A Birthday to Remember

In May of 1996, I unfortunately had one of the most significant life changing events of my life.  One of my closest friends was killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, and while that story is better saved for another post on another day, today, I wanted to take a moment to write about Jenny and remember her on her birthday.

Jenny's birthday was always a wonderful day - for our four years in college it marked the end of the semester and provided us a reason to celebrate. Jenny was the social keeper, the girl with the big smile, the one who made every party a bit brighter and her birthdays were always filled with unspeakable joy.

You can see a bit of her personality in this great picture taken at her surprise party on her 20th birthday.

The date remains on my calendar, not just to remind me of her [a day hasn't gone by in 15 years that I haven't thought about her smile or her funny little laugh] but to remind me that life is fleeting. 

It is important to make sure that you enjoy every minute of it, living life to it's fullness and reveling in the little moments that may otherwise seem mundane. And while Jenny is no longer her to celebrate with us, I wish her the happiest of birthdays and pray that her spirit and love continues to be passed on by each person who loved her.

Jenny's 21st Celebration

As we get into the swing of the Holiday parties, I want to implore you to NEVER drink and drive. There is no safe amount of alcohol or drugs to consume and get behind the wheel of a car. You are the only one responsible for YOU.  Please make plans to make sure you get home safe.

December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving prevention month. Please visit the  MADD (Mother's Against Drunk Driving) website for some ideas to help you arrive safe this Holiday season. Don't make another mother celebrate her child's birthday at the cemetery. Be Safe. Drive Sober.








Sunshine Praises is in NO way connected with MADD or any of its affiliates. I posted the links to their website because I support their cause and want to raise awareness to Drunk Driving and it's implications.

Winner: Luna B. Tee

Congratulations to Greta for winning the Luna B. Tee giveaway.  Hope you enjoy your shirt.  Post a picture on the Sunshine Praises website when you get

your prize!

Greta (gknigga@yahoo.com) said... 33



I commented on the Holiday Open House - Elf Pajamas post!


November 29, 2010 6:00 AM

Winner: Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop!

I just wanted to personally thank ALL of you who came to visit, follow me on FB, Twitter, GFC etc.  You are all a blessing to me.  I look forward to all the new opportunities this will bring me and great giveaways to you! 

I know you are all tired from the Holiday Hop but I have some GREAT giveaways currently happening and would LOVE to have you enter.  You already have 5 of the 10 entries...so that makes it super easy!

Luna B. Tee (12/6)

Agloves (12/21) 


And for the moment you have all been waiting for

 the winner is....

Helena said... 142 (My counter starts over at 200)I follow you on GFC! On top of my Christmas wishlist would be a laptop! Then I could blog at the mall, Starbucks or anywhere there is wifi! Thanks!

December 5, 2010 12:02 AM

Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop!

 

It's finally here! The giveaway carnival of a lifetime...The Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop hosted by Simply Stacie and including hundreds of blogs giving away cash and gift certificates from some amazing sponsors.  You have 5 days to enter as many of the giveaways as possible just by following the linky at the bottom of this post.  Entries are easy but please be sure to take time to visit and get to know our sponsors - without them the event would not be possible.

Here at Sunshine Praises you have the opportunity to win $110.00 from my four generous sponsors and me!  You can read more about each of my sponsors by clicking the links below. There are only 5 ways to enter and the whole prize package will be given to one lucky winner!

So who is going to help you decorate your Holiday Tree?

In no particular order:

 $25 Visa Gift Card

Mailed directly to your home to be used for whatever wonderful Christmas present you desire! Buy a gift for yourself or someone else! Makes a great stocking stuffer or gift for a hard to buy shopper.

 $25 Gift Certificate

Amy Benson Photography is giving a $25 gift certificate for a personalized photo creation or if you live in the area off your own photo shoot. Find Amy Benson Photography on Facebook.

 $25 Gift Certificate

Misty Mills, Independent Scentsy Consultant is offering a $25 Gift Certificate to her Scentsy store to be used for whatever your little nose desires. Find Misty Mills on Facebook.

 $25 Gift Certificate

Jasmere is offering a $25 Gift Certificate to be used towards any of their spotlight features. Find Jasmere on Facebook.

$10 Gift Certificate

Brynns Beautiful Bows will be giving a $10 certificate to be used towards any purchase in their Etsy Store. Find them on Facebook.

Mandatory Entry:

Follow me on Google Friend Connect and tell me what is on top on your own personal Christmas list this year.

Extra Entries:
Follow Sunshine Praises on Twitter.
Like Sunshine Praises on Facebook.
Subscribe to my blog on email.
Follow Sunshine Praises on Networked blogs.

Giveaway ends on December 5, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to US only. The winners will be selected by random.org and notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply back before a new winner is selected. Good luck!

Enter to win at ALL the Holiday Hop Gift Giveaway blogs...

Gearing Up for the BEST Event in 2011 - Blogmania!

 

 

Come join us for the biggest Blogland

Blogmania Event of 2011

Blogmania has proven to be a lot of fun. Not only do you get to see a lot of amazing blogs/bloggers that may have otherwise been buried under the sea of blogs but you get to potentially win a ton of prizes! Last season over 35K in prizes were dished out worldwide!

Would you like to be a part of this crew of Blogmania bloggers? Would you like to become more PR friendly, grow your blog, meet new bloggers, form new relationships with bloggers and shop owners? Regardless of your blogging goals, be it one or all of those, you will have FUN!

If you are interested in being on the Blogmania 2011 crew please send me a note (bree at breebee dot com) and I will respond with the details of the event.

April's fee is $15

To secure a giveaway for April and October the combo fee is $20 paypal to Bree at Breebee dot com, paying means you agree to the terms of blogmania.

Make sure you let Bree know you were referred by Melanie at Sunshine Praises.


Registration is open until March 1st but those that sign on by Dec 15th, 11:59pm EST will be entered into a CASH prize drawing!