It has been a while since I have contributed to this blog area. I suppose with the holidays and the wintry weather and work and such, it has been a time for trying to play "catch up" with a routine again. But now as we have ushered in 2011, I think back on 2010 with fond memories of this Foundation.Someone very special recently introduced me to this song and I thought it was very appropriate for the people who have worked so diligently during the year of 2010, giving of their time, talents...

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It was my 49th birthday in October. I won't go into how many years ago that was. But I will never forget that time in my life. And perhaps it is the very event that caused me to involve myself with such passion in this Foundation.The pain was there but it didn't seem to matter that much. I was sure that recent workouts caused a bit of stiffness and muscle groaning. It was very uncomfortable to sit for long periods of time on the piano or organ bench. But in the days that ensued, the discomfort...

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Being so embedded in technology, I understand fully the venue afforded us through online outreaches such as Twitter, Facebook and others. With this in mind, I sometimes take alerts and messages for granted. But I am reminded periodically of how these technologic advances affected the life of Laura Crandall Brown.I am more than engaged in technology. My work requires such. I am obliged to respond to messages, be they on my computer via e-mail to text messages prompted by family communications,...

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Recently while attending a meeting for the Foundation, I was talking with a young person who is very involved in the organization. We were talking about our blog and the many stories that had been shared here. During that conversation, he mentioned that perhaps we should look back at the Caring Bridge site that so effectively kept us all up to date as Laura and her family fought the cancer that eventually took her from us. So, recently, I did just that. I visited the pages of that website,...

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As I pondered my blog post, I thought it most appropriate to welcome our newest board member, Dave Keyes. Since my involvement with this cause, I have been amazed at the relationships I have built. Yes, I'm family, so I expect to "stick by" family. But I am humbled by the measure of volunteerism and passion experienced in those whom I have met in these past few months. Dave's incentive for joining our cause is obviously his wife's experience with this very disease. As we welcome him and Toni...

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Many of you really knew Laura. Perhaps you are family or a close childhood friend. Maybe you attended school with Laura or hung out with her through a mutual friend. But I wonder how many of you realize how the domain for this website was established?  In the early days of forming the foundation, we had a few "called meetings." This particular meeting was at a Mexican restaurant in the southern part of the Birmingham metro area. I remember that night well. One specific point of...

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As you may already know, I am related to Laura's family on her mother's side. Although our families were very close "growing up," we found ourselves a bit scattered as the kids all began to mature and engage in their own activities in high school and college. We still gathered at special occasions like graduations or weddings but that almost weekly contact lessened over the years.  Laura's mom and I are from a very large family. Cecilia's dad and my mother were siblings and were two of eight...

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As much as I have always wanted to post a blog, I never thought anyone would be engaged in any topic that I might have on my mind. But because of Laura and my dedication to her legacy, I am going to give this a shot.  I hope that the story I share with you today will touch you as much as it did me.  I must say that involvement is probably my middle name.  Yes, I seem to get involved in quite a few projects.  Don't we all?  As I have grown older and my children...

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