Quote

I received this quote via e-mail today and really like it…

Although the world is full of suffering,

it is also full of the overcoming of it.

Helen Keller

FINALLY!!!

I am SO glad that Sanjaya is GONE! For true American Idol fans, and those that are musicians, I'm sure you'd agree with me that Sanjaya has been a JOKE. It makes me wonder if some things are rigged on the show. He sure got lots of attention. I hate that he lasted longer than Gina. Personally, I loved her.

In memoriam

My husband called me at work today to tell me that there had been another shooting; the worst in history. No words can bring comfort to this school, the parents, the spouses, the friends, the roommates... My heart grieves with you all. May the Lord bring you peace, VA Tech.

Last day of tax season...and a tad weepy

You think I would be glad! But for some reason, I'm a tad melancholy today. I guess all change is difficult at times. Even the positive changes.

I checked out ancestory.com today and started researching my family tree. I came across these obituaries for my loved ones... I wanted to honor them by listing them here...

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James Dillard
Mauldin

James B. "Jim" Dillard, 67, husband of Mildred "Millie" Dillard, of 313 Poplar Lane, died Feb. 15, 2005.

Born in Carrollton, Ala., he was a son of the late Chester A. and Annie L. Adams Dillard.

Mr. Dillard was a graduate of Howard College (Sanford University), and worked in insurance sales. He was a member of Augusta Road Baptist Church for over 39 years, where he served as a Deacon, choir member, Sunday school teacher and Sunday school director.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are his son and daughter-in-law, Brian Keith and Sharon Dillard of Michigan; his daughter and son-in-law, Alicia Beth and Mark Lippard of Denver, N.C.; his grandchildren, Mikaela, Rachel, Victoria, John, Haliny, and Derek McCord II, all of Suwanee, Ga., and Adam, Jordon and Noah Dillard, all of Birmingham, Mich., and Coley and Braxton James Lippard, both of Denver, N.C.; his brother and sister-in-law, Bruce and Kay Dillard of Greenville; and a sister-in-law, Delores Dillard of Pelham, Ala.

He was predeceased by a daughter, Bonnie Rebecca McCord; and a brother, Wayne Dillard.

Services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Augusta Road Baptist Church, with the Rev. Chris Cadenhead and the Rev. Toni Pate officiating. Interment will follow in Graceland East Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Mackey Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make memorials to the Adult Choir of Augusta Road Baptist Church, 1823 Augusta Road, Greenville, SC 29605.

The Mackey Mortuary, Century Drive.

Published in The Greenville News: 02-17-2005

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Bonnie D. McCord
Suwanee, Ga.

Bonnie D. McCord, 32, died Thurs., Sept. 14.

Daughter of James Borden Dillard and Mildred Hearn Dillard of Mauldin, she was a graduate of Berry College in Rome, Ga. She was to have entered the mission field later this month. She grew up singing in groups with her family and was a missionary in 1985 to the Philippines.

Survivors: parents; husband, Derek McCord; daughters, Mikaela Rebekah McCord, Rachel Hannah McCord, Victoria Grace McCord, all of Suwanee; brother, Brian (Sharon) Dillard of Detroit, Mich.; sister, Beth (Mark) Lippard, Charlotte, N. C.

Services: Noon Monday at Mount Paran Church of God - Central, with burial in Cheatham Hill Cemetery, Marietta, Ga. Visitation: 11 a.m. until time of service.

Memorials: Alaythia Ministries, 700 Rosebury Lane, Suwanee, Ga. 30024. -- L. W. McDonald & Son Funeral Home, Cumming, Ga.

Published in The Greenville News: 09-17-2000

A lesson learned

In my work over the past several months I have encountered two different people with the same disability of cerebral palsy. Both seemed to be pretty mild cases. Both were able to hold jobs. However, they were disabled. They were different. One was married, one was not (but informed me with a smile that he was looking).

Both of these gentleman had something in common besides their disability. They seemed to have deep joy. They were jolly, kind, funny. This has stuck with me over the weeks/months. So many of us complain about our circumstances, about the things we are currently facing. However, these gentlemen have something that cannot be changed, and they seemed genuinely happy.

One of these men was a cashier at a local store. I had forgotten my check book and had to run get it. Although it was close by, I realized I was inconveniencing him and apologized. He replied with "tell me when we have a real problem". I thought that was the neatest reply. I encounter so many people who are ungrateful, who complain at the smallest inconvenience (One man came to me to do his taxes. When he told me that he was filing joint, although his wife was not with him, I informed him that I would need his wife's signature before I could complete the return. He was mortified and stated that he'd always done it without her signature. I informed him that I did things the legal way, and that it was illegal and against policy for him to file without his wife's signature. He was so upset that he took his paperwork and left saying how inconvenient that was). How is it that these individuals with disabilities that I've encountered can be so kind, joyful, patient, without complaints, when they have to deal with the inconveniences of being different, being stared out, not being able to do some things that others can, etc...

I learned a lot from these gentlemen. Those of us without disabilities have much to be grateful for. I know that I take my health for granted. I pray that I will always remember these men and the lessons that they taught me.

Exciting things in our household!

My hubby and I have some very exciting things going on. I won't disclose all on here at this time, but will share a bit. We have a possible opportunity coming up that will allow me to become debt free AND possibly allow me to stay at home! Those of you that know me know that I SUCK as a housewife (although I've gotten lots better over the past few months; as they say, practice makes perfect!). Part of this is because I'm trying to manage working full-time, studying, cooking, cleaning house, yard upkeep, working out, and taking care of a hubby and a dog! Whew! That makes me tired just thinking about it! BUT if I'm able to stay home, that will make ALL the difference in the world. I can focus all my attentions on the house and on my schooling....

OH! And speaking of... My schooling has gotten lots better over the past months and my grades have improved dramatically. My most recent grade was a 98!! I got this email from my instructor today:

You did an EXCELLENT JOB on [your] test. Congratulations! Your GPA to date is 94% which is very good. Experience has shown that M-TEC premier grads with a GPA of 93% to 95% or above have few, if any, doors closed to them from employers on our [job boards]. Keep up the great work.

WOO HOO! Man it feels good to hear that. My first few tests in the course were 87 and 86 (with below 86 as failing!). So needless to say, this feels pretty darned good. I am almost 75% of the way finishing; BUT the last 6 sessions are the hardest in the course. I just hope I can keep my GPA up until the end. I had absolutely no clue how hard this course was going to be! But I am loving it and am anxious to begin my career.

I told my friend today, I sure hope it doesn't sound like I'm bragging, or boasting, but it is just a miracle to me that I've done this well. I emailed my instructor back and told her that I still pretty much feel like a "wannabe". So it's wild that I actually have a 94. This is actually a very high B. M-TEC has VERY high standards, which I guess they should since medical transcription involves people's medical data.

Anyway, I have digressed. Just wanted to say good things are on the horizon! Keep us in your thoughts/prayers. My hope/prayer is that all will work out as I think it will! I'll keep you all posted!

Good is good!

Please remember JBS

Many of you may remember my friend JBS, whom I was dating at the time of Hurricane Katrina. He lived two blocks from the beach in MS, lost everything, and lived with my folks and me for several months until he was able to get a FEMA trailer (there are posts regarding all this on my blog in the fall of '05). Although we aren't dating any longer, we have kept in touch some. Oddly enough, we both got married the same week.

I received an email from him a few days ago stating that his endocrinologist believes that he has a tumor on his pituitary gland. I feel so badly for him. As if losing everything in Katrina wasn't enough! I pray that the results of his test on Monday will show that is not cancerous. If it is, I pray that it will be able to be reduced/eliminated by treatment. I hope that if you are praying person that you'll pray the same with me.

I wish good things for him.

Thanks for your help in this.

Goodbye sweet Wilma

I've had my first experience in management in the past few months. I had one lovely employee to manage. On Saturday, April 7, she had a massive heart attack while driving home from work and died immediately. I found out Easter Sunday and cried half of the day. She was such a special lady. She was such a joy and made management SO easy for me! She was faithful, a hard worker, flexible, made me laugh, and was such a precious lady. She will be missed immensely.

Godspeed, sweet Wilma.

Flixter

Ok, so there is a part of me that is just like a 13-year-old girl. I have come across this Flixter site and LOVE it! I've become addicted. It's great mindless entertainment for me.

See side of screen for my favorite movies!

Very belated entry

Hello friends! This post is LONG overdue. My good friend (and my former most faithful reader; I'm sure she's long given up on me now!) once said that I really only posted when I was unhappy. So I guess these months of silence have been a good thing! It's amazing how much your priorities change when you get married! I don't have nearly as much free time on my hands as I used to!

My days have been very full with working full time, attempting to study full time, learning to be a good wife, learning how to be domestic when I TOTALLY stink at it! I think I'm getting better every day though.

I am loving TN but miss my family and friends a whole lot. It's really amazing how content I am; the only people in my life are my hubby and my sweet dog. I have made no friends yet, however I am strangely content! I know that SAM cannot meet all of my needs and that I will eventually need to meet some folks, but for now, life is great.

I will try to post more often if I can! Hopefully my readers haven't given up on me!

Much love to you all...

Traci M