October

October 30, 2013

Going Shopping At The Nut House

The Nut HouseThere’s a business on Main Street in downtown Peoria, across the street from the courthouse, called The Nut House.  The inside of the business consists of a tiny storeroom that is lined with glass display cases along three sides.  Inside the display cases are numerous trays and jars that contain different types of candy and nuts.  On top of the display cases and on shelves attached to the walls are decorative jars that are also filled with candy and nuts.  There are at least 200 different items on display that a customer can choose from.

October 26, 2013

The Loss of a Unique Football Coach

Bum PhillipsHave you ever heard of Bum Phillips?  He was the football coach who built the Houston Oilers into one of the top NFL teams in the late 1970s.  Phillips was best known for his larger-than-life, no-nonsense character.  He referred to himself as a “coach, cowboy, and Christian,” and customarily dressed in jeans, cowboy boots, a work shirt, and a white Stetson hat.

October 19, 2013

A Stubborn Relative

StubbornAbout 20 years ago, when one of my relatives was going through some tough times, I tried to get him to commit to praying a rosary every day.  (For the purpose of this article, I’m going to call him “Jim.”)  Over a period of six months, Jim and I met on three separate occasions.

October 12, 2013

Shined Shoes Save Lives

General H. Norman Schwarzkopf

General H. Norman Schwarzkopf

October 10, 2013

Advice From a Mother of Four Young Children

My oldest daughter, Anna (30 years old), has been married for nine years.  She and her husband, Josh, have four children, all of whom are under the age of eight.  Anna recently sent an email to everyone in our family with a suggestion:

October 5, 2013

What do Catholics Have in Common with The Incredibles?

IncrediblesOne of the top ten movies on my recommendation list for Catholics is The Incredibles.  Produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures in November 2004, The Incredibles won two Academy Awards and was the first entirely animated film to win the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Performance.