http://www.facebook.com/ImpactCenterTX

http://twitter.com/ImpactCenterTX

http://www.youtube.com/TexasIMPACTCenter

10AM – 10:40

1) Kyra Rodriguez, 3x Grand Over-All Winner / Mr & Miss Sweetheart Pageant
2) Shayne Travis, 15-yr. old Country sensation
3) Amber Gammons, Winner of multiple, local Talent Contests

11AM – 11:40 Sam Harris, Producer / Performer

12 Noon – 12:40 J Xavier, Rap artist

1PM – 1:40 (3 Performers)

1) Daizha Moton, 5-yr. old sensation
2) Alberta Zemyra, 17-yr. old
3) Samantha Jones, 8-yr. old

2PM – 2:40 The Daily Grind Band

3PM – 3:40 Papa String Band, Rock n Roll

4PM – 4:40 Cheyanne James, 17-yr. old Blues Singer & The Golden Girl, Brianna Foster

5PM – 5:30 Audie Darling, Nashville

5:45 – 6:45 Angie Beck w/ Musicians from The Randy Travis Band

7PM – 7:40 Kevin Black, Country Artist

8PM – 8:40 Keith McCoy & the CEO Band

9PM – 9:40 Doc Richards & the Still Broke Band

view the FULL 2010 Schedule on the new CCIC website:

http://texasimpactcenter.org/events/2010-Childrens-Music-Festival.shtml#schedule

10AM – 11AM Bubba Carol - Make your own CD

11AM – 12 Noon World Famous Boxer Termite Watkins & Clinton Stoneham teaches discipline through Christ, boxing & MMA

12 Noon – 1PM Security Baptist Church Puppet Show

1PM – 2PM Aztec Dancers

2PM – 3PM Houston Comedy Show

3PM – 4PM Youth Talent Contest

4PM – 5PM Lil Sizzle - Christian Rapper

5PM – 6PM Adult Talent Contest

6PM – 7PM Karaoke Time with Bubba Murphy

7PM – 8PM Zydeco Hour

8PM – 9PM Karaoke w/ Bubby Murphy

9PM – 10PM Series Six, Rock ‘n’ Roll

view the FULL 2010 Schedule on the new CCIC website:

http://texasimpactcenter.org/events/2010-Childrens-Music-Festival.shtml#schedule

view the FULL 2010 Schedule on the new CCIC website:

http://texasimpactcenter.org/events/2010-Childrens-Music-Festival.shtml#schedule

Brenda Myers came to that realization in 2004 during a 2-year recovery process from being hit by a drunk driver. During her long tenure of bed rest, she often read the obituaries. She was shocked at the number of young people that were dying unnecessarily.

When she was able, Brenda began passing out surveys to children in her community to determine their fears and what they felt would enable them to stay out of trouble. She collected over 3,000 surveys!

The responses were so shocking she knew she had to act on it. She started coordinating and hosting events in her back yard to encourage these young people. The events grew to attract as many as 1,000 children and young adults.

Although Brenda is the driving force, a caring Team of friends as well as local and community businesses have been part of her journey to establish The Community & Children’s Impact Center. In May 2007, it received official non-profit status.

Individuals, businesses and organizations continuously dedicate their time, resources and energy to reach their goal of constructing the building that will house The Community & Children’s Impact Center on the small tract of land they purchased with donations and funds raised through events.

The Community & Children’s Impact Center is not an elaborate baby sitting service. Interactive activities, like Hug-a-Tree/Kiss-a-Fish or the Mister and Miss Sweetheart Pageant that special-needs children are encouraged to participate in, allow young people to realize their full potential and value.

You can see first-hand how this fantastic organization operates and help them raise money for the anticipated Impact Center by attending the 4th Annual Texas Children’s Music Festival in Cleveland , TX on Saturday, June 5, 2010. There are many activities planned and great entertainers who are donating their time for this cause. It’s guaranteed to create memories you’ll enjoy for years to come. Sponsorships are still available, donations for prizes are still being accepted, and applications for Vendors and the BBQ Cook-off can be acquired on-line.

Parking is $2.00
Adult tickets are $2.00
Children 15 and under are FREE
Affordable entertainment … for a great cause … for the entire family … close to home. WOW!

The Community & Children’s Impact Center
New Site
Brenda Myers
936-499-2632
bmyersimpact@att.net

April 28, 2010 at 5:08pm Subject: read this story i wrote brenda i wrote this this is what has been going through my head and how i felt the past week
the kid in the corner

Last Night I had a dream that i was shot at school by a student.The same student that said he would this year. When I got up this morning i thought this could really happen to me.The school would not do anything about it. So i think to my self should i just sit here and take this thats what the school thinks about it. It will all pass over I have been dealing with this guy for 3 years for i still dont know what i did to this guy. Why me why did he choose me to call out. Of all people i try to be friends with everyone.IM the kid who gets picked on everyday for being fat. Somedays i Dont want eat because of it. It haurt to know people dont like me .When Peolpe dont even know what ive been though. I grew up with a dad in my life. People judge me they dont me WHY ? I wont to do something about it but afraid too . This is From the mind of the fat kid in the corner.

READ THESE WORDS CAREFULLY MY FRIENDS AND WONDER TO YOURSELF, COULD THIS BE HAPPENING TO MY CHILD. JOIN OUR TEAM TODAY AND HELP GIVE THESE KIDS SOME HOPE, ENCOURAGEMENT AND CONFIDENCE.

4th Annual Texas Children’s Music Festival

Saturday June 5, 2010

Get your Vendor & Bar-B-Q applications now!

Donating their Time: Encee’s for the day !

Mike Bell- K-Star County*

Carlos Wallace- Entertainer, Comedy Show Manager & Promoter

Mark Freem & Amy @ KETX Radio 92.3-  4 hour Live Broadcast donated by McCoy’s Building Supply-Cleveland

Special guest: “Kevin Black”

Audie Darling from Nashville

Angela Beck, Country Artist

Doc Richards & The Still Broke Band

Local, Cheyanne James, 16-yr old Blues singer

Local, Shayne Travis, Miniature George Strait

TERMITE WATKINS WORLD FAMOUS BOXER
Take home his book and get excited about his upcoming movie

Help us sponsor the show and bring a smile to a child’s face.

Bar-B-Q Teams so far:

• Deep Down Cookers
  Pirates of the Griil & Beans
  CINCO B Cookers
  Moonlight Cookers
  Kitchen Dales
• Family Country Cookers
• Bad Bones Bar-B-Q Crew
• Kountry Cookers- Annette Zachry Construction

Add your name to our sponsorship packet:

Here are our sponsors so far:

1. K-Start Radio Station – You’re the Best!
2. Candy Land Carnival’s By: Floyd
3. Bill & Jean McAdams

In Memory of “Richard Hanks Fishing Tournment”

Fishing Tournment, Forest Adventure Trip, Over Night Camp-Out, Story Telling, Scavenger Hunt and more…

Grand over-all winner of the tournment will win a life-time fishing license!
$600.00 Value Donated By: Impact Directors * Larry & Caroline Morton

Contact Impact Directors:
Amanda Sutters (281) 806-0337 or Larry Morton (936) 328-6346

Bring your fishing poles
Impact Team to furnish lunch on that Saturday
Bring your  extra snacks and drink
Parent & Child fishing team can win extra prize
Bring everything to campout (optional)

We need sponsors for prizes and 2 Bar-B-Q Teams for Saturday to help us

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA

I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world.
I realize this may be a shock but
“happiness comes from within”
is a lie, and
money will make me happy.
So in 30 years, I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life.
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family.
I tell you this.
Once upon a time,
families stayed together.
But this will not be true in my era.
This is a quick fix society.
Experts tell me
30 years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce.
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making.
In the future,
environmental destruction will be the norm.
No longer can it be said that
my peers and I care about this Earth.
It will be evident that
my generation is apathetic and lethargic.
It is foolish to presume that
there is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it!

…now read it backwards!

check it out on our new website:
http://texasimpactcenter.org/events/calendar.shtml

The new CCIC website is being donated by the International Peace Movement in conjunction with SEOwebMarket.com

Life Decision Program to challenge teens-City of Cleveland Municipal Court

in conjunction with The Community and Children’s Town Meeting with our special guest

“Billy The Exterminator”

and his family from Vexcon on the TV Station A & E.

The second Life Decisions Program is set for Friday, April 23, from 6 to 7 p.m., at the Cleveland Civic Center. Sponsored by the Cleveland Municipal Court, the purpose of this event is to assist adolescents in making decisions in life that will direct their future paths.

Billy The Exterminator and his family will travel 6 hours from Lousiana to visit with our community to educate all of us on the dangers of in door and out door creatures that effects all of us. Bring your autograph books.

Life Decision Program

Hosted By: City of Cleveland Municipal Court

Where: 210 Peach St. , Civic Center Ballroom

When: Friday April 23, 2010 6:00pm-7:00pm

Purpose: To assist adolescents in making decisions in life that will direct their future paths.

The Life Decisions Program is designed to allow qualified offenders to travel throughout Texas to inform, educate, and advise the public (specifically young adults) about the negative consequences of poor decisions involving drugs, alcohol, crime, and gangs in an attempt to deter incarceration. Formerly known as “Operation Kick-It”, the new Life Decisions Program emphasizes the message contained in each offender presentation that your decisions can ultimately determine your outcome in life. The program is now decentralized and operated out of 18 selected units within the six regions of the Correctional Institutions Division.

Join a great group of people for a wonderful cause!

$10.00 per person and you have to raise only $100.00 per team member.

Let’s Fight for People who need Us!

Stancil Park Log Cabin 211 Peach Street-Cleveland, Texas

Easter Egg Hunt

Hosted By: Stephanie & Billy Clark
109 cr 3189A New Salem Rd. By Over Pass-Plum Grove Road

This is how God works  for the past 2 months my team has been talking about how hard our youth have been working to help raise funds for our youth center and we never have time or alot of funding to do some really fun things. Our youth never complain and are always willing to do what ever we need to accomplish our goal.

Today God said here’s another angel. I recieved a phone call from Stephanie Clark Scott, she told me that her and her husband would like to host a Easter Egg Hunt for the Impact Team. Stephanie probably doesn’t know – but I got off the phone and jumped with joy. I know even the big kids are going to be thrilled. I can’t tell Stephanie & Billy how much it will means to the children and a small break for the Impact Leaders.

The Impact Team wants you to know your kindness means so much to all of us. I hope the kindness is contagious and others will go out and just do wonderful kind things for others like Stephanie & Billie Clark is doing fo us. These wonderful people gives me hope in man kind that if we all open our hearts and help each other our community will be a much better place to live.

Thanks, Brenda Myers – President

The “Annual Trash Bash”

United States Forestry service will supply food, drinks, goodie Bags

DIRECTED BY: AMANDA SUTTER
IMPACT ENVIROMNETAL DIRECTOR

Hello Everyone!

Just wanted to give out a few details regarding the Trash Bash this Saturday! The check in location is Winter’s Bayou on FM 1725. We will only be doing this half a day 8 am- 1 pm! We will be cleaning a Forest Service road that gets a lot of traffic from hunters and many residents dumping. There will be forest service personnel on hand to help out and give advice, etc.

Take 105 towards Conroe, at the first light(just past San Jacinto River bridge) take a right(FM 1725), go approximately 5-7 miles, you will see a sign that says Winters Bayou on the right(near Montague Cemetary & Church). Food, drinks, and t-shirts will be provided. However, if you DO plan to attend, I need t-shirt sizes by Tomorrow March 24th!!! If you are bringing a group, please call me with their names and sizes! I will only have shirts for those who let me know ahead of time! We will also have information available about Sam Houston National Forest and goodies for the youth! If you need further information or would like to verify the location, you can call me at (281) 806-0337! Hope to see everyone there!

Peace, prayers, and Blessings to you all!

call Amanda to sign up: (281) 806-0337

Once a month we would like to get lots of people together and show our youth we care. Team leader Brandon Wiederhold and I are taking applications now. It fun, easy and a exciting way to spend a Saturday with your family teaching others.

Let’s bring some positive things back to Cleveland, Texas.

Town Meeting

“Discrimination Among Our Youth”

Speaker Monroe Matlock
Youth-Board Member

******

Including Fun Friday
Youth Activities with Wright Way Community Center
Games & Fun Activities for youth
211 Peach St. Stancil 6:30 pm

Double Lakes Recreation Center

Coldsprings, Texas
11am to 1pm

Aztec Dancers in Celebration of their New Year
Join the Impact Team for a wonderful Show
Enter Park and take 1st left and go to dead end.

************

Then don’t forget Prayer Under the Pines @ 2pm Impact Property

Begining March 7, 2010
Every Sunday @ 2PM (Except Holidays)

Prayer Under The Pines

We are bringing prayer to the streets.

LOCATION: IMPACT PROPERTY
SOUTH BOUND SIDE FEEDER ROAD HWY 59
BEFORE 2025 EXIT TO COLDSPRINGS

We invite our local Churches to Choose your Sunday to come out and share the gossip with our youth. Bring encouragement to those who have no church home and the ones looking for a church home. Let’s bring unity to our community like never before. Bring your youth groups to sing , dance and worship. We are looking for different cultures to learn about like the wonderful Aztec Dancers.

Bibles for the children, Bring lawn chairs & ice chest with drinks.

]]> http://texasimpactcenter.org/news/2010/01/look-at-the-ccic-land-now/feed/ 0 http://texasimpactcenter.org/news/2009/12/cleveland-chambers-2009-christmas-parade/ http://texasimpactcenter.org/news/2009/12/cleveland-chambers-2009-christmas-parade/#comments Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:47:02 +0000 Webmaster http://texasimpactcenter.org/news/?p=92 Impact Center wins 2nd Place
“Wonderful job Impact Team”
]]> http://texasimpactcenter.org/news/2009/12/cleveland-chambers-2009-christmas-parade/feed/ 0 http://texasimpactcenter.org/news/2009/12/bike-run-to-donate-toys-to-the-children-in-cleveland/ http://texasimpactcenter.org/news/2009/12/bike-run-to-donate-toys-to-the-children-in-cleveland/#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:00:50 +0000 Webmaster http://texasimpactcenter.org/news/?p=146 SATURDAY DECEMBER 19TH, 2009,
211 Peach St 12 p.m,
Stancil Park – Cleveland

John and Sherrie Wright hosted this wonderful Bike Run to donate toys to the Children in Cleveland  and the surrounding areas who couldn’t afford Christmas, what wonderful people. This is the 1st Annual Gift Of Giving Bike Run and community effort to help our children locally. Bikers came in from every where. I was so proud to be apart of this day and honored they chose to help our organization and our children.

SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO:

John & Sherrie Wright / Dayton, Texas

The Cousimano Family – Cleveland – Sunset Leather & Crafts

Bill & Kim Hastings - Hastings Auto Supply Livingston  & Cleveland

Bonnie & Greg White – Shepherd

Shelia Williams – She Will Insurance – Cleveland

Boozefighters Biker group

Zachry  Construction Employees

Susan Pearson-Portraits By Susan-Splendora

Josh & Nicole Rawls-Cleveland

Madi Jones -Cleveland

Eddie Smith and Family

Monroe Matlock and I had a special opportunity to be interviewed by Mike Bell with “Inspire the Desire” Christian radio and K-Star. We hope you enjoy hearing this interview and will be inspired.

LISTEN SATURDAY MORNING TO KAFR 88.3

Important Town Meeting
November 20th, 2009
211 Peach St
Stancil Park Log Cabin 6:30-10:30

Issues people just don’t talk about !

• Sexual Harrassment with teachers & students – boy & girls @ school.
• Bullies @ School
• Dating at a early age
• Drugs in our schools
• Drug paraphanalia in our local stores

2 hour movie “Cook County” was shown

Filmed in Cleveland (not about Cleveland)

This movie is about meth and the life styles of these individuals. This movie has extremely bad language but the most realistic movie you will ever see. This will bring awareness to our community and the families who want answers about what’s going on in all communities.

Anyone under 18 must have permission slip.
Listen to the voices of our youth, they need your help !

May God smile down on you. Take a look !

Visit PublicLandsDay.org or TexasIMPACTcenter.org for details

Join us and more then 130,000 volunteers around the nation. We will build trails, bridges, pull invasive weeds, plant trees, remove trash, and get involved in nature.This year we will focus on protecting the vast network of streams, rivers, lakes, and other wetlands. Help us preserve our waterways. This provides our future generation an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of The CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps, (The Tree Army). Educate them on keeping America beautiful. Organizations from all over Texas and locally will participate, here’s some of them:

C.C.I.C
U.S. Forestry Service,
The Texas Forestry Service,
Boy Scouts,
Nancy Garcia-Sam Houston National Forest,
Sierra Club,
Leave No Trace Program,
Smokey The Bear,
Friends Of The Forest,
Steven F. Austin University,
Keep Cleveland Beautiful,
The SCA- Students Conservation Association,
and Biologist from Sam Houston National Forest

$5.00 Bar-B-Q plates, compliments of C & S Catering!

Join us and make a Impact in your community and waterways that will last a life time. Sign your class, team or organization up today. Contact Brenda Myers (936)499-2632 or Amanda Sutters (281)806-0337 for details

THANKS SO MUCH TO AMANDA SUTTERS OUR ENVIRONMENT DIRECTOR FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS AMAZING EVENT FOR OUR CHILDREN.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MRS. GLORIA MANNING – ASSOCIATE DEPUTY CHIEF NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE FOR COMING ALL THE WAY FROM WASHINGTON D.C TO SUPPORT THE IMPACT TEAM’S EFFORTS TO SAVE OUR FOREST.

ALSO MRS. NANCY GARCIA AND ALL THE WONDERFUL KNOWLEDGEABLE FOREST SERVICE PERSONNEL.

Thanks so much, Vanesa Brashier from the Cleveland Advocate & Mrs. Pat Jennings from Shepherd Community News for taking your time to come & care about the children.

Impact Teams with the US. Forestry Service look how much fun we had at Public Lands Day

September 19, 2009
Westin Oaks Galleria

SPONSORS FOR EVENT:

Al’s Formal Wear – Bruce Martin
Alfred Angelo’s Bridal Wear
Fairy God Mother’s Dress Shop – Ellen Albright
Christy Albeck – Albeck Financial Services – Dennis

Special Guest & Speaker
Tamberly Conway – US Forestry Service
Gearing up for our Public Lands Day Clean-up

Listen to our youth and the issues they deal with everyday.
Join us and listen to their voices and give your opinion.

Bruce did not stop there he then called his friend  Mr. Woulf at Alfred Angelo’s Bridal Store. I was almost in tears when Mr.Woulf offered to donated all the dresses for our girls youth team and our lady directors. I feel so blessed when I see God’s will at work. We had a wonderful time trying on all the beautiful gowns. Most of these girls have never had such a wonderful opportunity to feel so special. These people will never be forgotten:

Mr. Bruce Martin also has been kind enough to give anyone needing a Tux a 30% discount use this Group #6936346

CCIC Groundbreaking

“DATE ON CAMERA IS INCORRECT”

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. THE IMPACT ARMY IS GROWING AND YOU ARE HELPING US SAVE LIVES.

When Monroe Matlock was in grade school, he use to go fishing for catfish in the San Jacinto River near Low Water Bridge.

That changed at age 10 when he found diapers, tires and a washing machine in the river while on a fishing trip.

Matlock, now a senior at Cleveland High School, has not gone back fishing since then.

Matlock and about 20 other volunteers with the Community & Children’s Impact Center removed trash and debris from a one-mile area of the San Jacinto River near CR 388 and Coldspring Road Saturday morning.

“We’re just trying to get the message out to people about how important our rivers are because what we do up here flows into Galveston Bay,” said Amanda Sutters, environmental director for Community & Children’s Impact Center.

Sutters said the people dumping trash in the river has been a problem for some time.

“I lived down the road from this river for eight years, and this was where I would bring my kids to play,” Sutters said. “I would always have to clean the area up before they could play.”

On Saturday, Sutters was hopeful their first river clean-up would be the first of many for the center.

“There might be just a small handful this time, but next time we might have two handfuls,” Sutters said. “We just want to keep building on that because that’s how we’re going to make a bigger impact.”

Brenda Myers, president of the Impact Center, said she is concerned that trash around the river is unhealthy for the children who play in the river.

“I’ve seen a rope swing down where our children are swinging and not two seconds away is the corpse of a dog that’s been laying down there for some time,” Myers said.

“A clean river is a healthy river, and we need to focus on making our community aware of the damage they’re doing when they throw this stuff in the water,” she added.

When the volunteers stepped out of their vehicles, they were greeted with the smell of a decaying dog wrapped in a black trash bag by the side of the road.

“I think I’m going to puke,” Matlock said when he stepped out of the van and onto a plethora of plastic bottles and fast food bags.

“There’s always been people dumping, but it’s never been this bad, Matlock said. “It’s pretty eye-opening.”

Kalvin Doyle, a 14-year-old freshman at Shepherd High School, agreed, saying he was surprised by the way people treat the river.

“I hate it when people treat beautiful places like trash. It’s just wrong,” Doyle said.

During the clean-up, volunteers found everything from beer bottles to a washing machine.

Some of the more interesting discoveries were a slab of marble, a fake Christmas tree and even a toilet.

While he felt good about giving back the community, Matlock said he was unsure the area would be trash-free too long.

“I’m afraid that things are still going to be dumped, but hopefully in the future if we come down here again it’s not this bad.” Matlock said.

Matlock hopes that one day the river will be clean enough for the catfish to come back and finally he could dust off his fishing pole.

June 21, 2009

The C.C.I.C. has adopted the East Fork of the San Jacinto River. Due to Amanda Sutters our new Enviromnetal Director’s knowledge, she has given all of us a chance to see the damage done by people who trash our local rivers and water ways.

Here’s what The IMPACT Team did to make a “IMPACT”:

WE DO IT FOR OUR CHILDREN!

You may think our Texas Children’s Music Festival is just a music festival, but to some children this is a dream, a chance of hope, or their future. To some children, “MUSIC” is just a hobby, to some, it’s their life, and to most, it’s just a sign of happiness. We are proud to give our youth a chance to feel important. I received this touching letter and asked Mrs. Cline if I could share it with you. The Impact team is very proud of Mac for being so brave and even though he has lost a dear friend. He thinks the show must go on and dedicates his music to a special friend. Come and listen to this young man sing and show him support. Pray for this family.

Hi Brenda,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

There is a story behind this. My son Mackenzie Fulmer (Mac), just lost a best friend last Sunday morning. They were going to do the competition together. I told my son, even though Paul Perez passed, he would want you to go on! So play as if Paul was there singing! Paul was buried last Friday. He passed from sleep apnea and possibly a heart attack. His mother, Rachel will be at the music fest to listen to Mac play and where her son was going to sing!

My son is dedicating his music playing that day to Paul S. Perez.
Are they still giving away the prizes for the competition?
I’m sure others will register for that there that day for the contest.
Looking forward to it!

Many thanks,
Jackie “CalicoKat” Cline

The C.C.I.C. presented 2 awards at the TCMF one to the family of Paul Perez for his gift of Music who is now singing to the Angels in Heaven. The other was given to Mac who was so brave coming to our music festival and singing for his friend whom he has just lost.

Thanks for your kindness. B.Myers

First, we were interviewed by Ginger Jenkins, the Managing Editor of The Vindicator out of beautiful Liberty, Texas. Thanks Ginger, for taking the time to drive out to Cleveland in order to find out about the extraordinary things the Impact Center Team is working to accomplish. You have a heart for the children!!!

Second, we met Cleveland’s new Chief of Police, Mark Bradshaw. Much to our surprise, Chief Bradshaw was on the same wave length as the Impact Center! To his surprise, he mentioned that he had just read a book last night with the same overall concepts that the Impact Center is already encouraging. We look forward to working with the Chief towards the betterment of our community.

Thank-you both for your time and obvious concern!

Later, I will add more to this “telling”,  because I need to think about what I have learned and what I am willing to share about the death of one of my sons. (hopefully I will also be able to impart something good to whoever needs it)

This continues to be the worst thing that has ever happened to me and although a year has passed now (4/25), the pain remains fresh. I have spoken briefly, spontaneously, about my loss during a Town Meeting but to put it in writing requires a lot more responsibility on my part.

I will say, that my hope that other young adults would see 6’3″ “Big Aaron”  literally overflowing the coffin and back away fast and furious from drugs was not fulfilled. My heart did worse than break when barely two months later, one of Aaron’s best friends, Jeff, also over dosed and died (6/30-7/1-life support).

This brings me to my friend, Matt. Matt is Jeff’s younger brother. Aaron gave him the nick name “Big Mac”. These young men cared deeply for each other and with no one around to stop me…I’ll say they loved each other. Love is nothing to be ashamed of, but it usually takes getting old-(er) to realize that. Anyway, after Aaron passed away, Matt wrote the following poem. (I have his permission to publish it here) Matt tells me that Jeff loved it. When Jeff passed away, his parents blessed friends, family and the Livingston newspaper community with this amazing poem.

Lifeless

By: Matthew C.

For: Jeff Johnson (9/22/88-7/1/08) & Aaron Darville (1/10/88-4/25/08)

You are supposed to learn from adversity, you stay on this earth because you are meant to do more. I miss my son and thank God for every day I had with him.

~ Caroline (~Thanks Matt!)

This took most of the Building Fund money so our funds are low again. We have to do more fund raisers, car washes, bake sales…you get the picture. With not much money left to work with I was worried about our future Youth Center plans…

Just when I was worried we were coming to an end, more “angels” arrived! We needed help and God sent us an amazing group of people.

ZACHRY CONSTRUCTION Employees have come to the Impact Team’s rescue!!! Bonnie & Greg White, have promised to help us make our dreams come true and save the lives of children in many communities. Zachry Construction actively encourages its employees to go out in the communities where they live and contribute something positive. I met Bonnie White on an internet site and we became fast friends. I told her about the land and how we also had a donated building, but just days after getting the donation, the city inspector condemned it. I told Bonnie that we were back to square one but this was not a worry! Our group would be sitting out on our land, under the stars, with our children holding up signs saying, “Help Us Get A Youth Center” until one day someone would drive by and say, “Hey! We need to get those children a youth center!”

A few days later, I was contacted by Mrs. White again, this time she said her fellow Zachry co-workers were donating a Bar-B-Q pit to the CCIC so that we can use it on the land and have some fun while we fed the children and plan for our dream to come true. (I cried with joy)

A week later, at Mrs. White’s request, I did a presentation for a several of her fellow co-workers. During the presentation one of the employees, Eric said “Mrs. Myers, this is what we do, we build things. Your organization has just become our new pet project.” They also stated they would help us get a trailer or a building on the land for our youth team to start working out of. At that moment I knew God had just added to my “Army of Angels”. We are in the process of getting the survey & misc. costs, in order to get this project off and running. In the mean time, Bonnie & Greg came to my house with over $600.00 worth of toys and prizes for our 3rd Annual Texas Children’s Music Festival. It is not yet confirmed, but it has been mentioned that they may help sponsor our events for the next year. I’m still in shock! This has been one of the most incredible days of my life. I’m so greatful for the kindness of these employees and the encouragement from such a huge company. I believe this company should be recgonized for thier outstanding humanitarian work they do to help others. They have already made a huge IMPACT in our community. I can’t wait to see the vision unfold!

We will break ground for the Youth Center Offices asap. Unfortunately, until we raise the funds in order to purchase the property next to us ($209,000.00), we will have to wait on the Youth Center. Unless you know someone (or a group of someones) who needs a amazing tax write-off; I see thousands of bake sales ahead of us.

I will continue the updates as the rest of the journey continues. – Brenda

I had a beauty Pageant a few years ago and had some really beautiful children in our pageant that were in wheel chairs. After the event I had a very upset man call me and threaten to kill me. He said a paraplegic in a wheel chair should not be allowed in the pageant and especially, allowed to beat his granddaughter. It upset me so badly to realize the thoughts of this man and the cruel outlook that he had on this child just because she was in a wheel chair. The one I feel sorry for was him. He needs a attitude adjustment from God.

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, ‘I don’t get it!

You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?’

He replied, ‘Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today.
You can choose to be in a good mood or … you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood.’

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or…I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or… I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

‘Yeah, right, it’s not that easy,’ I protested.

‘Yes, it is,’ he said. ‘Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.
The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live your life.’

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw him about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I’d be twins… Wanna see my scars?” I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

‘The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,’ he replied. ‘Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or…I could choose to die. I chose to live.’

‘Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?’ I asked.

He continued, ‘…the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read ‘he’s a dead man’. I knew I needed to take action.’

‘What did you do?’ I asked.

‘Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me’ said John. ‘She asked if I was allergic to anything ‘Yes, I replied.’ The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Gravity” Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.’

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude…. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’ Matthew 6:34

After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.