Grieving the Loss of Mike Samples

Mike Samples passed away yesterday morning. He was staying with his twin sister at her home and she insisted that he go to the hospital because he wasn't well. She went to change her clothes and he said he wanted a nap instead. By the time she changed her clothes and came back to Mike he had peacefully passed away.

There is some relief in knowing his two decade long fight with AIDS is over. Also a severe diabetic, he often had major blood sugar spikes and dips which made him pass out. Over the past year he has suffered blockages, surgeries and organs shutting down. The pain and suffering is finally over.

Although Mike is my husband's half-brother, I didn't know him very well. But I will never forget the light in his eyes when he held my Sweet Baby James for the first time. He was delighted to see the sweet smile of a child who looked so much like his brother Toby.

Mike's battle may be over, but there is still a lot of unfinished business. Please pray for our family as we grieve this loss. I am very sad that Mike never knew Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He desperately needed God's grace, mercy, love and forgiveness. I am also sad that he didn't find acceptance in this world. Many people who mistakenly assumed they would have to accept Mike's homosexual lifestyle in order to love and respect him decided to reject him completely. Most of those people are still ignorant of the consequences of their actions, but some are having to deal with their past choices and are having a hard time coping now that there is no chance for reconciliation.

While we didn't always agree with Mike's choices, we genuinely loved him. From the way Mike interacted with us, I believe he knew this and loved us too. Thank you for your prayers and sensitivity at this time. We found out the news as we drove to church yesterday morning, but we didn't turn around to go home because we knew that our loving family at Temple Baptist would be waiting there to support us and help us through this time. I can't thank you enough for those who have given us their condolences and offered to help in any way they can.

Gaining Some Momentum

Sweet Baby James and I are hearing several of you fantastic supporters giving us some great PR as we raise money for the park. Read all about it in the News-Gazette today. We are featured in a(n almost) full page, color article! Or hop on over to The Adventures of Super Muscles for her commentary. Catch Her in the Wry just happens to have a West Side Park in her town too--and it just received some new playground equipment. And my money-saving super hero, Coupon Lady, is lobbying to get me on Good Morning America.

My fundraising goal is $1,000 by October 25th. Money raised to date = $250. Thank you for supporting our West Side Park!

Champaign County Wants to See Mama Run

This morning I ran for 3 miles and then walked half a mile. Even though some zucchini muffins were taunting me in my kitchen. Impressive, yes? Sweet Baby James was still snoozing while his dad was getting ready for work. Have I told you that my dear husband could TOTALLY be a runner? He's fast. He would probably be able to lap me about 5 times during this 5.5 mile run, if we were running in circles that is. Which reminds me of NASCAR...which makes me wonder why I didn't pick a driving race instead of a running one.

Nonetheless, it seems that others in Champaign County want to See Mama Run. The Rantoul Press will be running my story on Wednesday (Aug 26th). If you can't wait that long to see me and Sweet Baby James in print, then check out the News-Gazette on Tuesday (Aug 25th) in section C or D for the article by Jodi Heckel. The West Side Park is on Little Blog on the Prairie's mind right now. Even Jesica in Montana is showing her support for the cause!

How about you? Do YOU want to See Mama Run?

Rusty Swings & Baby News

Originally, my goal was to run a half marathon to raise money for West Side Park (because I'm insane, remember?). But last week I got a huge surprise: I'm expecting baby number two. Having trained all year to run, my doctor is giving me the go-ahead to run the race, but as I've said before I'm just running 5.5 miles. Really, isn't 5.5 miles crazy enough?

I suppose in October that jiggly pregnancy belly will look pretty ridiculous. But even when there is a moment of doubt about running the race, my mind drifts back to these rusty swings at the West Side Park.

Looks a bit like something out of a horror movie, no? And it's all the worse that they are the only piece of playground equipment. In the picture below, Sweet Baby James' face seems to capture my feelings about the lack of things to do at the park.

If you are in the Thomasboro area, please join me at the Thomasboro National Night Out event this Wednesday (August 19th) from 4pm-9pm at West Side Park. It is hosted by the local police department and by the Thomasboro Neighborhood Watch Group. I'd love to chat with you about our fund raising efforts. AND I'll have a bubble machine. What's not to love about that?

Why Mama Runs

I am not a runner. Just so we clear that up from the beginning. My high school didn’t have track. Plus I have really flat feet. And there’s usually something good on TV to watch. Or a bag of Doritos calling my name. Or grass to watch grow. I mean, seriously, who runs for the fun of it?

But run I must. Left foot, right foot, left foot….remember to breathe. There’s supposed to be a form to this, right? I hope my new Asics are helping me run correctly. At least they are cute and shiny. Focus, Joanna, focus. Think about speed and endurance. It’s hot outside. Sweat is dripping, people are staring, a glass of something cold would be good about now. Must keep going. Focus on the goal. What would cause an otherwise sane person with a life to attempt something like this? It is ridiculous.

But then Sweet Baby James comes into my mind. The other day we were at our town park because he always wants to go outside and play. “Out, Mama, out!” he insists. But there’s nothing there for James to do. The creaky old swing set is rusted…and doesn’t even have a baby swing. The basketball court is crumbling, the softball field hasn’t been tended to in quite some time. No joke, that is the extent of West Side Park. Nothing more.

The kids in our neighborhood deserve better than that. My children deserve better than that. So here I go, attempting to run a 5.5 mile race, so that our neighborhood can have a park. With playground equipment. Imagine that.

If you agree, please check out the Thomasboro Neighborhood Watch Program website to find out how this group is trying to make our park a great place for the community. More importantly, find out how YOU can make a difference.

Thank you for your support!

The weird pregnancy dreams have begun!

Last night I was in an Elvis movie. Well, not really a movie, it was sort of real but it had the plot of pretty much every Elvis movie ever made. And Elvis was pursuing me. Did I mention that this was a dream? My mom was a widow and I had a rebellious sister--rebellious because she wore jeans and hung around with a boy. [Scandalous, no?] I, on the other hand, wore skirts like a good girl and helped my mother around the house. This was the 1950's after all.

Elvis came to install an appliance in our home and became intent upon courting me, going so far as to invite himself to dinner and charm my mother into letting me take a chaperoned walk with him. Much to my disappointment, I woke up from the dream just as he was about to sing "Love Me Tender" with the guitar he just happened to pull out of nowhere.

Pregnancy hormones are so weird.