God Bless Uncle Bob

Dear Hearts,

December 30th is the 12th anniversary of the death of our third patriarch (since we have been in the New World), Robert Mitchel Sullivan, born December 2, 1928, and died December 30, 2007.

He is the husband of Darlene Shajin Silva Sullivan, the son of John Jeremiah (Lefty, our first patriarch in America) and Anna Conick Sullivan. He is brother of James Patrick Sullivan, Sr. (Big Sully, our second patriarch), Sister Anna Rita Sullivan, Order of Preachers (Dominicans), and Sister Margaret Sullivan, Order of Preachers.

He is father of John, Jim, Bobby, Paul, Tim, Mike, Mary, Margaret, Ella and Peter, and the grandfather of 50+ and great grandfather to 2!

Uncle Bob and Aunt Darlene lived one of the great love stories with forty years of marriage, a shining example to all of us. Individually and together, they brought to life the phrase, "There's always room for more!" In other words, all were welcome in their lives, their hearts and their home. Back in the mid 1970s, Uncle Bob scooped up three of us Sullivans from So Cal and brought us along with his own large bunch on a camping trip to Baja, Mexico!

He had the best voice--so kind and sure, and kept us riveted with his wonderful storytelling. But like his brother, my dad, when an injustice had occurred--look out! That voice was strong and sure.

We are so fortunate to have had him for those many years and his advice and influence lives on through his children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. I know my parenting efforts are greatly informed by Uncle Bob and Aunt Darlene.

Thank you, Almighty God, for Bob Sullivan, husband, father, brother, son, grandfather, uncle, priest, warrior, counselor, and faithful servant of The Living God.

Uncle Bob's Legacy!

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Francesca!

Dear Hearts,

December 27th is the birthday of Francesca Mary Hanjani: daughter of Maggie and Kameron; sister of Inez; niece, cousin and friend of scores more folks.

Her gorgeous black curly hair is long and her spirit is strong. Lala, as she is called, flits about her world like a sweet little woodland nymph, but will also become a beautifully fierce ogre if her baby sister, mama or dada are threatened.

She is the fourth Frances carrying the name, along with Boom Boom, Mary Fran, Frannie Ella, and then there are also Claire Marie Frances, and James Patrick Francis Sullivan, and Johanna Frances Clark, and Margaret Frances Sullivan, and Great-great-great grandmother Wanda Frances Zinn, and of course, Tereas, Dave and Camden Francis. And the Holy Father!

Welcome to your sixth trip around the calendar, and may you have 120 more healthy birthdays, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Merry Christmas!

Dear Hearts,

A Christmas message from our patriarch:

Merry Christmas to everyone in the world and especially this, our beloved group of family and friends, bonded together by blood, marriage, friendship, shared hardships and victories, but most of all, deep love and admiration, affection and affinity, respect and admiration.

We have new little babies this year, the first year of their life. In that sense we and they are in union with Jesus. And Happy Birthday to Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Happy Birthday to the return of the sun, and the lengthening of the days, and the upsweep of Hope in our hearts.

And let us remember and revere all of our old ones who went ahead of us, who loved us, who lived for us, and who gave us life and are gone. And let us remember the fallen, and hold them in our hearts. Especially those who never had much chance to enjoy this beautiful life, who may have been only 18 or 19, or any age, who have fallen on beaches and frozen outposts and in rice paddies all over the world.

And also, there is a special type of person who serves tonight and tomorrow and the next night, while we rejoice and celebrate. They are the real soldiers. They are the ones who must keep the flag up and the fire tended, and must protect and help those who need it at all hours.

My daughter Francie's and Diane Lee's and cousin Teresa Francis’s and sister Anne Daly’s colleagues, the nurses, will be up and out at 0330 hours Christmas day, because their patients at the hospital don't stop being sick.

Francie just called me and had to bow out of our festivities tonight because they are swamped at the hospital, and she has to work the double shift. Please pray for her and her patients tonight.

My son Doctor Mickey have to go if they are called, and they are on call. Same with our cousin, Dr. Seamus Sullivan. And also, the police and the firemen, and most of all, our beloved troops, are out on the line for us. So, let's pray for those who serve tonight, like the first responders and the troops--and give thanks to all those out on the outposts.

Soldiers, that's what I think all of these public servants of ours really are, and I attach the prayer here, to St. Michael, and for them. St. Michael the Archangel is the Patron of Paratroopers. Whitey once gave me a medallion of St. Michael the Paratrooper to wear on my dog tags, and I'm looking at them right now.

We all can stand easy because of these servants of humanity.

On this vigil of Christmas, I think of what our beloved grandfather Boompa always would pray, about the poor and hungry and homeless, and about his big circle of family and friends, and I offer up this prayer in Boompa’s place, for us, our families, and all our loved ones:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. Please, God, spread your care over the poor, cold, hungry and lonely, those sick or imprisoned or without home or shelter.

Please , God, take care of John, ease his pain, and grant us all the miracle we hope for as we seek your Holy Will.

Please, God, bring home all our troops safe, and all the troops of all the peoples of all the world, safe, even the enemy.

Thank you, God for all we have, life and love and opportunity. Thank you, God for the new little babies you have sent us.

Thank you for all our beloved dead of the family, and for all our fallen troops over all the years. Hold us all in Your Big Hand and close to Your Sacred Heart.

Amen.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Merry Christmas.

Love,
Seamus the Older

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

PATRON SAINT OF PARATROOPERS AND SOLDIERS

St. Michael the Archangel, Defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the malice and snares of the enemy.

Restrain them, O God, we humbly beseech Thee,

And do thou, Prince of the Heavenly Host,

By the Divine Power,

Thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil souls

Who prowl about the earth,

Seeking the ruin and destruction of souls.

Amen

Prayers Answered But Don't Let Up!

Dear Hearts,

This just in from Jim's West Point classmate who requested our spiritual support on behalf of his son, Douglas, who has been living with kidney disease for 20+ years. Proof that our prayers are carrying others through tough times:

Now please pass this good news onto your Dear Hearts: Their prayers were answered! We just found out that Douglas is scheduled to get a new kidney on January 12th; you can bet that we are gonna have a blow out Christmas celebration. It is going to be a complicated chain of exchanges: eight people, eight surgeries, and four exchanges of kidneys. So the transplant team says to understand that there are a lot of moving parts, and lots of things can get it the way. If one person comes down with even an ear infection, or chickens out at the last minute, or (worse) tests positive for Covid, then everything stops and they regroup. But the process is firmly in place, and unless something goes wrong, then Douglas will have a new kidney in a few weeks. God is so good, and we are so grateful. Thanks, Sully, for your prayers and support, and thank those Dear Hearts for us.

Merry Christmas!

Skip

Skip also requests that we continue to pray for a successful outcome.

Never doubt the power of prayer and how we can carry others when they are too weak, afraid, overwhelmed or sick to carry themselves. I am proud to be part of this Dear Hearts gang.

Much Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Callum!

Dear Hearts,

Callum and Ewan in Flagstoff

December 21st is the birthday of Callum James Sullivan: son of Paul and Stephanie; brother of Hannah, Jack, Emma, Liam and Ewan; grandson of Bob, Darlene, Robbie and Jill; cousin, nephew and friend to dozens more.

In his seventh grade year, Callum works hard in the classroom, as well as whatever sport field or court he enters. He has loads of athletic talent playing flag football, basketball and soccer, as well as swimming and hiking. Callum has no idea how darn handsome he is, which will make him even more the object of many girls' affection! 

Happy Birthday, Callum. May you have 112 more healthy ones by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Jim III!

Dear Hearts,

December 20th is the birthday of James Patrick Francis Sullivan III: son of Jim and Nancy; brother of Mick, Amos, Miles and Franny; nephew, cousin and friend to scores of us. I was just four years old when his arrival made me an auntie!

Jim is working as a sales representative in the thermoplastics industry and has become a talented and hard-working tradesman in his spare time.

Jim the Third, as I've called him my entire life, is an intelligent, articulate and hilarious man who always makes me think a bit harder and ask a few more questions, no matter what topic we may be discussing. He's a wonderful listener and I find his frank communication refreshing.

So, happy birthday, Jim the Third, and may you have 74 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

God Bless Bud

Dear Hearts,

December 20th is the 101st anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allen Cusick, Bitsy's Dad, known to the Calumet Region, where he lived and died, as Bud. He started and ran the famous Budd Auto Body, still in business, run by his son, Brian Bud Cusick.

Bud served in the Army Air Corps during WWII, like Big Sully, and taught tail gunners on bombers. He was a wonderful man and a fine husband and father, and Bitsy loves him so. He had a special place in his heart for her, and has come to her in dream since his passing, to tell her how he loves her.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty