A Prayer for Leon

     It's the call no one wants to receive. The call that informs us that a dear friend has been diagnosed with cancer. A friend, who also happens to be one of the best all-around people you've ever had the good fortune to meet.

     The call came to me late last week.

Leon Petite

     My friend's name is Leon Petite.

     Many of you know Leon---even though you may not have actually met him. He delivered the news to Alabama, Florida and Mississippi viewers on the Gulf Coast for 20 years. He also has coached Little League baseball, videotaped many a little girl's dance recital, emceed charity events, been active in faith-based groups, volunteered at community fundraisers, raised money for charities, and in general--- has been a really good friend to the communities in South Alabama, Northwest Florida, and South Mississippi... and the people who live in them.




Leon with newborn Trey

     About a dozen years ago, many of you met "Leon's Little Boy." That was the name of the series that aired on the local television station where Leon worked at the time as a reporter. Leon's little boy, Trey, had been diagnosed with cancer, not long after his 1st birthday. News viewers followed Trey and his family's journey from diagnosis, through surgery and treatment, and to eventual remission. To date, Trey remains cancer free.

Leon and Trey today

     In fact, Trey's annual checkup at St. Jude Hospital this year falls on the exact day that his dad, Leon, is scheduled for surgery to remove the cancer from his jawbone. It's a rare form of bone cancer which requires swift and aggressive action. 

     Leon is a man of great faith. He is upbeat, positive and strong. He told me in our conversation last week that he has turned his circumstances over to God.  He also asked for prayer.

      Leon has given so much support and joy to the people and communities in this area throughout the years. Now is our opportunity to give back to him. On his behalf, and with his permission, I am sharing his story with you and asking you to pray for him and his sweet family.

      Several years ago, I began lighting a candle in my office when there is a special prayer need. Everytime I look at the candle, it serves as a reminder to whisper a prayer for the person who needs it.

     My candle is burning.

     James 5:16 ..."pray for one another."  Please join me in praying for Leon Petite---my friend and yours.

Taking a Walk

     "We gain insight when we listen to those who have gone before and who know more than we do- insight we miss when our pride stands in the way. We're able to learn from others when we humble ourselves and acknowledge how little we know. Willingness to learn is a mark of those who are truly wise."~David H. Roper

     I read this quote today, and found it an appropriate reminder as I come off of the 'high' of completing the first leg of my journey back to college. As you may know, on Sunday my youngest daughter and I walked the commencement stage together and received our Associate of Arts degrees. We are both now heading to separate universities to continue our studies, with the goal of earning our bachelor's and master's degrees.

     Following a 32 year 'break' from the classroom, I have discovered that I love being in school. I look forward to my classes.. yes, even math. I enjoy the mental calisthenics my brain is encouraged to undertake; the give-and-take with the younger students renews my enthusiasm for life; and the interaction with the instructors who may-- or may not be-- my generational peers, reminds me of just how much there is to learn during my walk on this planet we call Earth.

     When I took the plunge and returned to school last summer, I vowed to to make every day's walk a learning experience.. to spend every day learning SOMETHING I did not know before. In addition, every week I try to DO something I've never done before. 

     That's a lot of learning and doing in 12 months... and the walk has been awesome. I highly recommend it.

     A structured classroom setting may not be your cup of tea. But, there are are so many ways to add to your learning experience- with books, concerts, art exhibits, church services and small groups, workshops, lectures, simple conversations with people you know, and people you don't .. and if all else fails...there's always Google!

     Re-reading the quote at the beginning of the blog entry leads me to promise to never become too old, stubborn or unwilling to learn, but rather to embrace what I "don't" know... to study and learn...and most importantly, to share what I learn with others in order to help with their journey through life.

     Wanna' walk with me?

Chasing Dreams

I'm not who said it, but I am happy to pass this great quote along: "Don't follow your dreams... chase them!"

I'm putting on my best running shoes.

How about you?

What Should I Do Today?

Photo by Jim Vail Photos

     A friend posted this on her Facebook page. It's a quote that was spotted on a sign in Grayton Beach, FL. I'm not sure who first said, or wrote, it.. but it strikes to the heart of the question, "What should I do today?"

     This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it, or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In its place is something you left behind. Let it be something good.

     Indeed.

Bloopers

     Oops.

     Kind of makes me glad that Facebook, Blogger, and all of the other social networking sites were not around when I was an anchor and reporter.

     I certainly made my share of boo-boos. I don't believe I was ever guilty of the one in this photo, but I did refer to President Clinton's presidency as President Clinton's "pregnancy"; I mispronounced "Merlot" (I don't drink it and had no idea at the time how to pronounce it); and got caught running a microphone cable up my skirt on live TV. And, as a good friend and former co-worker recently reminded me, I also had a devil of a time trying to say "Shalikashvili"...as in John Shalikashvili, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I might have suggested (on air) that perhaps the man was going to have to change his name, if I was going to be responsible for reading stories that contained his name. I might have.  

     My favorite blooper happened when I was on location at Lion Country Safari near West Palm Beach, FL taping a segment for a show I co-hosted, called PM Magazine. I was standing in front of a baby elephant. I felt a tickle at my backside. I thought it was my co-host, trying to get me to laugh while I was delivering my lines.

     It was not.

     About 5 seconds later, I felt an agressive lunge over my waistband and INSIDE my slacks! The baby elephant's trunk was slithering down my backside, in search of the wireless microphone receiver, which was tucked away out of everybody's sight... but his!

     Composure gone. Lines blown. Take 2.

     Ahhhh.... the blooper reel. Safely tucked away from the prying eyes of social networking!

     Then again... where DID I put that reel?

     Stay tuned.

     So, what do I do in my college classes? Sometimes, I take a math test.

     Sometimes, I get to do something more creative.. like put together a

video/audio slideshow on alligators for my media technology class.

     As someone who has worked with MOVING pictures since I was 19 years

old, shooting and working with still photography was a challenge. Working

within a 3:00 time constraint... even more so. (I only snapped 200

PICTURES! Really, Drexel?)  Working with a new, unfamiliar

editing system... ouch.

     I finished it, though. And, here it is. Take a look. It's titled "Gator Tale."

     Hope I get an A.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRJc4b4-exE&feature=youtu.be

Wearily, wearily, I say unto you...

This morning, the time changed. We did the “spring forward’ thing. All I could think, as I struggled to get out of bed at my 5 a.m. wakeup call (which was actually 4 a.m. to my body clock) was “I am so tired. I am so tired. This worn-out body does NOT have the strength to get up and do what I need to do today.”

I made my way (eventually) out of bed, brewed a very strong pot of coffee, and sat down for my morning devotional time with the “Jesus Calling” devotional book, a recent gift from a new friend. Today’s words read in part, “When I gave you My Spirit, I empowered you to live beyond your natural ability and strength. That’s why it’s wrong to measure your energy level against the challenges ahead of you. The issue is not your strength, but Mine… which is limitless.”

Well, alrighty, then. Coincidence that this was today’s reading? I think not.

Philippians 4:13.

Now… on with the day.