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!)

Congratulations, Shonna!!

Shonna just completed a rigorous schedule as she studied Massage Therapy. She started way back in January and almost every week, you would find her at the school for 4 hours, 4 nights a week. At least one Saturday a month, she has had a day of clinicals.

I had no idea there was sooo much to learn. However, I have helped her beginning studying for board certification and wow!!! She has two large study books and while I guessed some of the answers correctly, it was rather overwhelming.

Since I am currently on a blood thinner, Shonna cannot give me a massage. Most people take it for granted that a massage is simply a massage but there are so many things involved ... Shonna had one lady who insisted she would not share what medications she was on so Shonna had to do a very light massage.

She'll be off for about a month and then takes the 'facial' study. That is not required but gives her a more well-rounded resume.

So, I'm proud of her and what she has accomplished. And we get the benefit of this, too ... well I did and will after I finish taking this medication.

My not so crazy brother claims the 'crazy brother' status now!!

Joel has always been the 'steady' one of our bunch. That's not to say that all of us are 'unsteady' but if you were to follow each of us around for a day, the one to get the least ruffled by anything would be Joel. He's sort of the middle child -- well, the younger of the two middle kids. Mark is the one older ... and he has enough energy for all the rest of us combined. Polar opposites you might say. Put them together and you would expect Mark to be the risk taker -- let's have some fun!! Joel wound ponder it for a little while and then give you an answer that started out with a drawn out, "Weeelllllll" ... and usually ends up with "we'll see what happens ...."

Imagine my shock when I found out what Joel's two children had given him for his 50th birthday. I don't think he looks that old and in the photo above, he's having his fun again by adding bunny ears behind Rachel's head. You gotta be fast when you take family photos or you see them in the most serious of poses!!

So, here was the latest info from Joel's daughter, Jacinta, on what he is doing to celebrate his 50th birthday which, by the way, was last December 21st. It either took him that long to get up his courage -- or just that long to get it arranged. I'm pretty sure it is the latter. No one has ventured out to join him although I'm sure they will be somewhere around watching ... you wouldn't find me anywhere near!!!

From Jacinta ... Hi everybody!! Soooo, dad has selected a date for the skydiving adventure, weather permitting we are looking @ Saturday, Sept 13.

Yup, he is going sky diving!!! Yikes alive!! I'm not sure whether to pray for safety or something that will keep him from going. As he told me in his laid back voice, "It's just something I always thought would be fun to do!" Okay, Joel, you go jump outta some plane .. but you better be all in one piece when you land!!

The brother who is so steady ... I hope he stays steady on course in the air, too!!!