juli_g

The store I manage, Break Thru Apparel has joined up with Cafe Baby Boutique for a project I call Couponing for a Cause.  It is a very simple concept, if you get coupons and don't use them, in your newspaper, at the store checkout, in a magazine, where ever, you bring them to us.  The girl heading the project is a coupon Queen, last week she got about 1500 dollars worth of stuff for 140.  Amazing! Now why you ask, should you do this? What in the world are we going to do with all the stuff that she can get with her coupon magic?  Well, with those coupons, we are loading up supplies including, paper goods, dry goods, non perishables, personal care products, etc for the Ronald McDonald House Charities located in Pensacola, FL.  If you are not familiar with this charity, it is one I personally believe in.  It is a lifesaver for families of children who become ill.  When my sister was young, 15 and under, she stayed at the House several times when undergoing treatment, but not only was it a place to stay for her, there was at least one or two times that my whole family was able to stay there.  Otherwise, without the RMHC, I may have gone months sometimes barely getting to be with my whole family while she was ill.  In short, the Ronald McDonald House not only helps sick children, but is a home away from home for many.  A large percentage of the thousands of kids that the Pensacola branch serves are families from Bay County.  That's right, your friends, your neighbors, someone you know and love may have stayed there.  This is a great charity, and all we are asking is for your coupons.  However, if you are interested in donating other things, you can go to there webpage www.rmhpensacola.org  and view a wish list of things they need, as well as many moving stories of what the House has done for the children and their families.  I know that on top of the coupons, you are welcome to drop off gift cards to grocery stores or stores like Target/wal mart and that is a tax deduction, I also know that my mother donates her quilts on a regular basis.  Again, this isn't a hospital, or a hotel.  It is a home for these kids and their families, many struggling financially and emotionally, and they do strive to make it comfortable.  Also, toys, baby items (new please!) are always appreciated.  The Ronald McDonald House is making a huge difference in the lives of so many, and it's not hard at all to help! If you can make it by the store, Break Thru Apparel to make drop offs, feel free.  Or you can email me at BreakThruApp@gmail.com to coordinate, or if you are out of the area but want to send your coupons to us, you can mail them to:

Break Thru
101 Bluefish Dr
Suite 145
Panama CIty Beach, FL 32413

Thanks for all your help, please spread the word so that we can make a difference for the charity that makes a difference!!

 I am so excited that after a long unusually cold Florida winter that the weather has finally perked up! I am used to a little bit of cold weather, about 20 years ago, it snowed once.  By snow I mean, maybe a half an inch, but for us here in north Florida, that is a rare event.  This past winter though, has shown to be brutal, it snowed about an hour north of here, and there has been so many cold spells this winter, electric bills nearing a thousand dollars for many in the Florida panhandle due to heating costs.  So today, nearing the end of March, the weather is in the 70s the kids are able to go out to play without me worrying about frostbite or chapped cheeks due to high cold winds, and I am very excited.  It is long overdue to enjoy spring in Florida!

 Sorry my mouth hurts, I have had issues since I was a teenager where every now and then my gums swell.  I think I grind my teeth sometimes in my sleep without realizing it and then I'm in agony for a few days.  So honestly, although my mind is going in three thousand directions this morning, I just don't want to do much of anything.  Need to work on preparing orders, or homework, or coupons.  But guess what? I do not want to do any of these things.  This morning I thought I would just give a few of the sites I've found helpful in finding coupons and deals lately.  First and foremost, the best one I have found so far is southernsavers.com.  By the way, I am currently taking a computer class and soon will know how to make the click here links as opposed to having to type it or copy/paste it.  Until then, I will have to do this I think.  Other ones I use are pretty basic:

• Target.com/coupons
• coupons.com
• allyou.com

These are all great sites for printable coupons, and if you get the store coupons off of Target's page, you can double them with manufacturer coupons! Also, the past two times I have been in Target, I have received register coupons: one manufacturer for $2 off 2 Johnson & Johnson baby products and then today a store coupon for $1 off any baby item! Double those up! I also have found that emails from both CouponDivas.com and  Couponing101.com have been extremely helpful in finding deals for me.  I get daily updates, one from each, not inundated with multiple an hour or spam mail, telling me about samples, coupons, and the best deals at stores I shop at.  Additionally, thanks to my mom, I have also realized that you can go to store sites like FamilyDollar.com and find printable store coupons there (again, if your Publix considers them a competitor you can use them there).  
Apologies for today's short post, may do more later as the mood strikes, but for anyone interested in coupons, those are the best sites I currently use.  All 3, SouthernSavers.com, CouponDivas.com and Couponing101 have email newsletters, be sure you sign up!

 So while I am hesitant to bring this subject up, it has been on my mind a lot recently.  Life on the world as we know it.  Between the movie 2012 and the magnitude of natural disasters recently, it is something to think about.  While I tend to brush a lot of the theories off that I hear as crazy talk, I know that sometimes I am indulgent upon these things, and it does scare me.  Not because I think it is inevitably going to happen on the day people say Mayans predicted years ago and not even because I think I can change the fate of the world.  But mostly because I have 3 kids that I brought into this world and my concern is for them.  I brought them in, they are innocent and sweet and CHILDREN, and the thought that their lives could be cut short because of this, is the fear I have.  I fear that I don't spend enough time with them.  I fear that they could suffer, miss out on things, never get to experience life.  Of course, these are underlying fears, end of the world or not, as I know that try as I might, I won't be around forever, and I may not be able to protect them for all of their lives.  I worry about them, and what would happen to them without me.. But I will put that aside for the moment because that is too much for me to think about on top of everything else.
According to many, the world is going to end in a few years.  By some accounts, more like a Noah's Ark situation, where the Earth will be cleaned of "impurities" perhaps and those who survive will start the recreation of things.  Others lead one to believe that nothing will be left.  If either situation is true, I think it is best to be informed and prepared.  Okay, maybe not so much if there is going to be nothing left.. However, if its natural selection, survival of the fittest type of thing that could be coming, I think it best to be aware.  So recently we have had major earthquakes, a volcano eruption last night, bitterly cold winters in normally warm places, countless other odd activity courtesy of Mother Nature, herself.  On one hand, there are always crazy things happening, like for a while it seemed like there nonstop hurricanes, several big ones, Opal, Ivan, Katrina, to name a few that affected people along the gulf.  Maybe this is similar, just a different spin? And I think also, that these occurrences are being played up partially for the reason of the Mayan prediction.  They are just more prevalent in our minds and in the news because thats where society puts them.  No one can really predict the future, well no one that I know has a crystal ball at least.  
Furthermore, what do we do? Like I said, no one can predict, no one can change it.  I believe in fate, sorry.  However, what I do wonder is if it is a cleansing process rather than an end all, what should we do to prepare?  Is it unreasonable to stock dry goods and supplies? It is what you would do if you knew a hurricane was coming, right?  Is it that much more unfathomable to have some where to go? Somewhere sturdy, even though I'm not sure if it would need to withstand floods, high heat, low heat, etc.  But how far is too far? I truly don't know if there is a too far, when it comes to the safety and protection of my kids.  I think if I had the means, I like the government in the movie 2012 would create an ark or similar pod to survive the possible wave of events.  Perhaps not as heartless.. So if I said, I don't know if there is any truth in the hype that the world could end but I am going to take more time with my kids, spend more time with them playing and less time yelling, if I said I was going to move to a farm and stockpile things that could become staples of life like canned goods and cereal, baby food and bottles of water, and if I said, on that farm I was going to create a safe place for my family to be if something, however unlikely happens, that the people I love most in this world are all safe and with me.. Would that make me crazy and paranoid or would that make me sensible and cautious?  If Darwin's theory of survival of the fittest is correct, that those that survive are those who are smarter, better prepared, and overall the ones that want to survive, I don't think it is too ridiculous to be aware of the possibilities, indulge in the stories of raining fish or other natural spectaculars, but not to let it overwhelm you and take your whole life over.  I just want to enjoy what I have been blessed with for as long as possible, and if that requires taking precautionary measures to prolong that, so be it. 

 Have I mentioned I love coupons? Because I do.  First, i had a coupon that I received in the mail for a bottle of Excedrin up to 5.99 for free.  And Walgreens has it BOGO (buy one get one) this week, so I used that coupon and got 2 free bottles of overpriced medicine for headaches! That is the best deal of the week.  I also used some coupons that I got off line for dollar off any Johnson & Johnson baby item, excluding trial sizes, and got 3 bars of their Suddzing Buddies soap that is regularly 97 cents at Target, so free soap for the kids! Then also at Target, I had a coupon for a dollar off ANY Johnson & Johnson lotion, and I found the trial sizes for 48 cents, so I actually made 52 cents off that transaction!  Before I go into my Publix trip, I have the receipt this time! Let me preface by saying, you can use 2 coupons when you get BOGO items, also they take competitors coupons, some are nicer about it than others, just remember that to get the BOGO price you must get 2!  
Okay so first, I access the weekly add through Southernsavers.com, great site for more than just Publix trips!  But she lists each item on sale and coupons available, many are printable ones.  So I'll go item by item and what coupons I used for some of them. I think that is easiest.  
This is actually last weeks ad, the new one started today, but it will give you an idea, while I'm waiting for someone to write a better tutorial.  

Tide 100 load liquid  price: 15.79
Tide duo pac stain release price: 11.99
Downy clean Breeze 60 oz     8.49
coupons used: 
             manufacturer coupon $1 off Tide
                                             $1 off Tide Stain release
                                               .25 off Downy
Store coupon from Publix ad:  $8 off                  

Windex   3.07
Scrubbing Bubbles   3.29
Coupons $1 off windex, store coupon: 2 off (basically got windex for 7 cents)

4 boxes of Jimmy Dean D-light breakfast sandwiches, priced at 5.99 they were a BOGO item, which meant 2 for 5.99
coupons:  4 vendor coupons for a dollar off each box (printed off Jimmy Dean Facebook)

Publix Rubbing Alcohol 1.99, had a coupon from Publix's Baby Club that made it FREE

2 sticks of Sure deodorant at 2.39 each
manufacturer coupons: 2 manufacturer coupons for .75 off
2 store coupons for $1 off

I bought 6 bottles of Sundown vitamins for an average of 4 dollars a bottle
manufacturer coupons: 2 $3 dollars off 2, 4 competitor coupons for $1 off one, and 3 Publix coupons for $6 off 2.  FREE vitamins.

2 containers of Enfamil Formula for older babies, 24 oz each  18.99 each
manufacturer "check" for $7 dollars and Publix coupon 7 off 2


Baby food, about ten jars, no coupons just had to have it.

6 tubes of Pilsbury Cinnamon rolls ( my kids love these on the weekends!)  2.37 a piece
manufacturer coupon: 3 -.75 off 2, 2 Publix coupons for $1 off 3

2 big bottles of Ragu spaghetti sauce on BOGO, 2 for 3.69
1 manufacturer coupon for $1 off 2, 2 store coupon for .55 cents off each

2 packs of Reveal HE light bulbs  4.19
2 coupons from Target for $1 off each,  2 from GE.com for 2 off each

Scotties tissues on sale for .99
used one coupon from Scotties.com for $1 off - FREE

2 packs of sliced Deli Deluxe cheese 4.69
2 kraft cheese coupons for $1 off

bag of Nut Clusters 3.39, manufacturer coupon $1 off
Big box Chocolate cheerios, Coupons for $1 off and .55 cents off (one was Target coupon)
Gallon of Publix milk
coupon for $3 off

2 packs of Dixie plates one pack of Napkins
used a coupon that was on the plates for free Napkins
plus Manufacturer coupon for $1 off when you buy plates and napkins, and a store coupon for 2 off

40 pack of Pullups 15.99
Manufacturer coupon 2 dollars off store coupon for 3 off

the big box of like close to 100 Pampers diapers 19.99
manufacturer coupon for 3 off, store coupon for 3 off, and competitor coupon for 2 off

Then a Rite Aid coupon for 5 off any 25 dollar purchase.

I got name brand high price items.  things I need, for cheaper than generic, cheaper than other stores. Grand total:  111.73  savings: 136.43, and all but 22 dollars of that 136 was COUPONS.  

I use Southernsavers.com like i said, but I also subscribe to AllYou magazine (you can get it at WalMart), and I use alot of websites, like coupons.com and Target.  I print alot but the amount I have spent in ink in the 4 or 5 months I've been doing this is less than my savings from one trip to one store.  So it really does pay to shop with coupons!! Let me know if you have any questions... 

 

 So, as any one who knows me probably already knows, I grew up fairly sheltered, with pretty conservative parents (well, my dad is definitely, however this jury is still out on how conservative Mom truly is/was).  I grew up watching Winnie the Pooh's "Don't Talk to Strangers", I wasn't allowed to even walk across the street to my friends house alone until I was probably 13 or so, I was taught to be cautious of things.  Maybe that caution became paranoia, I don't know, but I feel like society in general, perhaps, is now sending out a mixed signal to kids that could be harmful.  
I am very aware of the horrible things that go on world wide to children, both by strangers as well as loved ones, each of my boys names stems from a child victim - strange as it may be, it makes sense to me.  I know that kids are picked up walking home from school and days later their innocent bodies are found in garbage heaps.  I know that children find a false sense of trust in people and are taken never to be heard from again.  I have been working hard to teach my own kids about these dangers without scaring them.  My oldest son, age 6, has a vivacious and bubbly personality when he wants to.  That kid has never meet a stranger.  I have witnessed him tell people he had never seen before his name, age, where he lives, where he is going, his school, my name, etc.  No boundaries.  So I have bought books. I have tried to explain to him nicely that he cannot do that.  I finally after talking and reading myself til I was blue in the face and still he was telling everyone in the world our life story, I had my parents order him a video.  It is called "Stranger Safety".  It is by the Baby Einstein people and John Walsh (America's Most Wanted) and while it is a little silly, it kept not only his attention, but mine and my 3 year old's as well.  My kids watch it and listen to what is being said.  I have them practice it.  They love getting to yell "this is not my mom, this is not my dad" as loud as they can, that is what the dvd instructs to do.. So I am very pleased, they will request to watch this show, I am lending it to their daycare so that hopefully the other kids will enjoy it too.  And best of all? My son is not an open book anymore.
But here is the catch.. Why I think society is sending kids mixed messages.  When we are out places, absolute strangers, whether it be employees of a restaurant or just some one who thinks my kids are cute, come up and talk to them.  And now that my son isn't talking to them, he may let out a one word answer, but for the most part he isn't speaking up, which makes me so proud.  However I am first off, annoyed that complete strangers feel the need to get in my kids' personal space and ask them anything, and even more irritated that when my son doesn't respond, the person, whom neither myself nor my child knows thinks he is either "being shy" or rude.  Why can't they, if they insist on trying to speak to a child, accept that when they get no response that the kid is SMART?? Really, I'm just annoyed that, as parents, we harp don't talk to strangers, don't take things from them, don't go places with them.  But then everywhere you go, random people try to talk to my kids, people at stores offer the kids things like lollipops, etc. and while most of the time, it is fine, aren't we teaching our kids too many to exceptions to a rule that could save their life??

 Since I have grown up in Panama City Beach, FL, I know this scene very well.  The quiet "fishing village" that my parents loved so much, they moved here when I was 3, goes through a transformation every year around this time.  A little back story:  we moved to a, suburb, I guess of Panama City Beach, because it was very small, just some houses and maybe one or two family owned businesses for the most part at that time, because it was safe and quiet.  Now that area has grown up a lot, it recently got a brand new Super Wal Mart, as well as other major businesses in the area.  
Every winter, as many towns in Florida are, PCB is taken over by snowbirds who flock here for months.  Many of these are Canadians, Michiganians, and other, mostly elderly people from the north.  However.. it is March now.  And while we still are saturated with these some times not so friendly, always thrifty, visitors, we have a new wave coming in with promise of warmer weather.  The first sign that the demographic coming into our usually quiet beach town is changing from snowbirds to teen age to college students is obvious when you walk into any store.  A month ago, Target, Wal Mart, all the stores, their center aisle displays and front displays were juice boxes, snacks, spring cleaning supplies, and even toys, but now as Spring Break has approached, those displays have quickly morphed from family friendly items to displays of beer.  Not fancy imported beer either, but the beer of college students.  The beer that those barely old enough to drink have all pitched in with their friends to get an 18 pack of .. So aside from the shelves of Natural Light being all you see when you walk in a store, other signs that make it so obvious that Spring Break has sprung include:  being in the same store and hearing girls screaming and running through the store and you wonder where their mothers are.  But then, as you walk around the corner, you see girls in their late teens clad in almost not there swim suits, and feel old for questioning their behavior.  Hearing loud stereos blaring and horns honking for no reason continuously in parking lots.  Traffic at a stand still.  I was a party girl many years ago, and while ten years ago these things would have excited me, now I just wonder which is worse, the snowbirds who are rude, cheap, and slow or the Spring Breakers, who are also rude, immature, disrespectful, ok the list goes on for both of them.  So it's official, Spring Break has arrived in PCB, FL.  

Secondly, I got some feedback on my couponing.  And I will talk to my friend today who taught me and see if she wants to write something for anyone interested in saving lots of money.  Otherwise, I will put something together soon and try to have it posted this week.  

 So recently, after seeing my friend's incredible savings shopping, I decided to ask her for advice on how there were days she was saving hundreds on groceries at stores like Publix.  After a short tutorial, I began searching for coupons.  Using sites like SouthernSavers and various coupon sites,  along with AllYou magazine and Sunday newspapers, along with a few other sources, I began collecting coupons.  Now I don't do as well as her, but I have found an amazing deal of satisfaction in getting everyday items cheap, even free.  For example yesterday, I went to Publix, armed with coupons for items I knew were on sale, ready to shop.  I got items like oatmeal for a dollar, 2 loafs of free bread, free lotion, spaghetti sauce, 4 Country Crock side dishes (usually 4 dollars), I got a giant pack of Huggies diapers (I usually get generic, but I paid less for 92 Huggies AND a pack of wipes than I usually get a smaller box of Wal-Mart brand diapers alone for), sandwiches, granola bars, 8 different kinds of cheese, and some other items.. In the end it was about 170 dollars worth of stuff.  However I left with my buggy full after handing over a stack of coupons and 63 dollars and some change.  Then, since Publix doesn't offer meat at BOGO much, I went to WinnDixie.  Yesterday was my first trip there, so I wasn't getting much and their coupon policy isn't as great as Publix's, so I wasn't expecting huge savings.  I got 2 packs of chicken, 7 tv dinners (some Kid cuisine, others similar), 4 cans of Ravioli, 4 packs of lunch meat, bananas.. napkins.. A few other things, sorry I don't have my receipts today with me,  I'll try to remember them next time for anyone interested.. But again, $65 worth of groceries and only spent $32.  And most recently, this morning, I went to Target.  Again, not a store I usually coupon at, but I had found a few good deals, so thought I would try it out.  I was quite pleased: 2 boxes of BandAids for the kids (Cars and Scooby Doo) that I actually got paid .18 a piece to take home with me!! I also got 2 Oral B toothbrushes, 2 tubes of Crest toothpaste, 2 pairs of kids socks, a box of slider ZipLoc bags, some lip gloss, and 2 packs of starburst.  I didn't have coupons for the socks.  In the end, I paid less than 9 dollars for a purchase that at Target's sale prices would have cost 20 without coupons.  However, I have realized that coupons have a weird effect on cashiers, they can be the nicest person ever, but when you pull out coupons, they look at you like you are a villain.  Which, while I understand it takes them a few minutes to scan them, but that is their job, they aren't losing money, generally the store isn't even losing money because with manufacturer coupons, the store gets reimbursed for the coupon's value.  But I guess people don't understand that, I have worked sales before and being rude to customers, coupons or not, is horrible for business.. Anyways.  It can be time consuming sometimes, but if you are well prepared, I recommend knowing ahead of time what you want, I usually take a list and pull out the coupons I'm most interested in using to save time in store, it can save you a lot of money!  I love couponing! I know that makes me sound old perhaps, but it makes it affordable to feed 3 kids, and to give me a little extra money to do other things.  For tips, you can email me, I may see if my friend wants to add anything as a guest writer.. Her trip to Publix yesterday? She got over 300 hundred dollars worth of stuff and they owed her 9 dollars in the end!!! AMAZING! 

 This is the third time in as many days that I have sat down and opened my blog to finish this up.  Between days just being too busy and this being a tough subject for me, I guess I haven't been as motivated to make time as I could have been.  So I'm not gonna drone on for a million years about things.. just finish giving myself time to finish, time to get it off my chest.  
..A day or so afterwards, after my dad got the phone call, after my dad had left to go to Tallahassee where my oldest sister had been rushed to after an accident, my other sister and myself were checked out of school.  We went with to Tallahassee.  I remember that drive seeming so long, I remember looking on the side of the roads trying to figure out where it had happened.  Where she had gotten in an accident.  According to a witness, who was behind my sister that day and who called for help, her car's tires had gone off the road.  She pulled back onto the pavement.  Then again, the car went to the side and when attempting to get car back on the road, she over corrected (if that is the proper term?) and she flipped her car several times.  From the description of the event, the images in my head, at 11 were pretty horrible, I was just sure that we would pass remnants of her car or some sign of where it happened.  But I don't think I ever saw more than a few skid marks on the road on that seemingly long drive.  When we got there, it was very surreal to me.  I thought being so young they wouldn't let me see her.  I figured I would ride in the elevator and sit in the waiting room.   As I mentioned before, she had a long fight with cancer when I was very young, and aside from her stays at Ronald McDonald House, I didn't see much of her during treatments since hospitals had policy about young children in those rooms.  I was glad to see her boyfriend there.  He was always very nice, and this was no difference, in retrospect, I am sure it was very hard on him, but he put that aside to entertain and keep my spirits up.  
I was wrong though.  Shortly after our arrival, I was allowed to see my sister.  An image I will never forget as long as I live.  She was still comatose, and of course hooked up to several machines.  She had scratches and bruises all over her body.  Her hospital gown rose up and down as the machines helped her breathe.  My sister laid there so broken yet so beautiful.  I know I stood there and cried.  I think it was the one and only time I have ever seen my father cry.  I realized then the severity of the accident.  But I told myself how tough she was, reminded myself how she was a fighter and wouldn't give up.  Then one of my parents said it was time to tell her goodbye.  
During my sister's previous illness, she had made her wishes very clear, as she knew how uncertain life truly is.  She made sure of 3 things: organs are to be donated, DNR in place as she didn't want to live in a veggie like condition, and she told our mom "if I die, don't stick me in the Florida sand, I want to be buried in Kentucky."  
The prognosis from the doctors was not good.  I don't recall the details on this, however I know they said that she would not recover.  That she could be alive, but on machines, and possibly never regain consciousness.  Due to her previous request, my parents made a hard, selfless choice to honor her wishes.  And on March 5, 1993, the machines that were helping my sister breathe and essentially making her heart beat were unplugged, and I held her small little hand for the last time and kissed her cheek hoping it was a nightmare.  That day, she made her way back to God, to be an angel.  I still have dreams about her, I still sometimes feel like she is watching over me, I know she has been my guardian angel in more than one instance,  and I know that she will always be there for me, not in body, but in spirit.  
There are so many stories I could tell about her.. So many life lessons I learned from her, both as a kid, and after her passing.  But the one thing I will always keep dear, is her unforgiving faith in God, life, herself, and her smile.  

 Let me warn you first, and apologize, this blog may be a little rough.  Mostly for me.  So I understand if you are uninterested, this isn't for anyone but myself.. This is to, not vent, but to remember I guess.  Again, it is very hard for me to be open in any other format, so sometimes I just have to do it in writing.  Then it is your choice to read it or not, and I have less pressure to explain any more than I choose to.
Today, February 28th, is a day that I usually find a bit harder than others.  It has gotten easier but it is the day a wound came that will never heal completely.  Seventeen years ago today, I was 11, and my oldest sister was in town from college for one of her best friend's bachlorette party.  She was in her last semester at UF for a 4 year degree in microbiology and was driving back to college that afternoon.  I remember asking if I could go with her, because I missed her when she was away, but of course the answer, like always, was not this time.  So I cried when she left, like always, it made me sad to see her go, she was a very good sister, always so nice and happy.  I loved her very much.  But I went about my day, already waiting for her next trip - which wasn't often we lived 5 to 6 hours from her college.  
That evening.. I sat down with the rest of my family, my other sister, and my parents, to eat dinner.  I remember this so clearly.. We had ham, and lima beans and au gratin potatoes.  Shortly into the meal, the phone rang.  My dad used to say I had radar for the phone and could tell when it was going to ring seconds prior to it actually ringing.. So I of course jumped up from the table to answer it.  The voice on the other end was very cold and asked to speak to one of my parents. They didn't word it that way, but I didn't pay much attention since it wasn't for me.  I asked my parents who wanted it, they both dreaded the phone especially one asking generically for one of them because it was normally a telemarketer - they usually call at dinner time, right?
So my dad took the phone.  And the next few minutes are quite a blur.. I knew almost immediately something was wrong from the look on my dad's face and I assumed it was my grandfather.  When my dad hung up the news was worse than I could have ever imagined.  My dear sister had been involved in an accident.  She had been flown via helicopter to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and was in a comatose state in critical condition.  My dad left within the hour to get there.  I didn't know what to do besides cry and pray.  My mom went to cleaning the entire house while we waited for news from my dad.  
a bit of backstory:  My sister had already been through hell.  When we were in the process of moving to Florida from Kentucky, my Grandmother "Pal" took my mom and my sisters to Disney World for the first time.  I was 3, and she was 13 or 14.  While we were on this vacation, she became ill and found out she had cancer.  Bear in mind that I was very little so I know very few details.  I know she was one of only a few women to get it, and at that time, in the mid 80's was I think the youngest female to ever be diagnosed with the type she had.  Again don't hold me to it.  Doctors gave my sister 6 months to live.. As if they had some control.  She went through chemo, she lost her hair.  She was sick.  But she was still smiling.  She was still getting her favorite Subway sandwich delivered to her in the hospital.  She wasn't giving up and neither were my parents.  Despite her being "sick" she still had chores, she still did homework, she was still responsible for things that most teenagers are.  Well she fought it, it was a hard battle, one she almost lost.  I remember hearing once that she had briefly slipped away.. and that she saw God.  That he told her it wasn't her time yet, she wasn't done here yet.  My sister showed those doctors they didn't tell her when she was over.  She beat all odds and made a full recovery after a 2 year fight.  
I remember on that night, not really that long ago, hearing through my mother's tears that it wasn't fair.  That she had already fought for her life.. And now she was fighting for it again. 
I will write more later.. this is too much for me right now.