Life - simple but, always complicated!!

Today, is the day we used to celebrate the birthdays of the two Anthony J. Schmitt's ; Jr & Sr, whom are no longer here to celebrate. I'm the lone survivor. Happy Birthday to them. Today's news outlets are full of the Tiger Woods auto accident. Thankfully, he survived and no life threatening injuries. I first thought of his kids when I heard the news. Like my father & grandfather, I think Tiger values his children above all his possessions. And, I think like AJS Jr. & Sr. , he has sought forgiveness for his transgressions in life from God, and forgiven others also. We all seek forgiveness from God, from others, God does forgive if we're sorry & repentant. Do others forgive , do we?  Dad & Grandpa had faith , sometimes weak , sometimes strong, I think Tiger's life was spared not to play golf, but to be a father for his children. That's my faith, I've asked for forgiveness throughout my life for transgressions. It seems though o...

My family, my extended family, &  I, seemed to be snake bitten in the early 2000 years with cancer. In April 2000, my mother was diagnosed with leukemia. Mom battled but she died in March of 2001. At the beginning of 2002 in January, my father-in-law Stu Alexander was diagnosed with melanoma. Stu died six months later in June. Also, I began enduring some health problems of my own during the beginning of 2002, rheumatoid arthritis and some mental health issues. They were difficult back then, and have proven to be more than one time episodes. 🙏 Okay, we thought those years are behind us, but in March of 2003 my youngest daughter, Lauren, 13, was diagnosed with a cancer and a tumor growth on her left hip. It was going to require radiation, surgery, and possibly chemotherapy. Lauren went to daily radiation treatments after school, driven by myself or my wife, sometimes a friend, until June, when she had plastic surgery and the tumor removed from her left hip and skin grafts perfor...

Mark 4:21-25 J Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” I Am a Gift for Others :  What is God’s will for me? We serve him best when we serve others. This often means sacrifice, but it’s worthwhile because sacrificial love is the only thing that brings us happiness. I helped these two dear cousins of my mother. ❤️❤️✝️✝️ Think back to the moments when you achieved real happiness—deep down satisfaction that doesn’t fade away with time. Wasn’t it when you sacrificed for the good of another or for God?...

September 1983 ,  Bills Mafia ??  Tailgating @ Rich Stadium. Went with Burroughs work colleagues, Jim Merz, Jeanne Leonard, housemate Mike King, college pal Lou Fuchs, our significant others, a few others. No prob getting tix that year, only 60,000 fans to witness a Bills win over the Houston Oilers 30 -13 Put him in the baseball HOF, way way past due.  Too smart to get involved with politics. 😢😢🙏🙏. He'll be missed  52 years ago today, January 12, 1969,  this guy led his NYJ to a 16 - 7 victory over the Baltimore Colts in SB III. 🏈👍👋👋 Amen !! Tuesday's gone.. Listen up. 🎶🎸🎹 https://youtu.be/_7p2ogicS1U

Sad, sad.. this opinion video from the Wall Street Journal sums it up. I'm most grateful I was gifted a Catholic education by my parents. I learned never to follow a political zealot , as he or she will never survive. ✝️✝️ ✝️🙏🙏 for United States Police Officer Brian Sicknick. 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲   A three minute video showing how a united democracy survives and moves forward. 🇺🇲🇺🇲 http://finance.yahoo.com/video/wsj-opinion-trump-erases-legacy-010344970.html?soc_src=community&soc_trk=ma Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, issued the following statement in response to January 6 , 2020 violence in the United States Capitol: As I watched the appalling chaos in the U.S. Capitol yesterday, I witnessed an icon of democracy occupied and hostage to mob rule.  The procession of violent images was deeply troubling.  Particularly disheartening is that this event unfolded amid a deadly pandemic, a terrible plague that our troubled nation should face in solidari...

Patricia Anne Schmitt was born to Ben & Ann Greiner on February 20, 1938 in Huntington Hospital. Pat had an older brother, Bernard Jr, who was 15 months older. Ben's brother, Henry, a lifelong bachelor also lived with them. Uncle Hennie & Grandpa were business partners. They were a close knit family, a family of strong Catholic faith. They lived and operated a potato farm on Cedar Rd. in Commack. Anthony J. Schmitt Jr. , Tony, was born on February 24, 1935 to Anthony & Cecilia Schmitt in Rosedale , Queens. He was the third of five children, although Carol Anne the fourth died in infancy. They too were a farm family, and faith filled. They eventually migrated east and bought a vegetable farm in Melville, NY, and a home in Farmingdale. Patricia Greiner was the daughter of a LI potato farmer, and married a LI vegetable farmer, Anthony J. Schmitt Jr, on September 8, 1956 at St. Philip Neri Church in Northport, NY. Pat & To...

The story below from Katharine Hepburn's childhood reminds me of the story of the Widow's mite. I learned much more about the story of the widow as told by Mark, during the mid 1990's at St. Paul's RC Church in Webster, NY. I was serving as finance council chairperson. In 1993, we had initiated a Time, Talent , & Treasure campaign. A new addition to the Church had been completed in 1992, and the capital campaign to fund that project was sucking funds from everyday parish operations. I was in charge of the treasure part of the campaign. In the second year, of the campaign, we used the story of the Widow's Mite to challenge people to give more than just from their surplus. It was successful. My wife , now  former wife,  & I went to several parishes in the Diocese of Rochester, and spoke about giving,  and not just from your surplus. We visited the parishes during Sunday Mass and spoke from the pulpit. Sure it was scary, but we believed in giving ba...

A very Merry Christmas to you. My Christmas wish is rather simple, it can be granted without spending a dime. Simply, forget about political divide, forget about the division caused  by Covid-19 pandemic protocols. My wish to rejoice about the birth of baby Jesus. Do as he would do, make peace, love thy neighbor, and if your neighbor asks you to put on a mask, smile and put it on without a fuss. Happy & Healthy New Year .   AJS