Friday, November 4, 2011

Please Pray, Reflect and Discuss



Death is never easy, but the death of a child is even more difficult to accept. It is even more challenging when that death is a suicide.
My children attend Regis Jesuit High School in Colorado. Because they attend this school, our family immediately becomes part of the amazing and loving Regis Jesuit Community. In the course of the past 4 years we have shared mostly joy but also great sadness within this extended family known as Regis Jesuit. Last Thursday one of my son's teammates took his own life. Words can not express the enormous grief the family and community is experiencing at this time. Dominick will be laid to rest on Monday. I share with you this event not to bring you sadness, but awareness. I challenge each of you reading this post to discuss and share the topic of suicide with your loved ones. Discuss life's challenges and obstacles and how we can help each other through the most difficult times. Make it well known to the ones you love that there is absolutely nothing they could do that would change your love for them, and no obstacle that can't be tackled. Please refer to the resources provided by our school. Copy them and share them with the ones you love.
Please pray for this family and all who loved this young man. Pray for the countless others who are affected by suicide and the devastating trail it leaves behind.
Rest in Peace Dom.




Dear Parents,

Many of you have already heard the sad news of the death of one of our Regis Jesuit students. Last night, junior Dominick Doyle took his own life. Dominick was the older brother of Boys Division freshman Donovan and Girls Division freshman Aly. Early this morning Fr. Kevin Dyer and Fr. Phil Steele prayed with Dominick’s parents, Derrick and Flo, at the hospital and blessed Dominick’s body. We will let everyone know when the funeral arrangements have been made.

The devastation, grief and confusion being felt by the Doyle family is shared by the entire community of Regis Jesuit. I know how readily and generously our families will step forward to offer the Doyles the support and help that they will need to get through these dark days. Here at school, we are trying to maintain a sense of calm and normalcy as much as possible, but also to attend to those students who are most deeply affected by this tragic event. All day today, the counselors, pastoral team, and administrators are available for those who would like to talk. We told the students that anyone wishing to do that should simply ask the teacher to be dismissed.

All of us—adults and students alike—will need to be more than ordinarily attentive to each other. The adults will be here for our students and each other; the students will be here for one another. The greatest gifts we can give each other at a time like this are presence and prayer. In fact that is all we can give; there are no words that can make sense of this. We can and must simply be with one another, share the sadness, and allow God to be present in and through us. Above all, we pray that God hold his dear son Dominick close to Himself, and that God will reach through the pain of this moment to grant strength and hope to Dominick’s family and friends.

Today at 12:30 pm, the Mass in the Rupert Mayer Chapel will be celebrated for Dominick’s eternal rest. Anyone is welcome who would like to come and pray for Dominick, and for the consolation of his parents, his brother Donovan and his sister Aly. He was a wonderful son, brother, and friend and a great gift to all who knew him. May he rest in peace.

One final note: Dominick was a football player, and his father is on the football coaching staff. The family has told us quite forcefully that they want tonight’s football game to be played. They feel that will be best for our students, and we agree.

Sincerely,

 
PHILIP G. STEELE, SJ '66
President

Over the course of the last few days our faculty, staff and counselors have been active in responding to the context in each building. Along with our school therapist, the pastoral departments and the counseling departments in both Divisions have worked hand-in-hand with the faculty and staff to speak with students who are significantly challenged by Dominick's passing. They have additionally responded to parent concerns about individual students, holding conversations as necessary and keeping administrations in both buildings informed.
Included here are resources to give you some tools for conversations with your students at home. Please take a look at them. We believe these can be very helpful and can provide a good sense of questions and conversations to have at home.
Please continue to pray for the repose of the soul of Dominick Doyle, pray for the Doyle family and for the entire community of Regis Jesuit.



Encourage one another.
Live in harmony and peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
—2 Corinthians 13: 11-12
REFLECTIONS ON THE RECENT DEATH IN OUR COMMUNITY
Dear Parents and Guardians,
There can be no greater sorrow for a parent than to lose a 
child—and, thank God, not many of you have had to
 endure that experience. Few of us can even imagine 
what it is like to suffer the loss of a child.
In ways large and small, the death of junior 
Dominick Doyle has touched the entire community. 
Some have been shaken to the core; others will 
experience it less intensely—but all of us are 
affected by this death.
For some of our students, this is the first experience 
of the death of someone close to them. For others, 
it is the first experience of the death of someone 
their own age. In addition to the questions that 
always confront us at such a time, the sudden 
death of a young person unleashes a special 
torrent of questions among his or her peers. 
(Why didn’t I take the keys? Why didn’t I tell someone?
 Why didn’t I reach out? Is there some sign I missed?) 
And when the death is a suicide, the anger, guilt, 
and confusion can be overwhelming. Those close 
to the person have a special kind of loss to deal with.
 But all sorts of feelings can also be unleashed in 
young people not necessarily close to the person 
who died, but who may already be struggling 
with issues of depression, loneliness, breakups, 
a relative’s death, etc.
Last Friday, when news of Dominick’s death 
became known, the entire community of Regis Jesuit 
came together in sorrow, support and prayer. 
Some students simply sat side by side in the 
hallway—silent at first, then crying, quietly talking, 
praying and hugging. Some went to class, where 
perhaps they were able to share their questions 
and confusion. Some spoke to counselors, teachers or 
coaches. The football team gathered in the field house 
where they could remember their teammate, pray and 
begin to wrestle with the impact of this sudden death. 
Some parents came to school simply to be near their 
children. Others came to pick them up, feeling that home 
was the best place to be at that moment. 
During mid-morning, rosaries were said in 
both divisions. Shortly after noon 
a memorial Mass was held in the Boys gymnasium. 
Nearly a thousand students sat side-by-side on the 
floor, with many parents and teachers on chairs 
nearby. The holy silence of that room expressed 
powerfully the reality of grief and love that no words 
could express.
I write today to simply voice my awe and gratitude 
to this community, and to affirm that all of us will 
need to offer even more generously than usual the
 precious gifts of presence and attention to our 
children in the weeks and months ahead. During 
school hours teachers, counselors, coaches and 
school administrators can offer to parents those 
extra sets of eyes and ears that are often able to 
spot early signs of trouble. But they can never 
replace the time and attention to their children that
 parents can give. Honest conversation when the 
time is right; extra hugs; family meals—such simple 
gifts, but so important at a time like this.
Not many parents feel prepared to deal with 
situations like this. Excuse the cliché, but it really 
does take a village. You can be a great source 
of support to one another. You can help each 
other immensely by paying attention to each 
other’s children. Ask questions. As you know, 
some kids find it easier to talk to their friends’ 
parents than their own!


Thursday, October 13, 2011

Mama Has Been Busy!

Sorry it has been so long since my last post.
I have been quite the busy bee!
School started fast and furious with three babies in high school!
I can't even stand it!
Here is a snapshot of my life lately!
A Life That I Fully
LOVE
and 
ADORE!

Baby Boy

 Baby Girl #1

Baby Girl #2

Life
is
GOOD
VERY
VERY
GOOD

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Mama is Craving Spicy Noodles


Spicy Veggie Asian Noodles  


Mama needed a quick spicy Asian fix last week!
So I rummaged through the frig and pulled out whatever I could find to create this easy dish.
and.....
It was GOOD
REAL
GOOD

Spicy Asian Veggie Noodles
1/2 box of wide whole wheat noodles
1 cup of fresh snow peas
1/2 small purple onion (sliced in wide lengths)
1 cup of cherry tomatoes (cut in halves)
1/2 cup of green chives (sliced in wide lengths)
1/2 cup of cilantro (slightly chopped)
1/2 cup of peanut butter (slightly soften in microwave)
1/2 cup of nonfat plain yogurt
2 T soy sauce
1/8 t red cayenne pepper
1T peanut oil or sesame oil

Combine peanut butter, yogurt, soy sauce and pepper in a small bowl. If not spicy enough you may add more pepper! Set the sauce aside.
Cook noodles according to package instructions, drain but do not rinse.
In a saucepan add the oil and saute veggies until slightly brown. Remove from the heat and mix in cilantro. 
In a large bowl combine noodles, sauce and veggies. Toss to coat noodles evenly.
I usually end up adding some chinese hot chili sauce to my serving. I sometimes squeeze a little lime on mine as well. Just play around with the flavors to your liking. If you like more sauce-double it. You may also throw in other veggies or substitute the ones I chose. 

Product Details
This is my friend!
HOT Chili Sauce

YUMMMM

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Happy Easter!

May this Easter Sunday
find you with family and friends
enjoying the day that 
Christ rose from the dead.


Blessing to you and yours!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Sunny Days are Here Again!

Or at least for the week!
 Happy, Perky, Painted 
and
 WARM Toes!


View from my balcony!
Oo La La
SUNSHINE
 WAVES
 WIND
and
SUN
The Perfect Week!
Never even left the property!
Thank you, St. Maarten!
I will be back soon!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

High School Basketball-You Gotta Love it!

Baby Boy #1 is on his school's 
JV Basketball team!
They were 20-1 this season!
SO FUN!
Here are my boys 
ready to go in!
The Varsity team fought hard to get 
to the playoffs once again!
and........
Our Varsity Boys
WON
STATE
AGAIN!

THIS IS THE THIRD
YEAR 
IN 
A ROW!
It has not been done in Colorado 
with a 5A school 
in over 60 years!
UNBELIEVABLE!




So Stinkin Proud of all of these fine young men!
Watch out next year!
Going for a 4 Peat!
OH YEAH!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Mama is Bragging Again!


So Here I Go
AGAIN
Posting up a new painting
from Baby Girl #1


Her art class is working on faces!
Her teacher gave her this photocopy...

and she made a graph to enlarge
the measurements.
She says it is much easier to attempt
faces if you graph and measure.
This helps you get the proportions correct. It is all so foreign to me!
I am completely mesmerized
by her work!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Mama is BACK!

Sorry I have been gone so long!
It has been a little busy
around Mama's House!
All is good
just
BUSY
Here is a snapshot of what Mama has been up to this month!

 Baby Girl #2
CHEER
 Baby Boy #24
Basketball
 Baby Girl #1
POMS
Disney with POMS Team
and
Baby Girl #1
Just a Mama trying her best 
to keep up with her babies!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Sneak Peek of a Painting




Baby Girl #1 is working 
on a new painting!
It is not complete
so
here
 is a
 sneak peek!

Organizing, Cleaning, Storing


Mama has been busy-
Cleaning
Storing
Organizing

2011
is
here

ready
or 
not


Hate to put these away!
Love my old ornaments.

2011 Goals
I will be trying new recipes
Cleaning more closets
Planting new bulbs
Calling old friends
Finishing a quilt
Taking more photos
Traveling to new places
Enjoying my family

Monday, December 20, 2010

A Sweet Bride Named Laura

Long ago Mama Holli
was a babysitter
to 
a sweet baby girl
named
Laura
and
a sweet baby boy 
named
David
Proud parents of these two sweet children
are
 Jan and Michael.

I became part of their family.
They watched me grow, get married
and have babies of my own.

Then tragically
Jan's life was taken. 
To say we were devastated would
not even start to describe our loss.

We continue on to honor her legacy.
To honor her love for us.
To live our life to the fullest
so that we may be with her again in heaven.

My Hubby and I went to Panama
to witness the beautiful union 
of
Laura and Aaron!
It 
was
joyful
lovely
happy
exciting
peaceful
blessed
emotional
intimate
and
adventurous

We all felt Jan's presence
as we celebrated 
love
and
life

Congratulations
Laura & Aaron
We Love You!




Oh how I miss you 
my sweet sweet Jan!
I will forever be blessed
because of your 
unconditional love for me.
In my heart you will live
until I see you again.




Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Mama's Pot Roast Soup

So listen up Mamas!
Here is the deal.
Pot Roast Dinner
We LOVE it Right?
YES!
It DEFINES
Comfort Food
It
Has
MAMA LOVES YOU
Written
All
Over
It
Yummy Tender Roast
Golden Potatoes
Perky Carrots
Gravy
NEED I SAY MORE?
Well if you are like this Mama
you usually have leftovers 
with this big daddy of a meal.
So here is what I do.....
Freeze the leftovers!
Yes FREEZE the meat, potatoes and carrots.
THEN LIKE MAGIC
POOF
the defrosted
 leftovers into a big soup pot.
Make sure the meat
 is cut into big bite size chunks.
Add one 14 oz. can of beef broth,
one 14 0z can of evaporated milk
and
one can of drained corn
SIMMER ON LOW
UNTIL
THE 
HOUSE
SMELLS
HEAVENLY
Thicken with water and corn starch if needed.
Serve it up with some
bread or biscuits!
TA DAAAA
Yummy for the Tummy!






Monday, December 13, 2010

Mama Is Back!

Mama Holli is back to blogging!
I had a little distraction
called surgery and slept 
for about 2 weeks!
But all is good
and
I'M
BACK