Breezin' Through Life

Help me make Todd's Bucket List happen!

2009-05-17T18:58:00.002-05:00

One of my more immediate goals in life is to help Todd complete his Bucket List. Below is his original entry posted about his interests. Can anyone help me with any of these? (The Habitat for Humanity House might have to wait a bit until his health improves a bit).

Laura and I saw the movie Bucket List on Sunday. What an awesome movie. It really made me think about life and my bucket list. I was thinking what would I put on my list. I came up with a few. They are not in any particular order. Just put them down as I thought of them. I will hopefully be adding to and marking off the list. Not sure how many I can accomplish, but it sure would be fun.

1). Make my wife laugh at least once a day.

2). Meet Billy Graham.

3). Find folks who can not run and run for them

4) Be on the sidelines at the Swamp for a Florida Gator’s football game.

5). Have a reunion with my college roommates.

6). Bring more awareness to cancer and Parkinson.

7) Run in the New York Marathon.

8). Run 50 miles in one day.

9). Hang out with ultramarathon man Dean Karnazes.

10). Hang out with fellow survivor Lance Armstrong.

11). Hang out with fellow Parkinson’s dude Michael J. Fox.

12). Hang out with Pastor Francis Chan.

13). Take an Alaskan cruise with my wife.

14). Sight see across the U.S with my wife.

15). Help build a house with Habitat for Humanity.

16). Hang out with Bono.

Some things I can mark off my list.

1). Complete a full-marathon. Done on 3/2/08 in Sarasota, FL.

2). Sky Dive. Done on 2/24/08 in Clewiston, FL.

3). Met Team Hoyt in 2005.

http://geneticfreak.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/bucket-list/

Good Samaritan Hospital - aka 2nd home

2009-03-25T19:18:00.006-05:00

Well as of March 20, Todd has been admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital. During the week, he was not feeling well and coughing. Wednesday his color was not good. And Thursday / Friday he only made it to work for 3 hours (Friday only).

So Friday night we decide that a visit to the emergency room was in order. Fortunately, his amazing oncologist was on call and registered us ahead. We were sitting in the waiting room for 10 minutes before a nurse came out of the ER to greet Todd by name and said she has our records and will be with us shortly.

We were through the ER with quality care and shuttled to a private room quite peacefully. Five days later, his breathing did not show enough improvement so the doctors decided on Plasma Exchange! What is that, you say? Well it was new to me as of Saturday. Within four hours of scheduling the process, a surgeon was in to perform minor surgery inserting a catheter in Todd's neck (near the jugular vein). Todd looks like a robot or as he says RoboCop with wires and tubes hanging out his neck onto his chest. Needless to say, I removed myself from the room during that minor procedure. This is a temporary catheter for the 5-day treatment and will be removed after completion of this Plasma Exchange.

So on top of his Parkinson diagnoses, he has now discovered he has Myasthenia Gravis and experienced a Myasthenic relapse - almost losing his ability to breath!

So the first day of Plasma Exchange was Wednesday, March 25. The specialty nurses wheel in all of this traveling equipment into his room. The machine reminded me of the look and size of an old fashioned telephone operator's station with all the phone lines crossing and connecting in different locations. Two tubes connected to my sweetheart - 1st on was the exporting tube withdrawing his blood and plasma; 2nd one was the importing tube that brings back Todd's blood into his body after being cleansed and inserting synthetic plasma. It was a surreal experience to see the love of my life sitting calmly through this process.

The process was an hour and a half and absolutely painless. He felt groggy but fine after it was complete. His sense of humor was fully in tact. He teases the nurses that he planned to play basketball with his god son in the room later on that evening after they asked him not to overexert himself. All is well with my sweetheart. He is on the road to recovery. I can't wait to have him back in my daily life to return to our usual routines.

He will be in the hospital 12 -13 days when the 5-day Plasma exchange is complete. Continue to pray for Todd's strength and full recovery with God's blessing.

Most Spectacular Valentines!

2009-02-08T15:50:00.002-05:00

So bragging is not really very humbling, is it? Well, then maybe I should share my emotional sentiment with you by expressing my feelings of the best Valentine of all times!

So those that know me, know I am a fairly simple person, not too concerned about fashion and pretty conservative. Some have gone so far to call me a "goodie-two-shoes" or that I need to loosen up a bit. I get that response pretty regulary over the past 9 and a half years. And, you know what, I kinda like it. Because some 10 to 25 year ago, I was the opposite of these things.

Thus, my best Valentines EVER!

I have to thank God now and always for providing my prince in a life of kissing so many toads. I deserve so much misfortune in life for all of the horrible, selfish, and cold decisions I have made prior to yeilding my life fully to God. God saw me when I chose to be an unfortunate and unsuccessful sinlge person for the first 30 years of my life. Here, today, at age 40, I daily reap the benefits of God's forgiving grace and love - through the best Valentines EVER!

So did you really have to guess where this was going up to this point? Yes, here I go again and yes, I mean every word! Todd Shoemaker is my true love. If it were up to my pattern of poor choices, 10 years ago, I would have messed up my chances of landing such an amazing, decent, sexy man! God looked beyond my faults and past failures and allowed Todd and I to fall in love. Today, I value and cherish this rare and unique love I have and pray daily that never fall from God's grace to ever lose him.

All my life, instability was the only constant. Today my constant is God's love and grace through the love of my husband. Todd's love has been the most rewarding and ENTERTAINING experience of my life. And for that - I am continually thankful to have the MOST AWESOME Valentine EVER!

Tonsillectomy & Valet Parking = Discontentment

2008-08-24T11:33:00.002-05:00

So August 15 I had a Tonsillectomy. Yes, at my age! Yes, I know you are supposed to have this done when you are a child. No, I don't know why we didn't do it as a child. It is done and soon behind me.

Well the Monday prior to the Tonsillectomy, I had a Pre-Op appointment with my specialist. After discussing the concerns with surgery and convincing the doctor that I really do want the surgery and didn't want him talking me out of it (since I cancelled surgery 6 months prior and I have finally prepared mentally and physically). I leave the office to pick up my car in the parking garage from "Complimentary Valet" only to be handed a police report from an apathetic parking attendant and my car smashed along the driver's side from front wheel through driver's side door. Oh, and a vague, bland apology with little explanation to how this might have happened.

So what happened? Still don't know. Did I have time for this, literally, have time for this prior to surgery that would put me in recovery for two weeks? No, I had no physical, mental, or emotional time available to provide for this extremely unfair, unnecessary and utterly ridiculous situation. Is life randomly unfair at times, yes. Yes, life can be unfair.

Did I mention the valet company's name? CAH Valet service business address is still unknown to me but they are in Broward County somewhere. CAH Valet service provides medical parking service for Good Samaritan Hospital, the Victor Farris Cancer Center and the medical building I was in at 1515 Flagler Boulevard.

What have I learned from this? Well, I recommend that if you have a "gut" feeling to NOT Valet, to embarrass yourself by asking for your car keys back before they drive away your vehicle, feel you should drive two blocks away to available parking regarding of the rain or being late for an appointment... IF your "gut" is telling you something, just give in and do it. Don't ignore it.

So was it my intuition or could it have been the Holy Spirit in which God speaks to us? Either way, I didn't listen and walked away. Because, after all, this was a prominent medical building with hundreds of customers/ patients using this CAH Valet service daily.

So Valet, no thanks. I will be passing on any Valet services from this point on. My Gut or intuition or God whisper in my ear, I hope to be obedient and more in tune with His voice. After all, God is always looking out for my best interest and ways to bless me - which is THE OPPOSITE of the intentions of CAH Valet Service, who does not have the decency to return my insurance company's phone calls and is perfectly willing to allow me to pay my own insurance deductible directly from my savings account - after all that's just why we have emergency funds, right?

My Tonsillectomy Recovery blog will have to wait for another day...

8-8-08 The Olympics

2008-08-10T21:35:00.002-05:00

I am quickly discovering who are fans of the Olympics. Luckily, close friends are fans. And once again, my husband gravitates and converses over all the exciting games. I am a fan of a few sports like the gymnastics, swimming and track and field. I have enjoyed most all of the sports I have watched with Todd.

Todd was so excited for things to get started that he had to get his Olympic attire PRIOR to the opening ceremonies Friday night. He is fun to watch as his excitement builds. I enjoy watching him enjoy watching the games. GO USA!

Disney Fun Day & Shingle Creek Resort

2008-07-20T08:51:00.004-05:00

Well, my Disney Fun Day finally arrived on Friday, July 18. My girlfriend, Terra, and I had this day excursion scheduled for quite sometime. We have been anticipating only fun on our agenda. Little did we know that each of us would have marathon-busy schedules leading up to our magical Disney escape.

We finally arrived at Disney at 11:00 a.m. Friday and had 7 hours of fun and laughs. Thanks to Terra's amazing organizational strategies, we hit all the key attractions we wanted in a timely, geographical order. This saved the lifespan of my aching feet by the end of the day. I think my favorites of the day were the interactive Buzz Lightyear ride, Mickey's Philharmonic and the Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain. I liked the traditional exhibits of Peter Pan too.

Terra also managed to pull off an awesome surprise stay at Shingle Creek Resorts. Through Hotwire.com, she landed the ultimate rates 24 hours prior to check-in. After a long day of fun and sun at the Magic Kindgom, those fancy-resort sheets gently soothed our fatigue and we had a great stay overnight.

This Disney excursion was a blast and just what I needed to enjoy summer just a bit more. Thanks Terra for all the fun and surprises!

Stress & Foods

2008-07-13T11:53:00.004-05:00

For those that know me, also know that I can be a bit high strung! Yes, I confess that it is true.

Part of my summer goals has been to become healthier. Here is an article from Dr. Oz's RealAge website on healthy, stress-reducing foods:

Berries, any Berries - Eat them one by one instead of M&M's (which is my drug-food of choice). The carbs in the berries transfer into sugar at a slower pace than processed sugary items, which prevent a blood-sugar crash. This also gives you a great source of vitamin C, which helps to prevent the spike in stress hormones (cortisol).

Guacamole - Avocados are filled with B vitamins, which stress quickly depletes and which your body needs in order to maintain nerves and brain cells. Scoop up Guacamole onto whole-grain baked chips for a healthier choice.

Mixed nuts - Just an ounce will do. Walnuts help replace those stress-depleted B vitamins, Brazil nuts give you a whooping amount of zinc (which is also drained by high anxiety), and almonds boost your E, which helps fight cellular damage linked to chronic stress.

Oranges - People who take 1,000 milligrams of C before giving a speech have lower levels of stress hormones and lower blood pressure than those who don't. So peel an orange and enjoy while reducing stress.

Asparagus - Each tender stalk is a source of folic acid, a natural mood lightener. Dip the spears in fat-free yogurt or sour cream for a hit of calcium with each bite.

Chai tea - a warm drink is a supersoother, and curling up with a cup of aromatic decaf chia tea (Tazo makes ready-to-brew bags) can make the whole hectic day simmer down.

Dark chocolate - If you must reach for chocolate - the dark chocolate's antioxidant flavonoids are the better choice.

Memorial Day Surprise

2008-06-01T09:44:00.005-05:00

Well, one week after my Emmaus Walk, my husband set aside an amazing surprise for me on Memorial Day! Now, you have to realize that I am not very cooperative when it comes to surprises. I have to search for hints and clues to figure out the mystery or puzzle. This was no exception. I would ask Todd questions about the weekend, just out of the blue. And you have to understand my husband. He has a great memory and does not get stumped very easily. He also has a belief system that one should not give away the ending... So if he has read a book or seen a movie that I have not, and I am just wanting the punch line or ending to the movie, he will NOT give it up for anything. So I have to read the book myself or watch that movie myself - with no clues from him. However, fortunately there are no laws by God or man that say I cannot read only the last chapter or fast forward to the end of the movie! Thus, immediate satisfaction! ( So I hear some of you saying I should discover the joy in the journey. And I agree with you half-heartily. I am working on that in my life right now.)

So my husband managed to keep our weekend getaway a complete surprise. And I loved it that much more. On Sunday, we went up the road to Stuart to the Inn at Shepard's Park. It was just far enough away from home to relax. It was our first Bed and Breakfast experience and it was delightful. We arrived before check in. So we went to Jensen Beach for a late lunch. We enjoyed a waterfront experience at Conchy Joe's. Our shrimp sandwiches were quite tasty. I loved the rustic, tropical setting too. When we arrived at the B & B, I entered the room that Todd picked out. It was so delightful, I loved all the little details. He had gotten me a Kilwin's Chocolate gift box that was waiting for me in the room. The room was in a white wicker, old-Florida style setting. There were four cute windows overlooking Shepard's Park. Once we settled in with luggage, we set off on the bicycles provided. We went through Sheppard's Park which ran along the waterway and had a view of the huge Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart. There was a unique little walkway with water on both sides. I decided to walk my bike along that because I could foresee a small stumble causing me to be head-first in all that water. We then followed the red brick roadways to a sidewalk under the bridge. This led to a beautiful wooden boardwalk along the water that ended at the Stuart's Historical Downtown District. We enjoyed strolling downtown. I was a typical tourist taking pictures of almost everything. Todd got used to stopping and smiling for pictures or sometimes, just stopping and looking my way. We enjoyed dinner on the water, once again, at Wahoo's Restaurant. After dinner, we returned to the B & B for a leisurely lounge on the veranda to read for the evening. In the morning, we enjoyed breakfast back on the veranda. All of it was so relaxing and so peaceful. It was such a pleasant surprise and reminds me of the many reasons I am in love with my sweet husband. Thanks again sweetheart, for a great Memorial Day weekend.

The Upper Room Walk to Emmaus

2008-05-21T21:50:00.002-05:00

My recent Walk to Emmaus was "an experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation that begins with a 3-day short course in Christianity. It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way as God's grace and love is revealed to you through other believers. It begins with a prayerful discernment and invitation from a sponsor. After one accepts this invitation they complete an application. Leaders prayerfully consider each application and in God's time, the person is invited to attend a three-day experience of New Testament Christianity as a lifestyle."

emmaus@upperroom.org

One of many unique aspects of Emmaus was that guests come with no access to clocks, wristwatches, cell phones and communication with home. For me, the value of this is to remove our daily life distractions and reconnect with God, the lover of your soul. By the end of the first day, I was ready to honor this request. It was at the end of the first day that I discovered just how many distractions I have lived with in my life that kept me from connecting with God daily. I was blessed by God to be relieved from distractions. And not fighting the urge to know the agenda became a blessing. There were so many thoughtful sections of the agenda that became meaningful.

It was truly a Walk to Emmaus. Thank you to everyone that unselfishly gave to all of us throughout that 3 day journey. God bless each of you.

2008-05-21T19:41:00.002-05:00

Land of Dry Bones

"God grabbed me. God's Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them - a lot of bones. There were bones all over the plain - lots of dry bones. God said, 'Can these bones live?'

I said, 'Master God, only you know that.'

God said, 'Prophesy over these bones. Dry bones, listen to the Message of God! I'm bringing the breath of life to you and you'll come to life... You'll come alive and you'll realize that I am God'! There was a sound and, oh, rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. God said, 'Come, breath. Breath life!" The breath entered them and then came alive!"

The Message// Remix Contemporary Bible Translation

Emmaus Walk #62 Table of Ruth

So the first discovery on my journey was that I desperately needed God to breath life into MY dry bones. I didn't seem to pay attention that they were all dried up! Aren't we thankful that God loves us and blesses in spite of ourselves! And I was truly blessed. It was a lifetime experience that I will forever cherish.

I walked away in awe of the continual demonstration of God's love for me and unconditional love given to me by the body of Christ, by His Church, my brothers and sisters in Christ. To comprehend what I mean, you must experience it for yourselves.

Now I can look back and fully understand / respect the suggestions given to me to have limited information beforehand and to NOT anticipate. NOT ANTICIPATE! ME? Never! My inquisitiveness always gets the best of me. Curiosity is something I have a hard time turning off. However, I heeded and gladly obeyed. And it was worth the presentations of surprises. To be pleasantly surprised is a mild description. I was overwhelmed with love, kindness, joy and peace.

DeColores my Emmaus Sisters of Walk #62. As I experience more of what God would have me share, I will do so.

God Bless You and keep you in your journey of life!

Laura

Carolyn - I loved every minute of it! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your love and care for me overwhelms me.

Emmaus Walk

2008-05-13T21:29:00.002-05:00

My dear friend Carolyn has chosen to sponsor me for an Emmaus Walk! And I am very excited. She is sending me on a Christian, women's retreat for 3 nights and 3 days, starting this Thursday. I anticipate it to be a time of peace and tranquility, reuniting with the Lord. It is an opportunity to rediscover the Joy of the Lord and my relationship with Him.

I am so excited for the quietness. It is a retreat set up with limited information of location and agenda. I am asked not to bring a laptop, cell phone or even a watch. I am blindly led by the trust of my friend that it will truly be an enlightening event.

So after I return from this weekend of anticipation, I am to promise to keep most details of location and activities to myself so that others can experience it on their own. I hope to share with you that I found my way back to the heart of God - well, that my heart was reunited with His. (He is always offering His heart to me and to all in order to show His love.)

Enjoy your week. As for me, I have a four-day work week with an exciting 3-day weekend ahead. God bless you! And thank you again Carolyn. I can't wait to share with you all that I will be experiencing.

I've Married THE Genetic FREAK!

2008-03-29T13:23:00.002-05:00

Am I insulting or belittling my husband, you ask? By no means! My husband defied science and is blessed by God. Thus, doctors have referred to him as a Genetic Freak.

There are only glimpses in time that I recall my single days PT (prior to TODD). Most of my life consists of my fulfillment in being married to Todd Shoemaker! It is never dull and extremely new ALL THE TIME.

There are fun and rewarding times when we enjoy life and enjoy each other. And there are times of struggle with once being mysterious medical issues that are now more obvious symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD). But wait, there is more. This man that I am so madly in love with that just happens to have PD, runs for his life! He runs and runs because he has life and because he has a story to share. His message on life is that God loves us and wants to bless us. As Todd runs and I mean runs marathons, he shares a positive message with others, possibly others that don't know God or have hope. In the midst of challenges, Todd is strengthened by God's love and by serving others.

For that, I am the luckiest women, well, I am the most blessed women in the world. If you wish to debate that, sure, bring it on! I have all that I need in life and I have the love of a man, love in a marriage and love from God that provides all that I ever wanted in life.

And to know Todd Shoemaker is to love him. To know him is to know of God! I hope you know God today and are experiencing all the love you can have in life.

2008-02-07T20:11:00.000-05:00

FEBRUARY 3, 2008

2008-02-07T19:33:00.000-05:00

Hello there. Superbowl Sunday was fantastic! Great game, at least the last quarter! Todd and I spent time with a group of close friends and we created our own half time show with the American Idol video game. It was hilarious and a blast. Great company, excellent food - burgers on the grill!

Sunday was also the 2nd anniversary since my wonderful mom passed away. At times, I envy the joy and peace she feels. She met her lifelong goal, to be in heaven praising God! I miss her. However, this year was more peaceful than I anticipated. I was thankful for the cherished memories I hold in my heart. I cling to the compliments those have given me who say, "Oh you look just like your mom", "Oh, when you laugh you sound just like her". I pray that I will become more Christ-like as she was, as I grow older. She taught me to love family. I like to think that I love Todd so much because I learned from how she loved my dad. I enjoy serving and giving to Todd like she would serve and give to my dad. I am so fortunate to have a blessed marriage with a strong friendship and I have to believe it is from what my mom taught me in life.

On Sunday, my amazing husband beat his own running record and did it in honor of my mom! He ran 31 miles and lives to tell about it! He gives God the glory. You should check out his blog on GeneticFreakMinistry.com to hear about it from him directly.

I am thankful for my life. My life is whole and complete with the Lord in the center and an amazing husband. I thank Todd for his support and encouragement for helping me through times of missing my mom. I am thankful he got to meet her and she loved him (especially after all the toads I kissed - mom was proud that I finally caught a Prince - My Prince I daily thank God for and don't take for granted!

Tidbids on Laura

2008-01-17T21:17:00.000-05:00

Quiet evening blogging... I thought I would follow the lead from my dear friend Carolyn and share interesting tidbids about myself...

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My beautiful Abeula (Laura) and Momma (Carmen Maria)!
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Monday night thinking of my mom!
DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? mostly, when I take my time.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Frequently - Turkey. Prefer - Roast Beef.
DO YOU HAVE KIDS? no but have helped and supported hundreds over time
IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?? Weekend me, yes! Workplace me, not so much- too uptight!
DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? not too much
DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes, and your point?
WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Absolutely but probably AFTER skydiving
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Special K with strawberries
DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Are we supposed to?
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Mostly
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Vanilla with toppings
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Little of everything-uniqueness
RED OR PINK? red
WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? when stressed, lack of patience
WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my mommie
WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? chicken, stir fry veggies, rice-a-roni
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Oprah DVR
IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? multi-color rainbow!
FAVORITE SMELLS? vanilla
WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My #1 Friend and love of my life!
FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? hockey
HAIR COLOR? brown
EYE COLOR? brown
DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? too blind and too many allergies
FAVORITE FOOD? lobster & seafood
SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy endings
LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? National Treasure I
WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? purple
SUMMER OR WINTER? summer - blue skies and ocean breezes
HUGS OR KISSES? Both- always!
FAVORITE DESSERT? chocolate cakey icecream yummy stuff
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Today Matters by John Maxwell
WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? "Dell" standar pad - nothing exciting
WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V.LAST NIGHT? American Idol's ridiculous auditions!FAVORITE SOUND? ocean waves
ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles (Mick Jagger will never be a pretty face!)
WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Mexico and California
DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? none that come to mind at the moment except loving my wonderful husband

Marathon of the Palm Beaches & Flight36 Ministry

2008-01-06T17:47:00.000-05:00

The team of Flight36 successfully completed the half marathon of December 2, 2007. All of the guys did an amazing job completing the race. It was a great opportunity to receive recognition for the Flight36 Ministry, as well. Thanks to Channel 25 News, there were several stories that aired about the ministry.

This race was Todd's 3rd half marathon. For 2008, Todd plans to run 1,000 miles for the year. Thanks to a great week of feeling good, Todd has run 32 miles so far over three days. I expect he will successfully meet this goal over the upcoming year.

To see Todd's personal TV interview about the race, click on the YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4EV-PlSqcw

Happy New Year welcoming 2008!

2008-01-06T17:07:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Friends!

Yes, I can hear some of you welcoming me back. I have disappeared for two months now.

Well, thanks for having me back. The holidays proved to be quite busy and absolutely fabulous! I think I can give an overview of what Todd and I have been doing...

Thanksgiving - we delivered meals together through the Substance Abuse Coalition and Christ Fellowship. For dinner, we spent a wonderful time with the Savignac family.

December 2 - Marathon of the Palm Beaches - My wonderful husband finished a half marathon with the team from Flight36.

December 7 - Flight36 Ministry Gala - Huge success and amazing evening! We were so appreciative and excited to those that came out to support the ministry and meet the boys in the program. I was very proud to be apart of what God is blessing in this ministry.

December 8 - Famous Picklesimer Christmas Party - I look forward to this family reunion with Todd's family. This gathering is festive with amazing foods and homemade crafts. We had an extra treat to welcome a beautiful new baby boy - William - to the family. Todd's mom, brother and his kids made the trip to attend driving from Sebring.

December 15 - Urban Youth Impact Christmas Store - This annual charity event provided Christmas gifts to over 1,500 families in the inner city of West Palm Beach. Todd volunteered with Flight36 and their boys to provide support at the event. I had the priviledge to babysit one-year-old Micah, who is the adorable son of the event's program planners, Pam and Proverb.

December 16 - ROPES course with Terra Cay. Todd and I faced our challenges as we scurried up 20-30 foot telephone poles and walked across narrow beams that seem to tower in the air. It was exhilarating and exciting. I enjoyed conquering my fears and physical challenges. I don't know why I was so amazed to watch Todd get up that pole so quickly. After all, he is THE Genetic Freak!

Christmas - Enjoyed services at Christ Fellowship. We enjoyed Christmas breakfast with the Brown family and kids. We also enjoyed dinner with the Savignac/ Richard family. My brother and sister-in-law took a trip to visit us from Tallahassee. We had a memorable visit and appreciate their efforts to see us.

New Year's Eve - The Savignac/ Richard's family invited us to welcome the new year with friends and wonderful food.

New Years Day - We enjoyed a quiet, relaxing evening with the Byrd family. Florida was just getting that cold snap that temperatures were dropping to the 30's that evening. It was quite nice.

I have enjoyed two weeks off from work and it has been a delight. I wish everyone a Happy New Year filled with God's love and blessings.

Our Friend, Ricky

2007-11-07T21:25:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends,
I need to introduce you to Todd and my friend, Ricky. Have I told you about him yet?

Well, Todd and I are blessed to know and have Ricky in our lives. We feel privileged to be apart of his life.

For me, knowing Ricky, is a renewed sense of experiencing God's mercy, grace, and endurance. You see, our friend Ricky is a brilliant, courteous, friendly and God-fearing 19-year-old. He has seen and experienced things in life that I have not and I am thankful God guides his steps.

Todd had the opportunity to originally met Ricky through Urban Youth Impact several years ago. Urban Youth gave Ricky his first birthday cake on his 18th birthday. Ricky has faced being homeless; watch his mother struggle with and recover from the addiction of crack; and see siblings become incarcerated. The sting of drug or alcohol addiction has left their marks on his family heritage.

And to know Ricky today, you see Christ's love and grace. You know God's mercy and you feel Christ's message of hope; hope of salvation and abundance of life.

Ricky is completing school to receive his high school diploma. He then plans to continue school and training to become a firefighter and save lives. He feels God's blessing on his life by walking in God's grace. Ricky is thankful to be alive, to carry his family name and be the first to receive a high school diploma in his immediate family.

Todd and I are so proud of him and his commitment to the Lord. We are excited to see how God will continue to mold and create him to be an even stronger man of God. We are thankful for the opportunities to spend time together.

Ricky has impacted my life with a new sense of humility. I am humbled by how God has blessed me. I have been to restuarants to eat out that Ricky has never been to before. Todd and I are thankful to have taken Ricky to Cheesecake Factory, Cracker Barrel and other restuarants in which he has never eaten . I am humble to have had birthday cakes each year of my life. I am humble to have had family that were in a position to care for me that drugs and alcohol did not become a barrier in my childhood. I am humble by having a home and room of my own all of my life. I am humble... and thankful. I am blessed in my life for many reasons. And I am blessed to have Ricky as a friend.

My friend, Carolyn

2007-11-01T20:55:00.000-05:00

So I have a dear friend. Her name is Carolyn. I enjoyed a wonderful evening at her home for small group tonight. She hosted a wonderfully yummy dinner prior to group. It was a fun night that I realized how much I enjoy her company.

I am thankful that we have things in common and even the things that we are really opposite on, (like a preference for milk!) it doesn't get in the way of our friendship.

Tonight she shared with me about her interests in the blogging world, a place that I am still a foreigner. I am so ignorant to the terminology and the capabilities of the Internet and blogs. I enjoy hearing about her interests and especially reading her own blog. If it weren't for her, I would not be "HERE" today... here on my blog that she created for me and showed me the way!

She is a brilliant writer and I enjoy the saga that occurs at times in her life that she chooses to blog. She has even helped to research and write books at her job, which she cherishes and feels privileged to be there, being blessed by God.

You see, it has been a long time since Todd and I have found friends that we can hang out with as couples. Todd and her husband, Jeff, work diligently and wholeheartedly, in the Flight36 ministry together. And it has become a routine for us to attend Saturday night church service together. When Carolyn and Jeff aren't there, we feel like we are missing out a bit, missing our friends. We have a tradition of having dinner together after service. The laughs and fellowship we enjoy help to feed our souls, as well as our tummy. At times it could be the four of us or up to a group of 8. Either way, we manage to enjoy some extra laughs from Jeff or I get some quality chatting time with Carolyn. It always makes to a nice ending to a long week.

I feel fortunate and blessed to have Carolyn as a friend. I am especially blessed to enjoy my best friend's company, Todd's company, with such great friends as Carolyn and Jeff. I would highly recommend such a rich friendship for everyone. It would add years of youthfulness to your life.

We are all looking forward to a spectacular fundraiser event for Flight36 Ministry. We have our Gala December 7 and you are welcome to join us. Go to http://www.flight36.org/ for all the details you would need and to reserve a seat while seating is available!

September - 2007 "Birthday Celebrations"

2007-09-16T14:28:00.000-05:00

What a month... so far! My birthday was September 13. I turned 39. I have an excuse to celebrate and it has been a blast!

Todd and I decided on a list minute trip to see my brother for Labor Day. It began my birthday celebration month. Ironically, my niece and her family were visiting that same weekend. I got to enjoy time with family, eventhough it was a brief weekend.

My girlfriend, Terra, and I plan to celebrate until our 40th birthdays next year. We hope to go to MGM for a weekend and she is planning to walk me through a "Ropes" training course. These are the first of our plans so far and I am very excited.

I have a new way to celebrate birthdays - for 90 days. To hope and plan a one-day celebration can just jeopardize it all! Life happens, like hurricanes, sickness, hospital stays, who knows. But to have a pre-birthday month, birthday month and post-birthday month, you can fit it all in!

I have had the opportunity for many birthday lunches, dinners, and special times with friends and family. I have enjoyed a suprise iPod from my wonderful husband. This is my very first one. It has helped me push myself further at the gym (another birthday gift to myself to become healthier). I ventured to my first theater play with Kimberly at the Cuillio Centre on Clematis. I have had many surprises from friends that touched my heart.

My birthday has been one of the biggest celebrations since my college graduation in December, 2006. Celebrating life with family and friends has been a blast.

Family Blessings!

2007-08-10T14:05:00.000-05:00

Today, I am thankful for God's blessings on my family.

My brother and sister-in-law have been blessed with a great, loving church family. This has been a long time coming. They have big hearts and desire a to grow and share life with other Christian friends. I think they may have finally found that. And they are receiving the blessings from it. In the small town of Crawfordville, friendship goes a long way, once you can finally obtain it. And I think they have done so. It makes me exhale just a bit, being relieved to know that they are feeling a sense of connectedness with others in which to share life and all that life brings.

My sister finally joined my family in Crawfordville. My brother, sister-in-law, and father currently live there. My sister is now there with her very nice fiance. I am so thankful she is moving towards family and having the urgency to draw near to family. I have missed her terribly, eventhough we stay in touch by phone. I try to visit her when we all can connect. It seems that I have only seen her once or twice a year since my mom died. (It is funny how such a sad event, saying good-bye to mom, is a beginning and ending point in my life. You see, I think my mom was the glue that kept us together. And with her in Heaven, we were bearly connected.)

My brother and I have been working very hard to keep our connectedness. It has been way overdue and I am so thankful we are truly friends. I am blessed to have my brother and sister-in-law as true believers in the faith - true Christian brothers and sisters. Five or ten years ago we only saw each other at holidays or family events. Today, I cherish the times we gab on the phone, sometimes for hours. I value it like needing oxygen and hope to never take it for granted.
With my sister and finance close to the rest of the family, I find comfort and feel hopeful of the future. I hope that she will find even more peace in life through a closer relationship with Christ. I really like her fiance which says ALOT! Did I tell you I like her fiance? Well, I am proud of the direction my sister's life is going and give God the glory for her safety and wellbeing.

Currently, my dad is searching for more work within the workforce. His previous job just ended and he likes to stay busy. He still has lots to offer the workforce and needs to continue forward. I think he is still searching for his "nitch" in life, something that will spark his interest. It is difficult to find your nitch when it was the love of your life and she is now gone. He is perservering and for that, I am thankful. I pray he finds a fulfilling interest in life very soon, something to motivate him in the long run. I pray that he finds peace from God to enjoy life.

And my husband... my soulmate... my true joy in life. Well, how would I really ever describe my husband or just how much I value having him in my life. To think back of the days being single, being a Christain and searching for a companion. I remember reading Jackie Kendall's "Lady in Waiting" and praying for a Boaz. I didn't deserve a Boaz after all the toads I kissed over the years. But I sure have discovered God's true grace and mercy to have blessing me so deeply with a satisfying, fulfilling relationship with my husband. I must be one of the richest persons on earth and he must be one of the best kept secrets EVER! (So why am I blogging about my best kept secret then?)

I remember back almost 8 years ago, not knowing then just how drastically wonderful my life was about to become. I remember shaking hands with a beautiful family sitting in front of me at Christ Fellowship on south campus (before there was a north campus). There was a tall, dark, African American man; a petite, fair skinned, beautful red-head female; a "butter-ball" gorgeous 3-month-old boy; and a fair skinned, tall, handsoome, white man. I fell in love with the 3-month-old and could not keep my eyes off of him. Little did I know that one day he would be my God-son. I couldn't seem to pair up each of the adults very well, wondering who belonged to whom. However, I shook hands and greeted Todd E. Shoemaker, the best kept secret, in January of 1999. I went on my way, not giving any of it another thought except to think how cute that baby was and I wanted to pinch his legs!

February 1999 my roommate, Karen, and I went to our usual Christian singles event, as we had done for three years. We were out for a bike ride and roller blade trip through Palm Beach. It was a beautiful day in South Florida and I had no idea Cupid was buzzing around. Karen and I were always open to meeting "New Prospects". At lunch, we both met extremely interesting men that we conversed with for hours. I enjoyed all my conversations with Todd E. Shoemaker. However, returning home that day, I told Karen that "I was not going to date him, I will just be friends! He is not my type" Blah, blah, blah - yeah, right? Isn't it wonderful when you receive God's type and not YOUR type in life! God's "type" is always more fulfilling that reliving history that wasn't so successful the first time around.

Well, in March, we began dinner dates and talking at church. Our second or third dinner date, Todd E. Shoemaker tells me he enjoys lots of different friendships. He prefers to stay friends for 6 months or so with whomever he is getting to know, before considering dating. (KEY WORDS: 6 MONTHS - Significant in this romance roller-coaster but for a very different reason!) I thought to myself that this courtship is about to take FOREVER. No, just 6 months!

By April we were inseperable and enjoy our courtship emensely. Everyone the meets us or has known us, knows that THIS IS IT! My co-workers felt like they knew a famous celebrity, THE Todd E Shoemaker and began putting in bets of when the marriage would be. (I reframed from the bets, however, my co-worker Ruth, won about $15 or $20!)

So May comes and goes. June we are engaged. I am still walking through life five feet off the ground and everyone around me that has heard me talk about Todd E. Shoemaker knows that they are about to hear even more when I am approaching them. I could not or would not reframe from sharing the happy news of the love of my life. After all, I had kissed many toads in my life (not all of my ex's are toads - in case any of them stumble across this blog - just a figure of speech meaning that I was overdue to find my prince).

Todd and I were both tenants at the time, renting rooms sort-of, in our friend's homes. Between us, we might have owned a bed and dresser. So as I planned for a quiet, somewhat quaint wedding, I realize just how much of a people-pleaser I really am during the process. My guest list begins to grow and grow and then grow some more. I planned for a January wedding. I found my flower arrangement and wedding cake. We would be married at our home church.

Then it came. It came suddenly, forcefully and leaving me without breath! I can't do this! Plan a wedding? I don't want a wedding! Sure I wanted a wedding! But it was based on Todd and my income and we were in our 30's. We were not imposing on our parents for this. And we needed a home, furniture, etc. I wanted to elope and prepare a home together for our new marriage.

So the office betting increased regarding the date we would elope. For some reason, you just don't want to announce an elopement! The secretness of it maintained additional intrigue. And we were married September 3, 1999. We are approaching our 8th anniversary and I can graciously say that our 8th year of marriage is more fulfilling and rewarding than our first. And I considered us as a couple on a honeymoon for several years when we got married.

I say that to say, God is good... all the time. When times are great, thank God for it. When times are tough, praise God and trust Him to carry you through. When you have little ambition or interest in life, find God in a new way. Discover His Son, Jesus Christ, and become acquanited. When you feel like life is falling to pieces, search through God's word for the ultimate superglue - God's glue to put it all back together - His way!

God's Provisions

2007-08-06T19:59:00.000-05:00

To know me, you would know that I lost my mom February 2006. The peace I have to fill the emptiness is from God’s provisions in my life. I have hope in seeing her in Heaven one day. I have joy knowing she is praising God 24 hours a day. She is having “church” all that she wants! You see, here on earth, she had limitations and curfews of when to return from church and how often she was permitted to attend church. My joy is in knowing she does not have those curfews any longer.

If you were to ask me 7 years ago what my biggest fear was, I would respond by saying losing my husband or mom. My husband was healthy (no signs of cancer at the time) as was my mother. In my heart, my prayers to God were to graciously let me keep my mom through her old age.

My mom had been a pillar of health and an inspiration as a strong, beautiful, Christian woman all of my life. Then in June 2004, all of our lives changed when her life changed. She was diagnosed with stage 4 Lung Cancer. No one in my family understood the reality of this “death sentence”. The doctor gave her 12-14 months to live. Our denial kicked in and we supported my mom’s treatment through her strong faith of being healed. Twenty months into her treatment, she faced a stroke. Two weeks of recovery and therapy, she was talking and walking, slowly but just the same, was doing wonderful.

January 15, 2006, my mother-in-law’s birthday, I got the call of her stroke. Todd and I rushed to her side as family rallied by her. We didn’t understand why she could not speak or write. But after two weeks being by her side, she was talking and walking. Finally, I felt led to leave her and return home in Jupiter. She was in Dade City, outside of Tampa at the time. My brother, Burt, had come from out of town to visit mom and decided to give me a ride home since he was working in the area. Before our four hour ride home was up, we got the call that her second stroke had struck. Three long, grueling weeks of praying and wondering her fate was before us. She was on life support and not responding. As they prepared to transport her to Hospice care, they disconnected the life support. And it was then that her tired, weary body was united with her spirit, to meet Christ.

I never thought I could face such a loss and yet, I stand here today saying I am blessed. I am blessed to have had her 38 years of my life. As I reviewed my prayer journals from the past years, I found it! I found God’s Provision for me and His grace working in my life.

January, 1999

I write:
Thank you Lord for a great family visit. I enjoyed time with mom, dad, and grandparents. I had quality visiting time with Burt and Crystal. I still have that dread of losing mom though. When I am away from her the feeling is overwhelming. Lord, I don’t want to lose her. I realize others have faced losing their mom but that is them. I don’t want to live without having her through her old age.

My visit with her was sweet and for that I am thankful. I try to hug her more. I try to tell her more that I love her. I cherish our visits and time we spend together. What would I do without her? What would she want to see in her life if it were ending? Well, she would want to see that my brother, Burt and Crystal had a strong, Godly marriage. She would want to see my sister in a balanced, safe and happy life. And in my life, what would she want to see? God, show me what to improve or enhance in my life.

So, 1999 was five years prior to my mom even being sick. I truly believe God instilled a level of anticipatory grief within me. I think that a part of me began to prepare for losing her, even when she was diagnosed with 12 months to live. For that, I am thankful to God for giving me strength to face one of the hardest challenges in my life.

Live as if THEY are dying...

2007-08-06T19:53:00.000-05:00

On Friday, my friend Terra called. She timidly said, “Hi, do you have a minute? I kinda need to talk.” Of course I said sure. Traveling at night with her husband and doggie, she and Danny got into a horrific car accident. The roads were wet from rain on I-75. Their convertible slid under and was dragged by an 18-wheeler truck 200 to 300 yards.

Everyone walked away with minor injuries. She felt it was God’s interventions that kept them safe. And it was God’s intervention that they were driving the convertible. Their plans to drive the SUV Suburban were cancelled the previous day when they took it into the mechanic for a tune-up. I thought a Surburban would be safer. However, the convertible’s lack of a solid roof saved them to safely slide under the semi-truck – if one was to slide under a truck.

I thanked God for their safety and the health. I wrestled with facing the reality of losing her. What if… what if she went to Heaven so young, so quickly. We didn’t get to go sky diving, or parasailing. We didn’t get to celebrate our birthdays together. We made a pact to start monthly celebrations from now until September, 2008, when I would be turning 40 and she would turn 40 the following November. What if…

It gave me a spirit of humility before God that we don’t have a promise of tomorrow. For children of God, we DO have a promise of eternity. I thought I was ready to face eternity and if I were to go tomorrow, I feel my heart is right with God to face Him and praise Him. However, I realized I want to live more through this life I have now. And I want to cherish my friendships within my grasp. I want more lunch times with Terra and Jean. I want more weekend excursions with Carolyn. I want more phone calls and visits with family. I want more vacations and quality time at home with the ONE love of my life, expanding the love affair with my husband that I could never have dreamed would be as fulfilling as it is today!

So I need to live like THEY are dying or that I don’t have the promise of tomorrow. I want to have no regrets in this life and daily thank God for all the relationships in which I am truly BLESSED!

Todd Shoemaker's "Embracing Life's Challenges"

2007-01-27T15:09:00.000-05:00

Praise God! I had to spread the wonderful healing power of our great God. I hope the following words will encourage you to embrace life’s challenges.
My story begins on a mission's trip to New York City in June, 2002. I was blessed by God to travel with student ministries for a week in the Big Apple. My first night the Lord impressed upon me to fast for the week. What? I am in a city with some of the best restaurants in the world, but wanting to please the Lord, I obeyed. I felt the Lord telling me he was preparing me for something. But what, I wondered. In September, 2002, I began to find out. I was diagnosed with a debilitating type of arthritis. From September until August of 2003, I was placed on several types of medication. Most of the medications made me feel worse. The doctor instructed me that the arthritis had spread through most of my body. I was told to limit my physical activities. Jogging, which I enjoy, was off limits. The doctors stated I probably should forget about jogging. At times I was unable to get out of bed in the morning and had to use a cane or crutches. At times I thought to myself, "Can things get worse?" That question was answered in August 2003, when after becoming sick from my medication I was informed that a tumor had been found close to my heart. In August, it was determined that open heart surgery was needed to remove the tumor. My wife and I were informed that the tumor was a fast-growing tumor and needed to be removed. On October 14, 2003, the surgery was performed to remove the tumor. We were informed that the tumor was cancerous, but that my prognosis for full recovery was very good. Remember my trip to New York in 2002 and God encouraging me to fast? At that time God did not reveal to me the reason for my fasting. When I was diagnosed with a tumor, God revealed the reason for my fasting. It was to spiritually and physically prepare me for my battle ahead. What an awesome thing God did in both of these areas. I grew and continue to grow so much in my faith. Physically, God amazed me and everybody around me. The doctor had stated before the open heart surgery that I would probably be out of work anywhere between one and two months. I was back to work full-time in three weeks. The doctor could not believe my recovery. They also stated I did not need radiation or chemotherapy. Praise God! I was so grateful to be cancer free, but I did not feel God had finished the miracle. I still had a desire to jog. In the past it was time I spent enjoying all of God's beauty and talking with Him. Most of my family and friends warned me to wait another six months before jogging or not to try at all. Let your body heal they shared. I began to hear God saying it was time to get back to living. So on June 7, 2004, with my beautiful wife looking on, I ran 2.8 miles. What a great God we serve. I decided at that point I would begin training for a half marathon scheduled for November, 2004. On November 14, 2004, I completed the half-marathon at the Palm Beach Marathon, one year and one month after having a tumor removed. Well you would think the story would end with that victory. Not so fast my friend. Two weeks after completing the marathon I passed out at home and was placed in the hospital Thanksgiving week. Not great, but it probably saved me a few pounds. At that time I was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease. We were informed by the doctor that I should have not been able to run a half-marathon. I informed the doctor that I could do all things through Christ. I was informed that I had a mild form of the neuromuscular disease and would probably never have any major issues. With that news I took a few months off and started training for the 2005 Palm Beach Marathon. As you can tell, my life’s challenges have been of a physical nature. Things were going well until June 2005. One night when I went out for a run, I found that my legs were not working. I had lost the ability to run. My first thought was how could and would I overcome this new challenge. The doctors put me back on some medication and hoped for the best. On July 6th, I went in for a routine checkup and was informed I was in a crisis and needed to be placed in the hospital for a week. A crisis with this neuromuscular disease meant my lungs were weak and could possibly shut down. It’s amazing that my wife and I did not even realize what poor shape I was in at the time. I had been working every day. I was tired, but did not realize I was in a crisis. I was placed on intravenous treatment for five days at 6 hours a day. The doctor informed my wife he could not explain how I was even walking. My legs were too weak he stated. He really could not believe when I informed him that I would be returning to work the day after being released from the hospital. I shared with him this is how I deal with life’s challenges and how God continues to bless my wife and me. The challenge continues. I attended physical therapy three times a week and got stronger every day. The goal is to still run the Palm Beach Marathon on December 4, 2005. To show you how awesome God is, December 4th is my 40th birthday. How awesome is our Lord? God has begun to open doors for me to share my story and how he has helped me deal with life’s challenges. My prayer for those who have taken the time to read this is that you will embrace life’s challenges and live the life God has made just for you. Laura and I also want to thank all those who have been praying for us. Continue to pray that God will use us to bring glory to His name.

I wanted to update each of you on the Marathon of the Palm Beaches 2005 and my future. I did complete the marathon with a lot of family and friends in attendance. What was so awesome is I was able to witness to so many other runners during the race. One of my doctors had referred to me as a genetic freak, so my wife made “Team Genetic Freak” signs for the race. A lot of people had questions, which allowed us to share what God has done in our lives. I will be taking a year off from running any marathons. My body really needs time to heal. I am praying that God will continue to bless me with the opportunities to share His awesome story. God has laid a message on my heart about dealing with life’s struggles. I have had the chance to share that message at a few churches and hope to share it with many more in the future. Thanks again for all of your prayers.
Built for eternity,
Todd Shoemaker

101 Things About Me

2007-01-21T17:27:00.001-05:00

1. I love to be married to Todd.

2. I love the Lord and am always amazed of His Grace towards me.

3. I love dogs but don't currently own any.

4. I was a Christian radio DJ in Key West, Florida, after High School in 19**.

5. My favorite place at home is the Jupiter Inlet.

6. I would like to be a nature photographer for a living when I grow up.

7. I miss my mom who is in heaven. She gave it her all to kick Lung Cancer.

8. I just graduated with my Master of Science degree in School Counseling.

9. I have lived in about 35 places in my 38 years.

10. My dad was in the Coast Guard and we always lived near or on the water when growing up.

11. I have never seen snow but would like to learn to ski.

12. Growing up, a Christmas breakfast was hot chocolate and glazed doughnuts. When it was 85 degrees on Christmas, may parents were willing to turn the AC down to accommodate me for hot chocolate.

13. Moving so much when growing up, my brother and I were forced to be friends. We would create cardboard box cities in the spare rooms or garage with all our extra moving boxes.

14. My brother is 5 years older than me and my sister is thirteen years younger. My sister was my live baby doll when she was born.

15. I am a native, born in Miami.

16. I enjoyed living in Puerto Rico for 6 months as a child.

17. My dad and brother live in Crawfordville, Florida.

18. My sister lives in Wesley Chapel, outside of Tampa.

19. In my life time, I want to travel to Israel, Egypt, Australia, Italy and throughout the US.

20. I entertain the thought of continuing my education to obtain a doctorate degree, not sure just yet in what though.

21. I am a Florida Gator fan by marriage.

22. I am a sports fan by marriage, as well (hockey and football my favorite to watch).

23. I am excited about my husband's new ministry he is involved with called Flight36 (www.flight36.org).

24. When I lived on Marathon key, family would vacation at our house to catch and eat fresh blue crab from behind our waterfront home.

25. I get frustrated with outwardly rude and insensitive towards others.

26. I love suspense movies.

27. I can be bossy by giving others advice they didn't ask for from me.

28. I daydream about being on a hammock under two shady palm trees overlooking the blue sea.

29. I have seen Loggerhead turtles hatch from their nest, under the supervision of a US Fish & Wildlife representative (my dad).

30. I love para sailing.

31. Life would be complete with foods that included lots of sauces or cheese.

32. I graduated from Key West High School in 1986, my bachelor degree in 1996 and my master degree in 2006 (so a doctorate in 2016?)

33. Growing up, family pets have been big dogs, iguana, snakes, turtles, and lizard skinks.

34. As a child, I needed leg braces to straighten my feet.

35. I loved Easter growing up. My mom would always dress me in a fancy dress with gloves and socks with lace.

36. My brother and I used to create matchbox car worlds where ever there was enough dirt to play.

37. My brother never let me play with his pet rabbit when I was a baby.

38. My niece has a beautiful 6-month-old girl named Ceanna. Her MiMi nicknamed her Ceanna Banana.

39. My friend, Carolyn, introduced me to the Blogging World and created this blog for me.

40. I love watching STEPPING and enjoy any STEP shows I can attend.

41. I work with the Prevention Center of the School District, with pride. I work with substance abuse prevention and education for students in Palm Beach County.

42. I had the privilege to intern at Woodlands Middle School learning just how busy a middle school can be. I enjoyed time with their guidance department (Julia and Melody) and reuniting in a working opportunity with Chris Smith, Harley and Ms. Delligrotti.

43. I go to Christ Fellowship church services every Saturday evening and have dinner afterward with friends, Jeff and Carolyn.

44. I like to spend lunch breaks with my friend Terra at the Kelsey Park on the intracoastal.

45. I also enjoy lunch breaks with my friend Jean at her home for some peace and tranquility.

46. My friend Terra is the only friend I have known the longest and visit with on a regular basis (12 years).

47. I miss my single-days travels with Karen going to the Keys, the Carolinas, Naples...)

48. My godchildren are really great athletes in football, basketball, and soccer (David, Christina and Dominic).

49. When I was single, I would always make poor choices when dating. Many people were excited and relieved when I met Todd.

50. Todd and I met at a singles church event rollerblading in Palm Beach. We talked for hours at Bradley's over lunch.

51. I told my roommate after meeting Todd that he was not my type and I had no intentions of ever dating him.

52. I had gotten free hockey tickets to invite Todd to go with me when we were friends (and was not a sports fan at all at the time).

53. Todd and I met in January, spent time together starting in February, dated in April, got engaged in June, and eloped in September, all in 1999 (the best year of my life)!

54. I love that Todd is such a social and thoughtful person. I would vote for him to be the volunteer of the year, always giving to others.

55. Marriage has been so enjoyable because Todd and I manage to be friends, respect each other and are pretty flexible with each other.

56. I never image how much God could bless the satisfaction of marriage for me.

57. I love weekend getaways with Todd (we are due to go to the Keys and St. Mary's Island in Georgia.

58. Before college, I worked as a grocery store baker (the worst ever because the bread would come out undercooked/gooey or overcooked/hard).

59. Before college, I worked at a clothing boutique in Wilmington, Georgia. All of my paycheck would go towards my law-away clothing bill.

60. My favorite college days were at Southeastern College in Lakeland, Florida. It supported my spiritual growth while having a blast at college life. My little click was David, Jeff, and Janelle.

61. I once volunteered to release my grandparents pet ducks in the wild at the Lakeland lakes. The other ducks chased them away and I ran through neighborhoods and yards to safely capture and relocate them. It was quite a site.

62. My favorite childhood activities were enjoying boating, snorkeling and beaching it since we lived on or near the water.

64. On Sugarloaf Key, I had to share a closet with scorpions.

65. One pet peeve is a ringing, unattended cellphone in the office.

66. I am auditory sensitive to loud sounds like TV commercials or ringing tones.

67. I am terrified of roaches (seeing them, killing them or even trying to pick them up).

68. When my brother and I were kids, we were not nice to my mom, maybe only one in our life! We locked her in the bathroom with a flying palmetto bug and she was terrified of it!

70. My favorite Keys vacations were to Key West, Key Colony, Marathon. I enjoyed living in Key West, Sugarloaf Key, Cudjoe Key and Marathon.

71. When in Puerto Rico, we would hike down a steep trail called Survival, down to the beach. We would venture into deep caves that had bats.

72. My favorite vacations with Todd have been to Cocoa Beach, Maggie Valley, Gators Homecoming game, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Lance Armstrong's last US tour in Alpheretta, Georgia.

73. My favorite color is bright multi-colored items. If I had to choose one or some...purple, yellow, orange, pink.

74. My most embarrassing moment was going to work with my shirt inside out. Luckily, I had my own office and hadn't run into any staff members.

75. As one point in my life, my goal was to serve the homeless. I worked at the Lord's Place as a shelter administrator. Funding was too temperamental and I made a career change.

76. I love Todd's impersonations of Rain Man, and the Cowardly Lion on the Wizard of Oz.

77. I love shopping sales that are 70-80% off. I can't just buy one.

78. I am the most curious person. I need the whole scoop and can't be put off to wait for juicy details of a story. I have to know NOW!

79. Todd and I have so many books in our library, we don't know what to do with them. He reads them in two days. I collect them!

80. I wish I could sing but I am pretty sure I am tone deaf (No American Idol auditions for me).

81. I am hooked on Prison Break, LOST, and Grey's Anatomy.

82. I have the best in-laws anyone could ask for in life. My mother-in-law is filling my mom's shoes.

83. My favorite Christmas party is at our Uncle and Aunt Picklesimier's home. All the crafty women bring homemade items (crafts or food) for the gift exchange. I start making crafts in June each year.

84. I Christmas shop in January.

85. I don't like strong scents. Vanilla is my favorite.

86. My favorite dessert is ice creme cake with chocolate crunchies (which is what my co-worker got me for graduation).

87. My first car was a light blue Pinto to drive in the orange groves of Dade City, Florida. When I got my license, my dad got me a black Chevette Scooter.

88. My husband got me a new Nissan Altima for graduation this year.

89. My first roommate and I would play practical jokes on each other by hiding a fake rat in the freezer, dishwasher, shower, and under the pillow. I would put my stinky shoes under her pillow as well (only after she would pour ice water on me in the shower).

90. The only major trip I have taken is to Las Vegas, San Diego and Mexico in one trip.

91. I think about heaven often when I think about my mom. Heaven doesn't seem so far away and death is not as scary.

92. I love family photos. When growing up, we would grumble at my dad for taking too many pictures. When my mom passed away, I valued every photo he had taken and there were many beautiful pictures of my mom.

93. I wish I would learn Spanish.

94. I love aerial shots of anything familiar.

95. My mom had the most influence on me through her unconditional love, outstanding model, and endless patience with others.

96. Cities I have lived in are Jacksonville twice, Tampa twice, the Keys several times, Miami many times, Pompano Beach, Fort Myers, Hobe Sound, West Palm Beach, Jupiter twice, Royal Palm Beach, Puerto Rico, Savannah, Merritt Island, Singer Island to name a few.

97. I am becoming more computer literate, learning about MySpace and Blogs.

98. I am eager to celebrate my graduation for the whole year of 2007. Each month will be a difference theme of a celebration.

99. I can't believe I had 99 details to share on this and am relieved I finished it.

100. I would love if you continue reading my blog to learn more about me and hear what I want to share with you. Thank so much for your time and thoughtfulness in getting to know me.

101. A relaxing, breezing afternoon for Todd and I would be sitting at the Jupiter Inlet, reading and watching jet skis and boaters pass by.