A Little Hope

It would be impossible for me to tell y’all just how very blessed I am as it would take way too long!

I am surrounded by so many wonderful, caring and just fantastic people and am in such a great place in life right now that sometimes I just have to stop…and take it all in. Only briefly however or I’d lose one of those blessings…my way to make money and make ends meet

I did some more Christmas shopping as well as shopping for things for the house (since I’m in nesting and decorating/organizing mode still) and while I do not wish for anyone especially a whole company of people to lose their jobs…I am having great fun at Linens ‘n’ Things, I’ve saved over $900 the past month or two in there and able to get somethings done it would have taken me six months to get done otherwise. It is now an evil place that I’m not allowed to go back to for fear of spending even more money on the house aka myself this year. I’ve already cut myself down to only buying for others at Best Buy until December 26th lol

I enjoyed having Jo in town the last few days and was very sad to drop her off at the airport but we’ll see each other again soon! I made it through 2 of the movies lol I promise to work my way through the rest! lol and oh yeah BOOOOOOOOOO

Spending time with some wonderful people in Nashville last night (Monday) You just never know where you’ll end up and who you’ll end up running into in Nashville after……

I’m sad, very sad I won’t be in Texas the first weekend of December for Deryl Dodd and Granger Smith’s show! And even more sad I don’t have Glo time lined up until 2009! But…at least it is not far into 2009!

I really enjoyed some rare time in “the office” today, quality time in there always makes me happy, as rare as it is!

Tim McGraw on SNL was freakin’ awesome! He was hilarious and had no problems making a big fool out of himself (in the great SNL way) Loved it!

Twilight….well while I loved the company for the movie….if I were 12 I would have probably thought it was the best movie possible but I’m not so I didn’t.

I have so missed Montgomery Gentry shows. I was in heaven at the Ryman last night…H-E-A-V-E-N! Next year will have to be the year I work back in more MG shows for sure!

Go ahead and keep your calendar available for Christmas for Kids 2009, it is always a great event every year and such a warm and uplifting one too! www.christmas4kids.org

Thanksgiving will be at my house this year but a very small one which is perfect…food, movies, sports and loved ones and the babies of course

I picked up the babies Christmas clothes tonight…can’t wait to get those pictures made lol

If I don’t say it before then….Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Brooks, Aikman unveil room for sick kids

FORT WORTH, Texas – Two proven superstars — on the music charts and on the football field — were no match for some young patients at Cook Children’s Medical Center.

Country singer Garth Brooks and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman on Tuesday picked up video-playing pointers from hospitalized kids in Fort Worth.

The crooner and the Dallas Cowboy-turned-television-sportscaster helped unveil an updated therapeutic playroom for patients called the Zone Playroom.

Brooks joined forces with the NHL, the NHL Players Association and the entertainer’s own Teammates for Kids Foundation to donate the space. The area formerly was known as Aikman’s End Zone.

“We wanted to do something for them because they spend all day in their bedrooms,” Aikman said, “and we just wanted to get them out of there so they could have a little bit of fun.”

Brooks, wearing a cowboy hat, at one point popped the topper on the head of Aikman, whose efforts at video air guitar still failed. Brooks, turning to card games, played Go Fish with several children.

December 18, 2007
“extreme makeover: Home Edition” helps A lOVING CLOSE knit family WHOSE HOME WAS DEMOLISHED DUE TO aN unforseen DEVASTATING flood
Country Music star Rodney Atkins Helps Kick off Build
The Voisine family from Manchester, NH received the surprising news today that Ty and the gang of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will build them a new home in just seven days in a special two hour special episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” SUNDAY, JANUARY 27 (8:00-9:00 & 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
         In May 2006, after 4 days of heavy rain it was clear to Reynald and Casey Voisine and their 4 children that the water rising outside their home was far more than a puddle. Their house wasn’t in a flood zone and there was a 4-lane highway between their neighborhood and the river.  Yet the water kept rising and had made its way into the house, soaked the carpet and rose to the level of the electrical outlets.  Reynald called the fire department for help, but was told they needed to shut the power off before the firemen would attempt a rescue as they feared electrocution.  Reynald made his way to the breaker box and left his family shivering in the dark waiting for help to arrive.  While firemen were able to get down to the house, they were having trouble getting back out. Reynald’s Dad actually had to drive his 4-wheel drive pick-up truck up to the house and so the family and stranded rescue workers could climb in the back and make their way to safety.
         FEMA declared their house a total loss and advised that they should demolish it and apply for a loan. Thinking that FEMA knew best, Reynald had a family member in construction demolish it for free. Then the Voisines used the money in FEMA relief to haul the remains of their home to the dump. 
The Voisine figured things would get better once they received the loan. But then the unimaginable happened: they were denied for the loan due to their credit not being up to par due to Reynald’s outstanding medical bill from a misdiagnosed bout with appendicitis.  On top of not having a place to live the Voisine’s are still paying their monthly mortgage on the property plus rent as they are now living in an apartment next door to their now vacant lot.  Down, but not broken, Reynald and Casey are struggling and working hard to keep their family together.  FEMA provided some rental assistance but it’s about to run out. 
            In this episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” Ty and the gang head to Manchester to build a new home for this loving family who lost their home in the flood.
While Ty and the designers, local builder R.J. Moreau Communities and hundreds of volunteers and workers are rebuilding their home, the Voisine family will be on a vacation touring the Caribbean on a private yacht.
In addition, Country Music star Rodney Atkins helps kick off the build and sings his song
“These are My People.”
The design team for this episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will feature team leader Ty Pennington and designers Michael Moloney, Tanya McQueen, Paul DiMeo and John Littlefield.
           
The series is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding.  It’s executive-produced by Denise Cramsey.  David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.
            This episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will be available on ABC.com the day after airing on the network for users to watch online.
            ABC Media Relations: (Los Angeles) Jonathan Hogan, (818) 460-7016
(New York) Mozell Miley, (212) 456-6444
–ABC –

Sadler’s and Yeley enter Horsepower Series: Elliott and Hermie Sadler, and J.J. Yeley will join a cast of eight stock car personalities [five to be named later] as they will team with Power Golf Professionals Sean Fister, Brooks Baldwin, Danny Luirette, Kevin Bullard, Vince Howell, Scott Ionno, JD Murkerson, and Carl Wolter in the 2008 HorsePower Tee Shot Tour. The Horsepower Tee Shot Tour (HTST) will include six events being played under the lights during race weeks next season. The scoring format will not only reward length off the tee, but accuracy as well. SPEED TV will be airing all the HTST events during the summer and early fall of 2008. Jeff Hammond is the spokesman for the HTST and NASCAR on FOX broadcaster. In addition to the “Power Golf” competition, each stop on the Tour also will include a golf trick-shot exhibition, fan participation and a charity event to benefit the Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007 – The National Council For Adoption, a leading adoption advocacy organization, named Rodney Atkins as its 2007-2008 National Celebrity Spokesperson of the Year. The 2007 winner of the Academy of Country Music’s “Best New Male Vocalist” Award will serve as keynote speaker and special musical guest at the Families for All National Parent Recruitment Summit on Wednesday, Oct. 3 in Washington, D.C.

Atkins, who has three consecutive number one singles,including the current hit “These Are My People,” was adopted into his family as an infant and speaks from personal experience about the benefits of adoption.

“From the moment I met Rodney Atkins, it was clear to me that his heart is just as big as his talent,” says NCFA President Tom Atwood. “Many people have been touched by his songs, and I know that many more will be inspired by his personal story and commitment to serving the cause of adoption.”

“These children are the future of our nation and our families. It is important that we make sure they are taken care of,” says Atkins.

“We look forward to working with Rodney to raise awareness of important adoption and foster care issues,” says Atwood. “His humble willingness to become an advocate for children is evidence of the character that is the foundation of his success.”

Rod Squad Members can win an Autographed pair of Child sized camo pants and an Autographed “Watching You” Rodney Atkins Camo Shirt.

For every Rodney Atkins CD mailed in via the Rod Squad mailing address prior to October 15, 2007 you’ll get (1) one entry into the contest. All CDs will be distributed to fighting troops by the USO and US Marines via the project “Songs for Soldiers” that was put together by AtlantaCountryMusic.com

To be eligible for the contest you must mail your UNOPENED CD(s) to the following address along with your Rod Squad username. You can join the Rod Squad free via the Street Team at RodneyAtkinsStreetTeam.com OR by being a paid Fan Club member via RodneyAtkins.com/FanClub

Rod Squad
601 1st ST
Athens AL 35611

More information on “Songs for Soldiers” can be found below and at AtlantaCountryMusic.com

Join Atlanta Country Music.com and the Georgia music
community in supporting the morale and spirits of our
soldiers fighting for us overseas by donating CDs and
portable CD players in the “Songs for Soldiers”
campaign.

We are not accepting cash donations for this campaign.

Hope and David Stremme – Nashville, originally uploaded by n2fanhope.

This was taken afer he graciously signed some auction items for us to use for St. Judes or Holston Home.

How many of you have visited HolstonHome.org today to see all the wonderful things that your pledges are doing?

 Go on over and stop by and find out about the projects they are working on to help lots of children www.holstonhome.org !

INDIANAPOLIS, July 26 /PRNewswire/ — Forty-two of NASCAR’s best drivers took a back seat to Crown Royal driver Jamie McMurray earlier this month when he took the checkered flag in a dramatic photo-finish thriller in Daytona, capturing his second-career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series win and claiming a tie for the second-closest race in series history. Now, this Thursday, July 26, Indianapolis residents and race fans have the chance to take a back seat and witness McMurray putting his driving skills to the test on the city streets of downtown Indianapolis during the Crown Royal “Safe Rides Home” program.

As part of this designated driver initiative, McMurray will team with his primary race sponsor, the Crown Royal brand from Diageo, to deploy a fleet of replica purple and gold No. 26 Ford Fusion cars that will be offering local bar patrons free, safe rides home for two nights. To show his commitment, McMurray will get behind the wheel of one of the vehicles and provide free rides home to select consumers who sign up at special Crown Royal No. 26 taxi stands.

Inspired by this signature program, Crown Royal recently debuted a national television advertising campaign featuring McMurray and the “Safe Rides Home” initiative. The campaign humorously shows McMurray being mentored by a New York City cab driver who details the finer aspects of driving people home. The message reminds consumers to drink responsibly and to always arrange for a safe ride home.

This marks the third consecutive year the program has visited Indianapolis prior to the Brickyard race and, after servicing many Indianapolis residents with safe rides home the last couple years, Crown Royal will continue offering a second night to the program.

“We are thrilled to be coming back to Indianapolis for the third straight year with our signature program,” said Jim Lorenz, Senior Brand Manager, Crown Royal. “We constantly want to remind consumers to drink responsibly and to always arrange for a safe ride home, and this program continues to prove that it’s the perfect vehicle to promote that message.”

McMurray’s appearance will kickoff the two-day program that aims to drive hundreds of Indianapolis residents home safely prior to the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard on July 29. The program is set to take place at the corner of Jackson Place and N. Meridian on Thursday, July 26, and at the corner of Broad Ripple Ave. and Guilford St. on Friday, July 27. Marked kiosks will accept “fares” from 8:00 pm – 1:00 am on both nights.

In total, 10 Crown Royal Ford Fusions will be in rotation and residents within a 20-mile radius of downtown Indianapolis that are 21 years of age or older are eligible.

There is a four-passenger limit per car. The program, which promotes responsible decision making and getting home safely, has provided rides for hundreds of patrons and NASCAR fans since its inception in 2003. The program was created by Diageo to reinforce the importance of assigning designated drivers.

“It’s been an exciting month for Crown Royal and me,” said McMurray, who has three top-five and seven top-10 finishes this year. “Along with my win at Daytona, we also launched a new television advertising campaign to support the brand’s Safe Rides Home program. This program is something that I am truly passionate about and, after seeing the success we had last year, I’m excited to be going back to Indianapolis.”

The Roush Fenway Racing driver’s first victory in 166 races was well worth the wait and catapulted McMurray into Chase contention. Understanding the importance of making responsible decisions to adequately celebrate monumental occasions, McMurray’s true win came when he was safely at home and able to enjoy his accomplishment with a toast of Crown Royal.

McMurray, 31, widely regarded as one of the sport’s rising stars, is currently in his fifth full season driving in NASCAR’s elite NEXTEL Cup series. He won Rookie of the Year honors in 2003 and currently sits 15th in the Cup standings, just past the halfway point of the season.

For the second consecutive year, Crown Royal is the primary sponsor of the No. 26 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion team driven by McMurray. This includes primary paint scheme of the No. 26 car at 23 races during the 2007 season, including Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

About Crown Royal

Crown Royal, the number one selling whisky in the U.S. by value, has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal’s smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. In addition to its motorsports sponsorships, the brand also sponsors The Crown Royal Bad Boys of Comedy Tour, the Crown Royal American Turf stakes race at Churchill Downs and a number of other major regional and national events. For more information on Crown Royal, visit http://www.crownroyal.com/

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wine and beer. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines. Diageo is a global company, trading in some 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com/. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly.

About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating 14 motorsports teams, five in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; five in the Busch Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Todd Kluever, Michel Jourdain Jr. and Danny O’Quinn Jr.; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Edwards, Peter Shepherd, Travis Kvapil, Erik Darnell and T.J. Bell; and one in the ARCA/REMAX Series with Colin Braun and Darnell. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto http://www.roushfenway.com/. For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645. Crown Royal

CONTACT: Dan Sanborn, of Diageo, +1-203-233-6177, dan.sanborn@diageo; or
Matt Ciesluk, +1-516-382-4831, mciesluk@taylorpr.com, or Shaun Clair,
+1-585-314-7639, sclair@taylorpr.com, both of Taylor for Crown Royal

Web site: http://www.crownroyal.com/
http://www.diageo.com/
http://www.roushfenway.com/

Today is the sixth annual Jeff Gordon Foundation Bowling Tournament benefiting Riley Hospital for Children at Western Bowl. Gordon’s foundation has donated more than $1 million to the Riley Children’s Foundation.