Going RED!!!

Welcome to the NEW layout! RED is for a reason! Leukemia and Lymphoma cancer color is RED!

I have been recently notified by my good friend Celeste that she is hosting a Cancer Benefit in my honor on August 7 at Green Iguana in St. Petersburg. I am excited and blessed to have a friend that would do something like this...

I am having a benefit for my good friend Melinda at the Green Iguana on Saturday, August 7th! I have teamed up with the owners of the Green Iguana, and they are excited about being a part of this benefit! There will be raffles, drink specials & PRIZES!!!!As much as I did not want to tell Melinda.... I had to! I met with Lee from The Green Iguana today & this event is going to be on the radio starting NEXT WEEK!!!!! I got it all set up without her knowing, so now she has no choice but to go with it! As some of you know, Melinda has Hodgkin's Lymphoma and is going through chemotherapy and radiation. Medical bills are already piling up, and she can use our help! Melinda has a beautiful little girl named Olivia who is 17 months old. Melinda is a police officer for the past 8 years, and she puts her life on the line to protect the community, so now it is our turn to repay her! So, come have fun for a good cause!I will post more information as I get it; and if anyone has any ideas, feel free to send them my way!****From Melinda****Tonight Celeste came over and visited with me and told me this secret. Immediately I cried tears of joy that I am so blessed to have her in my life. She was going to keep this a secret but needed to tell me so that I can send this event to my friends. I want this to be a time for me to raise awareness about blood cancers and spend the evening with my friends. As you all know I have been homebound since I have been on leave from work due to risk of infection. I hope that I am able to enjoy an evening with my friends!!!AND...Thank you to those already involved I love you all!!!!Donations can be sent to Celeste Bias @ 1928 Hudson Ct, Oldsmar, FL 34677A raffle for prizes is being coordinated and if you have any products or services you would like to donate, please contact Celeste!

The BEST dad EVER...

My blog has fallen behind and I have PERFECT reasoning on why. On June 29 2010 my father went to heaven to be with the Lord. It was a very rough 13 days before he passed. He was at Hospice Woodside and made very comfortable. I am so very thankful for each person that helped us and touched his life as well as my family while we were there.

My father was a very large yet gentle man. A man that was so proud of me and everything I did. Even poor decisions I made in my life, he was able to find something positive about it and still made me feel good.

My dad passed on the morning of June 29 and I learned about his passing just following the breaking news that two Tampa Police Officers were shot during a traffic stop that night. As I sat on my couch crying about that, my mother called. Unable to speak due to crying, she told me that my father had passed. I cried so hard even though I already knew that he was going to be taken any time.

I treasured the moments I spent with him. The Sunday following his passing, I did not know what to do with my day. Every Sunday for the previous year, we would go to church, grab lunch and take it to dad. I was lost...I miss him... Next Thursday he will be placed into his final resting place near my grandfather at Calvary Cemetery.

I find myself thinking about what he is doing in heaven. I bet he is without pain, hunting and fishing. He LOVED to fish and hunt! One day, I will be able to hold his hand and hug him and have the amazing feeling that NO ONE and NOTHING will hurt me. That is what I miss most! I love you dad! You are and will always be one AMAZING man!