Jackson - Do You Like My Hat? part 1

Here's a photo of Jackson Reverdy Orrell from a few months ago.

Stations of the Cross – # 13 Crucifixion

Stations of the Cross – # 13 Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion

Here is Station of the Cross # 13 from the Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion – Scott Street Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 19th to September 1st.

This is our home church. Nora is already a member and I will be starting catechism class soon.

Jackson In The Pool

Here's a photo of the Pop-Pop, Nana, and Jackson in the pool.

Stations of the Cross – # 12 Crucifixion

Stations of the Cross – # 12 Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion

Here is Station of the Cross # 12 from the Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion – Scott Street Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 19th to September 1st.

This is our home church. Nora is already a member and I will be starting catechism class soon.

Jackson & Yohoo

Here's a photo from a few months ago with Jackson and his Daddy. Jackson is getting his first taste of Yoohoo.

Stations of the Cross – # 11 Crucifixion

Stations of the Cross – # 11 Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion

Here is Station of the Cross # 11 from the Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion – Scott Street Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 19th to September 1st.

This is our home church. Nora is already a member and I will be starting catechism class soon.

Stations of the Cross – # 10 Crucifixion

Stations of the Cross – # 10 Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion

Here is Station of the Cross # 10 from the Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion – Scott Street Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 19th to September 1st.

This is our home church. Nora is already a member and I will be starting catechism class soon.

Stations of the Cross – # 8 Crucifixion

Stations of the Cross – # 8 Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion

Here is Station of the Cross # 8 from the Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion – Scott Street Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 19th to September 1st.

This is our home church. Nora is already a member and I will be starting catechism class soon.

Stations of the Cross – # 7 Crucifixion

Stations of the Cross – # 7 Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion

Here is Station of the Cross # 7 from the Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion – Scott Street Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 19th to September 1st.

This is our home church. Nora is already a member and I will be starting catechism class soon.

Long Distance Call To God

Thanks to Bette Nutt for sending in the following:

A man in Topeka, Kansas, decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to New York and started working West from there. Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign which read, Calls: $10,000 A Minute.'

Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The Pastor answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to heaven and if he pays the price he can talk directly to God.

The man thanked the Pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Pittsburgh, Ohio, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and around the United States, he found more phones, with the same sign and the same answer from each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in Montana. Upon entering St. Raphael's church in Glasgow, behold - he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign read, 'Calls: 35 cents.'

Fascinated, he asked to talk to the Pastor. 'Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to heaven, and that I could talk to God, but in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads only 35 cents a call. Why?'

The pastor, smiling benignly, replied,

'Son, you're in Montana now ...... You're in God's country. It's a local call.'

Stations of the Cross – # 5 Crucifixion

Stations of the Cross – # 5 Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion

Here is Station of the Cross # 5 from the Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion – Scott Street Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 19th to September 1st.

This is our home church. Nora is already a member and I will be starting catechism class soon.

Keep Your Fork

Thanks to Bette Nutt for sending in the following:

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly.

'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply.

'This is very important,' the young woman continued. 'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.'

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked.

'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork ..the best is yet to come.'

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, 'What's with the fork?' And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed.They make you smile and encourage you to succeed.

Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share ... being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.

Stations of the Cross – # 4 Crucifixion

Stations of the Cross – # 4 Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion

Here is Station of the Cross # 4 from the Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion – Scott Street Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 19th to September 1st.

This is our home church. Nora is already a member and I will be starting catechism class soon.

Stations of the Cross – # 3 Crucifixion

Stations of the Cross – # 3 Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion

Here is Station of the Cross # 3 from the Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion – Scott Street Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 19th to September 1st.

This is our home church. Nora is already a member and I will be starting catechism class soon.

Stations of the Cross – # 2 Crucifixion

Stations of the Cross – # 2 Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion

Here is Station of the Cross # 2 from the Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion – Scott Street Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 19th to September 1st.

This is our home church. Nora is already a member and I will be starting catechism class soon.

Stations of the Cross – # 1 Crucifixion

Stations of the Cross – # 1 Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion

Here is Station of the Cross # 1 from the Roman Catholic Church of the Crucifixion – Scott Street Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 19th to September 1st.

This is our home church. Nora is already a member and I will be starting catechism class soon.

Stations of the Cross – # 14 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 14 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 14 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

Stations of the Cross – # 13 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 13 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 13 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

Update

It's been several weeks since I've posted any sort of personal update on the blog.

Currently, it's been about a month and a half since my job was 'eliminated'. I've been working to get my website design and computer tech support business up and running. I worked about 14 hours a day for over two weeks straight getting some things lined up. We'll just have to see if I can generate any new business in addition to the existing customers that I've had.

We've decided not to sell the place in WV, but to turn it over to a local company that rents out vacation homes. We're currently in the progress of making quite a few improvements to the cabin. New lamenated flooring will be installed throughout the home. We're putting in a whole house water filtration system and will probably have the exterior painted.

Plus there are a ton of other things we're in the process of upgrading or changing. I've been in WV since Tuesday and am returning to Balto in about an hour. We'll come back up next weekend to check on the process and pick out the flooring.

Stations of the Cross – # 12 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 12 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 12 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

Stations of the Cross – # 11 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 11 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 11 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

Sister Mary Ann's Gasoline

Sister Mary Ann, who worked for a home health agency, was out making her rounds visiting homebound patients when she ran out of gas. As luck would have it, a Texaco Gasoline station was just a block away. She walked to the station to borrow a gas can and buy some gas.

The attendant told her that the only gas can he owned had been loaned out, but she could wait until it was returned.

Since Sister Mary Ann was on the way to see a patient, she decided not to wait and walked back to her car. She looked for something in her car that she could fill with gas and spotted the bedpan she was taking to the patient. Always resourceful, Sister Mary Ann carried the bedpan to the station, filled it with gasoline, and carried the full bedpan back to her car.

As she was pouring the gas into her tank, two Baptists watched from across the street. One of them turned to the other and said

'If it starts, I'm turning Catholic'

Stations of the Cross – # 10 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 10 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 10 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

Stations of the Cross – # 9 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 9 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 9 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

Stations of the Cross – # 8 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 8 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 8 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

Stations of the Cross – # 7 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 7 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 7 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

St. Leo the Great # 2 - Little Italy, Baltimore City

Here are photos from St Leo the Great Catholic Church in the downtown Baltimore City area know as ‘Little Italy’. ‘Little Italy’ is one of Maryland’s best known areas. I can’t even tell you how many outstanding Italian restaurants there are in this six block area. We’ve probably eaten at a dozen places over the years and still haven’t come close to sampling every menu. If you are ever in Baltimore City don’t miss Little Italy.

This series of photos runs from August 9th to August 18th.

Nora and I attended an early Saturday morning Mass at St. Leo’s in late May. The priest invited back to their festival in mid – June, which we attended.

St. Leo’s stations of the cross will run from October 29th through November 11th.

Stations of the Cross – # 6 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 6 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 6 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

St. Leo the Great # 1 - Little Italy, Baltimore City

Here are photos from St Leo the Great Catholic Church in the downtown Baltimore City area know as ‘Little Italy’. ‘Little Italy’ is one of Maryland’s best known areas. I can’t even tell you how many outstanding Italian restaurants there are in this six block area. We’ve probably eaten at a dozen places over the years and still haven’t come close to sampling every menu. If you are ever in Baltimore City don’t miss Little Italy.

This series of photos runs from August 9th to August 18th.

Nora and I attended an early Saturday morning Mass at St. Leo’s in late May. The priest invited back to their festival in mid – June, which we attended.

St. Leo’s stations of the cross will run from October 29th through November 11th.

Stations of the Cross – # 5 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 5 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 5 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

St. Mary’s # 7 - Hagerstown, MD

Here are photos from St Mary’s Catholic Church in downtown Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland.

This series of photos runs from August 2nd to August 8th.

I attended an early Saturday morning Mass at St. Mary’s on Memorial Day weekend. I was shocked to see well over 70 people at the 8:30 AM service.

St. Mary’s stations of the cross will run from December 24, 2008 through January 6, 2009.

The beautiful stained glass image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is over the inside front door.

Stations of the Cross – # 4 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 4 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 4 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

St. Mary’s # 6 - Hagerstown, MD

Here are photos from St Mary’s Catholic Church in downtown Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland.

This series of photos runs from August 2nd to August 8th.

I attended an early Saturday morning Mass at St. Mary’s on Memorial Day weekend. I was shocked to see well over 70 people at the 8:30 AM service.

St. Mary’s stations of the cross will run from December 24, 2008 through January 6, 2009.

Stations of the Cross – # 3 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 3 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 3 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

Stations of the Cross – # 2 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 2 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 2 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

St. Mary’s # 4 - Hagerstown, MD

Here are photos from St Mary’s Catholic Church in downtown Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland.

This series of photos runs from August 2nd to August 8th.

I attended an early Saturday morning Mass at St. Mary’s on Memorial Day weekend. I was shocked to see well over 70 people at the 8:30 AM service.

St. Mary’s stations of the cross will run from December 24, 2008 through January 6, 2009.

Stations of the Cross – # 1 Holy Trinity

Stations of the Cross – # 1 Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Here is Station of the Cross # 1 from Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Baltimore – Annapolis Blvd in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This series will run from August 5th to August 18th.

St. Mary’s # 3 - Hagerstown, MD

Here are photos from St Mary’s Catholic Church in downtown Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland.

This series of photos runs from August 2nd to August 8th.

I attended an early Saturday morning Mass at St. Mary’s on Memorial Day weekend. I was shocked to see well over 70 people at the 8:30 AM service.

St. Mary’s stations of the cross will run from December 24, 2008 through January 6, 2009.

These are basically the same photo; however I warmed the one photo up a little.

Stations of the Cross – # 13 Outside Franciscan Monastery MD

NOTE: Station #14 from the outside stations was missing. Therefore this particular Stations of the Cross series concludes today.

Stations of the Cross – # 13 (Outside) St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery

Here is Station of the Cross # 13 located on the grounds of St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery’s on Folly Quarter Road in Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland. This series will run from July 24th to August 4th.

St. Mary’s # 2 - Hagerstown, MD

Here are photos from St Mary’s Catholic Church in downtown Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland.

This series of photos runs from August 2nd to August 8th.

I attended an early Saturday morning Mass at St. Mary’s on Memorial Day weekend. I was shocked to see well over 70 people at the 8:30 AM service.

St. Mary’s stations of the cross will run from December 24, 2008 through January 6, 2009.

Stations of the Cross – # 12 Outside Franciscan Monastery MD

Stations of the Cross – # 12 (Outside) St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery

Here is Station of the Cross # 12 located on the grounds of St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery’s on Folly Quarter Road in Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland. This series will run from July 24th to August 4th.

St. Mary’s # 1 - Hagerstown, MD

Here are photos from St Mary’s Catholic Church in downtown Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland.

This series of photos runs from August 2nd to August 8th.

I attended an early Saturday morning Mass at St. Mary’s on Memorial Day weekend. I was shocked to see well over 70 people at the 8:30 AM service.

St. Mary’s stations of the cross will run from December 24, 2008 through January 6, 2009.

Stations of the Cross – # 11 Outside Franciscan Monastery MD

Stations of the Cross – # 11 (Outside) St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery

Here is Station of the Cross # 11 located on the grounds of St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery’s on Folly Quarter Road in Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland. This series will run from July 24th to August 4th.

St. Vincent de Paul’s - # 6 - Balto

Here are photos from St Vincent de Paul’s Catholic Church in downtown Baltimore City, Maryland.

This series of photos runs from July 27th to August 1st.

Nora and I visited here on a Saturday afternoon in June. We were both impressed with its beauty.

St. Vincent de Paul’s stations of the cross will run from October 15, 2008 to October 28, 2008.

St. Vincent de Paul - the church's namesake:

The eucharist:

This is their beautiful stained glass ceiling. This photo doesn't do the stained glass justice.

Stations of the Cross – # 10 Outside Franciscan Monastery MD

Stations of the Cross – # 10 (Outside) St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery

Here is Station of the Cross # 10 located on the grounds of St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery’s on Folly Quarter Road in Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland. This series will run from July 24th to August 4th.