A Good Man Died Last Sunday....

A good man died May 18th. Actually according to the paper a lot of people died that day. The difference is that I knew this one and he was an important part of my daughter's life. May 18. 2008 was when Steven Billeaud(pronounced Beo) died in a tragic accident and left what seemed like half the city of Lafayette in mourning. I went to the funeral today at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral to pay respects. I sat in awe of the church. In silence I looked around at the stained glass that sparkled like jewels on all sides of the massive sanctuary... the incense was sweet and the air inside was cool. I really felt a sort of peace during the entire service as I sat there hoping that Steve was looking down seeing the vast number of people that called him 'friend'. He was the father of Rebekah's best friend Leigh. They were friends since the third grade at Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau. They have carried each other thru life's good times and bad times and this was surely the worst for both of them. Becky is blessed to be 'part' of their family and shared many happy times with the Billeaud family. Leigh is Becky's Maid of Honor. My heart ached for his wife Sarah and there is nothing that can be said to take the pain. They had a slide show at the funeral home that really celebrated his life. In the midst of the horrible sadness you found yourself laughing thru tears at the pictures that were selected. The unreserved joy that was his life touched so many people, that much was evident.
Sarah the only thing that I can say that would offer any comfort is that the best of him is in your three beautiful daughters and your granddaughter. Leigh, Lexie and Audrey you had a wonderful father and he taught you honor, dedication and a zest for life. He was so proud of all of you.
Steven Billeaud was a good man.

Just a Question

What possesses a 35 year old 250 pound woman to think that orange hot pants and a stretchy top make up good fashion sense... possibly the same woman that has diamonds at the tip of each nail. The nurse that just gave her a shot adds that the fashionesta above has on a pink and green g-string.... that picture will remain in my head the rest of the night.
I remain continuously surprised
hugs to all
Debbie

Elite School And Cornerstone Dance Theatre

Last October 2007 Joshua and Desiree were being booted out of their previous building... they however weren't aware that it was happening. We suspected that the owners of their previous building had sold but they wouldn't admit it and wanted to continue to charge the kids rent... "bastids" ...I accidentally found out and told the kids to move right away. They went out looking and found this fabulous building with 6500 square feet. Actually what happened was Joshua found a church and close by a street named Luke.... he felt it was a good omen and tada... there was the building. The above pic is the lobby and the office
Here is Joshua doing things he never thought he would or could do.

This is the finished product in less than a week. This was an effort of both Des and Joshua and the families. The studio has three rooms the main room is a 50 by 50 room that is used for the main dancing area the pictures here show the finished room and Josh hanging the 14 foot black and white curtains a gift from Ted Viator. The next room is the baby room and it originally was the loading dock. It was a mess and literally within 10 days they had it up and running. The large baby blocks, pink curtains and the huge cracker jack box was also a gift from Ted. The rooms pictured below are the baby room (which by the way is about 12 by 50 ) and another 50 by 50 room that is used for hip-hop, ballroom and Latin dancing. Joshua has put his exercise equipment into the area for his workout clients. His dancers also have to workout!

The main room looked alot like the back room and they got in there with black and white paint and made it look wonderful in about a week. I have never seen work done so fast or so well.

They have created such a beautiful space and have a group of dancers that take my breath away. They have an Elite show coming up the 12th of June where all the school dancers including the Cornerstone members will perform. Our baby dancers are just wonderful. Cornerstone will have a performance in October and in February of each year featuring the junior and senior company dancers and select professionals from around the country. I am a proud mother and board member as if you couldn't tell. We are taking donations for our Cornerstone Student dancers. Since Cornerstone is a non- profit company any donation that is given is tax deductible. A lot of our students are financially strapped and need support. Please consider us if you have an excess of money and just need to give it away. Our students would be so very, very, grateful. God Bless,
Mama Deb( what the Elite students call me)

May 12 Letter to Mom

Hi Mom,
I miss you, it's been 6 years since you died and I think about you all the time. My children have certain characteristics that remind me of you and I find myself smiling with good memories. I spent Patti's birthday in Illinois with everyone but Joshua, Mark, Robbon and Stan. You will be so pleased to know that we are all close. My sisters and I love each other like you would have wanted us to. In fact its because of you that we are so close.... you made us 'family'. You being you gave us the example that family is everything and I am so grateful to you for that. You will be happy to know that Patti reminds me of you and Barbara reminds me of Edna. It's a hoot when we are together.... I don't know who I remind people of but usually they say it's you. Because of circumstances we have rekindled a relationship with Jo Anne. I know that you would have approved because she needs us. She doesn't have family like we have. Mark and Robbon have two children... two beautiful girls Mia and Ashley. Carrie and Ben have three boys: Joel, Drew and Evan. Mindy is still just as sweet and you should see Suzanne..... Mom she is just beautiful. Barbara and Bob are such wonderful grandparents. Patti and Jack are grandparents as well. You remember Chris's little girl? Well Chrystin( I never can spell that right) is a beautiful young lady. Chris has a new wife Jen and thru her you have 2 new great-grandsons, Malcom and Keenan. Mom you are probably busy up there but keep your eye out for Chris's kids till he and Jen can get custody of all of them. Jenny and Brandon have little Ian( like your name Ina) who is a trip. You would have absolutely adored him. They are trying for another one so like the last time when Jenny was pregnant... keep watch over her. Your youngest grandchild Rebekah is getting married to a wonderful young man named Shane. Oh Mom you would just love him. He makes Becky laugh and really really loves her. Becky is a nurse now. Mom she is just beautiful and so smart. I am in awe of her. I know that you walk with her and give her help when she is tired and discouraged. Joshua is doing well. He says he is never getting married. He got a tattoo.... I know that you weren't crazy about them but I actually like them. The one on his chest is about you. It's a small cross with GL3 under it. ... stands for Great Lord God Loves Grandma Lucky. He is such a beautiful dancer and Mom he finally owns his own business with Desiree Doucet, his partner. I believe that each time he dances that you see and that you are proud and that you give him wings. Mom I love you today as much as I did when you were here. You were the best.
Love, Debbie

Going Green and other things

Hi there, today I officially started yet again another diet. You know losing weight is really a state of mind and giving up fattening foods is just like giving up alcohol if you are an alcoholic. It's a one minute, one hour, one day at a time. You have to do a lot of praying and convince yourself that a)you are not hungry b)that the donut(ice cream, candy bar...substitute your own weakness)you want is really poison to your body especially at the quantity that you want. c) that yes you are upset about WHATEVER but an eclair WILL NOT make you feel better d) that you are beautiful(even at the current weight) but that for your health NOT your looks you want to lose the excess weight. Well okay, the last one is horse poopie mostly, because the bottom line is we all want to be the girl who can cross her legs and be thin enough to hook one leg behind the other one. If you are a man you want to lose the man-boobs. So I visited Planet Nutrition at my son's request and met with Chet and stocked up on things that will make me ummm... healthier.

On to saving the environment and going green. I have been green off and on for years. I have wondered though if you are not green what color are you, brown maybe? I never really got serious about it. I remember once I was saving cans. I saved cans for weeks. I had cans in plastic bags(not very green)I was up to my yang-yang in pop cans and didn't know what to do with them because our trash people didn't separate. They weren't very earth friendly at the time. Anyway I was at work lamenting my overflowing of cans and a co-worker volunteered to come over and collect the cans. We filled the back of his pick up truck with plastic bags full of cans. I felt pretty special that I was helping conserve. Afterward for several years I got eco-lazy and just pitched everything in the trash and carried all my groceries in plastic. Today I changed. I paid .99 cents each and got 10 bags that are made of material and I can carry them into the store and use them instead of paper or plastic. Is that neat or what. Eco-Deb was back. I really felt special and immediately went to the store so that I could buy something to put in my new bags. I bought fruit and toilet paper and a rag mag so that I could find out why Katie Holmes-Cruz is unhappy( betcha she doesn't separate) The guy at the check out put it all in plastic until I started waving my bags... then he said "do you want me to put the plastic bags in your bags".... duh!!!!! No Mr. Rocket Scientist I want to use MY bags only. So he took everything out of the plastic and put in my new reusable bags. I feel the urge to buy some earth shoes and a long flowered skirt. I am starting out small but really believe(no fooling) that we all have to help preserve our environment.
Till later, lots of hugs to the two of you
Ecodeb

Gift Bags and Wedding Souvenirs

I have always believed that my sister Patti started that most wonderful of all traditions, THE GIFT BAG. The gift bag is what you get when you go out of town to a family get together or wedding. The gift bag is waiting for you when you check into the hotel and is full of meaningful little items and chocolate. You might also find Jordan Almonds nestled in a special gift bag. The first gift bag I ever encountered was (I believe) at my niece Jenny's wedding in Iowa..... hence my idea that my sister was the genius behind the goodie bag. Imagine my surprise when a friend was telling me that when they checked into the hotel for her relatives wedding they had a gift bag full of goodies. I was stunned at how fast my sisters idea took root(I don't get out much)... I am glad I kept my mouth shut and didn't brag that my sister invented the things. I found out sadly that my sister did not invent gift bags. I will, however, say that she may not have done the first gift bag but she is in the running for the best. Rebekah and I now have a problem: THE GIFT BAG. What to put in it... we have a family image to uphold. I can't have my relatives whispering behind their hands that our bags were somehow inferior. The real trick is to fill the bag with useful items and things that make the recipient go.. awwwwwww looky at this... how cute, and to do it without spending the mint to do it. Beck and I have discussed this for a year. Gift bag items rank right up there with what to serve at the reception. In fact a great gift bag can go along way in decreasing the complaints about the reception food... for example "man that cake was as dry as toast but boy-o-boy didn't we get a great GIFT BAG, these people sure know how to throw a party". We come from an area that provides great sample goodies like Tabasco sauce from Avery Island, pralines, Mardi Gras stuff, plastic alligators...you know the neat stuff. The ultimate goal is to continue to hear about the gift bags that you have created for at least 2 family reunions.

Wedding souvenirs are those take home things that are given at the reception.(I could just slap the snot out of the person who started that little tradition) Everyone gets those as opposed to the gift bag which only those who stay in the hotel get. We now have to find an item that is meaningful, says 'we care' and reminds the recipients of Becky and Shane AND doesn't cost the moon for 250 of them. I also don't want something that involves me tying ribbons around, gluing, or doing any manual labor in getting it ready for presentation on the souvenir table. It was a piece of cake when everyone smoked.... books of matches. I thought about getting those small personal purse sized toilet paper rolls(found those and gave it to the kids in their stockings 2 Christmas' ago) It's meaningful, it certainly says 'we care' and they will remember Becky and Shane each time they hit a bathroom that has run out of toilet paper. It would be really cute if we could get a picture of the bride and groom wrapped around the roll.
Later, y'all

Happy Birthday Party for Patti

Becky and I took off for the outskirts of Chicago to celebrate my middle sister's 60th birthday. One thing you can depend on when we get together is that we will eat well.(and often) That and we usually shop. Several neat things happened during the weekend. Number one neat thing was that all of us met Chris's new bride the uber creative Jen. Neat thing number two was that we met our new nephews(and cousins) Keenan and Malcolm

Jack was our host for dinner at a wonderful steak restaurant. The above pics are of (from left to right) Kryss and Jen, then a pic of Patti and her chicks, Kryss and Jenny, and finally the host with the most Jack and Patti!

Jenny Martens is Patti's daughter and a vet in Geneva, Illinois. She was the party planner along with her dad. Her friend from work made a feast for all of us when we arrived.

My own precious daughter Rebekah.

This is my favorite pic of my older sister Barbara and her husband Bob.

Barbara's two daughters spent the weekend with us. On the top is Mindy and on the bottom is Carrie.


This was a group shot after lunch on Saturday.

This is the family that Ina made and was so very proud of. Her wish was that we would always be close....and we are and even a greater blessing our kids are as well.

I really had the best time. We ate till we couldn't eat anymore, we talked, laughed and enjoyed each other as we always do. I can't imagine a better family. The only down side to the weekend was that Stan wasn't there, Mark and Robbon couldn't make it because of a carrot emergency, and Joshua was with his students in Houston for dance competition.

I get all warm and fuzzy inside when I am with family especially after long absences. Becky and I awoke early Saturday morning and went to the hotel gym. We were energized and I felt a need to bond with my nieces so I called them up and told them to open the door that auntie deb was on her way. Mindy was sitting up looking cheerful and happy. Carrie was still buried under her covers apparently the night had not gone well. She did however rise to the occasion and joined us for breakfast.

Patti, Barb, Jack, Bob, Jen, Jenny, Christan, Malcolm, Keenan, Brandon, Ian, Rebekah, Mindy, Carrie, Kryss.... You guys are the very best. When I look at my family(even the absent ones) I see some very funny, creative, unique individuals that offer so much to each other. I love you all!!!