friends

I grew up in French Creek, a small town in West Virginia. My dad was an artist at heart, but as a livelihood to support our family, he and mom owned and operated Smith’s General Grocery Store. They sold a little bit of everything from groceries to horseshoes to plug tobacco - even five buckle artics and when in season, salt fish that came in a barrel. In the back of the store was a pot belly stove that was cold as steel in the summertime, but in the winter, its cherry-red belly would radiate enough heat to draw a sweat. As a kid, I would sit by that stove; on a bench with my legs dangling, and listen to the local loafers spin yarns and gossip. I often wondered: "if that old stove could talk what stories would it tell?"

Growing up around a bunch of characters with very unique personalities, I came to appreciate their wit and wisdom. I can still hear and smell the sizzle of tobacco spit striking the belly of that stove, as I listened to them talk and argue while they played checkers. I suspect I developed my gift of gab from those folks, as well as some of my humor. That little country store became the foundation for my sales career in which God blessed me to be able travel to many parts of His world to meet and do business with folks from a broad spectrum of cultures.

Our family was Methodist and I was baptized in the Methodist church in French Creek. In high school, my brother and I fell in love with Catholic girls, Susan and Sue. Needless to say, this did not please our dad. Mom was “OK” with it and supported us but dad never completely warmed up to the idea his sons were marrying Catholics. Susan and I were married in 1966 and thus far, she continues to tolerate me and still allows me to take out the trash and relinquish the remote control to her.

When our daughter Janeen was born, I sort of started attending Mass. I did not attend every Sunday but as she grew older I became a more regular half-assed Catholic. Over the years, in my heart, I knew if for no other reason than spiritual osmosis, I was becoming more Catholic than Methodist. So, in 1998 I decided if I was going to be able to claim credit for all those years of going church with Catholics, I was going to have to become one. It really wasn’t a hard decision. When I received the Eucharist for the first time I got the warm comfortable feeling in my soul that I had “come home”.

Not long after my confirmation, I started praying the Rosary which has become the center piece of my daily devotions. The grace that comes from praying the Rosary is something that is difficult to put into words, but I assure you that praying the Rosary daily will enrich your life and strengthen your soul.

My brother’s wife, who I affectingly call “Sister Sue”, goes to church with Jeremy and when she learned what he was doing with The Rosary Station she told him he and I should meet. She told him I was Catholic, a member of the Knights of Columbus, had built our council’s and parish’s websites, and I have a back ground in sales and marketing and she felt I might be of some assistance.

So, here we are…you are reading this which means that Jeremy, Jason and Chris have allowed me to become a small part of their dream; for which I am honored and grateful. Using the creative skills passed to me by God through my dad, I have developed this website. It has been sort of a mini-ministry for me, because I love Our Holy Mother and hope that through her loving guidance and intercessions that we will inspire more Catholics to understand and appreciate the many graces to be received by praying the Rosary daily.