"Has anyone told you ...??"

RJ came to Shonna a few days ago and said, "Mommy, I saw you in a movie." Shonna thought he was referring to a family video but he assured her that was NOT the movie he was referring to. She asked him where he thought he saw her.

He took her to show her a movie in which Sandra Bullock is the 'star'. He had her play the video and said, "See, Mommy. That's you!"

For years, Shonna has heard the question, "Has anyone ever told you that you look like Sandra Bullock?" I thought that she had outgrown it until the EMT's that were taking care of me when I fell took one look at her and said, "Uh, has anyone ever told you ....??" We arrived at the hospital to hear it again -- more than once!

Jumping from a plane??? Yikes!!

My brother, Joel, did exactly that at 4:30pm yesterday afternoon and was safely on the ground by 4:37pm. (The trip is "officially" five minutes long.) He jumped from 5,000 and was securely fastened to a very experienced jumper. He said there was some anxiety as they 'shoved off' .. although he said you just sort of lean out of the plane and you are on your way. He thought he closed his eyes for a couple minutes but then he began to look around and said the trip down was awesome.

He said it was very loud during the free fall (50 seconds) but after the parachute opened, it was suddenly very quiet and they just floated through the air. He was intrigued by how the experienced jumper guided them -- making turns this way and that and landed right on target.

This trip was a 50th birthday gift from his kids, Jacinta and Joel II. Joel II (better know to all of us as Joey) rode in the plane with him so was able to videotape part of the trip.

Joel said it was fun -- and he probably would do it again. I could assure him that there is not another sibling who would ever join him!!!

Thinking of my mom ....

It's almost two years since my mother went to heaven and for some reason, today I feel her especially near. I decided to update my music on my blog so if you hear a song starting, it is the one that Rachel sang at my mother's funeral service, "If You Could See Me Now". I think of several who have gone on to heaven recently -- two of those most recently have been Rev. Mark Russell, Sr., and Dan Downing's mother.

When my sister sang, her face litrally beamed and I had the feeling that she caught a glimpse of my mom -- her pain gone (finally!!) and she was where she had wanted to be for so long!

Do I wish her back? Maybe in some ways but I know that I will one day see her again -- so, if you have time ... listen to the song and remember those who have gone on ahead of us!

I was looking for the photo above and there was one right beside it -- while my heart had been a little heavy missing Mother -- this photo brought a chuckle as it was so typical of her. I wish I knew the amount of money my mother had put into post-it-notes and duct tape. This is what my dad found when he came home one day!!

Kamen's Birthday Party

Thought I would post some photos from our party last night.

Happy Birthday, Bob and Rachel!!!

Tomorrow, Bob and Rachel both celebrate their birthdays. Actually, today is Shaley's birthday -- Rachel and Allen's daughter. She's 12 years old and growing up into a beautiful young lady!!

I met Bob when Rachel was about a month old. I didn't really get acquainted with him for a few months but needless to say, Rachel doesn't remember life without Bob. ("What about Bob?")

There's quite an age difference obviously -- I was almost 15 when Rachel was born and Bob is three years older than I am. Rachel has not been just a sister but also one of my very best friends (along with my girls!)

Then we have two more birthdays -- Kamen will be 10 on Thursday (the 11th) and my brother, Joel's, grandson, Joel Ryan, will be five years old on Thursday. (Two September 11th birthdays!)

So, happy birthday everyone ... We have another friend who celebrates a birthday tomorrow. Dr. Don Riggs who pastored the West Morris Street Free Methodist Church in Indianapolis. I had the privilege of working for him and his wife, Iris, for a few years. So, a special 'happy birthday' to him as well.

Wow ... I need to go get ready for a birthday party tonight -- we are celebrating Kamen's birthday with a few close friends. Then, he is soooo excited because he gets to go to the Nickelodeon Hotel on Thursday. It's an awesome place to celebrate a birthday!!

Stone Mountain Laser Show

Tim, Sandi, Tyler and I were in Atlanta for the past couple days and last night, visited Stone Mountain to see the laser show. We had to wait until dark for it to start but it was well worth the wait! The final song is "The Star Spangled Banner" sung by Sandi Patti! I'm in the car now so won't write a lot but will share a few photos here.

More photos ... as they grow up!

I found a few other photos of Kasi and Shara and had to post them -- well, didn't have to but thought I'd like to!!

Jene' was the big sister here!

Singing together ... how the years have flown by!!

They grow up toooo fast!!

It's hard to believe that Kasi will be 18 in a couple months! It seems like yesterday, she was just a little gal who we loved to dress up in frilly dresses. Her dark complexion and dancing brown eyes always captivated people who saw her.

One of the funniest things as she was growing up was how she perceived herself. She was with me one day at a store and she looked at the lady behind us ... "You're brown, just like me!" She told the lady who seemed a little taken back by Kasi's statement. (Kasi always insisted that she was not 'black', she was 'brown'. She had a point!)

This week, Kasi posted photos of her and my niece, Shara, on her myspace account. Talk about bringing back memories!!! Shara just turned 18 in July and Kasi's birthday is in November. They have always been close but this photo seemed to capture one of their fun times! So, I couldn't pass up sharing it here - I'm not sure where they got the shoes!

It takes so little to make someone's day ...

Teri called me this morning to share what had happened to her.

She went into Publix to pick up a couple things and probably was in a hurry. However, in a small 'cafe' type of area, she saw an older gentleman sitting alone. She immediately recognized him from many years ago when he worked there in Winter Haven at Eckard's (drug store). She's is her mother's daughter so immediately went over to talk to him. She asked him, "Did you used to work at Eckard's?" He seemed very surprised that she remembered and brightened up noticeably. She also remembered that he had done artwork and commented on that as well. Again, he seemed overwhelmed that someone remembered.

He explained why he was there ... his wife is now in a nursing home. While he goes to visit her every day, she has dementia so doesn't remember him very often. So, he comes to Publix every day and just sits there so he can interact with people of the community. He shared that he is lonely and this seems to help.

He told Teri that he had some of his artwork in his car so while she shopped for the few items she needed, he went to the car to bring them back in to show her. She took time to look at them and chatted for a little while before going on her way.

His comment as she left was, "You really made my day!"

So, I think I need to be a little more aware of those people who might be sitting alone -- just waiting for someone to brighten their day -- even if it's only for a few minutes.

Oh, Where, Oh, Where???

I was one of those who thought having a "Bluetooth" (whoever came up with that name) sticking out of their ear was simply for status sake. Well, that was before I tried to talk on the phone and drive for any distance. Once I got one, I was hooked!

So, tonight I needed to make a couple longer calls, hooked up the bluetooth to my ear and was off and running. One of my calls was to my brother, Thad, in the photo with my dad. For some reason, I decided to scratch my ear, forgot the bluetooth was there and it went sailing through the air.

Now, remember that I am in a wheelchair - I am sitting at my desk in the office and somewhere on the floor is my bluetooth, which, of course, sort of melts into the color of the carpet! I call for Kasi since I think she is within voice range at the same time, yelling, "Thad, hang on. I've got to find my bluetooth -- Kasi, can you help me?" She thought I had absolutely gone a little nutty and I could hear Thad talking to me from the floor somewhere. And I'm trying to assure him that I will be there as soon as I can find him!

So we followed the voice and I got the bluetooth back on my ear and Thad had a great laugh -- okay, I did, too -- it's fun to laugh at yourself (if it isn't too embarrassing!) So, I guess I'll be one of the bluetooth (or 'teeth') people unless I forget, scratch my ear and someone wonders what in the world is flying towards them. (It looks like a mini-bat!)