It's Raining, It's Pouring in the South....Snow Storms in the North

Talk about a lot of rain! It's been raining for two days down here by Georgia. Yesterday we had tornado warnings, water spouts and hail. Jason, Danielle and I were stuck at work and Jada was at Girls Inc her afterschool care. Jason called to say they were told to go to the middle of the store the weather service was tracking possible tornado activity in the area. He called Danielle, then me and I started to pray. Danielle went out in the storm to get Jada and made it home. She wasn't letting any storm keep her from Jada. I couldn't leave because of the lightening and the waves of heavy rain on the marina. When I finally left work the rain was pouring so hard and the lightening was striking all around the car, I was scared to death. I ran into a flooded area before I realize that I had a problem. Thank God the car didn't stall and I was able to make it to Jason's house safely to wait out the storm. There was no school today and the rain started again this afternoon. It has been a bad two days as far as the weather is concerned. Talked to Edna and she said that they had heavy snowfall and everything was shut down in NJ. What a week! I thank God that we are all safe tonight and let's look forward to better weather tomorrow.

House Blessing At the Pierce's

Last Monday night I enjoyed a wonderful party at the Pierce Family's new home. Jason, Danielle and Jada were the perfect host. People from the neighborhood and members of our church family including Pastor and Minister Williams were there to Bless their new home. Jada provided entertainment by playing several pieces on the piano including When the Saints Go Marching In. Everyone song along as she played. It was soo cute. Jason and his family are truely blessed and I am so proud. All I had to do was show up and enjoy the food and fellowship.
On another note, Edna is out of the hospital and attended church services today. Kenny preached today and Edna said it was just wonderful, he is a true man of God. We are so proud of Kenny.
Today was my 53rd birthday and I really enjoyed myself. Actually Jada was so excited about giving me my gifts that she couldn't wait until today. I was summoned over last night and she gave me a wonderful picture frame with a picture of her inside. Today we all went to church and Danielle's children's choir sang and Jada played a couple of songs. What a great birthday for me. You all have a blessed week and continue to pray for each other. San

Family Stories

This is the children's author that I was fortunate enough to meet and hang out with last weekend. She uses a lot of family stories and things that she has experienced(life) to write her books. This weekend I will have the time to pull out my stories again and write, write, write. Our family is so filled with funny stories and history that we could all write for years and not run out of material. I've learned that you can take the little things in life and use them to create a short story or even a book. Here's a funny story. When mama died and we had to break the news to Jada, she was only 3, it was very hard. Jason and Danielle were too emotional at the time so I had to tell her when she came home from daycare that day. She searched the house all over for her Nana. She turned to me and said "is she not ever coming back?" I said no but we will see her again in Heaven. She thought and thought for a while then she said to me....."If she's not coming back," Can I have her wheel chair? I heard Jason and Danielle's sobbing in the next room turn to laughter! That was the funniest thing and the thing that helped us to get througt that January day in 2004. We all have stories within us. It's up to us to preserve these stories for our children. So get yourself a journal or a blog and write you family stories. I wish I had written down every story that Daddy, Mamma and Majane had to share. Now it's too late, so don't wait.

Great Weekend with Books and Friends

This has been a very long two weeks for me. Two weekends working in a row, but it was worth it. The Library's Books Alive Book Festival was this weekend and I had the opportunity to hang out with a wonderful children's author all weekend, Deborah Wiles. She did presentations at two area schools as well as at the Festival. Not only do I love her books but I also really think she is a wonderful person. Some times you meet people that you like instantly and she was one of those kind of people. Her books are based on her life experience and family. I think the family part was what has me hooked on her books. Most of her books contain Black characters, one picture book "Freedom Summer," is based on a fictional story of two friends one black and one white and how they dealt with the closing of the public pool in a small town in Mississippi after the 1964 Civil Rights Act passed. skating rinks, schools, swimming pools, businesses all closed around the south so that our people wouldn't be able to use them. So much history in a 32 page picture book. I bought the book for Jada and had it signed by Deborah. Children need to know where we came from! What a great weekend. I am so inspired to continue with my writing of family stories. With help from God, who knows one day they could be published!

February is Birthday Month!

Smith and Elizabeth seemed to have had the majority of their children in 3 months out of the year. September, June and February. Bee was the only one born in March. We started this month with Barbara Jean on the 4th, Kitty and Bubbee on the 7th and my birthday will be on the 17th (hint). I can't believe that I will be 53. I remember thinking that 53 was old. Now I'm thinking it's the new 40. Seriously, I am happy that God has taken care of all of us this many years. Looking back I can recall Edna dropping me off at preschool as she drove to College. Mayjewel taking us down town to buy clothes for May Day celebration in Elementary school and keeping half the money for herself. And sneaking around the house listening in on guy talk with Bo and Bull and loving every minute of it. Oh and I can't forget about just making Kitty crazy every night cause she couldn't stand for me to touch her in bed (we shared a bed). She still can't stand it when we visit each other and have to sleep together. Well those were the days. For the Younger set reading this blog remember to dream big and follow those dreams. Don't take life for granted, praise God each and every day and learn to love, cause before you know it you too will be 53! Oh and Happy Birthday to Fred Sullivan tooo I forgot to call (sorry). Sonya and Mia also have February birthdays. Mia will be the big 30 on the 19th and I forget how old Sonya will be but her birthday is at the end of February. Happy February Birthdays!