We both like Tomatoes.....

I grew up in Kemah Texas about thirty miles south of Houston, right on the Galveston Bay. My grandmother Minnie lived next door with my grandfather, the noble Horace, and his mother., Mee-Maw, lived out back of their house in the cutest little cottage by the chickens and the grapes.  My Aunt Alene and Uncle Hugh lived across the street with my three crazy cousins, Michael, David and Craig. I was my grandmother's only granddaughter, a very good position to have.

My grandparents had a business in their home and employed lots of folks.  These people were wildly divergent, they were from China and Mexico, French people from Louisiana (that is also where my Mee-Maw was from) and one person from Oklahoma....which according to my grandfather was a very bad place to be from....and that's another story. Then there were the women who worked in the house and took care of me.  It didn't occur to me that we were all that different. We ate together, worked together and laughed together.....I thought we were the same.  

And then I got a little older, and realized the world looked at people differently than I did.

One day my dad took me to the quarter horse races. It was a great time, with lots of Barbecue and as many cokes as I wanted.  It was also the first time I saw a sign that said, "white bathroom" and then another sign that said "colored bathroom".  And the same sign over the drinking fountains... White drinking fountains, colored drinking fountains.  I didn't understand what that meant but didn't ask anyone. I felt like I had walked in on a big secret, a really confusing secret.  Our personal histories dictate how we react to life and my history was I loved the people I grew up with...my crazy cousins, my uncle Homer who drank all the time, Tom from China who grew the most beautiful roses, the men who took care of the horses, the women who worked for my grandmother.....they were all family. But these signs stated that half the people in my life couldn't drink out of the same water fountain, or use the same bathroom as I did.  It made no sense.  And then one day the answer came in a way a 6 year old could understand. My mother and I were taking Rosie, a woman who worked for us, home.  After we dropped her off we went into a black grocery store and my mother handed a brown paper bag to me so I could pick out some tomatoes.  I started putting them in the bag and as I was getting the last one I needed a black woman reached for the same tomato.  She pulled her hand back in deference to me.  Everything seemed to stop for a minute and then a voice came into my head...."See?  you aren't different, you both like tomatoes."  That was the way a simple truth was taught to me.

I wish we were further ahead, we can always be better, but it isn't what it was.

I woke up today not quite sure what the problem was. But to be sure there was a problem. I tried to decide what I should do first.....my list grows in the night. And none of it seemed fun.

Problem one. No fun, and nothing on the horizon.

Being a woman of solutions I tried to figure it all out. Nothing was coming.

My daughter is sick on the couch, I have a ticket due tomorrow, my house is dirty, there are weeds where there should be flowers, and I am turning into one of those women on TV that needs an intervention because she has so much stuff... FEMA may be called in for my bedroom. On second thought if I am declared a disaster I could get government assistance, and then I could call that cute guy from extreme home makeovers. However it would require everyone seeing my bedroom.....not going to do that.

More problems....I am not running out of problems, just solutions...

I started with the kitchen floor, which led to the washing machine, which led to sweeping outside, (as my mother would say, "they are all going to track it right back in!! Sweep outside!) which led to the ticket....there it was, staring at me...the due date screaming!!

The solution for the ticket is not as simple as writing a check. You see last summer I had lasik surgery, no more contacts! But who knew you had to have your drivers license changed from restricted to not restricted? Who would willingly go to the DMV? We only go there when we are forced, we need deadlines, we need someone chasing us to get us there!! Not just "shoulds". What's a should? I spit on shoulds...no, I didn't willingly to go to the DMV to have my drivers license changed. So when I got pulled over for speeding in totally-rural-Nevada, I had the great good luck to be facing Dudley Do-Right who knew all the laws. He was surprised, shocked, and horrified that I didn't run down to have my drivers license changed as soon as the eye surgery took. In fact he wrote on my ticket that I "claimed to have lasik surgery". Hmmmm, I've got news for Dudley my eyes were so bad I couldn't have put the key in the ignition much less drive without contacts...I am not claiming anything...but now I have a problem. I have to go down to the DMV and have my drivers license changed today. Yikes.... Then I think, "what if I have it changed and I still have to pay the fee?" Why go? Just pay the fine... it is due tomorrow, unless I drive to Wherever-Nevada and talk to a judge how will it be lowered? Trouble on trouble...so I finally on the phone, I get through to an actual person and she listens...she really listened to me. and she helped me...She offered a continuance, giving me plenty of time to get the license fixed, She told me to send a note to the judge...a nice note, (she specified that for some reason) then will rule and then I will pay. But a lowered fine.

Just like that...problem solved...a great solution!

Someone I don't know, will never meet...saved my day. Because somehow this unknown woman giving me a break made all the other problems I had on my list suddenly doable. I now have the strength of ten women. All because one person was reasonable, and kind.

I love it....I am going to do it for someone else. Today, no waiting! And I think the key is to do something life altering early in the day, that way people will have a great day, all day.

BTW...have you seen the icon I use for my blog?...I am a queen!! (self professed but a queen nonetheless) I can offer clemency. So line up little chickens tell me what you need. I will fix it for you!

The fun I will start with is celebrating my son Trey's birthday. Happy Birthday Trey!! Mommy loves you....always.

I have used this blog to explore my thoughts and improve my writing. I spend a lot of time trying to get everything just right. But I am not going to do that this time. One take, one opportunity to put my words down. I hope I do this justice.

I am writing this very late at night, especially for me...two nights a month I meet with six other Planning Commissioners for our county and sort out land use situations. For the most part it is interesting, and useful. I think we are a helpful group, we keep people from having a land fill in their front yard, too many cats in their homes and we keep businesses where they belong, doing what they are supposed to do.

It's not usually exciting, the items come along, and we deal with them with the help of the full time planners for the county. There are lots of rules to follow, and we do our best. Occasionally neighbors get together with torches and pitchforks and cause a big scene...but usually we hear an item, make a decision and vote on it...next...

Tonights meeting was really long...but we finally finished and the last order of business was public comment. Very few times has anyone stayed for the whole meeting......whole, long meeting....to offer anything for public comment. But tonight someone did.

A man came to the podium introduced himself and told a sad story of problems and then redemption. But then he looked at us and said that he had been recently stopped, or pulled over, whatever you want to call it. He panicked and ran. Now all the trouble he had put behind him was with him again. All because he ran. The sorrow in his face was palatable, he was so sorry...but it was done, and now he had no idea where to turn. Our chairman explained we couldn't help, we are land use board. He gave him ideas about who might be able to help him, but explained our limitations.

And then he said the worst thing of all....."No one can help me, no one hears me. I don't have money or influence......" He was simply hopeless. And I was profoundly changed.

The exchange that went on after that was unthinkable. My dear friend and fellow planning commissioner told of the eight times he had been pulled over for no reason. Simply being black...he told the man at the podium how his father had warned him that it would happen in his life and how to react when it did. What? Eight times? Cliff? What? Does this really happen?

Please know I am bright white, I am Nordic white...the extent of the prejudice I have experienced is some bad blond jokes and a few polygamy jokes - I am Mormon...I hate polygamy jokes, but it isn't even worth mentioning in this context. I felt so many different emotions in that few minutes..., acrimony, outrage, incredulous-ness (is that a word?) but I settled on sadness. I was sad that it happened, sad that he was back where he started after doing all he could to change. Sad that he wasn't able to explain to anyone who would listen that he had changed, and even hope they would believe him.

He was stuck. Stuck being black with a record.....and I guess for that there isn't redemption. I guess he doesn't get to change. No matter what he does he is going to be black with a record...someone who can't be trusted, someone who can't move on, someone who is judged and found guilty.....of being black with a record.

I saw him face to face. I saw the pain, and the hopelessness. And I hurt. But he is wrong about not being heard. I heard him, and no matter what he changed me. Staying for that whole, long boring meeting was worth it for a bright white girl to feel some of his pain...and be changed

"The Quality of Mercy is Not Strained..."

I apologize to anyone who might be offended by this picture (if you look closely you can see the legs are just legs attached to the stool, not actual Nun legs)...It's a pretty funny picture that made me remember an incredible nun from my far away past. Sister Mary Rose. When I moved to Las Vegas from Kemah Texas I had never met a nun before, so how was I to know one could impact my life so profoundly?

After we moved to Las Vegas my parents decided I wasn't weird enough as the only 14 year old with a loud Texas twang and, did I mention LOUD Texas twang?...in Las Vegas.. So they sent me to Catholic school to insure my feelings of awkwardness. All of the kids at Bishop Gorman High School had gone to school together since kindergarten so my chance at making even one friend was pretty slim. School hierarchy is a difficult system to overcome. I remember once in second grade when a new kid moved in from Tennessee we stared at him for a week. His dad was a NASA scientist but we all thought the coolest thing about him was that he was from Tennessee!

Sister Mary Rose was the oldest nun at Gorman, dean of girls and teacher of great classics in English. The impression she left on me was immeasurable. She is the reason I started searching for religion...because of her devotion I wanted to find something to believe in as much as she believed. I think Sister Mary Rose would have laughed at this picture.

Sister Mary Rose decided we were smart enough and she was brave enough to read the "The Merchant of Venice". I was amazed at how I felt reading that play. I didn't know anyone could put words together like that. And for the first time I realized what could be conveyed with just a few simple words arranged on a piece of paper. I didn't know that words could make you feel things spontaneously. It was magic.

Sister Mary Rose was serious about Shakespeare. We read every day, we looked up words, we researched the history of the time, and we learned about the Jewish religion when Shylock came into the play...we studied Venice, and I found out that women could be named Portia. And then of course we memorized. We memorized lots of things but I remember this from my first Shakespearean play......Portia calls for mercy for Antonio to Shylock.....

"The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes."

It was magic.

That same year we studied "a Midsummer's night Dream". A character in that play is one I have loved ever since. ......Puck....I wanted to be Puck then, and I want to be Puck now.

Puck is the wild card, he is outrageous....he is pure crazy fun. Who wouldn't want to be known as "pure crazy fun?"

So that is what Sister Mary Rose did for me...she introduced me to my favorite author. She added something to my life that never left me....and all these years later I can still recite..."the quality of mercy is not strained......"

We never know the influence we can be on other people, my advice is to first, always behave....it has been my experience that when you least expect it someone will spot you from across the room, walk over and say, "aren't you Minnie's granddaughter?" And when that happens you better not be up to something.

I would love to be an influence on someone the same way Sister May Rose was for me. I know she would be happy that I found a religion I can be as dedicated to as she was to hers. I know she would be pleased that I have gone on to read lots of Shakespeare....and I hope she knows how grateful I am for her patience with a goofy Sophomore that read Shakespeare with a loud Texas twang.

Don't Ask me how I am, because I will tell you.

While it is simple to be happy when things are going well, your team won, you lost a pound or two, it's different when life isn't so great. The fact is it's dang hard to be happy when just don't want to be. And you know what? I don't think you have to.

When I am having a bad day, I bristle when people look at me condescendingly and begin reminding me how I have it so much better than someone else. As if, at that moment, it will make any difference in my mood. Or they start with that tired old adage of "I thought I was bad off until I met the guy with no shoes thing"....Please don't... I need to feel this way until I don't feel this way any more...I need to process my emotions and please step out of the way and let me pout. There may even be a tiny little fit. I think it is cathartic, and necessary. I find it is constipating to keep it all bottled up, and just as uncomfortable. For what? So that I appear stoic?

Will it say on my gravestone....."Here she lies...our stoic friend Donna...we never knew she was suffering..how brave". No!! That sounds like required reading, or sensible shoes. I can't do it, I can't even fake it. If I am suffering we all suffer.....I do life by committee!

And besides my gravestone is going to read..."I told you I was sick..."

I want to be like my grandmother Minnie...no matter what, her shoes matched her purse, her silver was polished, and her nails were done. She had some bad days...she had some real bad days, but you know what? We all knew when she was having a bad day, we knew it and everyone she came in contact with knew it. There was no pretense, no forcing a happy face. She invented the "I am going to feel like this until I don't feel like this any more" philosophy. She acted on life, instead of letting life act on her. She was authentic, it wasn't in her to pretend anything...

Isn't that fabulous?

And when life is so.....I don't know, miserable? Why do we have to pretend everything is OK? We learn from each other's struggles, mostly we learn that bad times pass....and that is a comfort in itself. Bad days don't have to be forever, but they are reality. And sometimes when life gets to be really uncomfortable there is a up side...that's when I start to hope. I start to hope something incredible is about to happen. I do believe we are saved at the eleventh hour. And on occasion we are pushed to our absolute breaking point. And then we are able to look backward and marvel at our own strength.

It isn't a shock to God how we will react in a crisis, He knows us very, very well. Trials give an opportunity to know how strong we are...it is how we find out what we really believe it. We get to find out who we are, and what we are made of. Trials reveal our true character. C.S. Lewis called it "Rats in the cellar." From Mere Christianity....

Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is. Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth. If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man: it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light.”

The rats in my cellar are a constant concern for me.....but then they are for everyone.

So I give you permission to have a bad day, just put a limit on it. For say, I can feel like this for an hour, or an afternoon..in some cases a whole day. But don't go too long, I don't want your bad day to conflict with mine...and it is all about me.

Andrea Pearson Books: Spread-the-Word Book-Giveaway Contest

Andrea Pearson Books: Spread-the-Word Book-Giveaway Contest

Andrea Pearson is the daughter of a friend of mine. She has written a book called "The Key of Kilenya, released July 6th with pre-ordering starting on April 6th.

She has done something most of us only dream about, Andrea is proof books get published! That alone must be honored!!

When people read a book and like it they spread the word.....I feel confident excellence is always rewarded.

So follow this link and check out this great new author and her amazing book. I am including a description of her book...this has to inspire all of us..especially those of us determined to see our words in print...

The Key of Kilenya

by Andrea Pearson
Release Date: 1 March 2010

When two vicious wolves chase fourteen-year-old Jacob Clark through a gateway from our world into another, he has no idea they have been sent by the Lorkon�evil, immortal beings who know he has powers they desire to control.

The inhabitants of the new world beg for Jacob�s help in recovering a magical key that was stolen by the Lorkon and is somehow linked to him. If he helps them, he will be in great danger. But if he chooses not to help them, our entire world will be in peril. The Lorkon will stop at nothing to unleash the power of the key�and Jacob�s special abilities.

Price: TBD
Publisher: Valor Publishing Group, LLC (July 6, 2010)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Binding: Hardback
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1-935546-23-8
Product Dimensions: 6x9

We will begin taking pre-orders 6 April 2010.

My Computer is Alive!!

Ok so I am completely freaked out by what I just accidentally did. I was reading emails on my computer and something caught my eye. A woman I vaguely know on one of my lists suggested that I sign up for a "live health Club". As ridiculous as that sounds, and it does, I did it, I signed up for a "live health club". I don't even want to think about what I thought a 'live health club' on the computer could be, but the second I signed up things started happening on my computer that I wasn't ready for.

This is the message I got from my new "live health club", it said "Kim is your friend now. Kim has accepted your friendship request. You can now send messages to Kim. Send a message to Kim. View Kim's profile....."

Holy Cats!! The only thing that can save me now is an intervention, or an exorcism.

I don't know anyone named Kim, I don't want her friendship, I don't want to send her a message, and I am completely creeped out thinking I can view her profile.

All from a misguided prompt to sign up for a new "live health club."

Suddenly I noticed I was getting messages from all kinds of people, some I knew.. most I didn't....what have I done? Have I somehow attached the "live health club" to everyone on my list? Maybe, oh my gosh...how do I stop it? I can't, it's going everywhere, and I am pleading with my computer to do something to stop it, sort of a war games kind of experience. I was either going to bomb Russia or spam the world. I started emailing friends, what do I do? Someone suggested I go to "edit friends" and then edit, edit the heck out of it. What? So, I go to "edit friends" and nothing occurs. I am helpless to stop my computer in it's quest to invite the world to join "live health club".

Oh no!! I am getting messages from Jason, Mary, Oscar...I don't even know these people...and then a friend emails to tell me she doesn't accept these kind of invitations,...of course you don't and you shouldn't, only I do bonehead things like this. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to send you anything from the "Live Health Club ".

But then I wonder if she should be so quick to refuse, I mean has she met Kim? or Oscar? How about Jason? See you at the "Live Health club".

Then I get this great preemptive kind of idea to send an email to friends that the "live health club" is a mistake. Don't open it I tell them...I think it is....ALIVE!! I have tried to unsubscribe and I am still getting emails from people I don't even know.

OK so unsubscribing is not working....emailing in some kind of "fire line attempt" is not working...my usual "reboot" is not working, so without a huge amount of extra time to try and figure this out, I am simply going to expand my contact list. I could use a few new friends.
Hello Kim? Oscar? Jason? I'm Donna I like water sports and gummi bears, long walks in the rain and spy novels...

Forgiveness, Donna Style

So, as I said before I am on a journey. I have decided that the first stop on my journey is forgiveness. Now that sounds just right doesn't it? Every single self-help book insists on forgiveness first. Seems it is a road block to progression, who knew? So, since I am determined to succeed on my journey I have decided to forgive any and all people who have systematically colluded (oooo that's a big word...col·lude [kuh-lood)–verb,-lud·ed,-lud·ing.1.to act together through a secret understanding, esp. with evil or harmful intent.2.to conspire in a fraud.)to make me unhappy.

I doubt you will find your name on this list, so please,read on.

I am going to start with RJ Wolever. RJ was my boyfriend senior year in high school...he dumped me two weeks before homecoming for a JV cheerleader. I know it was awhile ago but public humiliation has a long, long shelf life. Unfortunately I can't do anything about the fact I put a curse on him that resulted in early baldness. But at least now he is now forgiven, check.

OK that felt good, let's see who is next...Duke!! That's right Duke, I forgive them for beating UNLV in 1991. I bought a non-refundable airfare ticket and inflated Championship game ticket to watch my beloved Rebels in Indianapolis. My plans were changed by Bobby Hurley of Duke and his crowd. It was awful, and I vowed to never forgive them. OK? check, check...ooooh this is getting harder.

I forgive the woman at the town board meeting who screamed at me and said I should be ashamed of myself for, of all things, supporting a middle school. I can still see her face...that was a bad day. Check, check, check...that was a tough one..she was a shrew.

I forgive my biological parents for giving me genes that do not allow me to eat anything I want. That bites...OK, forgiven...

I forgive the player from hell who gave Mikey the concussion ending his Junior season. (wow, that was really hard) I also forgive the equally annoying player who didn't throw Trey the ball when he was open in the end zone. It would have won a play-off game...wait! This one might be too hard. Nah, what the heck! Forgive the guy!! OK!!

I forgive the teacher who was mean to Ashleigh. You know who you are....Wow, I can't do much more....OK. OK. Just one more and then I seriously must be left with some grudges...Here is the very last one......I forgive you know who, for you know what. There, finished. Now life can go on smoothly, karmically charged, clean slate.

Wow..that was cathartic. My road to Wellville continues.

Wander through the maze with me...

I have struggled, cried, screamed and whined through every diet known to man (or woman) . I have given up every time before I reach any kind of noticeable goal. I don't really cheat on these diets I just stop.....I hate the word cheat anyway because how can eating the wrong food be in the same category as cheating? I mean seriously you can go to jail for cheating on your income taxes, divorce court for cheating on your spouse, and expelled for cheating on a test. So I can't use the catastrophic word "cheating" for eating the wrong food. I prefer to use these words......"yikes!! I am out of shape, my clothes don't fit, (including my beloved navy blue dress with very cool long jacket)I don't think my shoes fit!! I don't fit into anything like I did before....I dread pictures, scales and seeing people I haven't see for awhile....so I need to eat better food. But wait a minute do you see that eating is in the word cheating? Hmmmm maybe something is up...

So enough...I mean it.... enough! I do not have control over anything or anyone but me. I can fit into my beloved navy blue dress with very cool long jacket. I can do this. So every couple of days I will share my ups and downs, tips I find helpful and instead of screaming into my pillow I will share it with you the blogasphere!

I mean we all have goals we want to achieve, and guess what? No matter what you want to do the pattern to get there is the same. So whatever you want to do we can do it together. It doesn't matter what you want to change, just that you want to change.

Any idea you have is clearer if you write it down, any thought you have, maybe an impression...because your better angels always want you to succeed. Listen to them. Let the better angels win. And since they speak softly sometimes you have to get really quiet to hear them. Ponder, meditate, pray...expect miracles.

If you are trying to make a change in your life, join me! Whether you are searching for a better career, save some money, maybe a healthier life, maybe you just want to get along better with people. Or the worst..... you have stopped paying attention to yourself, and you can't even hear your better angels any more.

This is a journey I have really wanted to take for a long, long time. But I never get past the initial pain. So, for once, I am going to soldier on, and see it to the end. Who knows what I will learn? Who wants to join me? We can do anything with the Savior's guidance. His yoke is easy, don't forget that....

The Dream Home I Didn't Win

I am shocked, absolutely shocked that I didn't win the HGTV Dream Home in the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway.
How did this occur? I entered every day. For weeks. I logged on, and I registered over and over again. And then I wished really, really hard. And someone else won....

I get that the chances of winning must have been the same as being hit by a comet, but it has happened. I mean isn't that how the dinosaurs died?

But seriously, did I really think I could win? No....I mean yes....I mean I knew it was a long shot, but why not me? I mean didn't I win that huge tiger when I was 9? I'm due.

And don't I need a fabulously cool house in Santa Fe? A butt load of money and a car? How great would that have been? But no! I lose....again.

What would that moment be like if I had won? Think of it, some guy on the other end of the phone telling me I won the fabulously cool house in Santa Fe...he, of course, would have to convince me it wasn't one of my son's lame friends having some fun at my expense.....but then what would that moment be like? The one where you realize you have won a fabulously cool house in Santa Fe. It would be so great until you realize you don't live in Santa Fe, and you have no time to commute. And forget the fact I am not cool like the people in Santa Fe, I'm not even as cool as a house in Santa Fe! I would never have blended! I would have been dissed by the welcome wagon.

But the truth is I am ridiculously unlucky. I have actually gotten used to it. So why did I even try to win the fabulously cool house in Santa Fe? Because deep down I think.....maybe... maybe this time.

I have always been intrigued by people who win anything. Maybe I just don't have the confidence to win. Maybe that law of attraction is the real deal. I thought it was like wishing real hard, but maybe there is something to it. I am sure someone somewhere has done a big study on it - thank you stimulus money - but I can tell you this is something we need to get to the bottom of.

But doesn't luck intrigue you? I think to some degree winners get used to winning, they expect to win. They have that swagger thing and it is a confidence thing...they expect good things to happen. When they get up in the morning they think, "what great thing is going to happen to me today?" And put that up against the reaction to life most people have ....dang! It's morning!!

So I think I am going to change my attitude and start attracting some real luck. I am going to expect miracles, and I think I will practice my swagger, because I read that HGTV is deciding where to build their dream home for next year!!

Night Brain Vs. Day Brain

So last night I was helping my daughter with her homework. I really don't want to see that homework in the light of day. It is amazing what a night brain will accept...night brain says all kinds of things...like after sitting with Emma for hours my night brain said things like..."yea! that looks good!" Because all night brain wants to do is go to bed. And now that I think of it, night brain says all kinds of things that day brain would never say. Night brain says, "looks good, eat it!!" Day brain asks if you have exercised. Night brain looks at an unmade bed and sleeps on top of it, after putting clothes and socks on the floor...day brain not only makes the bed but sorts the socks. Night brain looks at messages and ignores them, day brain answers the phone. Night brain ignores dust, bills and deadlines. Day brain rearranges furniture.
The trick is to listen to the better angels in your head, ignore what you know is holding you back and go forward. If you want something different, you have to do something different. Stop listening to night brain, it's just a tired 'ole voice trying to keep you on the couch where it is...go out in the sun with day brain, your better angels! They are there. Find them...be powerful!!

My Dad

My dad passed away 5 years ago, he had an accident with his bicycle and died thirteen days later. It was a blessing to him to be able to go home the way he did. And a blessing to me that I didn't have to watch him suffer. What he left behind was, to me at first, a huge mess. He collected all kinds of random things. We were never sure what we would run into. From insurance policies on credit cards for a few hundred dollars, to Mexican pesos. It didn't seem he had very much, but he did. He had the wherewithal to make sure his home was well cared for, his roof was in good shape, his windows were new. He had money in the bank and my name was on his bank account, although I have no idea when I did that. I was able to access funds right away to take care of his burial. He had already paid for his whole funeral. After we went through his hangar, closets and closed up bedrooms we were able to sell his home because he had done such a good job keeping things up and adding things other homes in his neighborhood didn't have. All in all, my dad did a good job, both in being a dad and being a good guy. I appreciate everything he did for me.

I love Cheerleaders!

So my daughter, Emma, is a cheerleader. She has been a cheerleader for years, except for a couple of years that she played volleyball. She cheered when she was just 8 and it was just 2 little girls for my son's little guy football. I remember one time when she was about 10 and they were in a competition with cheer teams from all over the valley....they had the cutest routine, and they just nailed it!! It was a moment I remember with my heart....just a fun thing. And then last week, her cheer team went to Reno and won the state championship. How great is that? When the world gets so scary, and life gets so serious......our cheerleaders won state! It gives us something to smile about, and right now we need something to smile about. Go Bulldogs!!

So what are you waiting to do?

So what are you waiting to do? You know what I mean, what is the dream you aren't living, the picture you aren't painting, the view you don't see? The play not acted, the book not written? How about the trip you didn't take, the stock you didn't buy and the diet you just couldn't do? What is it about us that lets inertia win? We are intelligent, vital people,we should be in charge of ourselves shouldn't we? I don't really understand why I can't have the things I dream about. Or can I? I am not dreaming about things that don't exist, or things that have never been done. I am talking about regular stuff, why can't I do it? Or can I? What if we all decided to do something we have never done before. We could live that dumb line...."If you want something you have never had, you have to do something you have never done." I guess it isn't so dumb, actually it is the key. So all we have to do is gird up our loins, and grab some courage...pick something.....something you wish you could do that has been outside your grasp, for whatever reason you just can't get there. So lets scratch that itch!!
Do you believe in yourself? Do you believe you can do something amazing? You know the vision of a horse running in the wilds? They are beautiful, but useless, now put a bridle on that same horse and now what do you have? A beautiful horse that can be useful. As we bridle our passions we turn ourselves into people who can reach their potential. Let's do something amazing...we can do this!
I will get back to you Friday...

My friend Donte

Sometimes life just throws you a blessing. Not for any real reason, but it just so happened that every star lined up correctly and being in the way was a great thing. That is what happened to me today. There are a whole lot of details to this adventure, and not any real way to cut back on the story....
My daughter's cheer coach, Karen Spencer, and her husband Curt, are now the guardians of a most special young man. Donte. Donte is every one's best friend. He is on the field during football, on the court with basketball, in the dugout for baseball and has even helped the cheerleaders!! This adorable young man had a stroke when he was a baby and was in a wheelchair until he was 5, and then on a feeding tube until he was 14....his unlikely progression was all due to his grandmother. She took care of him his whole life, no small thing considering his difficulties. But she never let him down, never turned away and did all she could to help him have a happy life. So when Donte's grandmother passed away they needed a place to hold a memorial. A place where Donte could simply say goodbye. She was being buried in Ohio and he was not able to make the trip. He needed closure, and Donte's grandmother deserved the honor of a moment to be remembered by her grandson. So when I was asked to host the memorial I was glad to be a part of it, not knowing how special it would be. I sat so quietly while people I really didn't know, talk about a woman I had never met....and I loved it. I sat and let all of their love fill the room. It was inspiring on a level I wasn't prepared for. I had feelings I thought were only reserved for people I knew, and knew well. This shows the power and the influence people have who simply care. My question is, do we know that? Do we know the power and influence we have on each other?

Everyone around Donte revels in his life. They love what he adds to their lives. He is the heart of every team, the spark behind every win and the smile they depend on when they lose. In short, Donte is the only one who can look at a game for what it is. A game....the important parts are the people. When the Bulldogs win no one is happier than Donte.....and when they lose he is sad, but then he finds something else to be happy about. He never dwells on a defeat or on a win for that matter. He seems to love life with a zeal I miss. Donte doesn't seem to expect too much from people. He is happy with a hug, a smile, a warm conversation. We need people in our lives to remind us of what really matters, and that is what Donte does, he reminds us that being a friend, a true friend, is what is most important. Thank you Donte for letting me be a part of your special day. I am better for it.

Let's Be Excellent!!

Benjamin Disraeli said "adversity is the best teacher". If that is the case I feel like I am cramming for a final, and the teacher hates me!! I have not reacted to the bad news in our country very well. I feel anxious, hopeless and afraid. My blood pressure goes up every time I see the news . During a trip this summer I often spoke to complete strangers who mirrored my feelings....Anxiety and fear is rampant.....So what do we do? For our own self-preservation here is a plan, I have to have a plan because I refuse to continue to feel this way...So lets combat the negativity in our country, which is all through TV, magazines and newspapers...let's be excellent! Too simplistic? Too vague? Let me explain....times are hard, but they aren't impossible. We do not have to embrace our weaknesses, or let them rule our day! We can instead market our strengths...and what are our strengths? Americans are starters and finishers...we are excellent!

I heard a statement on TV that we are "preemptively capitulating". I refuse to believe that. I won't give up....I believe it is OK to fight for my home, my family and a way of life that reflects self reliance, but also a positive way of thinking. It is OK to get up in the morning and ask "What can I do to feel better today than I did yesterday?" Have you always wanted to start a business? Write a book? Put in a garden? What is speaking to you? Answer that voice now...it is a great time to be a starter, a great time to climb from under your bed and find ways to feed your soul rather than starving it with bad news. We need to take dance lessons, get the dog groomed and have your trousers tailored. Try a new bakery, get a flower arrangement or buy some jewelry. If you have extra money go out and support a small business. Americans are starters... and they are excellent. Shake the cobwebs off and stop wringing your hands!! You want life to be better, make it better.

I do believe in the power of one....and I chose to be optimistic. I chose to think life is going to get better....go and be a part of the winning team...

Recently 2 friends of mine stopped by to look at flowers, they had not ever met before, but after being introduced we all engaged in the kind of small talk that people do....as we were visiting I realized that something quite extraordinary was occurring....These two women, these two great mothers, had been a part of my life in the most intense time of raising children. I have four children and Jane and Denise both have two children....my four children spanned their children's lives. Jane was my dear and good friend when my older children and her children were small. Then,Denise and her children were there when my younger children were small. I didn't stop being friends with Jane, but we moved and life changes. Change can be a sad part of life....
I looked at these 2 women and realized how important they had been in my life. For starters they were both my "emergency" number on all those forms you fill out for school. Because your life is simply intertwined with your children's friend's parents we had lunches together, baseball games, football games, gymnastic meets, and endless birthday parties. We searched for missing dogs, argued with umpires and ate a lot of pizza. It was a wonderful time as I look back on it, and both of these women, although they did not know each other, passed a kind of baton in my life. Jane took care of me with my older children, she listened to me, helped me, laughed with me and she and her husband Steve introduced us to the famous Christmas tree hunts which will be a part of our history forever.....I remember her passion was children's literature and she suggested every wonderful book I read to my children.
And then I remember that one day, one really terrible day when her husband Steve passed away far too young, leaving children and a wife who missed him so terribly....I was confused and angry with this heavenly decision. The day he left us I stood outside their home and suddenly remembered Halloween. I don't know why I thought of Halloween right then, but Steve had been the guy who took our children trick or treating, he stole their candy and made fun of their costumes. As I stood on their sidewalk that day I thought that maybe, just maybe, if I conjured up a strong enough memory reality wouldn't get through. But despite all my efforts to wish it away I realized it was true. I then watched Jane show us how to deal with indescribable pain and grief with umbelievable graciousness.
Denise came into my life right after that through the beloved game of football. Right after we moved I didn't know anyone until I met this really nice woman. Her son, Bryce, played football with my son Mikey. And in all honesty, Denise may be the kindest woman I have ever met. Despite my evil influence she never said a cross word about anyone....wow....So where Jane left off, Denise picked up....a new pizza buddy, a new friend to watch games with...someone to remind me it was my time to bring treats. I never remembered the treats, but Denise always did.

These two incredible mothers will be a lasting influence in my life, a part of that fabric that makes up my family. Memories intertwined with pictures taken with my heart.

Oh, my.......

I live with the adage that when we pass over to the other side the only thing about our earthly lives that will really matter is how we treated people. So with that said, you would think I would try really hard to be nice to people. Since I think how we treat people is so important our entire eternity depends on it, then wouldn't I be up at night thinking of ways to be kind? Be generous? I should be thinking constantly about everything from other's burdens to any mayhem they may be experiencing. I should have a Teflon suit at the ready so that I could lift those burdens and squash that mayhem.

But no.....I have added to someones burden. I have hurt someones feelings. And I feel really bad.
The deal is how do we fix it when we hurt someone? Is it even possible? Can you take words back that were thoughtless? Nope......I am afraid when words are out there they are out there. So what is the answer? We say, "I'm sorry. I was wrong....it won't happen again." And mean it, there is no other answer.
How many times in my life a simple, "I'm sorry" would have been the perfect thing to say. But because I was embarrassed or afraid I missed the chance. I passed up an opportunity to just say "I'm sorry, I'm was wrong and it won't happen again." A chance to right a wrong and ease a pain.
We are humans living in a fallen world, we are susceptible to aches and pains, bad hearing, assumptions, fast thoughtless actions, and really cranky moods. We are going to mess up, yell at our loved ones, and feel terrible. That is just the way life is...but if saying "I'm sorry" is so important, and it is, then forgiving someone is just as great a gift. That is what I am hoping for. But either way I will do better.

Gerda Adeboi

Today I had the honor of attending the funeral of an amazing woman. In eighty-five years she was only ill for six weeks. That alone seems amazing, but her health was only the fine print in a life that was filled with adventure, endurance and love. She was born in Indonesia.....then lived through the Japanese occupation of her country while her husband was in a prisoner of war camp. Then her life went on the move......from Indonesia Gerda and her family moved to Holland, and then on to Cleveland Ohio, where they lived for almost 40 years until her husband's death in 2001....She moved to Las Vegas to be near her son, Larry and daughter-in-law Melissa. That is when I got to know her. She had a very strong Dutch accent, and a very strong opinion about almost everything. She didn't care too much for nonsense, which was my favorite thing about her. I also loved that she was able to make a lot of hard decisions....and stuck with them. She believed in God, trusted Him and found her faith rewarded.

Isn't that amazing?

Why do we look to what the media offers up as heroes when we are literally surrounded by folks who make those media offerings all look like Bernie Madoff? When are we going to understand that the person right next door will probably have a better story than all the stars on all the covers of all the magazines in all of the stores? That person sitting next to you at the game, or doing your nails, how about the guy who reads the meter? Regular people who do extraordinary things....

That is where I am going to find my heroes. Because right next door is where Gerda was. She lived the life she was given....she never gave up....just one foot in front of the other. There is a myth about heroes. We think they have to do huge, spectacular things.......but you know what I think? Heroes are the people who live the life they are given. And do it well.

More Flowers!!

I am working like crazy to get better at blogging.....but for those of you who know me well, getting this far must have shocked you!!
I recently encountered a woman who was castigating me for not knowing more about computers....this 87 year old woman shook her finger at me and scolded me with....."Donna!! We are not going backwards!! Computers are here to stay....you must learn how to use them!" She turned around and disappeared. And all I could think of as I sat there shaking was...."She is so right.." So I have girded up my loins and set out to learn just a little bit. Then I add to that and so on and so on. That rather brittle woman changed my thinking, and changed my attitude that I could change. Her resolve was to not let the world pass her by...she was determined not to miss out on anything. I am sure it was as difficult for her to learn about computers as it has been for me. The difference? She didn't stop.....I may not be the best at this...but I will get better. My 87 year old friend didn't stop....I won't either...how about you?

A New Day

Emma & Ashleigh

Spring Flowers For you!!!!

When we started our floral design business people assumed I was the one making the arrangements. So when everyone found out Raymond was the designer their first question was, "How did he get into that?" Since it is our most frequently asked question I would love to satisfy everyone's curiosity....so here is why.......

When Raymond was in college and needed a part time job he answered an add as a driver for a flower shop . He thought, "Hmmm......I can drive, I'm qualified.." So he applied and got the job. Epilito's....an Italian florist in Trenton that seemed to specialize in funerals for drug dealers, mob bosses and various other thugs.... One hysterical story he told us was of placing the flower order for the loved ones of the dearly departed. First the thug friends would come in and buy flowers, lots of flowers...then the mom would come in and she would buy more flowers , then the wife would come in and she would have to buy something bigger than the mom, then the girlfriend would come in and she would have to out do the wife...and then even sometimes the boyfriend would come in to out do everyone!! It seems that wherever Raymond goes characters follow.

Raymond began helping in the shop between deliveries. And then he noticed that not only did he like designing flowers, but he was good at it. So during the holidays they hired another driver and Raymond started designing. That led to more designing, which eventually led to another florist, away from the thugs and drug dealers, which led to owning a florist....which eventually led to him moving to Las Vegas....and believe me there is a story there!!

When he moved to Las Vegas it was his intention to go into the gaming business so while he was breaking in he worked as a florist. He said it was always interesting when he would apply for a job.....no one actually believed he could arrange flowers, and he loved the look on their faces when he finished an arrangement. He was good and he was cute and he always got the job!!

While he worked at the casino he would do flowers now and again for friends. A few arrangements for a wedding, a corsage for Trey, Valentine flowers for me, and every year he would create an amazing Christmas mantle. We always wondered why he didn't do it for everyone else. After twenty-five years he really wanted to change careers.....so......

.
.....we applied for a business license and "Emma and Ashleigh" was created. We do everything with silk and dried flowers. From centerpieces, to pot shelves to whole foyers. Raymond has the ability to understand what people want from sometimes sketchy descriptions.


I put a few of my favorite pictures of his flowers on my blog so you could see what amazing things he does.

You can find us at home any time...just come by.....call.....email.....whatever you want to do ...but remember we all need something beautiful near us.

Love to you all!!

TexDona@gmail.com
Emma & Ashleigh
6280 North Hualapai
Las Vegas, Nevada 89149
702-655-6632