It's The Week-End ~

Our Friends

Pedro Werner and 42 others from BRAZIL

Cuz Angie in Orange and Mom standing

In DISNEY

This morning I awake after yesterdays rains from

Tropical Storm Bonnie; thankfully she was downgraded here in Florida and brought us only gentle rains.

The news in Tampa continues to break our hearts as we cry for the Fallen Officers and their families here.

Sara Kocab, her family and Officer Curtis' family were there in the courtroom along with Chief Jane Castor and many Tampa PD as the killer had his attorney enter his lame and ridiculous "not guilty" plea.

Also there were the families of the victims of two other murders committed by the killer; their hearts aching, their grief, anger and outrage matching that of Tampa and the community sentiment.

Now we here that the killer is getting death threats from the inside of his cell. Sounds reasonable to me; perhaps those serving their time also find this beyond even the criminal code of conduct.

This morning as I sip my coffee, I find myself remembering the great recent Disney trip with the family. We did have a ball! It may be that as I drink my coffee, I am remembering the many and varied experiences I have been ever so blessed to have with the family and the kids. And it just may be that this is coming on strong as #1 Godson is preparing for yet another "rite of passage"!

D'Vante aka "Buddy Pal" will celebrate his

16Th birthday on August 5Th.

Where have the years gone?

I grabbed that curb at Disney a mere

2 1/2 hours before the Electric Light Parade at Disney!

Spread out I did as Angie and Mom shopped for awhile; the boyz rode the Splash Mountain and such as I stretched against a trash can and got a severe pain in my body from finally being still.

BUT

All of a sudden I became keenly aware of a mass group of young people in beautiful blue shirts all around me...

About the same time cuzzie Angie and Mom returned looking exhausted from

"shopping until they were dropping" along the curb I had reserved! 

Many had started to try and get spaces prior to them arriving and this very sweet young man had began to strike up a conversation with me as he moved closer to me... and then it happened!

We were at the MAGIC KINGDOM remember!

I looked over my shoulder (aching shoulder) and to my surprise I was surrounded by 43 or so dressed in BLUE, young people; all laughing, excited all talking!

And I met my new friend Pedro!

They were all at Disney from BRAZIL and they were so very excited to be in the USA...

Pedro and I became fast friends; I told him of all I could think of about Disney, about my Godsons' who were still missing (riding the Water thing/the roller coaster) and due back by the Electric Parade!

I introduced them to Cuz and Mom, and then we welcomed BRAZIL by my standing and chanting:

BRAZIL, BRAZIL, BRAZIL!!!

They were so tickled, they screamed, hollered and joined in and we had such fun!

The Disney folks came out in the streets to entertain and brought the infamous jump rope and they jumped, and tried and encourage me to try...

(now that was too funny)

So I crawled up from my curb... walked to the girls, and had them steady the big rope... as it lay on the ground, I winked at the woman who was holding the rope, looked at the group from BRAZIL and made the gesture for them to applaud!

then with grace and style:

I JUMPED

over the rope laying on the ground!!!

AWESOME I WAS!

and the roars could be heard as they clapped, yelled and laughed so hard it was just outright embarrassing!

STOMP

Kamryn and D'Vante arrived and were amazed to see our family had grown... They were introduced to BRAZIL, getting "high-fives", hugs from both the boys/girls alike!

We welcomed them to the "family" the USA in grand style, even Mickey would have been proud!

Pictures were taken by all, poses struck by all...

They called us their "American Family"; their leader (chaperon), counselor was thrilled to be a part of the evening and to watch the interactions.

Parents of these young people would have been proud as proud could be to have watched their children I am certain!

Many/MOST had never been to the USA before ~ Such warm, loving and caring young people. Like little kids at Christmas they were...

pure open joy with each and every breath.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge"

(Albert Einstein)

The imaginations were marvelous, the smiles could have lit the parade; and oh the parade was remarkable.

At one point I was being hugged from so many directions I was almost in the parade! Our Brazilian Family was so enthralled they just grabbed on and hugged each other; hugged us, they "oohed and ahhed" and laughed, clapped, yelled, cried... It was unlike any parade I have ever watched, almost unlike anyone I have ever watched the parade with

EXCEPT

It reminded me of the FIRST TIME

BUDDY PAL #1, #2 AND OLIVIA saw it~

 it was the same rapture, the same enchantment,

the same breathtaking moments.

The only difference? 

These young people were from Brazil and 16-18 years older than my babies when they first saw the Electric Parade at Disney.

But even though they were older, their eyes and their hugs were the very same!

"A person's mind stretched to a new experience won't ever be the same, you just can't go back to the original once you've gone beyond"

Remember going beyond... With a new experience, with your imagination, with having the opportunity that I have just shared with you?

It is truly a gift to be savored like a great meal, a fabulous glass of wine (if of course you like wine)!

But wait...

Then came the "FIREWORKS"

Nighttastic at the Magic Kingdom.

I don't mean to blow my own horn

BUT

BEEEP BEEEEP

I took that awesome, bombdiggedity

picture!

With my pal Pedro over my shoulder, little Buddy Pal Kam sitting on the trashcan on my left, #1 Buddy Pal to my right leaning against me, and 43 other Brazilians in "AWE" all around me...  And heaven help us I have no idea of how many other gazillions were in the streets screaming along with us of the beauty, the amazing "sick" "wicked coolness" of the night!

This I might just add; all after

Tinker Bell

Herself flew from the Castle

~ ~ ~

Can ya stand it?

LOL

So Pedro and his fellow Brazil troupe were to be in Florida for a week, heading to Seaworld the next day; to Daytona Beach the next week before home to Brazil!

The mentor/counselor/director promised to send me a "Blue shirt" and photos!

Pedro took my phone and I his to exchange our info with each other.

They all gathered in the street and asked the

"family" to say a word...

"A.............." (can't spell it) but means "Oh Boy"

and then do a "sick" dance with them!

We ALL joined in, they screamed their delight!

Hugs, kisses, many many hugs

They called us their American Family, thanked us for giving them the Best Disney Time

We loved them

They chanted

USA, USA, USA

we chanted

BRAZIL, BRAZIL, BRAZIL

We hugged some more

D'Vante thought the girls "hot" and made sure he got his share of hugs to match his little brother's!

~ ~ ~

We even forgot we were exhausted after 14 hours at the Magic Kingdom... We were magic.

We ARE FAMILY!~

Bertrand Russell once said, "Anything you're good at contributes to happiness".

We were extremely happy; we were great at welcoming young people from another country into our hearts, into our country, into the Magic Kingdom called "US" and they were happy to come in to the opening that we created so freely. We were silly,

we were HAPPY,

we had no expectations of anything

We received so much

Thank you Brazil

Love you Pedro,

hope you got to see the dolphins!

NOW

how's that for a story to start your Saturday?

What in the world am I going to do about

Buddy Pal's birthday?

16 years old

OH MY!

Wonder if I can buy him a car for

$19.95 on EBay ~

hmmmm

Better check now.

hmmm

oh yes.

Godson is on Bobcat football this year!

#51 THE BEAST #1 BUDDY PAL

Godson #2 BUDDY PAL

little Bobcat

#15 *(we hope)

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing

STOMP

Laura and Mitch home safely from a week vacation; picked up the four-leggeds for them; didn't set off their alarm system (whew)

Reader: Ali is surfing on the waters and having a cold one for me this weekend!

Reader: Cathy Madden hasn't checked in about soldier boy son, he should be in Hawaii

Reader and Cancer Survivor Chris: DOING GREAT

Reader: IRENE, too funny for Hollywood, running doing and being all around great

Reader and Olivia Mom JOAN: Doing great things check her out: jgrusso1@verizon.net if you live in MD, PA, NJ, NY, CT and have her save you some $$$ on your electric bill! Cost you 0

Reader: Cuzzie Angie, working and working at the Highland Ridge Nursing Home in Southwest VA, and transporting the Godsons to football practice and feeding them! (poor cuzzie)

Reader Vicki working tooo many hours here in Tarpon Springs, dealing with health/eyes issues, keep her in prayers

Reader Jill S, in remission and crazy for our bears Lily and HOPE (always_pawNpaw)

Reader Tonya and 2x Cancer Survivor in NC is getting ready to marry love of her life Jeff in October!

Reader: and neighbor Sandy still out there in MN on vacation!

Reader: and MOM/COB still enjoying peace and quiet after vacation with "the fam" I am sure

Reader: Dorothy working far too many hours, but remains fearless and wonderful

Reader: Andrea, works too much, spending time with the angels, the dolphins, talks with Dad in New England and at Honeymoon Island as much as she can!

Reader: LIzzie is with hubbie in Alaska on vacation aboard the love ship!

Reader Tom... wonder what happened to Tom in Chicago?

WHO DID I LEAVE OUT?

Leave a brief comment and let us know what you are up to!

Want to add a name to our special list?

Let me know I would be honored.

STOMP

The fire is always burning and its embers are hot, with thoughts of warmth, healing ways for those who are fighting the fight, those who are being thought about often and warmly always... We are Warriors here ...

STOMP


SAVE OUR BEAUTIFUL GULF ~


Sending hope in healing on the winds to all who gather here and for all in Tampa, the families of the fallen, those in blue who are grieving while they are serving and protecting us.


To those who are serving this great Nation, I thank you and your families, I want you home safely.

We are together in prayer, in thoughts of all that is needed to remind you out there, we are WARRIORS... we are with you, along with some powerful angels... May you find comfort in knowing we are with you always:

Special prayers and thoughts to my dearest Dr Bernice Catherine Harper ~ with love during this difficult time; my arms are around you always.

FOR:Tampa, our Mayor, Chief Jane Castor, Tampa PD, all who serve: Tink..and Mitch,
Trish, Barb, Anastasia, The Kocab Family, Curtis Family, Tampa PD, Tarpon PD, those serving here and there in Uniform...


Randy and Winnie in New Mexico,

Our Black American Bears Lily and HOPE, their spirit, and Chris, Jill, the folks at the NABC, Joseph, Cathy Madden and her family., Vicki and Matthew, Cindy in NC, Cindy C, Laura, Mitch and family, Liz, Lee, Molly, Joanie, Jude, COFA,Judi, Matthew, Matt, Mark's family and many friends , Andrea, Jimmy, Marie and family up in New England, Pat, Dorothy, Angela, Elijah, Ode, Linda M, "Southwest VA", Irene, Kevin, Dr D, Deb, Randy, Dr B , Charlie and family,  Jean, Julie, Rhonda, Victoria, Mildred, Andi and family, Irene, Faith, Denise, Jim, Tom, Joey, Shelby friends and family, Judi, Phylis, Joyce, Gina, Tonya, Beverly and Family, Janeth, Melissa, Pam, Virginia, Stacey, Kevin Edward Belevich and his Pops Jack Phelan, Elizabeth, Nita, Gary Siegal, Adrienna,Brian Mawbey,


Please hold the friends and family of these people in your hearts and prayers as they begin that long and uncertain journey through grief and into the lights of healing...


Walk In Beauty,


DRSES


author of


Healing Heartaches, Stories of Loss and Life






Ordered your copies yet?


Sure hope so!


www.healingheartaches.com for your autographed copies