Monday, November 26, 2007

Jacksonville Beats Buffalo and I was there!

Watched the Jags play the Bills this Sunday...THEY WON!! Great game. :-)
Enjoyed the game with Mr. Wonderful and H&M. Go Jaguars!!!

Monday, November 19, 2007

He's Been Faithful

On Sunday morning, I attended church at The Salvation Army in Orlando. Got to see many friends and enjoyed watching Mabel and Sara get enrolled as Junior Soldiers. I enjoyed catching up with JoAnn, Wendy, Karen, NaNa and the Fagan's. Always good to have a chance to hug Mary Johnson's neck and tell her the latest news. It all makes me very grateful for all the beautiful people in my life that I have met in such a special place. For sure, He's Been Faithful to Me!

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Happy 50th to the Orlando Opera!

Went to the Opera on Saturday to celebrate the 50th year Anniversary. It was a wonderful event that you can read more about here. Mr. Wonderful and the Shah's joined us for a nice evening of music, amazing food (five course dinner) and fun!

Here's to another 50 for the Orlando Opera!

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Going to see Tori on Friday!

Tiara girl is coming to town with her boy and we're off to Tori for a great concert on Friday night!
I can hardly wait since we bought tickets forever ago... :-)

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Congrats to LK!

Lori ran the NY Marathon a couple weekends ago!
Here's to her and for running for such a long time in one day!!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Remember Major Dave...

David Birmingham, 66, was tireless advocate for Orlando area's homeless

Monica Scandlen Special To The Sentinel
November 13, 2007

For almost 46 years, David and Thelma Birmingham were a team.They began their married life in Germany, where he was stationed with the U.S. Army, and attended the Salvation Army College in Atlanta together, served in a half-dozen cities with the Salvation Army and worked together for Oral Roberts' ministry and university.Monday, that partnership ended.

David Birmingham, a tireless advocate for those less fortunate, died of complications from diabetes, his wife said. The Salvation Army's former area commander for Orange and Osceola counties and the former interim president/CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida was 66."He was a fighter and he really fought so much. He wanted to live and he wanted to do more ministry," said Thelma Birmingham of Ocoee. "There was so much more he wanted to do. His life was really cut short."

David Birmingham's service with the organization began in 1968 when he and his wife were assigned to Washington, D.C., where they worked with people addicted to drugs and alcohol, many of whom were homeless.Ensuing stations with the Salvation Army took them around the Southeast, with some years in between working for Oral Roberts.

An Ohio native, Birmingham came to Central Florida in 2000 from Atlanta to lead the Salvation Army's Orlando office. He and his wife quickly made an impact, said Lenora Sherman, the organization's finance director.They started a volunteer women's auxiliary group and worked hard to raise money to build a transitional shelter for homeless families, which has yet to be built."His dream was to try to meet even more needs," Sherman recalled.

"He was always trying to find ways to fund things and develop new monies. He just shook the bushes for it all."Fundraising was challenging in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001 and the busy hurricane season of 2004, but David Birmingham wasn't discouraged. He kept in sight his goal of building the new shelter, for which the Salvation Army bought property in Orlando.

In 2005, the couple retired. Thelma had been diagnosed with uterine cancer the year before and David felt he was slowing down, too, and thought someone younger should take the reins, Thelma Birmingham said.Her husband's retirement didn't last long. In March 2006, he became the interim president and CEO of the homeless coalition -- a position he held for six months.

In August of that year, he wrote to the Orlando Sentinel advocating "long-term solutions, not short-term handouts.""As well intentioned as it may seem, passing out a meal in a park, or out of the back of your car, will not help the homeless. This is about more than a bed and a meal; it's about providing access to services that exist in the community and the skills necessary to live a self-sufficient life," David Birmingham wrote."What should Central Florida do about the homeless? I can tell you what we do right now. Homeless-services providers, such as the Coalition, provide individual case management to address a variety of challenges, from employability to education and counseling."He concluded: "The key is viewing homeless-services providers in the community as the solution, not the problem."

His wife said he had hoped to include those ideas and others in a book about planned giving that he wanted to write before he died.David Birmingham is also survived by son Greg Birmingham of Ocoee; and sister Janet Grabel and brother Dean Birmingham, both of Akron, Ohio. Dobbs Funeral Home, Orlando, is handling arrangements.

Friday, November 09, 2007

Happy New Year Soli!

so before mr. wonderful left the house this morning he came up to me and gave me a kiss and said, "happy three years and one month anniversary." so sweet! love him sooooo....

also, HAPPY DIWALI to my dear friend Soli! It's her NEW YEAR today so many best wishes to her and all who celebrate Diwali!!

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Happy Retirement JR!

Soli, DD and DragonFLY at the main event!

Soli enjoying her Shirley Temple...My cute little prego friend!

The room we lived in today.

Officer JD and K talking shop.

The VOD Boys having fun!