I didn’t sleep real good last night with so many thoughts running through my head. Yesterday was one of those days when you learn what good looks and feels like and you learn things that you just really didn’t want to know. Food Share is one of the best things for me. It burns away the days at home when I’m not on the road for school programs but most of all I like what it does to my soul and spirit. I’ll start with the good… We have a new volunteer that I’ll call “Jane”. Jane started a month or so ago and I’ve been so busy with the stock room and the “busy” season I hadn’t taken the time to stop and be aware. Jane is probably in her late 70’s or early 80’s. She’s a small woman and she wears a wig that to me looks like it is attempt to cover something wrong with her. We were shorthanded yesterday (more below) and she really pitched in with everything she had to help. We finally slowed down enough for me to get a good conversation going and I started to realize that once again God has placed me right where I’m supposed to be. God has placed me right square in front of someone that simply needs somebody to listen and care that they are here today. I’ll take that roll thank you very much God. So Jane and I have struck up a friendship and we even chatted about the 1947 Indian motorcycle that she road with a friend many years ago. I learned that she was a retired teacher and speech therapist. I learned that she’s lonely…… I feel blessed that God has trusted me to step up and simply be a person that cares for another. I can’t wait until Tuesday when Jane can tell me more about that ’47… Feeling deep gratitude for my “Tuesdays With Jane” Now for the not so nice side of Food Share…. Yesterday there was a second lesson for me that I’m still not quite sure why I was sent to witness. We’ll call it the “mutiny on the Food Share”. Yesterday was our Food Share Christmas party that was to be hosted at a lakeside restaurant that serves up some fine tasting food at tables that all overlook the lake. Good food but not a cheap place to eat. Because I was on the road last week and not at Food Share I didn’t even know the party was yesterday I also didn’t know that we were asked to pitch in $10 to help off-set the cost of our party and 4 course meal. I guess all but 2 of our volunteers decided to boycott volunteering helping at food share yesterday and boycotted the Christmas party over the $10. I literally lost sleep over this last night. It saddens me that many of the people that volunteer there also take food from there. I think one of the things that bothers me is I’m have no clue what I’m supposed to learn from this type of mind set. I’m confused and a little disappointed. We also have a huge issue with people stealing from the Food Share…. Uggh! We had a lady yesterday that took ALL of the baby clothes we had, stuffed them in a bag and scooted out the back door. We had someone steal somebody else’s food that was allotted. I’ll go back on Tuesday with a different mindset and I’ll start to make a new plan that I hope will stop the stealing and also make things more efficient so that we can serve as many people as possible. So I’m really looking forward to seeing “Jane” but I’m not so sure about the others.

"Honey I've found I can't settle down at the end of my road there's another town where the people want to hear a man that sings the blues"~ Alan Jackson............ I had a great trip to New York. We reached a LOT of kids with a powerful message of love, commitment and choices. I'm so thankful for people like Melanie Flack that believe in me and that together we can make a difference in the lives of kids. I'm thankful to the schools for allowing us in and the students for listening with an open mind and open heart.

GREAT AMERICAN SMOKE-OUT! I have a 2 fold plan of attack today: #1 get kids to not start. #2 get folks that have started to quit. Simple but effective plan. Have a GAS today! Today is your day and you will never have a better day to make the choice to quit.

So that's what "whirlwind tour" means. I left home yesterday, flew to Miami (via Atlanta), crashed (not literally) at my hotel, got up early, spoke at South Miami Hospital to 170 Respiratory Therapist and Respiratory Therapist Students, ate lunch with some GREAT people at the hospital, got on a plane and flew home (via Orlando) YeeeeeHawww I'm tired

Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. -Goethe

Clarence Middle School ROCKS! I love this school and I feel so lucky to go back there every few years to be reminded why I feel that way. These are some of the most respectful kids I have ever been around and to me that is a direct reflection on the teachers and parents that are the role models children of this age need. Great job yesterday! My special thanks and gratitude to Mr. Gallagher for his dedication and hard work to make yesterday possible. Stop by his class and say thank you to him...

Getting packed up and headed back to NY today. Yes indeed! I have an expected audience of between 1,400 and 1,500 on Wednesday. That IS awesome and I'm excited to get on the road again. Pack your suitcases and meet me at the curb.....

YES! I just finished up an amazing 3 day tour of central NY. I spoke at a Middle School this morning to about 350 students and teachers. The principal heard me speak before and made a special request to come to his school again. I was really affected by a young student named Max today. He came back after the program and just wanted to tell me about his Grandfather that smoked and had died from lung and throat cancer. It was just heartbreaking watching this young boy fight back the tears........ This is why I share the most painful time in my life in hopes of less people going through what Max has. I’ve traveled the country for 10 years sharing Marie’s story and it has been an amazing journey of learning and spiritual growth for me. It’s profound what speaking in 2,800 schools and to 1.3 million kids can do to your life. Today felt full circle when I arrived at another Middle School. This was my 3rd school to speak in and who would have thought I would return 2,800 schools later. When we walked in the school we all noticed a sign out front that simply said “RESPECT” we kind of laughed and said “we’ll see”. This middle school not only lives up to that sign out front they surpassed it with their kind and heartfelt respect for me and that will be etched in my memory forever. Thank you, thank you, and thank you to Heather, Julie and Nikki for making the last three days possible. I’m really blown away that Julie, who is now a grown, married woman heard me speak when she was in 7th grade! Now she’s an awesome anti-tobacco advocate that I am so proud of! God has been good to me………

High anxiety this morning as I get ready to leave for Orlando. I LOVE what I do and I've done it almost 3,000 times but even after all these years I still get anxious over it. Posting the diary from those difficult times, reliving it in the schools day after day is much harder than I ever anticipated. I look back on the past when I did trips of 1-2 months at a time and I honestly don't know how I did it. I think part of the endurance and commitment came from knowing people were praying for me and my mission and knowing that they supported me year after year. I’m grateful for the life I lead and I’m thankful every day for the people that are in it.

Sitting in Atlanta at the airport headed to Orlando to do some promotional work for "The Burning Truth"