By… Lee AldrichJr. Based on a true story … 06/17/2020
Hi… I’m the Brat, a little small cat, and I like living dangerously.
My story is… I live on a small farm, four-horses, a chicken, five dogs, six cats, and I’m the smallest cat. I look like an orange tiger cat. I run fast, I jump like crazy, and I’m a big-time hunter.
Also, there’s mom and dad, two old white people that work for me. They feed me, they rub my tummy, and they put medicine on me. Heck, they do just about anything I want, and I want a lot! “Heck, I’m the Brat.”
Well, this is dad, and as you know I’m the lucky slave … that takes care of the Brat that is a cat and loves living dangerously. My cat, the Brat has florescent green eyes, and even as small as she is, her smile is as big and bodacious as can be!
“I’ve never been able to tell her, so I guess that is why she lives so dangerously.”
Now you’re probably thinking what could be so dangerous, for a small Brat that is a CAT. Well… when I’m feeding the horses, the Brat will walk under the horses while they eat and stomp their feet to shake the flies off their legs. Just one wrong step and the little Brat becomes an orange pancake!
One day … I was taking a break, just sitting and watching the grass grow, when the Brat stumbled in front of me with a snake in her mouth, and the rest of the snake was wrapped around her! I had to immediately free her from the snake; the snake was five times bigger than her.
Then one day, she wasn’t done telling me what to do.
So…as I was entering into the big dog area… that “nut” tried to jump from a tree that was outside the big dog area fence… to a tree inside the big dog area, but… the branch she landed on… was old, dead, and broken. So, the Brat and the old broken tree branch fell to the ground.
NOW… the first thing I saw, and the Brat saw, and those two big dogs saw, was the “BRAT”… staring into the eyes of the two big dogs… that just wanted to eat her!
Like a big dummy… I grabbed her and held her high in the air, and the two big dogs… then… put their slobber and their muddy ole paws all over me.
I tossed the “BRAT” outside the big dog fence area… and she was just fine.
But me, I was one big dog slobbering muddy mess!
Then the Brat, the two big dogs, and me, just had a very good laugh.
So… as time rolls on … we will always remember these siilly and very good old times…that we had together and being so happy!
(Click on., the SUNSHINE song… and start to sing along… to the children)
Mary Ellen Aldrich
“While listening to this song…”You are My Sunshine”…It sounds just like your voice, Alyssa … that is singing it to our sweet little Ruby…herself” xoxo
Mary Ellen Aldrich
“…and whatever you do…do not throw Ruby’s Hat…out…when she does not want it anymore… save for me…that is just the best looking HAT…If I say so myself” xoxo
Alyssa Leverenz
Mary
aw ok Grammy, you can have it when she’s finished with it!
is my brother Alan’s little bro. He died so tragically yesterday on Father’s Day, 1 week away from his golden 28th birthday.
He started his day like any other, doing what he loves – Motocross – and did not make it home from the tracks this time.
Leaves behind 2 little sons, 3 siblings, both parents, tons of brokenhearted friends, and a whole life that got cut way too short.
I’ve known this little guy my whole life. He’s like a brother to me. Saddest day ever!
My heart feels for anyone who is grieving the loss of someone who meant so much to you.
Within just 1 year, I’ve lost my father in law, my best friend, my other dear friend and now this. It’s almost more than my heart can handle.
I realize more and more how fragile life is. Each day is a blessing. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, or even later… So LIVE now while you can.
I love you guys.
67Mary Elizabeth Bridget, Trish Tinsley Ericson and, 65 others
62 Comment
Brandon Santiago
I worked with Donny at Honda in West county when I was like …21. He was a good egg. My heart goes out to all the mourning souls
Alyssa Leverenz
Brandon Santiago
aw, I never knew that! Thanks for checking in Brandon. Good to hear from you
Brandon Santiago
what happened to him?
Alyssa Leverenz
Brandon
He’s been into Motocross since he was a kid – total pro at the sport!
Unfortunately, he was at a track in Illinois yesterday morning and went for this one jump that was notoriously difficult and ran smack dab into a tree. Airlifted to a hospit…
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Brandon Santiago
Alyssa Leverenz
that breaks my heart, I’m so sorry
Trish Tinsley Ericson
Oh Dear Lord, NO.
Emily Bay
Alyssa, I’m so very sorry for your loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
Nicki DiSalvo Wester
I am so sorry for your loss. Sending prayers to you and your family.
Joshua MoonandSun
I’m sorry for this loss Alyssa. I’m sending love all day to this young man & his family.
Kevin Myers
So sorry Alyssa
Laura Selke
We are so sorry for the loss of your friend.
Bobby Cardwell
I’m sorry for your family’s loss Alyssa.
Amy Milbourn Cardwell
I’m so sorry for your loss
Jay Joern
Alyssa Leverenz, I am so saddened to hear this. I am thinking of you and your family. Healing prayers and comforting though
Steven Teczar
Sorry for your loss, Alyssa.
Doug Payne
I’m so sorry for your loss
Susie Matteuzzi Brent
My heart and prayers go out to Donny, you and your loved ones who mourn the loss of this dynamic soul. May you all be surrounded by much consolation at this difficult time.
Alyssa Leverenz
Katie Reuter
I’m so sorry Alyssa. Sending lots of big hugs to you and your family.
Gracie Leverenz Lowery
So very sorry to hear this! My heart goes out to you and your family! Love you!
Pamela Jaskiewicz
I’m so sorry for your loss!
Jeff Braun
Alyssa, I’m so very sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences to you and his family. Especially his little ones
Linda Duree Emmons Taylor
so sorry Alyssa and for your family.
Catlynn Zayon
I’m so sorry for your loss gf I’ll be thinking about all of you! Please give Alan my condolences
Alan Moriconi
I’m so sorry Alyssa. I’m here for you. So sorry for your loss.
“May the Almighty Bless all those that send messages to the Donald Crangle family … their son Donald, jr. just met with a tragic accident Sunday … which was also Father’s Day… and now … his two very young sons… are now without their very good Father … something that everyone … now knows.” D.V.
As we move through coronavirus pandemic of 2020 and begin to think of its impact and effect, many people are asking what is going to happen next. Some are predicting the worst. “The world will never be the same,” they say. “We’ll never go back to normal.” The pessimism about the impact of this pandemic is almost as bad as the pandemic itself. So what do you say to those who predict such a dire post-pandemic life? I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet—although I do have a prophet’s name. I cannot tell you all that God is going to do with this time of sheltering. But I can tell you what God has done during and after times of sheltering in the past. And once you review the truth of history as I have described it below, I think you will know what He is going to do this time. Click here to learn more about “Shelter in God”: http://ow.ly/WGwi30qG7ML
Sayerdify1 month ago (edited)
Thank you Dr. Jeremiah for reminding us of all these amazing miracles and blessings.
Lillian Williams1 month ago
Powerful. Just a powerful message during this pandemic. Thank you… Dr. David Jeremiah. The world so needed to hear this. 🙏
CeGrayon1 month ago
Praise the Lord! HE’S Reliable and Trustworthy. Thank you for sharing this powerful message. God bless you, Sir.🙏🏼
George Rudanycz7 hours ago
The message of hope certainly reflected in today’s lesson by Dr. David Jeremiah in Psalm 107 as a good example
Maria Teresa Ancona1 month ago
I believe He has sheltered me throughout my life.
Debra Tripp1 month ago
Thank you Dr. Jeremiah hearing again how God sheltered his people… calmed my anxious heart. We need to be reminded sometimes.
Stefany Dower1 month ago (edited)
God is amazing! He’s doing a sheltering work in my life and will bring restoration to my family! This is my prayer and this is God’s promise to me! Praise God!
Mary L1 month ago
Amen… when our news said we had been in a Stay at Home Order for 40 days l thought at that moment we are like Noah … but sheltered in our homes.
Happy Birthday to another dear friend, “Kelly Uzzetta.” Have a lot of friends who are having a birthday all around this time of the year!
“Kelly” was looking for a new home when I first met her. I was a real estate agent at the time and we spent a couple of weeks looking for a nice property, something with some land and lots of rooms for their seven (7) children. We found just the right property and her family moved in, and we had struck up such a good friendship, which was fun for both of us, and our families.
Over the years her children grew up and I was invited to birthdays and then to weddings and to children being born, making “Kelly” a “Grandma!” Also, Mr. Uzzetta was in the construction business and I was in need of having a new “bay window” being installed at my home. Mr. Uzzetta and his son were able to complete this job, perfectly. There were several other jobs we needed and Mr.Uzzetta was able to do these as well and at reasonable rates.
There were times when we had the Uzzettas come over for dinner and we were also to their home just as many or more times. It was just one of those times when you just click into a good long term friendship, and not knowing what the future would have in store our friendship just continued as we all did enjoy many very good years associating!
The time for an unforeseen accident though is something we just could not comprehend. “Kelly” had just come home from work and had dinner with her family, and was going to enjoy a short time watching “TV” when, without any warning and no way in this world to know, what tragedy a complete catastrophe would be happening in just a very few minutes?
Coming down the highway, a driver “drunk” and having been arrested so many times and still had his driver’s license, crossed over the highway, “Highway 30” going up and over another road-way, into the “AIR” and right into “Kelly’s” living room window and “Kelly was there, suiting right there, on the sofa!
Instantly, she was killed. The living room and front entrance to the house, all damaged beyond belief. How could this have happened? The drunk- driver came right between two (2) very large trees, and he, “DRUNK” without a scratch. What a night -mare for my very good friend, “Kelly” and her family. Her funeral followed in a few days. Such a good life, killed by a drunk-driver, who should have been without a license to drive! HE never was punished for his prior arrests, nothing done about his drinking and driving, always driving as he still had to drink???
“Kelly” you may not be here on earth with all of us now, but, you are in a for greater place, and that is in Heaven with our Creator, where we will all be some day and will have more Good Times and FUN, much better than anything here on EARTH. I will never ever forget you. You were and always will be, a most “terrific friend to me!” D.V.
Almost twenty years ago, one of my very best friends went to her Heavenly reward, Sister Mary Emeline Gander of the order of “Sisters of Christian Charity” in Wilmette, Illinois. Sister Emeline’s whole life was a continual prayer. Everything she did was with “LOVE!”
I first met Sister Emeline, while living at the “Orphan’s Home” and was assigned to work for her, in the “BOY’s” dining room, which was on the left side of the building on the ground floor. On the right side of building was the “Girl’s Dining Room” as the building was divided, with the “Chapel” right in the middle. The “Dormitories” and the “Playrooms” were also set up to accommodate the girls and boys separately, where as, if you were the oldest child of your family and a girl, your brothers then, would come to the “Girl’s Dining Room” for their meals – same way for the boys – and this was the only time as a family, you were together, just to eat your meals.
This was in the mid “1940’s” and each child would be assigned some type of work to do, which lasted six months. “Girls” were assigned to work in both dining rooms, and I was assigned to work in the “Boys’ Dinging Room” and a new NUN, “Sister Emeline” was in charge, and she was something, so much better than most of the “NUNS!” And then, maybe again, a year or two before I was to graduate from the 8th grade, I worked for “Sister Emeline” another six (6) months.
“Sister Emeline” became a good friend right away, because she was so nice to talk with, and just seem to understand what ever I wanted to say and or do when it came to decorating the “Dining Room” for the “Holidays” more importantly, she would talk to me as if I was a friend and what I had to say , always made some kind of sense? She was more friendly than most of the “Nuns” and that is what I liked and needed, since I missed my own family!
Also, “Sister Emeline” was one of four (5) sisters and one brother, who were also placed in the same “Orphan Hone” when their mother died and she was only three (3) years old. Four of the sisters did join the “Sisters of Christian Charity” her youngest sister, “Sister Mary Alvira” was my 5th and 6th grade teacher, and also became another very good friend, and later after leaving the Orphanage, I still kept in touch with them, until they each went to Heaven.
I miss not having such a good friend, as “Sister Emeline” we were always writing and sending stuff back and forth, always with the best of communications and up-lifting words, as I still have every card and letter. So hard to forget your really “good friends” no matter how long ago, since they may be gone from this Earth, but, a very good “FRIEND” is never ever forgotten!
Sister Mary Emeline – Happy Birthday! You will always be “Family” to me! D.V.
