Thanks to all of you who asked after me while I was out. Having the flu bug was not any fun. That's twice this year and well I hope done for. Seems like I missed an entire week and it's starting to show. Blogs are a bit like children, you have to spend time with them in order to nurture their growth. So, for last week, I was a bad parent. (sorry)
This week, I'll be doing a little bit of housekeeping on all my blogs. Remarkable Bloggers©.com will open sometime this month. Thanks for all your support of this project through your comments and emails. I'm looking forward to the blog's grand opening, though I'll miss what it's brought to this site, being in its own home will be great!
I owe Laura Williams an apology, with family illness, tornadoes and my own flu bug, I didn't get her review finished to publish last month. I promise its coming soon.
Remarkable News ©
I popped in at Nathan and Tricia's blog yesterday, and I found out some wonderful news! Tricia has gone through the ordeal of a double lung transplant (a 9 hour surgery) with flying colors apparently. Sadly, someone else lost their life earlier Wednesday. Nonetheless, their lungs were a good match for Tricia. All the details of the surgical wait and post-op progress are available on their blog. Keep them all (Nate, Tricia, Gwyneth, and all their extended families) in your prayers. This transplant isn't a cure, but it has extended Tricia's life and improved her quality of life, so that she can enjoy what time she has with her husband, daughter and family. (I didn't know that the life expectancy of a double lung transplant recipient was only 6-7 years. Sounds so short) My bout with the flu seems so insignificant when I read what this incredibly strong woman has gone through.
For the hundred or so of you who answered my request for interviews with Adult Adoptees, please be patient with me. I'm writing to all of you. I don't send out mass emails, so it's gonna take some time. Thanks
More Good News
Chrissie, at Bloggeries, reviewed Bird On A Wire. Whooo HOOO. And She was gracious enough to rate us a 5! Now, folks that's the tops! And I'm humbled. If you're not a member at Bloggeries, you need to be. Its one of the finest forums for bloggers out there. Tell them we sent you. And did I mention, its free!
Into Each Life...
A little rain must fall.Well, along the Mississippi River we've been blessed with rain, rain and more rain. Friday, we experienced 5, yes 5 tornadoes. Fortunately, the only thing that we lost, was power. Others didn't fare so well. The Clarion Ledger, has lots of pictures and more information on the damages to Vicksburg and the Jackson, Ms metro areas and efforts to clean up and rebuild; as well as information on the flooding from the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers in the area.
That's about it . I'll be back tomorrow with more from the wire. Have a Great and Wonderful Day!
Remarkable Bloggers© Series Part 5
When I set out to select the Remarkable Bloggers © for this week, I was seriously not jazzed. I hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary this week, and truthfully, I was thinking that my mission to find someone truly Remarkable was a task too big. Maybe I had taken on too much. But, I was wrong. I actually ran into this blog, quite by accident. But, its no accident that these folks are Remarkable Bloggers©, they are Remarkable People.
Patty Sue (Tricia), Nathan and Gwyneth Rose are a young family in North Carolina, facing odds that would put most of us in a tizzy. Patty Sue has Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that wages war on the lungs, she requires a double lung transplant to survive. Nathan, is her husband of a few years and Miss Gwyneth Rose came into this world in January of this year, 15 weeks early. I wouldn't do them justice trying to retell their story, so I'll just let Nate do it. (Please watch this video, you'll be amazed)
[wpyt_profile2]tIjw9XBN1p8[/wpyt_profile2]
It’s been absolutely amazing to see the way that God has used our story through the blog to change so many people’s lives in so many different ways. I’ve had people comment and email that they’ve been inspired to stop smoking or are begin to exercise, hundred of people who have signed up to be organ donors (which means hundreds more lives will be improved and saved), mothers who spend more time with their kids, fathers who come home from work a little earlier to be with their families, couples who are focusing more on improving their relationships, children who are reconciling with their parents...it is just so encouraging to hear about how Tricia and Gwyneth are affecting people all over the world.
We’ve heard from hundreds of other people and families who have been affected by CF, Premature Birth and Organ Donation.
I’ve received emails and comments from every continent (except for Antarctica) and literally hundreds of countries all over the world.
There are actually a few blogs dedicated to these fine folks. But the two to focus on are Confessions of a CF Husband and 65Roses For Patty Sue . With all that these folks have been through, with all that they have yet to face, they still hold firm to their faith and love. They ARE truly Remarkable Bloggers©.
Editor's Note:
I don't usually ask that you all support a particular cause, but this one is special. A Trust Fund has been established to help with Tricia’s everyday medical needs as well as greater future needs that will come from her CF. You can donate to Patty Sue's Trust at her trust fund site or by downloading this form. You can also make donations to the CF Foundation through Nate's Page there.
Do you know a Remarkable Blogger©? Are you a Remarkable Blogger©? Use our contact form and let us know who you'd nominate for our next feature.
Personal Thoughts On Life
Five years ago, on February 14, my Daddy (its a southern thing) died. It took me two weeks to shed a tear. I've thought of those days preceding his death and immediately following his death often over the past years, wondering what if. You see, for the 8 years prior to his death, we had not spoken. (his choice) The argument was over something that was serious to me then, but seems so silly now. But more importantly, I never knew that he really loved me as a person. For those almost 50 years of my life that he'd been my Daddy, I can count on one finger how many times he ever said he loved me. And that was the day that I visited him, on his request, prior to his death. Now, in terms of providing for his family, yes he did well. We didn't want for much. We had a house and food, we went to church and to school. I received an undergraduate degree from a State College, kind of a normal household. But all through those years, I never felt that I had made him proud. I excelled in school, sports, church related activities, married well and produced a grand child. There weren't hugs, kisses, laudatory statements or pats on the back. "Do Better" was the chant around the house. Now, I'm not saying that's all bad. And I'm not asking for sympathy here. I had a pretty "normal" childhood, for a product of the 50's. But what I am getting to here, is I'm a driven person. I've always been motivated to do more, do better, be the best. I'm grateful for the drive that Daddy instilled in me, though somedays, I feel like I'm dancing backwards in high heels. And I long to hear those words from him, I love you. As I built the 1 Million Memories site, I think I heard him say, job well done. I hope that each of you who are touched by the site will comment and tell others about it. There's a memory book where you can add your own special memory of your parents or anyone else. Please join our cause. Parents love your children. Tell them every day. Let them know that they're special in your eyes and your heart, no matter their abilities and weaknesses. Don't wait, do it now. Life is short and our children are our greatest assets.
Number 3 in the Remarkable Bloggers© Series
Activism is contagious and so is Pelf, a 20 something year old blogger from Malaysia. This young lady has the heart of a champion and the brains to go with it. Her latest blog post is about her recent win of a a 4-month scholarship, and involves professional training in the conservation of turtles. The scholarship is only awarded to two participants from the Asian countries every year, since the inception in 2000. She is the first participant to represent Malaysia.
The Asian Scholarship Program for In-situ Chelonian Conservation (ASPin-situCC) is primarily seated at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Begun in 2000, the ASPin-situCC has funded fourteen international chelonian conservationists participation in the Wetland Institute's Terrapin Recovery Project, a community based conservation effort. This opportunity involves field work designed to learn about, and to protect, the northern diamondback terrapin, a salt marsh turtle that inhabits the US eastern seaboard.This bright young woman has completed her Masters studies and is on her way to a brilliant future, caring for and continuing conservation work in her area and hopefully more areas of the world.
She also hosts another blog, The Giving Hands, which is an extension of her charity and conservation work online, which revolves around creating and spreading awareness on matters pertaining to charity, conservation, the environment, health & volunteerism.
This young woman has done remarkable things in her life, already. The next 30 years will be a true pleasure to witness. Her strength of character, wit and intelligence will carry her far. Congratulations Pelf, you truly are a Remarkable Blogger©!
Do YOU know a Remarkable Blogger©? Tell me about them. They could be the next featured here.
