Fun At Work...

Tax Dollars at work...

Woodlawn Police Door Decoration

Maryland Catholic Conference - Maryland Government

Tell Senate not to move health care bill forward until it is morally acceptable

Maryland Catholic Conference - Maryland Government

Alive Again

Voted top Christian Song on Itunes...

Listen Now...

Alive Again - Matt Maher

Losing by 1 sucks...

Griffin played in an indoor hitting league these past few weeks. What started out as a way to get some extra at bats soon turned into a week to week friendly competition. Griffin, Sam and Jeremy all played together this past fall on my team and went into the hitting league as a team of three. The object is to hit ten hits per inning and get the most points by the end of the game. Each part of the tunnel is different points ranging from 0 if you hit the ceiling and 5 if you hit the machine. The first game Griffin and his team out hit their opponents 199 to 174. In addition, Griffin had the weekly high of 90 for the 9U division. Each week the kids battled back and forth. Going into Week 5 Griffin was 12 points behind the overall leader. At the end of week 5 Griffin was back on top for the overall points in his division.

Last night was his 6th and final game. I was unable to be there and Griffin said they won but overall did not do as well as in weeks past. He said they only got in 5 innings which meant he missed an entire 10 pitches. This morning I checked and saw they did indeed win their match up and Sam Watkins (From Brunswick LL) had the top overall score. I found out later that Griffin lost the top points position by 1 point. Think about this...one more inning would have done the trick. It sucks to lose by 1.

Teaghan dancing with Santa.

Teaghan's First Snow...

Well really it's not her first, but it was the first time she could go out and play by herself. She had fun.

Snow December 4 2009

It's not a baby?

Introducing...

My Son's Little League has opened it's own blog.  It will be a great way for us to post pictures, news and information about the league.  Four County Little League is Mount Airy's home for Little League Baseball.  Little League is the world's largest youth sport organization.  FCLL is proud to represent Mount Airy and Maryland.  If you want to know more about the Little League and youth baseball in Mt. Airy, MD, click on their website.  If you want visit and subscribe to the blog, visit by clicking here.  Hope you enjoy FCLL's blog.


Have a great day.

Choosing Thomas

This video is not easy to watch. But I felt the need to post. It is amazing and will make you cry. It will make you think about your own children. It will make you think of all the unborn children. It will just plain make you think.

Griffin goes to the Little League World Series

Well...Sort of...

Griffin and I spent Friday, August 21, 2009, in Williamsport, PA. We went with Pat & Charlie Ronan. Charlie plays in the majors division for Four County Little League. On the drive up there, it did not look good as the rain started to fall. When we arrived we found a great parking space in someone's back yard. $5.00 all day...you can't beat that. As we arrived at Volunteer Stadium the tarp was being pulled off. Griffin said, "It looks like they will start the game soon". But it was not to be. A few minutes later the tarp went back on the field. After about an hour rain delay, the tarp came off, the field was dressed again and the Mid-Atlantic team took the field. It was so exciting to be there for the first game. We watched a total of 4 games (or at least part of 4 games). In addition to all that, we found time to eat kettle corn, buy hats and shirts and take in the rich history of this great event. 2.6 million young people play in Little League making it the worlds largest youth sports organization. It is hard to understand the magnitude until you visit Williamsport, PA and take it all in.

Out with a bang...

Well, the tournament is finally over. The FCLL Minor League All Stars competed in their final game last night. They took on Brunswick Little League Minors All Stars. After an hour delay to repair the field from severe rain earlier in the evening, the game began. The team didn't do bad and on some occasions the decision of the umpires could have gone either way which may not have changed the outcome, but would have made the game that much closer. After 4 innings of play, the game was suspended for lightning. Due to the fact that a serious storm was on the way and there were several flashes of lightning, the game was called. The final score...Brunswick LL 10, FCLL 1. Our kids did not win, but they gave their all. Looking back the kids did well facing two older more experienced teams. I think they learned alot and had a great time. We look forward to a break from baseball. At least for a month...then fall ball starts.

Tournament Time...

It has been a long time since my last post. I guess that is because week to week it has been baseball, baseball, baseball. I guess you could say our life has been consumed with baseball. Griffin has played over 25 games this season between his regular games and his travel games. At age 8 (league age) this is alot of games.

Griffin was selected for the 2009 Four County Little League All Star team. In Little League there is no sanctioned tournament for Griffin's age group however, FCLL enters their minors team into the Emory Frye Memorial Minor League All Star Tournament hosted by Brunswick Little League. On Saturday, July 18, 2009 the team took the field. Although we did not know how the team would perform, they ended up taking both weekend games. Now we are in the "winners" bracket and are set to play on Tuesday evening.

I will try to update my blog as we go on.

Rember this photo?  It was taken by a photographer who was pro-choice.  He is clearly Pro-Life now.  Read the rest of the story here.

In a nut shell the young baby in this photograph is 21 weeks old.  He is now 9 years old.  Still think a baby in the womb is a Choice?  

Amazing...

Sunny Day...

Today was Griffin's first travel game. For those who don't know, he plays "in house" Little League baseball during the week and on Saturdays. On Sundays he has an opportunity to play competitive games with a select group of kids from Four County Little League. His team is called the Four County Cannons.


Although the score did not reflect a "Win"...Griffin had a great time. He started at short stop and in the third inning was called in to pitch. He finished that inning and completed the forth inning as well. Griffin did not give up any runs during his first ever travel appearance. He then went back to playing shortstop. At the plate, the pitchers could not find his strike zone because he walked three times.


For some of the players on Griffin's team this was their very first competitive baseball game. In fact, prior to this some have never seen real pitching and or stealing. The kids did not get the "W", but the experience they gained is invaluable.


The Cannon's next game is in two weeks and you can track their progress by visiting their Team Website.


It is awesome enough to wake up everyday, but when you can wake up on the Lords day and spend a sunny afternoon with your family watching your son play...there is nothing better than that.

March for Life 2009

Pre-Concert for March for Life...

Griffin and I went to see Matt Maher at a Pre-Concert for the March for Life. It was awsome. The room was filled with hundreds of energetic teenagers. Matt was on fire with his words and music. Kenny & Kemi both remembered Griffin and I from last years visit to the mount. Griffin came home and all he could say to Maureen was "Kenny remembered me". It was a good time. I have posted the pictuers and several videos. The video posted here is 1 of 3. In this video Matt talks at length and has some powerful words. I can't stop listening to it. Thanks Matt for your uplifting powerful words. Also, thanks to Kenny, Kemi and Dan for another great concert.

Matt Maher 1 21 2009

Family of the Month November 2008

To my surprise our family was honored with the Knights of Columbus Family of the Month for November 2008. Don D’Valle, Grand Knight of St. Michael's Council 10525, gave us the plaque during Breakfast with Santa last month. Don had some very kind words to say to Maureen and I and I thank him. Below is the article that was posted in the Knights Pages.

Family of the Month is a Christian Model in several ways. That doesn’t mean perfect yet, but stepping in the right direction. Jim and Maureen Gill are victors in and with Our Lord. Restored to life within and without over the years, they “race toward the goal,” as Saint Paul put it. They are active catechists with pre-school, and 6th and 7th graders, for at least 6 years. Young children (8 years and 6 months) do not hold them back, they involve them! Summer middle school camps (3 years), work camps for Habitat for Humanity with 50 - 100 youth (2 years) - planning, organizing fund raisers, etc. - supervising youth sleep overs, car washes, 5K walks, March for Life organizing, and on and on. Six years Jim has worked in the Kitchen for the Parish Christmas Bazaar. He has coached Little League and umpired their games. Jim and Maureen involve their 8 year old son Griffin in religious education class and fund raisers. They (all three) are also hospitality ministers at Sunday Mass. Church, Youth, Community, Family and above all, love of Christ Jesus and His people, urges this family on. Thank you for being in our midst. May mighty blessings be upon you. Congratulations, our Family of the Month, Brother Knight Jim Gill with his precious wife Maureen and children Griffin, and Teaghan.