Michael Graduates!

Michael graduates from Dove tonight! Congratulations son!

It is getting close to when Paul, Linda, Cathy and I will see Star Trek! Our tradition continues at 7 pm tonight!

Star Trek - The Tradition Continues!

Well, tonight is the premier of the 11th Star Trek Movie! Paul and I began this tradition of seeing the premiers together on December 7th, 1979. Paul was going to OU and we saw the premier in a little theater in Norman, Oklahoma. Two years or so later, we saw the Wrath of Khan and the tradition began. We missed out on seeing Star Trek III together but picked right back up with IV. Since that first premier, we have had kids, divorced and remarried, now grandkids. Wow! We are just shy of 30 years since this tradition began!

Once again, behind the times!

I know, it has been almost a month since my last item!

Since then, I have visited Jose', he is doing pretty good, at least as well as to be expected. I will not be returning to Zarrow next year so I am on the job march again. I interviewed for a company named School Wires for a sales position. I will not know for certain until July 1st, however. I will know if I made the final cut by June 1st, then, hopefully, will have a third interview. If I get the job, I will go to PA for 6 weeks of training.

This job will use my contacts in K-12 in Oklahoma and, also, my experience as a teacher. The pay would definitely put my teacher pay to shame! Keeping fingers crossed and praying profusely!

I am training to be a driving instructor. I have done the classroom stuff and will be observing two drives this week. I should be behind the wheel next week then take some tests to be certified by the end of the month. It will help out with bills.

Brody was in the hospital this past weekend with some kind of sinus infection. Not exactly sure, maybe a type of flu though not the H1N1, thank God. He seems to be doing better. In the meantime, we had Rainee, Chloe and Alec over the weekend through Tuesday.

This Friday is the premier of Star Trek! Paul and I are planning our traditional premier night movie trip! We are excited, this will be the 10th trip for us on premier night (we missed Star Trek III).

Sunday is Mother's Day, this will be the second missing my own Mother. We pray for her soul and she is in my thoughts. I don't know what will be in store for Linda but I will make certain that she has a good day.

A friend of mine, Dave Mettey, lost his father a couple of week's ago, he, too, is in our prayers.

Well, school is about to start, gotta run! God Bless you all

A Few Thoughts

Well, I thought I would take a few minutes and jot down some of my thoughts. I saw a Catholic News Article about removing the "Conscience Clause" for the medical profession. It brought to mind some basic rights that we have 'guaranteed' by the Bill Of Rights in our Constitution. It seems to me that, by removing the clause allowing medical providers to refuse to violate their religious beliefs, specifically those regarding taking lives through Abortion, then the government runs the risk of violating their Freedom of Religion.

Sadly, we are at the point where we are faced with people being jailed for their beliefs in this country. It is not a case of someone's beliefs possibly causing harm to another, no, it is a case where the medical professional is actually being compelled by law to cause harm to another human being!

Our Catholic Faith teaches that this action is murder, a fundamental taking of an innocent life. It is not the same as Capital Punishment, those lives are not innocent, it is not the same as an Unjust or Just War. Again, those lives are not innocent in the same manner as a child in the womb of his or her mother.

Cake Walk

The kids were having a great time this Sunday at the Knights of Columbus!

Ready for Easter

Rainee, Chloe, and Alec are all dressed for Easter. Awesome dresses and a handsome young man ready to hunt for Easter Eggs

Visit from the Easter Bunny

Visit from the Easter Bunny at the Knights of Columbus Council 4721 Easter Party. A Good Time was Had by All!

Easter Egg Hunt, and a good time was had by all...

I will embed the videos I took as well, but, in the meantime, here are a couple of the pics from the Easter Egg Hunt at the Knights of Columbus Hall (Council 4721). A good time was had by all, including our grandchildren, Rainee, Chloe, and Alec Million!

Matthew Arroyo, EMT

This is my son, Matthew Dale Arroyo, EMT. He graduated from the EMSA Academy on Friday, April 3rd, 2009. It is an indiscribable experience to see a young man get his badge, wearing a uniform, and knowing that he is your son. He begins a career saving lives in Tulsa today!

Been awhile

My Friends and Family;

It has been awhile since I last updated this BLOG, I am sorry for the delay. Well, there have been ups and downs in our family since I last updated things.

Matthew Arroyo has begun working for Tulsa's Ambulance service, EMSA! Matthew has some great plans for himself and his family and Linda and I are very proud of him.

Michael joined me giving blood a couple of weeks ago! This was his first time giving blood and I was quite proud of him!

He also is on the way to becoming a Optometry Tech. He begins his Internship soon and should be well on the way to a very good career. Way to go Michael!

Jose' has his destiny set for awhile and will need your continued prayers and, if interested, would appreciate a letter or so.

Quality Time with the Grandkids

I am putting up a couple of videos from time with Kadence, Rainee, Alec, and Chloe. The first is some great time with Kadence. She was captured doing some pretending in the bathroom, playing and having a blast.




The second video is a visit to Chandler park. Enjoy as they play!

Wow! In like a Lamb or Lion?

March is here and Spring is not far behind. I never could remember what the groundhog (or Mother) did on Ground Hogs Day so I am never remembering what it is supposed to be like!

Well, Linda and I have been married 11 years a week from this Saturday! I just hope she feels the same way but I adore her more today than ever before! Our Anniversary is March 14th, (1998). I pray that God will continue to bless us and our children and grandchildren!

It did not go as well as we hoped for Jose' but it did go much better than we imagined. I hope that makes sense. He could have, and probably should have, received a much worse situation but ended up with better. We will not see him for awhile, at least a year and as long as 3 or 4 years. I know this is cryptic but, for those of you that know the circumstances, this should make pretty good sense. Keep Jose' and his children, Chandler, Chasity, Cayden and Destiny in prayers.

Let's see, I think that we 'spring forward' this weekend. The following weekend, that of the 14th, begins Spring Break for Tulsa Public Schools! Boy, am I ever ready!

I have a nifty video which I will upload to YouTube and embed, hopefully, tonight. It is of Kadence when she spent the night with us a couple of week's ago. She is very imaginative and had a blast. I almost forgot, Chandler and Chasity spent the night last weekend. We all survived! We had a great time!

Memory Lane with Rainee

Here is Rainee when she was 2 with Uncle Michael

Rainee and Uncle Michael carved some Pumpkins for Halloween in 2003

Also in 2003, Grandpa and Rainee began a tradition which continues today of baking Peanut Butter Cookies together. When this was taken, Grandpa did most of the work and Rainee did the "Crisscross". When we did this a couple of weeks ago, Rainee did ALL of the cookies except for putting them in and taking them out of the oven!

Our 8th Anniversary of Being Grandparents!

This is our Princess, Rainee Million. She is 8 today, Feb 19th, 2009.

Here is our Princess in the snow. Rainee has been a wonderful light to Linda and I. On Feb. 19th, 2001, I held this precious Princess for the first time and can't begin to say how that changed my life forever.

Here she is with her Uncle Andrew.

A Day at the Park with some of the Grandkids

Sunday, we had a blast at Lafortune with Landon, Kayla, Kadence, Rainee, Chloe, and Alec. Alec is having fun being spun around here by his Uncle Landon.

Chloe is getting a hug from her cousin, Kadence as Landon looks on.

Kadence running in the park!

The Morris', Kayla holding Kadence, and daddy, Landon. News of note, Kayla is EXPECTING our 13th grandchild!

Groundhog's Day

Monday was Groundhog's Day, which has a special significance in our family. Groundhog's Day is our Mother's birthday, Feb. 2nd, 1938. Mother passed away on Dec. 11th, 2007.

It was a strange day. I watched the Groundhog Monday morning and thought of our running joke over the years. When I was little, Grandma or Grandpa would make acomment asking Mother if she had seen her shadow. When I was old enough, and when Iwas calling home on her birthday, our opening comment was, not Happy Birthday, but“Did you see your shadow today?”

This and last year was missing that little, silly joke as simple as it was. I thought a bit on Monday and wondered, “Who do I call or tell this story to today?”

Thanks for remembering, Ron and Christina, I do appreciate the opportunity to tell this little story, which has been told over and over again the last 50 or more years (47 of which I lived through).

In a few more days, we come upon Feb 14th, Valentines Day, that was Grandpa’s birthday and where is the “Valentine” in our family now?

Snow Days!

Well, school was out Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week and, at least, some of us enjoyed the extra cool days! Rainee came over on Wednesday and played in the 'snow'. (Okay, in Oklahoma, the white stuff is not always Snow. This was a combination of sleet and freezing rain but there was a little snow on top of the mess!)

Yeah, that is ICE! But Rainee was having a great time!

Drew popped by to play with Rainee and get a bit on the cold and wet side!

On a more serious side, Jose' is not out of the woods yet. He has a hearing on Mother's birthday, Feb 2nd. Keep him in prayers, he definitely needs them!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

From Christmas Village

Matthew and Chelsea were over for our Christmas Celebration on Friday, Dec. 26th.

From Christmas Village

Amiya and Matthew Jr. with Daddy

From Christmas Village

Grandpa with Madison Arroyo

From Christmas Village

Chasity, Chandler and Cayden Arroyo came over to Grandma and Grandpa's on Christmas Day.

From Christmas Village 2007 - 08 - Christmas 08

Frances and Brody

From Christmas Village 2007 - 08 - Christmas 08

Landon and Kayla

Partridge in a Pear Tree

From 1558 to 1829, Roman Catholics in Europe were not allowed to practice their faith openly. Someone wrote the carol as a catechism song for the children. The words have a coded meaning, which helped the children to learn and remember the religious doctrine.

• The partridge in the pear tree was Jesus Christ.
• Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
• Three French hens represented faith, hope and love.
• Four calling birds were the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
• Five golden rings were reminders of the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
• Six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
• Seven swans a-swimming represented the seven gifts from the Holy Spirit: Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.
• Eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
• Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.
• Ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
• Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
• Twelve drummers drumming represented the twelve points of belief of the Apostles' Creed.

JingleBells - KofC Christmas Party

Another view from the Christmas Party with Rainee, Chloe, and Alec.
Merry Christmas from the Arroyo Family to yours!

Knights of Columbus Christmas Party

Alec singing with Santa.

Arroyo Christmas Preparations

From Christmas Village

From Christmas Village

The Arroyo Christmas Village has expanded this year to include a Nativity Scene, School, Mayor's Mansion, roads etc.

From The Arroyo Family

Rainee decorates the Christmas Tree

From The Arroyo Family

Grandma and Rainee preparing the decorations

From The Arroyo Family

Holly and Rainee - Taking a little break

From The Arroyo Family

Almost done, Rainee has completed most of the decorations

Merry Christmas from the Arroyo Family to yours.

December to Remember

Well, not all memories are good memories. A year ago December 11th, Shirley Beio passed away. The ice storm plagued Tulsa and, amidst it all, we were trying to get a memorial service together.

The day before the memorial, Destiny Arroyo was born, just in time for the memorial. Her father, today, has hit rock bottom and is awaiting his own destiny. His fate is in the hands of God. Many of you, family, friends, know the circumstances. Suffice it to say he needs our prayers.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Arroyo's

Well, this Thanksgiving has its ups and downs for our family.

On the ups side: Linda was able to spend her first Thanksgiving weekend with her sisters since, well, since she has been an adult! She went to Hot Springs to visit Judy and Anet and had a great weekend with her family.

Linda and I spent the actual Thanksgiving day together alone. All of our kids and grandkids were at in-laws and out-laws family get-to-gethers and we celebrated God's Blessings together.

Keep Jose', my oldest son, in your prayers. He has hit his rock bottom and the outlook is bleak for his future. It seemed like he was getting his life together, going to school and working but he backslid and his luck ran out. His reliance now has to be on God. We are keeping him in prayers and ask you to do the same.

My job situation has become brighter. I was going through a crisis in vocation. What has God gotten me into? Well, prayers have been answered and things are brighter in my chosen profession. They have not become easy, by any means, but brighter just the same.

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER

VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2008 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for December is: "That, faced by the growing expansion of the culture of violence and death, the Church may courageously promote the culture of life through all her apostolic and missionary activities".

His mission intention is: "That, especially in mission countries, Christians may show through gestures of brotherliness that the Child born in the grotto in Bethlehem is the luminous Hope of the world".

Fathers For Good

Fathers for Good is an initiative for men by the Knights of Columbus which seeks to provide support for fathers in their vocation as fathers, husbands, and faithful Christian Men. I am providing a link here to this new web site in hopes that some of my family and friends can benefit from this new website.

Hear podcasts from college men and woman talking about the importance of their fathers in their lives.

Also New on Fathers for Good:

· A report from an inspiring men's spirituality conference
· A Father's Blog about faith and politics

Vivat Jesus!

Sir Knight J.A. Arroyo

Knight of Columbus

I voted my Conscience

Well, by now we know who will be the next President of the United States, Barack Obama. He was not my choice, I do not agree with the politics he supports. He is not a man that defends life and, in fact, he will destroy life.

Our task now is to pray for his conversion, particularly for his Vice President, Joe Biden. Mr. Biden is a Catholic who should defend his Catholic values but has hidden from them. We must pray for their return to the values which God calls them to support, life. This country is special, it has been a beacon of morality for many years, a beacon of democracy. Now, we hope that this 'beacon' or 'City on a Hill' returns to the values which made her great.

Obama will be our President, we must pray for him and for our country.

Visit from the Cousins

Terrie is trying her hand at Skip Bo! We had an incredible visit with Terrie and Bill. I know that this was not the best reasons to get together but it was fantastic to get to see them again. It is hard to believe that it has been at least 18 years since Terrie and I have been in the same room together. This is the first time that Terrie was able to meet Linda. In fact, this was the first time that Bill met her as well. Believe it or not, Bill stuck around to see his new grandchild! Now, does that tell you how we have let time fly!?

Linda showed Bill and Terrie how to play Skip Bo! Now, Linda is serious about her Skip Bo (I am usually not brave enough to play her!) Those hands in the background belong to Christina. Pat, Christina, Amanda, Rob, Linda and I joined Terrie and Bill at our house for steaks and a grilled meal Sat. Night.
We gathered together as a family to mourn the passing of Uncle Bobby but renewed family ties over the weekend. We hope that the economy will work with us so that we can gather together again soon.

I had to throw in the video as well! Enjoy our playing around at the Arroyo's!

Bobby Lee McGrew - Memories from Ron

Bob L. McGrew
4/1/1941 - 11/7/2008

Memories from his cousin, Ron Ellison

Bobby as (I always knew him), was my closest cousin growing up. We in our pre and early teens, had paled together quit a lot. I remember the times we went to the Downtown YMCA together and also explored Tulsa's underground tunnels. Or taking in a western movie where Bobby would always want to sit in the very front row. I remember the many times we spent the night together at each others houses.

As a very young boy, Bobby would earn extra money by being a caddy at Golf Courses.

Later we attended Inola High School at the same time. He a freshman and me a Sophomore. At that time I remember Bobby and I using picks to dig a hole in their yard to put in a storm cellar. We didn't know what we were getting into digging out that hard clay. Later we both got a calf to raise. We didn't turn out to be very good ranchers. I remember times we would go down to their pond, and Bobby would find snakes and grab them by the tail and try to snap off their head. He was amazing!

After High School I heard about him being stationed in Florida when the missile crises was going on in Cuba. I remember being proud of him serving his country in the Army. I was proud of him again when I realized he had become a police officer in Tulsa and later in Broken Arrow.

Bobby was a quiet man, and very intelligent. I knew him to be sensitive, but yet strong in his own way, and perhaps greatly misunderstood by many.

Toward the end he showed a lot of courage and patients under very difficult circumstances. Bobby never lost his sense of humor.

Life will not be the same without him. I will miss you Bobby.

Your cuz, Ron

Bobby Lee McGrew

This is a bit of an older picture of Uncle Bobby. Last year, not quite 11 months ago, his sister, Shirley, my mother, died (Dec. 11th). Tonight, Uncle Bobby is in intensive care at St. Francis after suffering a brain aneurysm and stroke about 1:00 PM today.

Especially keep his daughter, Terrie Perry and son, Bill McGrew, in prayers, they are scattered across the country tonight and can't be here. (Update: Bill and Terrie should arrive this morning, Friday, around 9:30 AM. Christina and I are hopeful that they will arrive in time to see their father and say their 'good-byes'. Bobby is 67.)

I will keep you apprised of his condition and keep him in your prayers.....

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER

VATICAN CITY, 31 OCT 2008 (VIS) - Benedict's general prayer intention for November is: "That the testimony of love offered by the saints may fortify Christians in their devotion to God and their neighbor, imitating Christ who came to serve and not to be served".

His mission intention is: "That the Christian communities of Asia, contemplating the face of Christ, may know how to find the most suitable ways to announce Him, in full faithfulness to the Gospel, to the people of that vast continent so rich in culture and ancient forms of spirituality".
BXVI-PRAYER INTENTIONS/NOVEMBER/... VIS 081031 (90)

Decision 2008

Well, I don't think that any family or friends have any question by now of who I will be voting for or what values we espouse. Today Linda and I went to the Tulsa County Election Board to vote early. This is the first time we have taken advantage of voting early (heck, we didn't even know that there was such a thing, isn't Tuesday Election Day?)

Well, we heard of the long lines yesterday and today it was open from 8 AM to 1 PM. WOW! You should have seen the lines! I have a couple of pictures, just to give an idea but I doubt they will tell the story.
We continue to pray for the Unborn, Choose LIFE!