Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Making a difference...one person at a time...

One of my favorite little stories of recent years is the one about the young man walking along on a deserted beach on a windy, blustery day. An embittered older gentleman was standing above him on a bluff observing the young man stopping often, picking up something, and seemingly tossing whatever it was back into the surf.

Finally the older man couldn't stand it any longer, so he walked down and blocked the young man's way.  He then saw thousands of starfish stranded on the beach from the recent high tide.  "Don't you know that you can't save all of these starfish?" he asked the younger man. "You're just wasting your time here.  Go on and do something that matters to the world."  The young man smiled back and continued to toss the starfish back into the water.  "What I'm doing sure makes a difference to that one starfish I just tossed back into the water."

I firmly believe that's the attitude Christians must have about their work in this world.  We may not be able to change every bad situation or help every person with which we come into contact, but we can certainly work to be a blessing and help to one person at a time.  Who knows what an encouraging smile, a friendly hello, an invitation for a quick meal, or something more substantial might do to change a life?  Kindness doesn't always win, but I had much rather be found on the side of erring toward goodness than evil.

I read a story this week that focused my mind on the coming Super Bowl.  I have checked several references to be certain that the facts are straight and it is a wonderfully heart-warming reflection on one man changing the world for one family.  Normally, when I don't have a favorite team playing, the Super Bowl isn't all that thrilling, but I've decided this week that I'm cheering for the Arizona Cardinals and their quarterback, Kurt Warner.  My choice has little to do with football or his skill in the game, but I like his attitude about life.

I read that Kurt Warner worked as a bag boy for a local grocery store. One day he was called up front to help bag groceries and when he looked at the young lady running the register, he was shocked by her beauty.  He waited around the store entrance a few days later hoping to run into her again.  Sure enough, she clocked out and came out the door.  He asked if he could take her home.  She said no.

A day or two later, he waited and asked again if he could drive her home.  Again, she said no. Finally he got up the nerve to ask her out on a real date.  She said, "I'd like to go out with you, but I think you should know that I am divorced and have two children."  Warner simply smiled and said, "No problem.  I'll get a sitter." The night of the date arrived and the sitter didn't. Brenda (just happens we share the same name) called and said, "We can't go out.  The sitter did not show."  Warner said it didn't matter and suggested that they take the kids with them. Brenda objected and told him that her son had been in an accident when he was young and required special care.  Warner again said that it didn't matter.  The couple went out and took the kids with them.  Brenda (now Warner) said that she was truly amazed at how good Kurt was with her children, and especially her son.  When he had to go to the bathroom, Kurt took him and never complained once.

Later in an interview, Brenda is quoted as saying, "He fell in love with the children first and with me later."  Some time later, the two married and Warner has enjoyed a wonderful ride into his new position as quarterback of the Super Bowl team, the Arizona Cardinals.  They now have seven children, the two from Brenda's first marriage and five of their own.

To me, this is a thrilling example of one man making a change in another's life.  

I can't help but root for the good guy to win on Sunday afternoon while the world watches.




Saturday, January 24, 2009

Bolivar BLUE Valentine Gathering on February 7th

Happy Valentine Day to family and friends and a 
special reminder to all of the members of 
Bolivar BLUE, Bolivar Peninsula residents,
renters, property owners, and friends...

You are cordially invited to attend a Valentine
Gathering beginning at 2, at Coconuts on Highway 87 on the Peninsula. We will enjoy a time of fellowship together with both old and new friends, some great door prizes and some surprise gifts from folks around the country.

The meal is to be purchased from Coconuts - Dutch treat, so you'll eat what you want.

Let Tward1216@yahoo.com or myself, brendacannonhenley@yahoo.com know that you plan to be attendance for this special event.

Following the Valentine Gathering, representatives will be on hand to answer questions about housing needs for Bolivar residents.  This part of the program will begin at 4 and only those that are interested are asked to stay.  

Until the next page turns, and Happy Valentine to all,
Brenda

Friday, January 16, 2009

Sorry I've been so negligent...


Hello Friends and Family Members...Mitch Albom, author of "Tuesdays with Morrie," "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," and "For One More Day" is coming to speak in Beaumont on February 5.  He is pictured on the right.  More details in post.

Life has been on the very fast track for the past few weeks and we haven't stopped to catch our breath it seems.  We stayed in Nashville with the kids for a week and bought new calves for Steve, Nikki, Steven and Brendan for Christmas as well as a few other things we had taken up for surprises.  Nikki said every morning around five when she goes out to feed them their big bottles, she thinks of Ted very warmly.  But, truthfully, they love the big babies and are having fun with them.  Steven's calf, Truffles, is the largest and will bring the most money when it is sold.

From Nashville, we went on to Amarillo, Ted's home town, and visited there for a week and then returned to Galveston Island where we continue our long, long battle with FEMA, Texas Windstorm Insurance and trying to get electricity turned on and the beginnings of a house started.  We do have water!  And, I mean the kind that comes in a pipe and not by way of a storm.  Texas Windstorm continues to delay and everyone is getting angry over the four-month long battle. They are now saying that the study group of experts that they commissioned could not come to an agreement about what happened and it will now be the end of February before we are told whether they are going to pay or not.  So unfair after we, like our friends, paid those insurance payments faithfully to them.  We just want to resume our life on the beach.

Pam Hicks Gresham, a dear friend in Atlanta, has come up with an idea for all the ladies of Bolivar.  She just could not understand how we were making it without our "things," so she organized a group of family and friends to collect gently used and new jewelry and is sending it to the women of the Peninsula who lost everything.  My sister, Paula, also got involved and told the folks in her office who also wanted to share. Martha, my sister in law, told another sister in law who got involved and then a daughter in Dallas told her church, so we are having jewelry sent from various places.

We are organizing a February outing to disburse these lovely gifts of caring from many different places.  I think our ladies will love it!  And, our sincere appreciation to all those who have participated.  The boxes can be shipped to Post Office Box 323, Port Bolivar, Texas 77650.

I have also been very involved in the publicity for the Todd Christopher Legacy of Love Cancer Foundation.  The group has a huge event planned for Thursday evening, February 5, at the Julie Rogers Theatre in Beaumont, where Mitch Albom will speak.  Mitch wrote the very successful book, "Tuesdays with Morrie," featured on the Oprah Book Club, "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," and  his latest best seller, "For One More Day."  I have been named publicist for this group and have been busy designing ads, fliers and personal appearances for the committee members.  We are doing radio, television and much print media.  It is a wonderful opportunity for the folks in Southeast Texas to meet and hear Mitch Albom, who is also a sportscaster for ESPN and an excellent speaker and radio personality.  Tickets are available by calling (409) 962-7866.

I continue to work daily with the Bolivar BLUE Yahoo Group members.  This is a group I founded shortly after Hurricane Ike hit our area.  To join this group and to keep up with what is going on here, simply go to Yahoo Groups and click on Bolivar BLUE and you will be directed to the site.  The BLUE is an acronym for Beach Lovers United Effectively, an idea I came up with around 3 a.m. one day shortly after the storm hit.  Ted and I have made some wonderful new friends in this group and have had many questions answered.

Have lots of new pictures to post and will just as soon as I can grab a minute.  Note to the lady who wrote me about the painting of bluebonnets done by Flo Davis in the 80s.  I don't think that was my mother, but I would love to know more about the painting.  My husband loves bluebonnets and has many pictures of them he has taken.  I have not been able to get back to you from the posting on the guest book.  So sorry.  I have tried.

Until the next page turns,
Brenda

If you want to write to me, please use brendacannonhenley@yahoo.com.