In Memory of Donna Parris

When I first started this blog, I thought it would be fully devoted to my life with juvenile diabetes, and my fight to find a cure for it. This has turned into so much more. It is my life with diabetes thrown in. Therefore, I think it is important that I talk about my life and the important things that happen.

Have you ever heard someone that had the voice of an angel? I'm not talking American idol here, but someone who devoted her life to Christ and praised Him as she knew best; with her voice. Mrs. Parris is one of the few people I know that has the voice of an angel. She recently lost her battle with cancer, and it is a sad time for our church community, and especially the Parris family. I am glad that she has gone on to glory, but it is a shame to lose such a wonderful part of our church family. She was of the people I admired, because she was so talented, but so humble at the same time. I wish I could be as selfless as she was, and live up to the example she portrayed. She was a very important person, a very talented, very humble, very gracious person. She will be missed, her presence and her voice, but her memory will remain. Mrs. Parris has gone on to where she will be eternally happy, and know no pain or suffering. Now, she not only has the voice of an angel, she is singing with them. Rest in Peace, Mrs. Parris.

Obituary:

Donna M. Parris, age 50, of Peppermint Road, Coopersburg PA, died Saturday, September 22, 2007 surrounded by her family at her home. She is the wife of Gene E. Parris.
Born in Camden NJ, March 24, 1957, she is survived by her mother, Leota Y. (Williams) and step-father, John Roland of Sicklerville NJ and her father, Donald Draft Sr. of PA. Donna is a self-employed Voice and Piano Instructor in Pleasant Valley Music Studio in Springfield Township PA. She worked at DeSales University as a part-time Voice Teacher; Lehigh Valley Christian High School for 6 years as a Choral Director; and Quakertown High School as a Vocal Coach for 3 years.

A graduate of Edgewood High School (now Winslow High School) NJ in 1975 with honors, she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Cedar Crest College, Allentown PA and a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance at Temple University, Philadelphia PA.

Donna served as a Member of Calvary Bible Fellowship Church, Coopersburg PA where she is the Choir Director, Treasurer of Woman's Ministries, Member of Worship Committee, Fellowship and Hospitality Committee. She is the Founder and Director of the Palisades Community Chorus; and volunteered vocally at Christian Women's Clubs. She taught the African-American Portrait experience through song and drama in community schools and churches. Donna volunteered many visits to nursing homes with song and sharing her gifts, giving people her time, especially during the holiday seasons, and always had time for a home-cooked meal and time of fellowship and reflections within the family.

In addition to her loving Husband of 28 years last February, Mother and Step-Father, Father, she is survived by her Sons, Gene E. II and his wife Kamari D. of Richmond VA and Joshua L. D. at home; Daughter, Courtney Y., wife of Stephen M. Doncevic of Hellertown PA; Brothers, Anthony C. and his wife Rose of Anaheim CA, Mark S., Ronald D. and his wife Sheila, and Donald Jr. and his wife Dyon of Sicklerville NJ; and Sister, Vicki B., wife of Jerome White also of Sicklerville NJ.

Family and Friends are invited to a visitation period from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Thursday, September 27, 2007 at the Calvary Bible Fellowship Church, 6782 North Main Street, Coopersburg PA. The service will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday at the Church with The Reverend Thomas P. Shorb and The Reverend Rick Paashaus, officiating. The interment will conclude services at the Calvary Church Cemetery. A “Celebratory Concert Among Friends of Donna M. Parris” will be announced via the website of the Funeral Home. The Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Hellertown PA, is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, John and Dorothy Morgan Cancer Center; the Fox Chase Cancer Center; the American Cancer Society; and the Lydia Project of Atlanta Georgia, all C/O the Funeral Home, 326 Main Street, Hellertown PA 18055.

Remembering 9/11

Today was the 6th anniversary of September 11th. It was a day of reflection for many, some on more personal levels then others. I was thinking back to where I was on 9/11/2001. I was in 6th grade, in social studies, learning about the ancient Greek. During class, the principal of my middle school came on and announced that the first tower had fallen. We turned on the class television, to see the second tower crumble. I still remember that, engraved into my 10 year old brain. I really didn't understand the implications of that day when it happened. I guess I was too young to categorize as more than something bad. It was a national tradegy. Today, we remembered it. 6 years later, I was sitting in AP Gov, at the same time I was sitting in social Studies 6 years ago. This time, I knew more about September 11th. I understood what had happened in more detail. I believe it is best to remember the past, but not to dwell on it, because we will never move forward if we continue that way. It was a horrible tragedy, it will be remembered by me forever, and by my generation. But it is time to move on. We need not forget those lost on 9/11, but cherish them for who they were, not their deaths. Remember how we united as a nation afterwards, not how we feel apart soon after. United we Stand, Divided we fall. Is America going to stand united, or have we already become too divided?

First Day Accomplished!

The first day of senior year is officially over and it was sooooooo long! Argh! I don't ever remeber being that tired after any other first days from the past. Well. it was interesting, it being the last first day of a high school year. (Did that make sense?) It is really hard to think that by this time next year I will be in college, not dinky little high school. It always amazes me that I manage to get lost getting to class anyway. It is not like it is a particularly big school and the fact that I have been going there for 3 years already should make it easier, but I still manage to end up in the wrong hallway. This year will be tough, I've got no study halls or anything for the entire first semester!


I am already glad that I am getting out early on Thursday for my first Cross Country meet. Yes, a break already, but I only get to leave 24 minutes early. That put me halfway through.......English. I had to stop and remember for a second.


Anyway, Cross Country killed me today. We were supposed to run the Course but Liz fell and hurt her ankle, so we had to go to the trainers, the I had to fix my blood sugar anyway, so after that, it was kinda pointless. I'll try harder tomorrow, when I am back into the swing of things. I hope.

In Memory of Blaat

One of our mice died today. His name was Blaat. Yes, I know it was an unusual name, but he was a very unusual mouse. He fit the title. He was pretty old too. Mice are only supposed to live about 1/2 a year, Blaat was almost 2 1/2. We buried out in the backyard, a nice little sendoff for our furry white friend. Rest In Peace Blaat. We miss you

Bad day

It was just not a good day. The Fair has lost its charm. Or maybe I am too old to enjoy the charm that it had when I was younger. The rides were fun, Jill and I got to ride a lot and we had fun. Josh is more of a safe rider kid, he can't really let loose like Jill and I can. Oh well, it was his loss today, not mine. Some lady asked me if I was drunk because I was staggering a little after one of the rides, and I started laughing and couldn't answer her. Which probably made her think I was really intoxicated. Actually, I was low. Really low. Like 46 mg/dL low. Do you see my problems today? I go from as high as a kite to crashing through the basement in what my levels were today. The only one I was happy with was 135, which is a pretty average number that I would like to be at after eating. We had to stop while I was low and buy some candy at the candy stand and it all got stuck in my teeth. I don't really like JuJu's. I brushed my teeth 2 times when I came home, and there are still pieces of JuJu in them! Not to mention that I get really tired when I am at extreme highs and lows, so I was a little grumpy for about an hour or so, but I got out of it.


My brother bought this pen that is actually a shocker, which is kinda cool. We were playing with them at the stand, and they did shock, but not that badly. So we were walking back to meet my mom and he's like I wonder what would happen if you zapped your chin, but he was too chicken to do it himself, so I said i would do it. I hadn't figured on the fact that the batteries in his shocker were fully charged, not dulled down by people playing with them like the display one were. IT HURT SO BAD! It numbed my entire bottom jaw for 15 minutes. I was talking funny and I was drooling. Yes I really was. (Don't laugh!). The moral of the story is that little brothers are conniving twerps, and don't listen to them or take any dares from them, or you will turn into a drooler. Sad story, but true. My teeth still feel weird and that was at least 5 hours ago.