. Yikes! Later, this infectious musical habit became a permanent part of my daily routines whether I am at home or in a car. I am rarely without music. And animals... I was in love with their furry family members. When I moved to Essex in 1978, I was a poor allergic, whimpy thing. By the time I graduated high school, I had fully built up an immunity to animal dander by living at the Custeaus so much. Now, my own family has had and will continue to have many furry friends in our future. Yes, they even sleep in bed with us!

This connection was also truly a learning experience for me when Michelle and I used to study together in high school. I was used to doing my work in silence, sitting at the dining room table and having all of my study items organized out in front of me. My muse Michelle, on the other hand, would study while lying across her bed with the music booming, feet swinging constantly as she would jump up, change the music and sample new songs for me. That was distracting enough while trying to study at Michelle's house. Trying to keep track of those handsome neighbors' comings and goings was even more of a distraction.


Life is like that isn't it. We come in contact with people who leave impressions on us; they leave a little bit of themselves with us, whether we recognize it at the time or not. It really does take a village to raise a child. I only wished I had thanked my villagers more at the time.

I love and will miss you, Mom Custeau. Thank you for everything you have done for me through the years. Thank you for giving me the best friend anyone could have ever asked for. Her compassion, her intelligence, her intuitiveness and even her creepy Vezina premonitions have enriched my life in more ways that I could have ever hoped for. Mom Custeau, may you rest in God's eternal peace!

Colin Fallon: The Graduation Party Tour Finale

STAY

The day of Colin's last High School Graduation Party dawned brightly and beautifully. The party was at the beach pavilion, so we carted everything down there. When we started to set up, there was a squirrel/chipmunk who started hanging around... stalking us really. He was a nervy little booger. Racing up and down the beams of the pavilion, he made us chase him. Although this squirrel picture is from Google images, our chipmunk/squirrel had as much of an attitude. He did provide a lot of comic entertainment...I should try and download his video! He will never be the same after looking down the look the barrel of Mimi's cane!

As people started to arrive, there was so much to catch up. It had been a year since we had seen most everyone and, not only was our time in Vermont coming to an end, Colin's heading off to college signaled the end of an era. Through the years, this group of friends and family have gathered for his birthday and sacramental parties to support him through those rites of passage. Many people have come and some have gone, but this cohort has lifted him up to love and guide him. Those rites of passage were the scaffolding that led him here- Colin is all grown up now.

And Ian is right on his heels...

Thanks to everyone who made it such a special day for Colin! Thanks, Elaine for suggesting I take some pictures! I wish we all could have stayed just a little bit longer and maybe time would have stayed still ...

Stay
by Jackson Browne

Now the seats are all empty
Let the roadies take the stage
Pack it up and tear it down
They're the first to come and the last to leave
Working for that minimum wage
They'll set it up in another town
Tonight the people were so fine
They waited there in line
And when they got up on their feet,
They made the show, and that was sweet,
But I can hear the sound of slamming doors and folding chairs
and that's a sound they'll never know

Now roll them cases and lift them amps
and haul them truses up and get'um up them ramps
'Cause when it comes to moving me,
you know you guys are the champs
but when that last guitar's been packed away,
you know that I still want to play.
So just make sure you got it all set to go
before you come for my piano

But the band's on the bus,
and they're waiting to go.
We gotta drive all night
And do the show in Chicago... or Detroit.
I don't know, we do so many shows in a row.
And these towns all look the same.
we just pass the time in the hotel rooms
and wander around backstage.
Till those lights come up, and we hear that crowd,
and we remember why we came.

Now we got country and western on the bus,
R & B, we got disco in 8-tracks and cassettes in stereo
We've got rural scenes and magazines
And we've got truckers on CB
We got Richard Pryor on the video
We've got time to think of the ones we love
While the miles roll away
but the only time that seems too short is the time that we get to play
People you've got the power over what we do
You can sit there and wait
or you can pull us through.
Come along, sing this song
You know that you can't go wrong
'Cause when that mornin' sun comes beating down
you're gonna wake up in your town
But we'll be scheduled to appear
a thousand miles away from here

People stay just a little bit longer
We want to play -- just a little bit longer
Now the promoter don't mind
And the union don't mind
If we take a little time
And we leave it all behind and sing
One more song
Oh won’t you stay just a little bit longer
Please, please, please say you will
Say you will

Oh won’t you stay just a little bit longer
Oh please, please stay just a little bit more

Now the promoter don’t mind
And the roadies don’t mind
If we take a little time
And we leave this all behind and sing
One more song

Thy Kingdom Come...

Thy Kingdom Come

I have thought a lot about this phrase lately. When I think about it, I reflect on how people love and serve one another and truly make God's Kingdom come into the world. One of our quick side trips this summer was to New Jersey to visit our sister-in-law Sharon. Now the purpose of our trip was supposed to be so that we could show our love for her by helping her with a few projects around the house. Well, we were WRONG! Clearly it was a ruse. Once we got there, despite her ferocious chemotherapy treatments she was in the process of enduring, she wanted US to enjoy the Jersey shore and just be with her. Enjoy each others' company we did!

Our first stop was to do some kayaking... not just any kayaking you understand. Kayaking behind Bon Jovi's house... Okay... okay... this picture of the back of his house was from Google, we can't kayak and take pictures at the same time, but still how cool was that! We love Bon Jovi.. his music and his causes. Check out his/their website at bonjovi.com or his foundation website jonbonjovisoulfoundation.org/ In partnership with St. Joseph's Carpenter Society they have helped build/rebuild homes in Camden, New Jersey for working class folks. Loving and serving others... Thy will be done.

Our next stop was the boogie boarding beach. Now, since Sharon wasn't in any shape to boogie board, I had to do it for her. Here comes another word equation: Pam + boogie board = sand burns. Who knew sand could burn? Okay... probably all of you did except me. I did not see that big mammoth wave coming, but apparently there was a big bulls eye on my back! The wave picked me up and threw me up (threw up me?) on the beach. I am still finding sand weeks later. Laughed... I laughed so hard.

The most powerful part of our visit had to be dinner. We spent hours around the dinner table (as usual) and watched a magnificent storm sweep across the water. The bright lights of New York City vanished and reappeared as the tempest subsided. Sharon began talking about September 11, 2001 and how, when she and my brother-in-law Dana saw that the terrorists had attacked, they went down to the harbor. They grabbed first aid supplies and extra blankets. She said that when commuter boats started evacuating victims from New York City, the city of Atlantic Highlands had emergency procedures in place. Sharon was helping people around the decontamination chamber- being Christ's light in a dark, troubled time and tragic place. Even as Sharon told the story, there was a triumphant radiance in her eyes. All of these wounded and dazed people came together and got busy helping one another. And she was grateful. She was grateful that she could do something meaningful during this horrific tragedy to make a difference in the world.

I think that is exactly what The Lord's Prayer is all about, isn't it? It also reminds me of what my Word Among Us meditation said the other day- "Scripture tells us to 'serve one another through love' (Galatians 5:13), to 'strive for peace with everyone' (Hebrews 12:14), and to use our God-given gifts to take care of each other (1 Peter 4:10).

When I grow up, I want to be like my sister-in-law Sharon. Amen!

Picture Puzzles...

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No Rest for Blue Jays and Eagles!

No Rest for Cardinals, Blue Jays or Eagles!

No sooner had we returned from Hawaii than it was time for Colin's orientation at Creighton. I have to say that we are in love with Creighton University, and I pray that this is a love affair that never dies! Their attention to detail is inspiring. Their student centeredness is awesome. The environment seems so personal. Colin received his roommate match, but Mitchell from Texas was going to attend a different orientation. Shucks!

I hope Colin loves it as much as we do...

..... and before he had time to say... "Blue Jays"... he received another call!

Colin didn't have a chance to recover from his Creighton orientation on July 6th and 7th before he received word that his Eagle Board of Review would be on Thursday night, July 8th. Yikes... this was a moment, he had worked toward for many years, and all of a sudden it was here. Ian and I were pacing the floor at the cabin in Vermont (which was probably a lot better for Colin than pacing the floor in Norfolk). Finally, we got word... Colin had passed with flying colors!

Hip, Hip, Hurray! We are all proud of you, Colin.

Old Lahaina Luau: Traditional Hula and Feast

Old Lahaina Luau: Traditional Hula and Feast

My Sister Pattie and I could not think of a more appropriate way to end our Hawaiian adventures than to go to the Old Lahaina Luau. It was amazing. Not only was the buffet meal incredible, it was really a theater presentation about many of the Hawaiian traditions that come from historical events or their faith lives. We arrived early and made our way around the exhibitions. Some young men and women were learning to Hula, while others clustered around the pig that was roasting underground in a "imu" - the Hawaiian underground beachside oven. (Clint and Syd, your hog at Colin's graduation party was WAY better!) They also served Laulau, which are described as "succulent bundles of pork wrapped in taro leaf", Poi, Ahi (yellow fin tuna), Ogo (seaweed), He'e (octopus), rice, stir fry vegetables, and lots of salads: crab, taro, pohole and salmon.

"Traditionally Hawaiians had many occasions for feasts and celebrations. Whether centered around a seasonal event or a victorious battle, there were often days of preparation for such events. 'Kalo' or 'taro' has always been the staple of the Hawaiian diet. The root of the plant is mashed to make 'poi' and the spinach like leaves are used in the wrapping and steaming of fish and vegetables. The leaves are referred to as 'lu'au' and are used in popular dishes such as 'squid lu'au' and 'chicken lu'au'. Today 'lu'au' has come to mean an informal gathering of people for food and entertainment. The Hawaiian values of laulima - many hands working together, and ho'okipa - hospitality, are important aspects describing the work of the preparation for a lu'au and the importance of 'welcoming guests' in the Hawaiian culture. Indeed, these ingredients are important parts of the Old Lahaina Lu'au experience as well" (www.oldlahainaluau.com).

The evening's performances were riveting! First, it began with Ote'a, a tribute to the drum. Next came Kahiko, which all relate to stories from Hawaiian mythology. Next came a testament to the missionary era in Hawaii's history. "After being 'banned' by the missionaries, hula was performed publicly for the first time in more than half a century at the King's coronation ceremony in 1883" (www.oldlahainaluau.com). Next came the Auana which focused on the more modern aspects of hula... BeachBoys' style. This would have been my husband's favorite part. The finale was a fast-paced dance off which had dancers showcasing their amazing talents. I was moved by the beauty and faith that corresponded with this art form and communication style.

Love and hospitality permeated this island for us. Wherever we wandered when we were on Maui, people said and showed aloha. "Aloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, love, peace, compassion and mercy. Since the middle of the 19th century, it also has come to be used as an English greeting to say goodbye and hello. Currently, it is mostly used in the sense of hello; however, it is used as the above. It is also the state nickname of Hawaii, the 'Aloha State'" (wikipedia).

What an inspirational place, a gracious people and a magical time in our lives. By the time we left, Maui had become a part of us. The warm sunny beaches will be in our hearts and minds during our blinding Nebraska blizzards. The humble hospitality is what I hope to embody the most someday. Peaceful, gentle, yet so very happy... and that brings me back to our precious, little Addie, and her miraculous birth on July 4, 2010.

As the finale was unwinding at the Luau, the narrator said that it is a Hawaiian tradition for a family to have a luau on a baby's first birthday. I think that would be a wonderful way to celebrate Addie's first birthday along with her parents Brian and Katrina, Ben and Caitlin's first anniversary and the legacy of my Mom and Dad's anniversary of July 4th. Addie missed Uncle Ben and Aunt Cait's wedding in Hawaii, but she scored big time by being born on her great Grandparents' anniversary date. The story of her birth will forever be merged with the lore of their love!

The Magical Wedding of Ben and Cait

The Magical Wedding of Ben and Cait

Just when Stockholm, Sweden was all a buzz with their royal wedding, so too were we all a buzz about Ben and Cait's nuptials. Princess Victoria married her personal trainer, and I guess Ben did too. Okay... maybe that is forcing the comparisons!

I guess I will cluster the next couple of days together because they were all encompassing the wedding celebration. On Friday morning, we were waking up in our new condo when my brother Wayne, nephews Ben and Brian and Caitlin's cousin Lou were walking up the golf course to our back deck!

The rehearsal dinner was at the Grand Wailea that night was to be held in the humuhumunukunukuapua'a restaurant which was more like a Tiki Hut- a beautiful, elegant, but very casual Tiki Hut! Although the highlight of the evening would have to be meeting all of Ben and Caitlin's friends and family members, the food was a close second. As an appetizer, we had Maple bbq pork ribs. The salad was called Kula Lau'ai with Cabot White Cheddar Cheese, Asian Pears with a whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette. I had selected the Organic Chicken Breast for the entree, but they had also offered a Tasmanian Salmon Thai-Americaine or He'e Nalu Mahi'ai which was a surf and turf dish with grilled spiny lobster tail and a 5 ounce filet mignon, asparagus and roasted garlic mash potatoes. I barely had room for dessert, but I was able to jam in some mango and passion sorbet! Yum!

The wedding day dawned a little on the cloudy side, but I don't think anyone gave it a second thought. One person told us that Maui was in a drought- it hadn't seen rain in 90 days. Another local said that it had only been 60 days since they had received some precipitation. As the day turned darker, everyone commented that it is a commonly held (Hawaiian ?) belief that it is very good luck for the bride and groom when it rains on their wedding day. Sure enough, it did. A beautiful gentle rain came and went during the ceremony. The chapel was spectacular. A stained-glass rainbow was behind the altar and during the ceremony, the cantor sang "Over the Rainbow." Later, you guessed it, a beautiful rainbow stretched out across the entire sky above the resort. It was magical.

Sure, sure... they are more tales to tell about staying up late, dancing the night away and hotel security, but I will save those for another day. In closing, as Father Bob Cole told on our wedding day all of those years ago, "I will not wish the Bride and Groom good luck. Good marriages are not based on good luck; they are achieved through hard work."

Work Hard, Ben and Cait. Work Hard, Princess Victoria and Personal Trainer Daniel Westling. Love each other. Serve each other and may God bless you and keep you always!

Snorkeling Molikini

Snorkeling Molikini

I know that we did it, but I think because I was still so traumatized from the Road to Hana, I have no pictures of snorkeling. Notice how I cling to the life preserver. The Pacific Whale Foundation, a very worthwhile organization doing important work, hosted this trip and took this picture. The wind and the waves came up. I found myself humming the theme to "Gilligan's Island". That is all I remember.... "...a three hour tour...a three hour tour." That is all I can remember.

"Molokini is an ancient volcanic caldera that offers some of the clearest water for snorkeling anywhere in the world. It is located about 2 miles offshore from South Maui in the Alalakeiki Channel (between Maui and Kaho'olawe). Molokini is a marine sanctuary below water and a bird sanctuary above water. There is no access to the island itself; only those with research permits are permitted to go ashore. The incredibly clear water is due to its location in the middle of the channel and the lack of any sand deposits around the islet. No matter the wind or wave conditions the visibility here is unparalleled" (adventuremaui.com).

The Road to Hanna

The Road to Hana or If I knew then, what I know now...

When I blissfully booked The Polynesian Adventure Tour for The Road to Hana, I was just relieved that I wasn't going to have to drive it. (Ignorance is bliss... at first.) I wish I had done my homework. Here is what it says online about the Road to Hana Trip: "9. Drive slowly and take turns at the wheel. The road to Hana is dangerous. With approximately 600 curve and 54 bridges, the Road to Hana can bring you closer to heaven in more ways than one. With winding roads, blind turns, constant traffic, distracting views, narrow one-lane roads, cliffs, and wet conditions, Hana Highway has proven its worth as a danger with many fatalities. Take your time, and make sure the driver is focusing on the road. The road is long and offers many chances to pull over and take a break or switch drivers" (www.mauiinformationguide.com). Are you kidding me? Maybe Stephen King would like to set one of his horror novels out here!

Our knowledgeable guide was friendly, yet at the same time having nerves of steel. This trip with our skilled and experienced P.A. driver took 11 1/2 hours. I shouldn't mention at this point, but I will, that not only do the drivers have to traverse this path-road in a mini bus, they have to offer the shakalaka sign to cars they pass just to show that they are affable! At one point I was so terrified, I just covered my ears and shut my eyes because it was scarier than any other amusement park ride I had ever been on. We sat in the way back; I (and I am sure our driver) was grateful I didn't have the front seat view.

We made many stops along the way, and those breaks were amazing. Fresh baked banana bread stands on the side of the road, chapels made from black lava rock and magnificent flora, rainforest, waterfalls and yes... mansions- the Road to Hana had them all. Our stops were Kaumahina State Wayside, Wai'napanapa State Park, Hana Ranch, Pools of Oheo, and an inspiring winery called The Ulupalakua Ranch. Every time we negotiated another hairpin turn, the vistas were spectacular! The Road to Hana is quite a journey, and one that we will not soon forget! And I have really, really tried!

Catch a Wave and You're Sitting on Top of the World!

Catch a Wave and You're Sitting on Top of the World!

These pictures say it all. Monday was the day Ian had been waiting for since we started planning this trip. Maui Wave Riders would be the place where they would take their two hour surfing lesson. Well, honestly, the lesson consisted of about 30 seconds of survival techniques and the next one hour and 59 minutes and 30 seconds consisted on trying to catch a wave. What a great lesson on perseverance! Anything worth having is worth waiting for... wait and ride, wait and ride, the cousins did... I didn't understand the whole "rash guard" thing until the end of the day, and then I wish they had had rash guards for their whole entire bodies. That's kind of like life too isn't it. We wish we could rap up our kids in a protective cocoon to protect them from life's bumps and bruises, but it is a valuable lesson when we have to keep picking ourselves up, over and over again.

Well, persevere they did! They rode those boards in and out from shore, watching the developing waves and choosing the ones that they thought would take them on the most successful rides. By the end of the day, I am not sure who was more exhausted our delightfully entertaining instructor Al or our whole gang. At first Colin had been the holdout. He didn't want to spend the time or money to take surfing lessons, since we were only going to be in Maui for a short time. A new hobby for life? Maybe not, we would never know unless we tried!

Saint Theresa's Church, Maui

The Holy Spirit at Work

On Sunday, we had the opportunity to worship at St. Theresa's Church. What a vibrant community of faith. Just pulling into the parking lot from the busy beach town roads of Kihei, I could tell that the Holy Spirit was alive. Outside people were being fed, the youth group was raising money by selling fresh Hawaiian Leis and parishioners were connecting with one another. As we entered the sanctuary, there was an entire band playing very charismatic music. (The video clip I am trying to upload is actually after the sending.) Everyone was so warm and welcoming! The altar was decorated almost like it was an outdoor Hawaiian garden... It was so beautiful.

On the front of the St. Theresa's , bulletin it read, "A place to worship, a place to deepen and strengthen our Christian life, a place to respond to the needs of others, a place to support one another in the way of Jesus." The rest of the front of the bulletin was filled with contact information for the various ministries in the church: Hispanic ministry; Youth ministry/Life teen program/Catholic Young Adult Fellowship; Hale Kau Kau Kitchen; Music ministry; Marriage ministry: engaged encounter, marriage encounter, advocate to the marriage tribunal, Retrouvaille; Communion ministry; Religious education; Anointing of the Sick; Grief Support ministry, Persons with Disabilities ministry... the list went on and on. It was one of those moments when I felt the Kingdom of God was at hand. After Mass was over, the band played on and this warm feeling played on in my heart. I felt like I had been part of something very, very special, and I wanted to take this home with me.


On Sunday, we also went to the Maui Ocean Center. I loved it, but perhaps, the guys were less than thrilled. (Check it out at www.mauioceancenter.com/) My best buddy Michelle and I took Oceanography while students at Essex Junction Educational Center back in the 80's. It was a tough class, but my pal Michelle, perhaps a long lost relative of Jacques Cousteau, and I were fascinated by the Ocean. At one point we thought we would be Marine Biologists and be roommates forever! Ahhhh, then life happened. I realized that I stunk at Science, and although she was as smart as a whip and could have done anything she set her mind to, she met and fell in love right after graduation with her now husband. Our odysseys...

The Maui Ocean Center is focused on education and helping tourists to understand the fragile nature of both the Hawaiian eco system and that of the entire Earth. As we were touring the Center, we met folks from Minnesota and had a great time visiting with them. They had a destination wedding they attended the day before and earlier in the Spring had been to a wedding in Fremont, Nebraska. What a small world!

I guess the environmental lessons from the Maui Ocean Center drove home this same lesson. It really is a small world after all, and we have to do our part in our corner of the world to take care of Mother Earth! Whether talking about faith or saving the environment, both require hands on work!

Parasailing with UFO

When We Are the UFO...

My sister Pattie booked our Parasailing Adventures with UFO tours (www.ufoparasailing.com/) out of Lahaina Harbor. The real adventure started out with trying to find a parking place, but eventually I dropped off the entire crew and by the time I raced onto the beach having located the rendezvous point, they were all ready to board the skiff to take us out to the bigger boat. It was when I was quickly signing all of the "hold harmless" forms that I realized that I would be parasailing also. Perhaps it was that the jet lag had still not worn off, but I quickly went from frantically trying to find a parking place and my family to relief and laughing hysterically. My laughter abruptly ceased when the skipper informed us that we were going to be parasailing in a different spot on this day because there was a search and rescue underway for a missing tourist. Then... we were all shaking in our boots! Surrounded by all of this natural beauty and abundance, I would never have thought about the inherent danger.

When we arrived at the parasailing spot, it was "go" time. With the great Billy Squier and other metal music from the 80's pounding out into the air, Pattie and I led off our little expedition. (I am trying to upload the video now...) We affirmed with the Captain and the first mate that we did NOT want to take a dip in the harbor at the end of the trip. It was breathtaking. For my nephew Jared who had just gone skydiving for his 17th birthday, I am sure that it was another day at the office, but for me it was an thrill of a lifetime. Once again, I was struck by the natural beauty and all of God's gifts, especially my family. Our family laughs a lot and this trip was no exception. Laughter restores, renews and heals us in the weary places. I think that it helps us to be God's light in the world as we try to make His Kingdom Come! Pretty soon it was time to head back into the harbor... life is kind of like that, isn't it? We had lost one pair of sunglasses, but we had gained so much more.

Aloha!

Ben and Cait











My nephew Ben and his beautiful bride Caitlin had been planning their wedding for two years. Their hearts were set on a destination wedding at the Grand Wailea Resort on Maui. (Check out this amazing place online at http://www.grandwailea.com/ We didn't stay there, but we did spend a lot of time!) My sister Pattie and I flew into Maui prior to the wedding festivities, so that our kids could spend some fun times sightseeing and boy, did we! (What gave me away- my pretty pale legs? Eek!)

We arrived at our amazing condo... it was small, but only a stone's throw away from the beach, and it was decorated in such a homey way. Of course when we arrived the office was locked up, but within moments, a lovely security guard came to our rescue. We decided that we had been up for 21 hours straight at that point, but we went next door to the Denny's restaurant to grab a bite to eat. Therein came our first shocker, while the beauty in Maui was breathtaking, so was the cost of everything! We finally went back to the condo, crawled into our beds and before we knew it, the sun was rising on our first full day.

What a tourist I am! My sister Pattie and I had decided to just spend Friday at the beach catching up with ourselves after that long flight. It was great! until about 2 PM. At 2 PM, a wind storm swept down our beach out of nowhere, and we quickly grabbed our stuff and headed to safety. Safety in this case was the pool at the condo complex where the wind didn't seem to reach. It was so beautiful there. In the corner of the pool area, there were two grills built into the fenced in areas, and here we spent some of my favorite moments from the trip. We would grill out our meals and sit around the table just visiting while going in and out of the pool. Later that night we would begin again our tradition of card playing marathons until we couldn't keep our eyes open.

Ian's Race, Our Faith

Ian's Dr.Moran (http://www.oralchelation.com)

We left Mom and Dad Fallon's and headed north to Concord (www.concordortho.com) for a visit with our old friend Dr. Moran. We love Dr. Moran. Dr. Moran called to say that it was time to do a recheck on Ian's menisci. After all, it had been nearly five years since we had seen him, and Ian's two meniscus repairs in 2001 and 2003 seemed like a life time ago. You know the old expression, "if it ain't broke don't fix it"? Well, that really seemed to apply to this situation... or so we thought.

After an hour of MRIs and xrays, the air was thick with suspense as the films came onto the screen in front of us. I couldn't help but marvel about the fact that through the years, the technology in the Concord Orthopaedics office had really changed. Ian had to have MRIs on his knees since he was a baby. I remembered when we would have the MRIs done, we would lug an envelope, which was bigger than he was, around from appointment to appointment. On this day, Ian had the MRIs done at the Concord Hospital, and they were emailed to the surgeon's office across the street. Later that day when we took our copy, the images were all being held on a compact disc. Times change... they change with technology and with knee surgeries.

The images delivered the bad news before Dr. Moran spoke. The MRIs showed that while the medial menisci repairs were there seeming to do their jobs on both knees, the lateral menisci were noticeably absent- the bones already showing the wear and disintegration. I winced in pain just looking at the pictures. Although Ian insisted that he was not in discomfort, plans would need to be made to address the findings. A whirlwind of recommendations swirled around us as we met with surgeons that day and even now into the present time as we await our consultation with a surgeon out here in the Midwest. It is all in God's, and subsequently, the surgeons' hands.
I believe that God is the almighty physician, who can and does heal all infirmities. I think that doctors are powerful agents of peace. What an incredible gift to be able to be heal people physically, while at the same time showing love, compassion and understanding. We are blessed.

Ian will run this race wherever it takes him, and he will use it for good. "Let Us Run With Perseverance The Race That Is Set Before Us..." (Hebrews 11 and 12:1,2)

Colin Fallon- The Graduation Tour

Tour de CTF

When we left Chicago and its beautiful suburbs, we made our way east. Just like technology glitches slowed me down all summer, so too did the road construction along the routes we traveled. This was very true on our way from Illinois to Massachusetts. We tried, but we just couldn't make it in one day, so we had to stop in Albany, New York. We got up bright and early and were back on the road. We were excited to see our Massachusetts branch of the Fallon family. Our niece Payton would be coming over to Mom Fallon's for a piano lesson while our nephew Davis, Colin and Ian would warm up with a little wiffle ball in the back yard with Dad Fallon as all-time pitcher. When we were in the back yard, I heard a sound from my childhood. Before I could stop myself, I was screaming, "ICE CREAM MAN, ICE CREAM MAN!" running into the street. Do we ever really grow up?

I used to love the ice cream man when I was growing up on Caledonia Street in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. I would scrounge for change, chase down the slow moving tempter and secure a little piece of heaven. Ice Cream equaled love for me. When we would drive to our camp just a few minutes outside of St. Jay, we would drive by the ice cream stand. Every single time, we would sing out from the back seat, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!" Sometimes it worked. Most of the time it didn't, but it was a little taste of love. Chocolate and vanilla twist please.

I would not catch the ice cream day on this hot day in Massachusetts. Eek! He drove too quickly. It was almost like he didn't want me to catch him. Yes, it was a conspiracy to keep me from my ice cream. Why? Why? Why? Anyway... back to the blog.... I digress!

Since, I missed the ice cream man, I had to turn my attention to wiffle ball. The Fallons are competitive when it comes to any sport, but let's say that wiffle ball and bumper pool are the fiercest. Even though we would only be together for a couple of hours, there was time for a wiffle ball tournament. Although wiffle ball is great, my favorite Fallon activity has to be the big family dinners where we sit around the table for hours. Today (or tonight as the case may be) was no different. It was so nice catching up with brother-in-law and sister-in-law Doug and Lynn on the year's events. Time flies and I am not sure where it goes, but I love playing catch up!