In November of 2007, I got into a discussion with my dear friend, Dana, about how hard it is to have a sick child and how it must be even more difficult during the holidays.  We quickly decided to create a charity event to benefit the local Ronald McDonald House^® (RMH) program, since both of our families had been helped by them.

When he was 10 months old my nephew, Beau, was rushed by helicopter to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida where he under-went emergency brain surgery and endured months of recovery.  During those months, my brother & sister-in-law stayed at the Ronald McDonald House instead of having to drive hours each day to see their baby.

Dana’s niece, Tara, who was diagnosed with a rare disease, had to undergo a bone marrow transplant at All Children’s Hospital, when she was a toddler. Tara’s parents were able to reside at the Ronald McDonald House for months while waiting for Tara to recover.  The RMH allowed them to stay in the house at no charge without the worrying of driving back and forth to their home, which was hours away.

That year, we founded The Vino Ball of Central Florida.  Over the past three years, we’ve raised thousands of dollars and gift cards for the Ronald McDonald House in Orlando, Florida.  This year’s event is going to be extra-special as we honor the memory of Dana’s niece, Tara.  She passed away on October 28th and was laid to rest, close to her Grandpa Matthews, on October 30, 2010.

After being diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome as a toddler, Tara underwent a bone marrow transplant in 1988.  She was three years old and the donor was her Mother, Rhonda.  She flourished for a few years – dancing, singing, and laughing her way into the hearts of everyone who met her.  In typical Southern Girl fashion, she took a liking to hunting, fishing, and most especially, horseback riding on her pony, Red.

One day, at the ripe old age of two, she saddled up to take Red for a ride.  When she didn’t return within a few minutes, her Mama went off in search of her – only to find that she’d ridden him into the house and positioned him in front of the TV to watch cartoons with her!

In 1992, the rare blood disorder returned to her little body and she became mentally and physically disabled.

Because of the deep abiding love of her family and the support of the teachers and staff at Doris A. Sanders Learning Center, Tara lived much longer than was expected.  Her family had been told that the average life-span of those afflicted with Sanfilippo is 8 to 12 years.  Tara turned 25 on October 3rd.  She had graduated from Doris A. Sanders two years before, where she was even able to attend the prom!

The Matthews family remembers, with gratitude, the special care they received at The Ronald McDonald House they lived in during Tara’s bone marrow operation.  Please join us as we raise money for this worthy cause.  This year’s event will be dedicated to the memory of a very special girl – Tara Matthews.

I invite you to join us on January 28, 2011 at The Celebration Town Tavern in Celebration, Florida for the 4th Annual Vino Ball of Central Florida.  For more information, please visit http://VinoBallofCentralFlorida.com.

Celebration and Google…now that sounds like a powerful combination!!  Google began as a research project by Larry Page and Sergey Brin and their new technology quickly changed the face of the Internet.  Celebration began as a dream of Walt Disney’s…a place where people could live, work, & play…and quickly changed the face of communities everywhere!

From now until March 26th, Google is asking for communities to be nominated for their high fiber project.  I hereby nominate my community…Celebration, Florida!  In my opinion, Celebration would be a prime location for Google to test their network.  Just like the founders of Google, the developers and residents of Celebration pride themselves on being on the cutting edge!  Our community is founded on five cornerstones…education, health, community, architecture, and technology. 

Like me, many residents work from home and would utilize and appreciate having this advanced technology. And, because many of us are active and vocal in social media and other avenues of communication, we would be a great group to help “get the word out” to our associates, friends, fans, followers, and tweeps!

It would also be cost-effective for Google since fiiber has been installed in many of the neighborhoods here (with only the last 30 feet to the house remaining) and since we are a high-density community.

I have lived in Celebration for 10 years and enjoy it’s charm and beauty. I am looking forward to raising my 3 year old son here and can only imagine what advances await him in education.  As a parent, I feel that it is important that I do what I can to support his future and am, therefore, asking for Google’s consideration of Celebration for this exciting experiment. 

Gratitude Peace Marble

I am always amazed whenever The Universe brings people together at the precise moment when they are on the same exact path!  I recently had this wonderful phenomenon happen to me and I not only acquired an amazing new friend; it solidified that my new business/mission is meant to be!

While attending Mega Book ’09, I was very fortunate to meet some remarkable people, including a gorgeous lady with a beautiful soul named Elizabeth Zachariah.  Elizabeth, along with her friends Cherie Duncan, Kim Roman Corle, and Jan Avant, made me feel completely welcome and I knew that they were women that I wanted to get to know better.  After the event, we all connected on and have stayed in touch through Facebook.

During the week that I decided to create Gratitude Boot Camp, I received a message from Elizabeth, the founder of Blue Marble 4 Life, Inc, stating that she wanted to ask me a question.  At that point, I had not shared my thoughts about Gratitude Boot Camp with anyone.  When I called her, she said that she was putting together a project that would send four Gratitude Marbles (to represent the four corners of the earth), along with a Peace Marble (inscribed with the word Peace in 37 languages), on a world-wide mission for peace.  Her plan was to appoint Blue Angel Ambassadors, throughout the world, which would host The Marbles and help to spread a message of Gratitude, Peace, and Love.  She said that she immediately thought of me (even though she had no idea that I had just decided to devote my life to promoting the power of Gratitude) when she was thinking of Ambassadors.  It was serendipitous and I felt very honored!

As a Blue Angel Ambassador, it is my duty to host a Gratitude Gathering; which brings people together to count their blessings and to take part in this special Global Celebration of Peace; as we send The Marbles to the next destination on their incredible journey.

So…it is with great pleasure that I am hosting an event named “Walk in Gratitude…Live in Peace” in my hometown – Celebration, Florida.  At 4:00 p.m. on 9/26/09, we will gather on the front lawn of Celebration’s Heritage Hall at Spring Park…wearing blue and carrying or wearing the peace sign…to view The Marbles (which are arriving in Celebration after their trip to Hale Barns, Cheshire in The United Kingdom); to sign the Gratitude Journal (which is accompanying The Marbles), and to record their visit to our great community.  Then, we will bid The Marbles a fond farewell as they leave Celebration and travel to Australia….while we continue on to Celebration’s Mona Lisa for a special “Happiness Hour”. If you are traveling to attend this special event, The Mona Lisa Suite Hotels is offering a special “Gratitude Rate” for the weekend.

You can visit www.BlueMarble4Life.com to watch the inspirational kick-off video; to track The Marbles’ travels; and to register/join The Blue Marble Tribe, if you choose.  If you join, you will receive your very own Gratitude Blue Marble and The Gratitude Pledge. 

If you cannot attend the Gratitude Gathering in Celebration, visit http://BlueMarble4Life.com to see if The Marbles are coming to your area!

You can also follow this exciting Global Celebration of Peace at www.YouTube.com/BlueMarble4Life; at www.Twitter.com/BlueMarble4Life; and at The Blue Marble 4 Life Fan Page on Facebook (http://bit.ly/pLPf3).

I believe that living a Gratitude-filled life can change the world and promote peace amongst all of God’s children.