Tampa Florida....

...is REALLY nice. I may never come home. Just kidding, Watson and Peanut. I'll come home to get you two tomorrow, and we'll take off in the Green Hornet. If only the GH would make it this far. If only I were out of debt. If only....................

WOW! It's been a long time! :)

Hello friends!

I must confess. Facebook has stolen my time from blogging. I know I know. I'm a FBaddict. What can I say?

There's not too much going on here.....summer is zipping by, and I'm counting down the days til I got to Tampa (Aug 5) and then to Oak Island (Aug 22) for the best week ever with April and her family, and Trever and her family. I am soooooo ready to go. What else....city league softball is on summer break, but starts back the week of Aug 10, and now I'm playing in the hospital league. It's fun but very different from city league.

So I'll post a few pics for your viewing pleasure....if you're on FB, you've seen them already. But just wanted to post a note to say hi.

J

Boston Tales

Hey Friends,
It's been a LONG time since I've posted. I just got back from Boston, and I have so many good stories to share. But the BEST part for me was scoring tickets to the BoSox game Saturday night! Oh my gosh I was in Heaven. Fenway Park is just cool, and I've now become a BoSox fan. I have many stories and pictures that I'll have to upload. But I've been to Fenway!!! We also did the Freedom Trail, did a DUCK tour, saw the USS Constitution, Lisa ran the BOSTON MARATHON (the reason we went!) and we overall had a fantastic time! :)
More to come...
Jeanie

35 and 1 day

Well Folks,
Yesterday was the Most Important Day of the Year, and I had the best time of the year for sure! I turned 35. Yep. No longer in my early 30s. Mid-30s full on! Ugh. BUT can I just tell you how much fun I had and what a good day it was? I slept in late (no different than any Saturday!) and then had breakfast at the House. A family in the community volunteers once a month to make breakfast for the House, and it happened to be yesterday. YUM! Then I cleaned my apt and waited for Lea Ann to arrive. She got here around 3 and we hit the mall then met 8 friends for dinner, and then wandered down the street to Foothills and watched basketball. GREAT TIME!!! I'm simple. Give me great friends and a good ballgame and I'm happy.
So here we go. I'm 35 and feel the need to set some big goal for the year. Feels like it should be 35 somethings (good deeds for others, pounds lost, etc) to go with the Big 35. Thoughts? Ideas? Let's hear them!
J

Hard Week!

Well, this isn't at all funny as my last post promised, but I feel compelled to share the last week's events. A very incredible family I know lost their 18 year old to a very valiantly fought battle with cancer. It breaks my heart for this Mom and Dad, but 3 weeks ago, when they were told there was nothing else to be done, they chose to honor her and take her home for her last few weeks. First of all, that in itself is amazing to me. They were so brave to choose to take her home. Last Weds, she was for the most part, in a coma, and didn't respond to anything all day. Her pastor told her he had to leave to go to church around 5:30 pm, and she said "Stay a few more minutes." He made arrangements at church and stayed bedside with her and her parents.

Around 10 pm, she spoke again and said "I see Him." Then she said something about seeing a lot of water and there were angels everywhere. Her mom said "Jennifer, are you ready to go to the angels?" and her wonderful father leaned in and said "Jennifer, we will be ok. Just run to Jesus." and within a few minutes, she smiled and took her last breath.

This all has made me think about things in a new light. As a 'progressive country', we push these feelings to the side, and all too often, die in the midst of machines beeping and medical teams. (MDs who may happen upon this, don't take it wrong!) I just think we refuse to see death as a natural part of life and we try to 'sanitize it' for lack of a better word. But this family had the perfect, intimate passing, as hard is it was/is/is going to be.

So in her death as in her life, she teaches me/us grace, mercy and faithfulness in life and death.

Hello?

Wow folks- sorry it's been so long. All is well. Nothing new to report. No good stories. Just happy that April is doing so well. I re-read her blog tonight and I'm still in awe. God is good.

I played volleyball tonight. I was the only female on the court.....but the guys couldn't return my serve!!! HA!! Take that, dudes!

Ok, I digress.........I'll try to think of something funny to write about soon. Hope you are each well and I'd love to hear from you.

Jeanie

People, Please supervise your babies!!!!

Hey Folks,
Happy Saturday! I was awakened to the clammering of the lovely fire alarm here at the good ol RMH!!! We had a 4 year old who was here, running wild, and he thought it would be fun to pull the alarm. Long story short, I was not a very nice person, 15 families were evacuated to the parking lot, and one family is not staying here anymore. UGH! But it's been a nice, lazy day since 8:30 this morning. My dogs and I took an hour long stroll through Ardmore and loved the sunshine. It's good for the soul!
I hope you each have a good day tomorrow. Enjoy it.
J

Economy Eschonomy!!!

Hey Folks,
Just wanted to post a quick note. You know where I live, and how much I love this House. This week we lost a 16 year old, CJ, to Ewings Sarcoma. That was Monday. Tuesday, we found out Jen (17 year old) has relapsed and will be back next week to start more chemo. Dang it. This week has sucked.

BUT we had a staff meeting Monday, and our Exec. Director was updating us on the expansion project, the financial reports, etc. Someone asked if we should be cutting our budgets (which really means offering our families less) and the ED said that if anyone should ask us how the House is handling the 'economic crisis' in the US, why we are getting ready to build and expand this year, if our budgets are struggling, etc, to reply and simply say "Our Kids can not wait for a stable economy to fight cancer." WOW! That hit me like a Mack Truck. That's what it's about, folks.

SO no matter what non-profit you support, don't give up on them!! Think strategically. Budget. Whatever it takes. I also realize and claim that I SUCK at finances and I am NOT one to preach about it, but I know the families who live in my House to be near their babies/kids at the hospitals, and I see the need. Please continue to support the causes you support. The Lord will honor your gifts.

Ok. Now I've said it. I'm going to bed.

J

I'm home with a quarter tank o'gas.

So I went to Clayton today and hung out with April. She's doing great. See her blog for the latest. I left their house and stopped at the Hess at the end of their road to fill the Green Hornet's gas tank. Safety first! I always like to fill up before a trip, especially on I40 as you never know when you'll be sitting for hours due to an accident or construction or both! I pull up, swipe my debit card, and the friggin pump says "Please enter your zip code." HUH?? My zip code? I'm buying gas, not subscribing to a magazine!

Folks, I've lived in Ardmore for 6 years and have had the same zip the whole time. For the life of me today (or for a tank of gas) I could NOT come up with my zip. I knew it had 2s, 7s, and 0s in it, but after three failed attempts, the attitudey pump said "Please see attendant!" UGH! So I stomp in, stand in line while some lady buys two of every kind of lottery ticket and 5 on the big lottery (Say GOODBYE to your 35 bucks, lady!) and told the attendant I needed gas but the stinkin pump wouldn't cooperate. I'm sure it was all he could do to keep from laughing in the deranged gas-lady's face, but he said "Sure. Just give me your zip code and I'll start it." HELLO?? I said 'I would like to pay for the Diet Coke and then I'll leave. Clear the pump of my debit card information and I'll get gas somewhere else."

Tomorrow, I'll coast down the hill to the user-friendly BP pumps, and the Green Hornet will be satisfied.

Good night!
JB

Happy New Year!

Hey friends,
I'm at Duke today, and am currently sitting in the cafeteria. Darrell is back with Ape in the Unit, and the waiting room was crowded so I walked down here. I've checked my regular sites, read the news in WS and TN, and now I'm just trying to entertain myself! That's a hard job most of the time.
So I thought I'd share some random facts about myself. Some of you may already know this about me...others may learn something new. I have no idea where this is going....but it's passing time!

1. I can easily get to the 'road rage' point in the car! Especially when I'm focused and in a hurry!
2. I've averaged almost one speeding ticket per year since getting my driving license!!!
3. I can write cursive backwards, and sadly, it's almost as legible as my forwards cursive! :(
4. I had ear surgery when I was 15. Still have hearing loss in my right ear.
5. I am totally addicted to Diet Coke and have no real plans to change that anytime soon.
6. My sister wanted to name me "Jeanie Robert" when I was born.
7. I'm very thankful Mom and Dad vetoed her!
8. I blew my knee out playing PING PONG in high school.
9. I would love to have straight hair, but not to the point I'll spend an hour each day straightening it.
10. I was the first ever "Student of the Year" at JCHS (NERD of the year!).
11. I have three nieces and 2 nephews and they are a blast.
12. I love to shop for shoes.
13. I threw my keys at a squirrel one day in college, and he nabbed them and shimmied up a tree. Thankfully he dropped them when he realized he couldn't eat them.
14. I've never to this point locked my keys in my car.
15. I am easily irritated when reading poorly written stuff. For instance- 'Their going to the park." NO, "They're going to the park!" Lose and loose are not the same word!
16. I keep the newborn nursery during Sunday School every week and love it!
17. I can't stop pumping gas on an odd amount...if it clicks off at $13.28, I have to go on to $13.50!
18. I HATE having to pump gas and usually am close to walking by the time I stop and fill er up.
19. I have one fork in the kitchen at work with flowers on it, and all my co-workers know that I use it everyday. I try to be the first in the kitchen to make sure I can get it before they do out of spite.
20. I walk to work.
21. I'm re-reading what I've typed after typing #15! :)
22. I want to write a kid's book one day.
23. I suck at managing money! Bad.
24. It will be 10 years this month that I've lived in Winston Salem.
25. I wanted to be a veterinarian as a kid but stink at 'sciencey subjects'.

Ok. it's almost 3 pm. I'm gonna go check in with Pokey. Thanks for humoring me.
JB