Friday, February 24, 2012

Best Post of the Week: Week 141


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Giveaway Winners

The winners of the three pairs of tickets to the Freestyle Motocross are:

Greta
Bethany
Torie

The Winners of the Disney Live! Huntsville Show tickets are:

Micha
Bucks

Your tickets will be available at willcall on the day of the show. Please email me at rachel@alabamabloggers.com by THURSDAY with your full name so they will be properly reserved.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Best Post of the Week: Week 140


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Healing and Help Comes to Pleasant Grove.

Shortly after the April 27th tornadoes, I visited Pleasant Grove.

Although I went to half a dozen destroyed towns, Pleasant Grove was one of the most painful. I knew what it was supposed to look like, as I had spent many days of my childhood visiting friends who lived there.

And also, there was this house.

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I broke down when I found it.

I had barely removed the blue bow from my own mailbox when the tornadoes hit. Had the storm moved a little more in another direction, this house could have just as easily been mine.

I never found out if that baby was okay, but I think about him often, as I thank God for the opportunity to look into my own baby boy’s blue eyes.

For the first time since that original visit, I returned to Pleasant Grove this past Friday. As I entered the city, the determination to rebuild their community was immediately evident. Both in tornado damaged and non-damaged areas, construction was everywhere. New neighborhoods, new houses, new everything.

Their commitment to stay in their community was so admirable, despite the wide open spaces all around them.

Brand new houses would be alone on a block, with cleared fields on one side and house ruins on the other.

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With most of the ruins cleared, it wasn’t nearly as evident as to what had happened to this community.

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In some areas, the new construction was so widespread that if it weren’t for the telltale eerie trees, one who didn’t know might just think it was a brand new development.

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My visit to Pleasant Grove was for the opportunity to meet Sara Newton and Jim Mosley.

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Sara and Jim almost certainly would have never crossed paths if it weren’t for the April 27 tornadoes. Sara is an architect who lives in Clemson, South Carolina, and Jim is a retired steel mill worker in Pleasant Grove, Alabama.

After the tornadoes hit, Sara and her father, Steve Sanders, wanted to find someone that their church service group, the Clemson Pres Doers, could bless.

And when I say “bless”, I mean “build a new house”.

Yeah – wow.

Their motto, Go Big With God, is certainly fitting.

They did some research and found a list of people who needed houses. Jim was on the top of the list.

So they met with him, committed to the project, raised all of their own funds, and built Jim a house.

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Isn’t it beautiful?

Jim’s original house was next to where the new one is, but very little was left. He was at home during the storm, and managed to secure himself in the doorframe. He later had to be dug out of the rubble.

Jim told me that when he was going through a stack of papers that hadn’t been blown away, he found a house plan that his mother had saved – it had been her dream home. He gave the plan to Sara, they tweaked it slightly for Jim’s needs, and he now has his mother’s dream home.

Jim got his certificate of occupancy on Friday, and plans to move in later this week.

For this building project, the Clemson Pres Doers raised over $90,000, and only lack $4,000 to finish paying for all of their expenses. They have also brought groups of volunteers from South Carolina throughout the whole process, giving their church members had the option of serving or giving (or both) to complete Jim’s house.

I was astonished at their generosity, commitment, and desire to love their fellow man in such a practical way.

Not all of Jim’s neighbors have been so blessed, yet. As you look out of Jim’s window, there is still much to be done.

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I asked Jim what made him stay in Pleasant Grove.

“It never was an option for me to leave. My family has been in Pleasant Grove for over 100 years – it’s home, that’s it.”

Jim has been living with his Aunt and Uncle a couple of miles away during this construction process, and is thrilled to be moving into his beautiful new home.

When I asked him if I could get his and Sara’s picture, Jim beamed. Then he said “Wait!!”, and pulled off his jacket.

“I never thought this Bama Boy would wear a Clemson shirt, but I sure will now!!”

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After all, being willing to wear another team’s colors is the highest form of gratitude around here.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Disney Live! Huntsville - Giveaway, Discount Code!


Disney's Phineas and Ferb Live! Is coming to the Von Braun Civic Center on March 16!

With showtimes at 3:30 and 6:30, your Phineas and Ferb fans are sure to be thrilled with adventure and excitement.

If you would like to go, I have two pairs of tickets to give away to the 6:30 show!

Simply comment on this post to enter.

For up to three extra entries, you may:

Be sure to leave one comment per entry for your extra entries to be counted!

Winners will be randomly chosen on Monday, February 20 and announced on Tuesday, February 21.

Best of luck! But if you don't win, I also have a discount code available to everyone - enter ALBLOG at Ticketmaster or at the arena to get $3 off on all premium seating. Discount not applicable to premium tickets or day of show tickets.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Giveaway, Discount to Freestyle Motocross!



Freestyle Motocross is coming to the BJCC on Saturday, March 10!

Doors open at 6:30, and the show begins at 7:30.

Riders will be doing mind-blowing tricks, launching their bikes and performing mid-air acrobatics.



If you would like to attend, I have three pairs of tickets to give away!

Simply comment on this post to enter - make sure your email address is included.

For up to three extra entries, you may:
  • Follow Alabama Bloggers on Twitter.
  • Tweet, blog, or Facebook about this giveaway.

Be sure to leave one comment per entry for your extra entries to be counted!

Winners will be randomly chosen on Monday, February 20 and announced on Tuesday, February 21.

I also have a discount code available to everyone - enter ALBLOG at Ticketmaster or at the arena to get $10 adult tickets - a $6 discount per ticket! Discount not applicable to premium tickets or day of show tickets.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Best Post of the Week: Week 139


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Friday, February 3, 2012

Hear the King of Alabama Social Media at the next alsocme meet!

I've been waiting for this moment since I first heard of the forming of alsocme. When I received the email yesterday, it's a possibility that I might have squealed with girlish glee.

James Spann is speaking.

There is quite literally no one in the state of Alabama that deserves more respect and honor for their utilization of social media, and as such, no one more qualified to share innovative and effective ways to use the tools of Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Blogging.

Just recently, after the last tornado hit our area, Mr. Spann was able to leverage his social media presence along with his followers' retweets and responses to gain the attention of ABC's national news, who had reported that Alabama was struck with "surprise" tornadoes with "no warning", which was clearly untrue. They later aired a much more accurate story as well as conducting an interview with Spann, although I'm unaware if the latter was ever aired.

From the alsocme site:
“The secret to social media is all about treating people right, and getting them engaged,” Spann says. Attendees will learn how to increase followers and create more meaningful conversations through his practical examples and insight.

I highly recommend attending this FREE event. It is scheduled for Monday, February 20th at 11:15 at the Hill Event Center. Lunch will be provided by Ted's Restaurant. Be sure to register at alsocme.org before all spots are gone!!

Best Post of the Week: Week 138


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!
If you haven't linked up and introduced yourself yet, be sure to go here to do so!