Just to see you smile ...

Doesn't it mean the world to you to make someone's day by doing something for them and seeing a smile creep across their face or hear the joy of laughter in their voices? I know that small thing can mean the world to me, and a lot of times just to make someone smile or laugh can help improve my day tremendously.

One of my daily goals is to make someone laugh or smile. No matter who it is nor what I have to do, I always strive each day to make someone laugh and smile. No matter how bad I may personally feel on the inside, there is no point in making others gloomy or seeing them gloomy, too. Sometimes by cheering them up, it can also help boost your own self-esteem and turn your day around. What is that saying about taking lemons and turning them into lemonade? Well it's something sort of like that, though I prefer the saying taking lemons and turning it into chocolate, haha!



Anyways, I have had several times this week where I have seen joy come from all sorts of people and that has really helped me to stay positive and have an okay week. I started this week off by stopping by to drop off some Silly Bandz for the kids at my church's summer, track-out camp. It was so cool to see the excitement in the kids' eyes over something as small and simple as a Silly Bandz. My favorite was a sweet little girl who came up to me and asked oh so politely if she could have a Silly Band. She went on to say how she had never had one before and her family couldn't get them for her (I'm assuming because of finances). It nearly broke my heart; I was ready to give her all the bandz I had on my arm. But needless to say, she picked a sunshine as her choice. So making that little girl's day by giving her a small Silly Bandz truly helped me realize that small things do make a difference in our daily lives.

We never know who may be hurting around us and whether it is something as simple as a small hello, a short email, a hug, or just a small word or deed, it could possibly impact their life and turn their sour day into a sweet one. Always remember, everyone needs to smile. I love seeing the smiles on my parents' faces, small kids, my best friend, older people ... you name it, seeing them smile and hearing them laugh, is not only good medicine for them, but it is for me and it helps me realize that I've accomplished my goal for the day.

Tell people you love them, hug those you are close to and spend as much time as you can with your friends and family. We don't know when our last day might be and we need to hold on tight to all our memories and live every day to the fullest. If you let yourself get too tied down with work or other activities that replaces the time you should be spending with your family & friends, just think when those people are gone years from now, you'll have missed out on spending time with them.

Anyways ... have a blessed day and let the sunshine in. I'll steal my friend Phyllis' motto: Live, Laugh and Love!

And then there was Jack ...

So I said in my last post that I've been busy, yes I have. And during my busy time, I did find time for a mini-trip to Charlotte for the 2010 NASCAR All-Star Race (oh and yeah a four hour rain delayed NASCAR Truck race, too).

One of my most favorite things during that weekend was getting to go into the pits prior to the start of the All-Star Race. Before we left for our trek to tour the NASCAR shops and Hall of Fame, I wondered who, if any, drivers I may see.

Initially, when we stopped at Richard Childress Racing, we saw Danny "Chocolate" Myers (former gas man for Dale Earnhardt, Sr.). That about did me in, I started squealing and bouncing up and down with excitement (I had always adored him since I was a child). We went to other shops (Hendrick, Stewart-Haas, Roush, Earnhardt-Ganassi, DEI, Gibbs & the Hall of Fame) and didn't really see any big celebrities. But once we got to Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) that all changed.

The night of the truck race, we caught a glimpse (from afar) of Carl Edwards and that was cool. Then Kyle Busch won the race and pretty much celebrated right below our seats.


The day of the All-Star Race, we saw all sorts from Rick Helton to Jimmy Spencer to Jaime McMurray, Ryan Newman, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Bill Elliott, etc. etc.

Well two things highlighted my experience on pit row ... first, after touring Victory Lane, we walked behind this TV crew that was up on a stand interviewing someone and I looked at the back of one of the heads and new instantly who it was. I went around to the side with all the newspaper reporters on the ground and one of the reporters, seeing how I was dressed, said "yep that's him". Sure enough there sat my favorite, Tony Stewart (and yes Ryan Newman, too), up above me within five feet.

I was beside myself. We stayed put until he literally walked past us ... I was too stunned to even utter a word. So yes that was probably the most exciting thing of the day but ................................


then there was Jack .......

While on our tour of pit row, you get to walk past (even touch) the racers pit boxes, walk up and down pit row, tour victory lane, and see the sights in the garages and in the pit stalls. None of us had never had the "pit row" experience, so we were all abuzz. Upon our arrival (very late as it was), we decided to take pictures of our drivers pit boxes. Phyllis was so excited to see Jimmie Johnson's Lowes' pit box, so I encouraged her to have her picture made with it.
Well, she was pretty pleased to be that "close to Jimmie" and because she had her picture made with Jimmie Johnson's box, she said she "guessed" she would have to take my picture with that "horrible Office Depot box" (aka Tony Stewart's box).

Well once, we approached Tony's box, I started getting excited, and I was just as happy to stand there and admire the box muchless have a picture with it. So, we waited for another couple to have their picture made and once they were finished, I snuck my way over to the underhang on the box. Well lo and behold, this lady comes out of nowhere and asks if I wanted my picture made, (at first, I thought I was about to get yelled at for being "underneath" the box) and of course I told her yes. Well next thing I know she's telling someone to come over there, and here comes this very nice looking man (okay, I'll just say it, he was HOT) in a Tony Stewart crewman uniform over towards me, puts his arm around me and we have our picture made. Well come to find out, he was the JACKMAN for Tony's car. I nearly passed out on the spot. So "Jack" was definitely the highlight of the trip for me -- it was already 90 degrees down there on the track but after that it was probably over a hundred (just ask Phyllis, she started fanning herself, too, haha!)



That was definitely an experience that I will NEVER forget (oh and yes, poor Phyllis, Jimmie Johnson spun thru the grass right infront of us and didn't finish very well, yay, yay, yay!!!) But at least we still have "Jack" to smile about :)

Opening your mouth ...

So it's been awhile since I've made a post and I have been so many places and have so much to update on but I'll do that later.

I just have a couple things to say, haha!

Don't you find it ironic how everyone has an opinion about everything and anything? There is absolutely nothing wrong with that HOWEVER when opinions turn into false accusations, it is better that you keep your mouth shut.

We all say things we regret and as they say, one day what you say you'll come to regret it, if it weren't true.

It seems lately to me that I've been the target of many false accusations (I won't get into all the little, itty bitty details). But while I am trying to brush those accusations off my shoulder, as I know they are not true, deep down it still affects you.

That's why whatever we say or whatever we might think about people, if it gets back to them, whether it is true or not, it will impact them. So we should be careful the assumptions we make about people because false assumptions & accusations not only hurt that person but can also impact others around them.

Just a little something to think about for those of you that read this little creation.