I still have a long way to go in raising my children to be the successful adults I want them to be in the future, will be starting a new job soon as a private home health aid, and am hoping that someday my husband will join myself and my daughters in our christian faith.

Too much to post. Where do I begin...kidnapped at age 3 for about a week by my own father, I beat up a guy on the wrestling team in high school cause he hit me first and then all the guys were afraid of me so never dated anyone from my own school, won tickets to an amusement park for being the top person in our fund raising goal ifor charity in 8th grade, took CNA training in high school, went to college for two years for human services, Got married, worked as a nanny, day provider, bill collector, manger, supervisor, sales rep, and day trader, took care of both of my parents when they were sick with cancer until they passed away, had back surgery, have three daughter, put a child molester in prison, and so much more. Every detail though led to who I am today and therefore I would never change any of the past as dreadful as some it was at times. I'm grateful for who I am and for my family. Would never change any of that if given the chance.

I am the happiest when helping other people whether it be family, friends, or strangers. Helping other people gives you an undescribable reward in return. If you've never helped a stranger in need, I highly reccomend it to anyone. Give it a try.

Wow, That's a tough one! There are so many problems out there in the world how do you choose? I wish I could fix them all.

Our local relay for life is this week. I wish to double what we raised last year for the American Cancer Society. I wish for a clear sky so the relay will go as smooth as possible. I wish for my oldest daughter to be safe on her trip to Washington DC and that she might get the opportunity to meet the president on her tour of the white house.

I do many things on a regular basis, however, this week is our local Relay For Life. It's a fun way to raise money for the American Cancer Society. I am a team captain and also on the planning committee. My team is called Unity. Our motto is "United we stand, or in this case, walk against cancer. The money raised through the relay is used for researching new and improved treatments, looking for possible cures, funding a 24 hot line that cancer patients can call to receive information or support on any type of cancer at any time, to build hope lodges for patients and their families to stay in free of charge while receiving treatments, and this year they even gave my step-Dad money for gas to travel back and forth for daily radiation treatments when gas more than $4 a gallon. He lives an hour from the hospital and is on fixed income so it was a really big help.

I work on the relay all year long. I write sponsor letters to request donations and prizes. I recruit teams and team members. I attend many planning committee meetings and team captain's meetings.

This week, with only a few more days left before the relay, I am going to be extra busy. The theme this year is race for a cure. I am helping my kids build race cars out of car board boxes for the race car lap/contest. I am putting all the donated prizes together to make gift baskets, packages, and mystery boxes. These prizes will be used for our game at the relay. We are playing Deal or no deal. People can donate to our team for a chance to be a contestant in our game. Our cases are brown paper bags with index cards inside them. Each card has a prize written on it. Our million dollar prizes are a spa basket (many spa items including a gift certificate for a 30 minute massage), a nascar package (many items including a gift certificate for the online nascar store), and a pool party package (a swimming pool with a built in sprinkler and pool toys). Then the prizes get smaller all the way down to our penny prizes (travel pack of tissues in case you cry if you win it).

This week I will also be busy packing and setting up supplies and tents. I will be helping with a snack bar. I will be lighting candles and decorating luminaria bags. I will be doing lots of walking (last year I walked for 6 hours) and hopefully raising lots of money. Many people bring tents and sleep part of the night. I bring tents for my team but stay awake all night. We only relay once a year so one night without sleep is a small price to pay for fighting cancer.

Donations to my team may be made anytime throughout the year, but the majority of the fund raising is usually done at the actual event.  Relays are held all over the United States. You can find your own local relay to create a team or join a team at www.relayforlife.org. Just click on find event and enter your zip code to find a relay near you. Last year my little country town raised over $30,000 and we are hoping to double that this year as we have recruited double the number or teams.

That depends. Where are you right now? And where are you going?

I have a wonderful family, a home, food to eat, and am publishing a children's book right now. The whole life's journey, the good and the bad has led me to where I am today. The bad parts of life my may have been difficut to endure, but I would never change them because I am happy with where this journey has led me to today.

I have everything I really need and wish others had everything they needed, too. (food, shelter, clothes, family, friends, love, and most of all God)

Article written for church newsletter by Tammy Reniff for month of November: Gratitude Attitude: Thanksgiving is almost here. A time when everyone shows gratitude with a special holiday attitude. We buy greeting cards, prepare big meals, and have gatherings with family and friends to show how thankful we are for all of our blessings. Shouldn't we have a gratitude attitude everyday throughout the year?

It can especially be difficult to be grateful for our blessings when we are going through troubling times. No matter how bad things may seem, there is always something to be grateful for. When you are stuck in what seems like an endless depression, have a death in your family, go bankrupt because of the week economy, lose your job, experience a serious illness, or many of the other troubling things life brings your way, can you still  be grateful? These are the times when being grateful is the most important.

 

What God Promises

He doesn't promise sunny days; just a rainbow at the end of a storm.

He doesn't promise silver and gold; but to provide for your needs.

He doesn't promise to make your life trouble free, just to give you the strength to see things through.

He doesn't promise all the answers; just that He'll direct your path.

He doesn't promise you understanding, but faith that will see you through.

He doesn't promise freedom from despair, only joy and peace in believing.

He doesn't promise that you'll never fail, just that your strength and hope will be renewed.

He doesn't promise you'll have no fears, but that He is always there.

Most of all, He promises unconditional and everlasting love.

~Barbara Cage

So maybe you lost your job but you still have the ability to work and to go out to look for a new one. Maybe you lost a loved one, but your still have your faith, special memories, and new deeper sense of compassion for others. Maybe you are depressed and discouraged, but still have a home to keep you warm and dry on rainy days and an understanding of a bad situation that you can share to help others who may be going through something similar. Maybe you lost your home, but have a wonderful friend or family member willing to take you in until you get back on your feet and a beautiful sunset to view at the end of a tiring day. Maybe you are terminally ill, but you have a savior who died for you to have a way to a breathtakingly beautiful heaven at the end of your journey on earth.
 
Always remember there's never a rainbow with the rain. Don't be discouraged if you are not able to see your rainbow yet.  Have faith that your rainbow is there and one day when you least expect it, every thing will be ok. Isn't that something to be thankful for? Why wait for Thanksgiving to arrive...have a "Gratitude Attitude" today and everyday the whole year through!

Thankful

Week before Thanksgiving, I limp around real strange. Huddle in the corner, As though I have the mange. All the other turkeys, Just gobble, gobble on. I'm silent, and I act As if my gobbler's gone.

Everyone is thankful On Thanksgiving Day. Friday it's forgotten. You all go on your way. I know what thankful is So listen when I say. "It's great to be a turkey, After Thanksgiving Day." -Grandpa Tucker Copyright ©1996 Bob Tucker