That slight tug on your heart.

Have you ever felt that slight tug on your heart or the nagging feeling that a simple call to someone is needed? I have had more than one occasion when I honestly felt that God placed someone on my heart and in my thoughts so that I would be able to lift them up during a tough moment in life. Some times a simple call to let someone know you are thinking of them can make a huge difference in their lives. I recently heard this song on the radio and it make me stop and think of the times I have been made aware that me taking to time to listen to someone else has helped someone and wonder how many times it has made a difference without me knowing. I realize how quickly life is moving around us and how easily it is to be distracted or caught up in our own lives but I think if we all took the time to listen for that still small voice and tune into that slight tug at our hearts for those around us the world would be a better place.

The Name of the song is "The Call" by Matt Kennon

Mixed Emotions on a day over taken with green

Happy Saint Patrick's Day - What exactly was the original reason for celebration you may ask?

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

While I may be of English/Italian decent I have had the pleasure of personal celebration on March 17th most of my life as it was my fathers date of birth. Since his death on Valentines day in 1993 I have found St. Patrick's day to be bitter sweet. While I always enjoy wearing my green "Erin Go Bragh" hat every year I also find myself wondering what life would be like if my dad was still here with us.

While Corned beef may not have been the traditional meal of the Irish (back then only the rich lords of the land could afford the salt required to preserve meat) we as New Englanders have always had a way with making a boiled dinner into something mouth watering not to mention the awesome things that become of leftovers especially my homemade corned beef hash! I must admit I indulge in corned beef dinners throughout the year but watching my kids sit around the table on St. Patrick's Day with a plate full of Corned Beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots transports me back to my childhood and the celebration of my dad's birthday, trying to be the first to butter his nose and my fathers yearly disapproval of me and my brother smothering our cabbage with ketchup!

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Every year I learn to focus more and more on my life's blessings while still honoring my fathers memory despite there always being a feeling of sadness when I realize the joys my family would have if he were still alive. I realize that he can't read these words but they make me feel better so...
Happy Birthday Dad - I miss you and Love you but most of all I wish you were here.

My 2008 tribute

My 2009 tribute

The Apple Of My Eye!

The past 3 days Ariel has been attending the State of Connecticut's hunter safety course at the Franklin Wildlife Management Area in North Franklin, Connecticut. Today was the last day of the course and was spent on the shooting range and taking the final exam. I am proud to say that she not only passed the exam she put 6 of 10 rounds into the target on the rifle range and actually shattered one of the clay pigeons on the trap range!
Knowing that she would be unable to handle any of my deer hunting rifles I decided to take a trip to the local Cabela's while she was at class today and surprised her with her very own Savage Arms youth model .243 which she has already proved she can place a round into the paper with!

I can't wait to spend time with her at the range and watching her zero in her new rifle. I am even more excited about the possibility of watching her shoot her first deer this year. She truly is the apple of my eye and I am very grateful that she shares my love of the outdoors.

Nine is Fine

I am always amazed when I look at the pictures of my children from the last 12 months and see how much they have grown. Yesterday was Alex's 9th birthday and we celebrated the day together as a family. For his birthday dinner we had authentic pulled pork taco's and per his request for dessert his Aunt Jackie made lime cheese cake.

I have been blessed with two amazing children and they are both special to me. I am very lucky to have a Daddy's girl and a Son who looks up to me the same way I looked up to my father as a child.

Alex,

You are the best son a Father could ask for. I remember the day that you were born and the excitement when I realized that I would have a boy to follow in my foot steps. I remember asking God to hold my hand as I raised you so that I would make the right decisions in the same way you hold my hand while we are hanging out together. I pray that you will learn from my mistakes and that I will be a Godly example to you as you become a young man. I am proud of you and thankful for your kind heartiness. I look forward to watching you mature year after year and hopefully some day seeing you graduate, get married and even start a family of your own. For now I want you to enjoy being a little boy (despite growing out of all of your clothes!) and have a great time throughout your ninth year of life. I love you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Love,

Daddy