I picked up Abby's ashes today.  My heart is so broken to know that I will never feel her breath against my face again as she gives me kisses...or that I will never again smell her horrible breath, that I didn't mind.  I had the mobile vet come and lead her into the promise land, and I will never, ever forget the joy and love she brought to me while she was with me.  Thank you, God, for giving me a glimpse of Your love, Abby never saw my imperfections or my failures,  but loved me unconditionally, forgiving me my wrongs out of her own grace and forgiveness.  She showed me the picture of a perfect love.  I am so thankful for the time I had her with me.  May she rest in peace.

I am working with the Senior Class at Northridge High School in organizing a Blood Drive. It is not part of my job, but I love to volunteer with the students at our school, as well as working with them.   It is going very well and we have already reached our goal, but are still taking volunteers.  Hopefully, none of us will ever need blood, but I can guarantee someone in our families will.  It may be you, or your child, or parent, so give whenever and if you can.  Not only will the students benefit from organizing this event, the feeling of "doing good" but it will also make those students eligible for applying for the SOS (Save our Supply) scholarship.  They will also gain recognition for their accomplishments.  It's a "GOOD THING" for which to gain attention.  Just last night was our Homecoming and I was so proud when the homecoming attendants on the "committee" listed it as one of their involvements.  They are proud of being involved in this effort. 

This is our press release.. "Class of 2010 ... “Rocks the Blood Drive” Tour
Saturday, October 24th is “Make A Difference Day” in Ohio...our own High School Seniors will have their own “Make A Difference Day in Northridge” on Friday, October 23rd.     

Did you know...High School Students account for approximately 15% of all blood collected in our region. 

THE SENIOR CLASS AT NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL IS PARTICIPATING IN “ROCK THE BLOOD DRIVE” TOUR WITH THE DAYTON COMMUNITY BLOOD BANK BY SPONSORING A BLOOD DRIVE ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, FROM 12 NOON TO 4 P.M., ONE DAY BEFORE OHIO'S “MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY”. 

COMMITTEES FROM THE CLASS OF 2010 ARE BUSY PROMOTING AND PLANNING THIS UPCOMING EVENT. SENIORS DONATING OR WORKING ON THE BLOOD DRIVE WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE SOS (Save our Supply) BLOOD DRIVE SCHOLARSHIP WHICH IS OFFERED TO FIVE STUDENTS FROM AREA SCHOOLS.  RED CORDS AT GRADUATION WILL SIGNIFY THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THIS WORTHY EFFORT.

  SPEAKING TO THE STUDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DONATING BLOOD WILL BE DAN LASSITER, A YOUNG MAN WHO SURVIVED A CAR ACCIDENT WHICH LEFT HIM IN A COMA FOR 2-1/2 MONTHS.  DAN RECEIVED ABOUT 200 UNITS OF BLOOD AND WILL BE THE GUEST SPEAKER AT AN ASSEMBLY ON WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21ST, SPEAKING TO THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR CLASSES AT NORTHRIDGE.  STUDENTS 16 AND OLDER MAY DONATE WITH PARENTAL PERMISSION.

THE EVENT WILL BE HELD AT NORTHRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL, 2251 TIMBER LANE, DAYTON, OHIO, 
IN THE AUDITORIUM.  ANYONE WISHING TO DONATE BLOOD MAY MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BY CALLING THE HIGH SCHOOL MAIN OFFICE AT 275-7469.”

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.”

Once again, I'm out to volunteer at the upcoming festival which is my favorite festival of the year.    It is the annual Mountain Days Festival, put on by Our Common Heritage - a group that promotes our Appalachian heritage,  and it will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 15 & 16, at Eastwood Park off Harshman Road in Dayton, OH.  I will be there both days, in and around the Artisan Traditional Arts displays and tent.   However, since it is hard for me to sit still for long, I am usually bopping around the festival all weekend, doing one of several tasks and enjoying myself along the way.  I feel like I'm at a HOMECOMING.  It is an inexpensive, cheap weekend with great  entertainment, dancing, displays of talented artists,  good vittles, cold beverages, very family friendly, and lots of country, bluegrass, traditional and gospel music.  Hope to see you.  Check out the website:  www.mountaindays.info/...Yee Haw!

Next weekend is my favorite festival to volunteer.   It is the annual Mountain Days Festival and it will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 15 & 16, at Eastwood Park off Harshman Road in Dayton, OH.  I will be there both days, in and around the Artisan displays.  However, since it is hard for me to sit still for long, I am usually bopping around the festival all weekend, doing one of several tasks and enjoying myself along the way.  It is a cheap weekend of great  entertainment, dancing, displays of talented artists,  good vittles, cold beverages, family friendly, and lots of music.  Hope to see you.  check out the website:  www.mountaindays.info/

My  volunteer gig this weekend is at Northridge High School at their  Annual Dayton Summer Classic 2009, on  August 2nd.   I will be helping the Band Director in whatever  way he needs, like fetching water for judges, getting score sheets, or in other words, I'm the "gopher".  But it is exciting to just be a part of this event. 

The Northridge High Marching Band hosts the Northridge Summer Classic Drum Corp Competition at their own Northridge Stadiums.   Bands from California, Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, New Hampshire, and Florida performed last year. We also had DCI Teams from Japan, Holland and  Sweden! 
 
Drum Corps International (DCI) delivers the message of “excellence in performance and in life” to more than 7.2 million young people ages 13-22 involved in performing arts in the United States.  Active participants hail from more than 15 countries.  The annual DCI Summer Tour includes more than 135 events throughout North America.  Each summer, some 400,000 fans attend live drum corps events.  Drum Corps International In Dayton
Since beginning this event  three years ago, the Dayton Summer Classic has become a very integral part of the DCI Summer Music Games.  The Dayton Summer Classic is the final contest in the summer season for the Open Class Corps.  From here the groups travel to Indiana for the DCI Finals.

 The location of the Dayton Summer Classic at Northridge High School is a prime spot for advertisers and fans alike.  The stadium can be seen from I-75.  The stadium seats 2,000 people on the home stand side, with plenty of parking for all visitors and contestants.  The easy access to I-75 and the short distance to the Dayton International Airport make this a prime location for DCI fans across the world.

The DCI Finals will be held in Bloomington, Indiana this year but will move to their permanent location, The Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in 2009.  This makes the future of the Dayton Summer Classic even more appealing to advertisers and sponsors.

The director of the Northridge High School Marching Band, Ken Hoffmann, is pleased to host the Dayton Summer Classic.  The inspiration the students get from watching the rehearsals and performances of young people their own age is beyond compare.  This event has become a highlight of the Dayton area and the community of Northridge.

We welcome potential advertisers and sponsors to join us in our attempt to spread the joy of music and the thrill of marching entertainment to all in the Dayton area, both now and well into the future.  If you are a fan of DCI, come to Dayton and enjoy this event.

And, folks, the young people in these groups dedicate their summers and lives to these events during the competition season.  They start practice at dawn and continue until dark.  They are devoted, disciplined, and hard working young people, and I know you would be proud of all these participants who not only representing their groups, but all states and even other countries.   I'm so excited to be a small part of this event and to be  helping with this fund raiser for the Music Boosters of Nortlhridge High. 

Check out the opportunities in your own neighborhood and/or your schools.  There are all types of ways you can help, from taking tickets, helping to park cars, or to sponsoring a page in their program.  It is a good investment. 


 

Hey, I'm off to work the Celtic Festival....2 more weeks to Mountain Days...can't wait for that.  AARP should have a booth there...lots of people at Mountain Days.  Hope the nice weather stays.  So Long.

I'm sure you know that one of our own young Americans, Bo, is being held hostage in Afghanistan by the Taliban at this very moment.  The interview with him on TV is gripping.  My own nephew Jeremy is over there,  along with some of your family members, and, yes, I fear for his safety as well.  If you believe there is power in prayer, or  the power within each of us, and the power in positive thoughts, Family of  AARP, we can make a difference. We need to start sending positive thoughts and pray without ceasing.  Pray for Bo and his release,  pray and send positive thoughts to support and comfort his family at this most difficult time,  pray for  President Obama to have wisdom in his decisions for this situation and as the leader of this nation that Bo is fighting to protect.  We are told to pray for those having authority over us. Our President, along with all of our Nation's leaders, needs and deserves our support and prayer for all of the drastic situations which they confront and for resolving problems in days to come .  As a group of people who have faced many adversities, we have great strength in our numbers and experiences.  First, let us spread that power within us for this immediate crisis and pray to bring Bo home.  And then, let us continue to pray for the safety of our women and men serving our country in all the Armed Services.