Thursday, March 12, 2009

Let Your Worries Go

Remember when I posted about Northwestern Mutual's Let Your Worries Go campaign? I'm proud to announce the following results of that campain through an article released by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation:

In first place with more than 42,000 votes was the YMCA. The Northwestern Mutual Foundation will contribute $400,000 to the YMCA to support Healthy Kids Day programming across the country.

Additionally, Habitat for Humanity - New Orleans is receiving $250,000, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is receiving $200,000 and Feeding America is receiving $150,000.

During this time when every dollar counts, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is proud to utilize this campaign to make a meaningful impact for people who are touched by the outreach of these organizations across the country.

Thank you again.

Northwestern Mutual

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Sweet Mema (Updated with Pictures)

My sweet Mema went home to the Lord last Monday morning. She was a beautiful, Godly woman and has now been reunited with my Pepa and her many other friends and family in Heaven. For a couple of weeks before Mema passed away, she had been asking me questions about Donny. Questions such as "Don't you still love him? I know he still loves you. Aren't you going to let him take you to lunch? Aren't you going to go to his basketball game?"

I had already decided I was going to allow him to take me to lunch during Valentine's Day weekend and when I told her, she couldn't have been happier. She called me after he went home just to ask how things went.

It's no secret Mema loved Donny. She always asked about him and would even make him his own pie to take home after the holidays. Here are a couple of pictures to prove it...
Fast forward about a week. Donny asked me to go to the UT/OU basketball game and I agreed to go, until I found out Mema had a stroke. I went to the hospital and was able to talk to her. At that point, she was still coherent and was able to talk and answer questions. My Aunt and Mom told me I still needed to go to Austin, because all I would be doing is sitting at the hospital all weekend. So...I went.

I had already decided I was going to tell Donny before he went home that I wanted to date him again. I had seen a definite change and realized that there was no one I'd rather have by my side during difficult (and great) times. So...I prepared myself to tell him, but wanted to make sure I told him at the right time. Monday morning, Mema passed away and he was the one with me picking up my mom to take her home. He was also the one that vacuumed my aunt's whole house to prepare for visitors (without being asked). He also sat with my aunt at the hospital, waiting for my mom to take a warm shower at my apartment. All of this did NOT go unnoticed by me.

So...right before he left I told him I loved him and wanted to date him again. I also told him that this is what Mema would have wanted. When I said that, he broke down. He then told me that he and Mema had been speaking 4 to 5 times a week. She would call and check on him and make sure he was doing okay. She would also tell him she was praying every night that we were going to get back together because she knew he would take care of me. Several of the things he mentioned, he would have known no other way than if he had talked to her. My aunt later confirmed the existence of those conversations.

Mema was so special to me and I will dearly miss her. The great thing is, I know that I will be carrying out one of her wishes by marrying Donny. And yes, it is my wish too!