Spirit.

This weekend I was blessed to be able to to spend time with some amazing children and the parents and staff who love them. On Saturday, Geri, Dawn (Mrs. Ocean County), Anita (Mrs. Mercer County) and myself held a toy drive for children fighting cancer at the Monmouth Medical Center. It filled me with holiday spirit to see how many people opened their hearts to brighten a child's day with a toy or game. Six huge bags of toys were collected and we'll be personally delivering them to the hospital next weekend.


Then yesterday, with Anita, Dawn, Beth (Mrs. Burlington County), Darlene (Mrs. Monmouth County), Susan (Mrs. Cape May County), Amy (Mrs. Somerset County), Christina (Mrs. Atlantic County), and former contestants Jenny and Laura, we attended the holiday party for the former patients of the Center. To see the happy, healthy children ... there are no words. What an honor to spend time with these survivors!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas ...

The holiday season is in full swing in New Jersey! Although we've only had one real snow (before Halloween!), the streets in every town are lined with twinkly lights and I've been lucky enough to participate in holiday concerts, parades, and parties - I feel jolly! I was a "Disco Santa" at a Holiday Express concert, been riding in the back of BMWs and Fords at several holiday parades, and even been a surprise guest at an 100th birthday party (go, Minna!).