The World of Grandpa Don

A Celebration

On the Fourth of July each year we celebrate the birth of the United States of America and we are grateful for it's existence and of our living here.

In much the same way, I celebrate the First of July. On that date in 1984, Anne and I moved to our new home in Orland Park. This event, like the birth of our country, was a time of great change, a turning point in our lives. Anne's mother had just been born to Eternal Life and her father was coming to live with us. Our youngest son Tom was about to be married. We should have been very happy in our large new house. We started attending Mass at St. Julie parish. I did not like the church, an all purpose building with stackable plastic chairs and strange modern hymns.

Anne was not well and was very depressed at times. In early 1986 it was discovered that she had had a heart attack and was in danger of another. Quad bypass surgery was performed. After that we celebrated her re-birthday every February. She was truly a new woman.

Anne felt that she must give something back to God and became involved at St. Julie parish. I followed. We were welcomed as never welcomed before and I came to love the parish and the music. My spirituality had been awakened by Anne and the people who I came to know at church. We both became very involved and I continue to be involved.

These have been years of transformation and growth. I thank God for our move to Orland Park, and  for welcoming us to St. Julie (through it's people). They were the happiest years of our marriage. Anne's father has joined her mother and Anne has joined them both. My mother is also gone. Without the support of the Holy Spirit who has grown in me during these years, I don't think I could have survived these losses. I am a better person for having known them.

Don't cry because it is over, 
smile because it happened. 

Thank you God, for our nation. Thank you God for my home and all it has been to me, a place of love, and refuge, and growth.