What kind of candy are you?

***Butterfinger***


They call you sticky fingers for a reason!


What Kind of Candy Are You?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofcandyareyouquiz/

How do you view Heaven?

I found this quote from Chesterton over at the Blue Boar web site:

"G.K. Chesterton occasionally depicted Heaven as an inn, the Inn at the End of the World, as it were. As he wrote in the last paragraph in his biography of Charles Dickens:

The hour of absinthe is over. We shall not be much further troubled with the little artists who found Dickens too sane for their sorrows and too clean for their delights. But we have a long way to travel before we get back to what Dickens meant: and the passage is along a rambling English road, a twisting road such as Mr. Pickwick travelled. But this at least is part of what he meant; that comradeship and serious joy are not interludes in our travel; but that rather our travels are interludes in comradeship and joy, which through God shall endure for ever. The inn does not point to the road; the road points to the inn. And all roads point at last to an ultimate inn, where we shall meet Dickens and all his characters: and when we drink again it shall be from the great flagons in the tavern at the end of the world. "

My First Post

Hey all! Amanda finally got on the blog! Yeah! Anyway, things are really busy with school right now. Not much to say, things are going well. I'm really starting to feel like a teacher, and I haven't had a class of my own yet! Until next time.....Amanda

School Buzz

Hello, Kopffs! It's Caroline very first post! exciting, no? (well, maybe not to you, but I think its cool) It's the very first day of school for me, and I'm excited. I FINALLY got my desk put into my room (MINE AT LAST!) and I couldn't be happier! I just came back from a great long weekend with Laura, which you can see the pictures from (I think dad posted them...). anyway, i'm just killing time, so I think I should just get back to work. Toodles! ^_~

Caroline, Emily, and I had a great time in Madison over the weekend. The campus is beautiful, and Madison is quite the large city. State Street has enough stores and restaurants to keep you busy exploring for a long time. Laura's apartment is really nice, and it looks like she is all ready to go!

You can see some pictures of our trip here .

Good advice from Auntie Lillie

"My Auntie Lillie had a few words of advice for me, growing up. One was to tilt a glass 90 degrees before pouring the lager, and to let a Guinness “build” before drinking, another was to talk to St. Michael the Archangel when dodging nightmares, and the third was to “pay attention to anything that keeps being put before yer eyes; it’s the Holy Spirit calling you to prayer or action. Pray to know which.” - - The Anchoress

I would suggest, though, that you tilt the glass 45 degrees. It seems to me if you tilt it 90 degrees, all the beer will spill out--

The power of commitment

I saw this quote last week--and then re-found it in Wikipedia, under the entry for W. H. Murray .


but when I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ruts. We had put down our passage money— booked a sailing to Bombay. This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!




I heard Mother Angelica say in an interview, when asked about starting EWTN, that once you take the first step God supplies the grace needed to keep going. There is also a similar quote from Dorothea Brande, "Act boldly, and unseen forces will come to your aid." Those of us who tend to be timid should take this seriously.

A Memorable Birthday

Caroline's thirteenth birthday was one I don't think she'll easily forget. Ice and snow had been forecast for St. Louis on Thursday and Friday. Driving home on Thursday evening, the highway was slushy, and we fully expected to wake with to a blanket of snow on the ground. We already knew that Rosati and Fontbonne were closed on Friday, and I wasn't expecting to go in to work. I thought maybe I could get a little work done at home.

When I woke up about 6 am on Friday morning, our power was out. I checked our thermostat, which we have set at 63 degrees overnight (I know, the kids complain that it is like a meat locker in our house--we think that keeping the house cool is why they are all so healthy!). The thermostat showed a temperature of 62 degrees, so I figure the power had gone out shortly before I woke up. Since all of our electric clocks have digital displays, we couldn't tell exactly when the power went out. I turned on the portable radio so Caroline could hear her birthday greeting on KMOX (they were in a hurry--they called her Carol Kopff!)

I got my car de-iced and went to McDonald's so we could all have a hot breakfast--and I really needed some coffee! Breakfast was a big hit with all concerned. Then we turned our thoughts to how to cope with having no electricity. All I could think of was the aftermath of the storms last July. Some people were without power for 5 days or more. KMOX radio was telling us that some 500,000 people were without power, so there was no way to know when we'd get power back. We called several hotels near us, but they were all booked up already. I finally found us a room at the Drury Plaza Hotel downtown at 4th and Market. The hotel has a pool and hot tubs, free drinks and snacks in the evening and a free breakfast buffet in the morning. The kids were ready to go right away, but check-in wasn't until 3 pm!

We spent the day cleaning off the cars, shoveling the driveway, and getting our affairs in order--letting Cal and Rita, our neighbors, know where we'd be, getting our overnight bags packed, filling a bag with sodas and snacks. (Gotta have those snacks!) We gave Caroline her birthday presents early, cleaned up the kitchen, and finally, it was 2:30 and time to go.

We got to the hotel and checked in--I parked the van in the basement of the garage, and went to the room. Caroline, Emily, and Deb were already off exploring. Amanda was catching up on her TV watching. (It's kind of sad how dependent we are on the TV and the computer to fill our days.)

Well, the hotel was wonderful. We had dinner at Max and Erma's, then Emily and Caroline went to the exercise room, and Amanda went back to watch more TV. Deb and I visited the lounge in the lobby and got some of our free drinks (three free drinks per adult guest during happy hour--what a deal!). Then Deb headed up to the room for a nice hot shower, while Emily and Caroline and I went for a swim and a visit to the hot tub. The hotel was filled with other families and travelers taking refuge from the storm, so it was almost a festival atmosphere. The breakfast buffet offered pancakes, sausage patties, eggs, biscuits and gravy, as well as cereal, bagels, and danish. Quite a deal for free--we all ate our fill.

When it came time to check out, I was happy to be heading home (our neighbors had called the previous evening to say our power was restored) but a little sad to be ending our mini-vacation. Let's just hope the powere stays on!

My Holy Week Retreat

If you want to see pictures of my Holy Week retreat at the White House Jesuit Retreat House, click here. The retreat was great, very full of graces, even if the weather was gloomy for all three days!

cool!

High School Reflections

Hey, everyone, Amanda here!!!!! This school year has been very busy. It has been a year full of new experiences and memories. It's hard to believe that graduation is just a few short months away. High school has really gone by quickly, but the memories will last a lifetime.

Christmas Greetings!

Merry Christmas from the Kopff family. We had our family gathering yesterday--The oldest present was Fr. Herb, the youngest was Josie Kopff--we had 18 or so of us--Nancy is in from DC, Joe and Lois from Phoenix--it was great fun. Eating, drinking, and telling family stories--and counting our blessings.

You should read Amy Welborn today--she has a couple of Christma poems up--one by Thomas Merton, another by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Our choir at St. Mark's has sung for the last 3 days--it just won't seem right not to be singing at Mass tomorrow!

I wish you all a blessed Christmas Season. May Christ's peace reign in your hearts.

Day 4---On the Road

This morning is beautiful, again. The afternoons are hot, but the nights turn pleasantly cool. This morning, I checked our FWS system for the four offices I cover, and there is no work in the pipeline for me through Thursday. Jesse was in the office when I arrived, and said he had two tickets (?) here and a couple to work with the guys in Hebbronville--he wonders if they might not get called to Laredo to help out.
Last night, I was extremely tired when I got back to the hotel (what a dump!). It surprised me, considering mostly what I did was sit all day. I did make the 80-mile round trip to Hebbronville to pick up my cell phone, but that was about the extent of my travels.

Today is the Feast of the Ascension. I will be going to 11:00 Mass--the church is only about 4 blocks away--and then get some lunch.

All these small towns have their own Catholic church. Even Bruni, the town where the landmark for the CO is the pay phone, has one. (I looked all these towns up on masstimes.org.)

So far my impressions of this area are:

• Sparsely populated


• Very flat


• Scrub brush--Jesse's motel is the 'Brush Country Inn'


• Lots of Spanish on the radio--heard the rosary and the Hail, Holy Queen this morning


• Wide open spaces!!!!!!!!

Everyone has been very friendly. There are reports of vandalism and sabatoge in California, and some unpleasantness with picketers, but nothing here.

I feel better having a cell phone now. I was wondering what I would do if the car broke down half-way to Hebbronville--walk 20 miles? I guess I'd flag down a car.

Oh well. I hope we get to come home soon. I miss Deb's home cooking, my girls, the Cards on the radio, tall trees, and on and on.

Say a prayer for a peaceful and swift resolution to this contract negotiation!
See you all soon, I hope!

Tom

Hi! I'm still here--if SBC has a work stoppage, I'll be sent to Freer, Texas, a VERY small town between Corpus Christi and Laredo, as a frame attendant. Say a prayer that there is no strike!

I've changed some settings, and added a link to a page of links I'm working on. Let me know if you have any suggestins for favorite links!

And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled.
This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria.
And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.
And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them:
Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying:
Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.

Thought for the day:
"I will sing forever of your love, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts forever,
that your truth is firmly established as the heavens."...Psalm 89

Here's a picture of Josephine from the website at St. John's.

Happy Mother's Day to Katie! Welcome, Josephine Catherine, to the Kopff family! It's a wonderful world! We all can't wait to meet you.

Also, a little update on the college front: Laura will be going to Truman State U. next fall. When Laura started high school, I was warned tht the four years would fly by. Believe it or not, they really did. Cor Jesu Graduation is next Sunday, May 18th.

"sometimes the way things play out, all you're left with are questions."

"i guess this time that has to be enough."