Elena 
Outside my window…
Light house on beautiful Lake Michigan at sunset.
I am thinking…
about a priest in our diocese who just passed away suddenly last week. Pete and I had a couple of experiences with Father Yahner. A few years back he called us to come to the rectory because he wanted to give us some bicycles. He wasn’t going to be biking any more because bike riding hurt his wrists, and besides, he didn’t have time for it any more. So a friend told him about our family and how we had older boys, and so he let us have his bikes.
A few years later, Mr. Pete and I were taking a leisurely walk in our side of town when we saw some activity at a nearby Catholic Cemetery. We had visited this cemetery a few years before and were a little shocked at it’s poor condition! The grass was unmowed, weeds and tree branches were everywhere and parts of the cemetery had been vandalized.
But on this day they were having a celebration of sorts there, because Father Yahner had been able to organize a clean up of the cemetery and he was having a celebration so folks could see how beautiful the cemetery looked. Mr. Pete and I had a chance to talk with Father for a few minutes during the festivities while he told us about the little cemetery and some of the people buried there.
Father Yahner was an enthusiastic and welcoming man. I remember in one of his homilies he wanted to throw open the doors of the church during Founders Day, while all of the motorcycles were blaring past. He just wanted to stand there and welcome them all and bless them with holy water. I can just picture him doing that too.
I understand that although he suffered a stroke, he had enough lucidness to let the medical staff know that he did not want any extraordinary measures to be taken, that he was ready to go. I know that he will be missed by many. He will be buried in the little cemetery that he cared for during the last years of his life.
I am thankful…
for dedicated priests, like Father Yahner.
I have…
some ideas to change things up this week since cross country practice moves to the evenings this week. I want to go to Father Yahner’s funeral. I also want to take the kids to a lake this week just to have them swim and play.
In the kitchen…
Some summer chicken ideas!
I am wearing…
black and white skirt with black T and my silver wedding shoes – which I have decided to keep and wear often – especially with black!
I am reading…
I have always wanted to read this.
I am going…
- to walk or work out every day with Pfilates. Trying to get back some weight work out as well.
- I also downloaded some talks by Dr. Larry Richards for my MP3 to listen to while I walk this week. I’m planning to walk to church for mass and back, at least a couple of times this week – killing two birds with one stone!
From the Learning Rooms…
We’re enjoying a little bit of a break but Noah is still working on:
- British Lit and British History -with the Great Courses currently reading
- Instacert to study for CLEP test in Biology. Got a passing score on the practice test.
- Starting
One of my favorite things…
If you ever want to be holy, to know God, to live His will, then the number one thing that you are going to have to do is pray. PERIOD! Nothing else matters.~Fr. Larry Richards,
A picture to share…
One of my Instagram friends caught this one of the newlyweds. They look so happy!
Father Yahner sounds like the kind of person this world needs more of! Your photos are awesome 🙂 That book made a huge impact on me, I read it as a freshman or sophomore in high school.
Hope you have a beautiful week!