Good morning all!!  It’s such a beautiful Saturday morning.  Just a reminder that the Children’s Miracle Network telethon will be airing tonight on Channel 7.  They raised millions of dollars last year for the Children’s Hospital.  If you feel so led, please make a contribution to this wonderful organization.  For those of you that have followed Beau’s Business from the beginning, you know how much the Children’s Hospital and the wonderful staff on 2 West mean to Beau’s family.  They are a wonderful group of people and we could never express how much they all mean to us and what they did for Beau and his family during Beau’s year long journey with neuroblastoma.  Thanks once again to the amazing doctors, nurses, caregiver and other staff members of 2 West for all your hard work.  The pictures I am sharing with you today are from Memorial Day weekend 2006.  Beau spent the day at Grand-dad and Grandma Miller’s place at the river.  Mommy and Daddy were there as well as his Kayla and her parents and the rest of the family.  It was a beautiful warm sunny day.  Beau was still trying to figure out how to walk at this time.  He was up and going some but crawling was still his favorite mode of moving about.  Grand-dad had a tent up for shade and they put a blanket down for Beau to play on.  All this was right down close to the beachy area at the water so Beau didn’t miss anything that was going on. He had all his trucks to play with and even spent a little time in the water in his little float thing mom had bought for him to ride in.  Everyone played and had a wonderful time. It was a wonderful day of fun in the sun with family members. Grand-dad and Grandma made sure everyone had plenty to eat and drink. As you can see from the pictures, Beau was very happy and satisfied with his Memorial Day holiday.  A lot of wonderful memories were made that day.  Memories the family will hold close in their hearts forever.  Romans 15:33  The God of peace be with all of you.  That Memorial Day was a source of peace for everyone that was at the river. All the cares and worries of work, etc. were put behind and everyone enjoyed their time together.  At times we all feel discouraged and challenged and have the feeling how am I going to make it through another day.  You may think how can I endure much more of this?  Trust me Beau’s family knows and understands these feelings all too well.  Yet, we can transform these feelings and thoughts and feel an inner peace in our heart and mind.  We have to let go of these thoughts and struggles and allow God to fill our mind and soul. By doing this we can find peace and serenity. Our minds and bodies can’t take but so much turmoil. During this time of silence with God we can dwell in the perfect peace of God and for those few moments we can put aside all our worries and just bask in God’s peace and glory.  Once that peace settles over you, take it along with you thru the rest of your day.  You will find that you can face those daily as well as any unexpected challenges that come along. If you are facing any struggles today, take a few moments along to talk to God and just rest in His peace.  You will find the rest of you day will go much better.  God Bless you all!  We love and appreciate your continued support and love for all of Beau’s family.  Love, Grammy

Good evening everyone!! I hope you are having a wonderful week so far.  The pictures I’m sharing with you today were taken last June.  Jennifer, Julie, Beau, Kayla and I had gone to Logan’s for lunch.  If memory serves me right, it was close to Beau’s birthday and Ma and Cousin Haley had joined us to help celebrate Beau’s birthday.  I know you have heard me say this before other than McDonalds Logans was our favorite place to go.  Of course, Beau and Kayla would have chicken nuggets, fries, and that day mac and cheese.  It was no different on this day.  There was one other thing they loved to get and that was money.  Give them some change or a dollar bill and they were happy.  When we were paying our bill, they saw the money and wanted some.  Jennifer gave them each a dollar.  As they often did, they held hands when we left.  They were holding hand with the dollar bill in the other hand.  Julie got these cute pictures of them and I wanted to share them with you.  It brought tears to my eyes when I looked at them again.  Beau was such a precious little boy and as Auntie Nay mentioned again yesterday all the while we were praying for a miracle and Beau was the miracle.  He continues to this day to touch so many peoples’ lives and we all continue to be blessed by this blue eye little boy with the huge smile.  1 John 4:12  If we love one another, God lives n us, and his love is perfected in us.  As Dr. D once told me, Beau was one of those children that just connected with all he came in contact with.  That was so true.  To this day, his nurses still talk about him and let us know how much they miss not only Beau but his whole family.  They will forever be a part of our lives even though we no longer see them each day.  Beau was God’s beloved creation.  God created Beau for a purpose just as he created Jen and Parham to be Beau’s parents.  We are all God’s beloved creations so knowing this we should look at others thru eyes of love.  Beau did.  God’s love was reflected in Beau’s big smile and huge blue eyes.  As I look back, I can now see that God’s love radiated from Beau.  Beau never did any wonderful great thing but he still touched the hearts of so many.  His gentle smile, those big blue eyes, his laugh and even his cry reached out and touched people in ways we will never understand.  God’s love links us all heart to heart.  Our hearts are still connected to our precious Beau and always will be.  Thanks to all for continuing to leave messages on Beau’s page. They continue to touch our hearts and we appreciate all the kind thoughts.  God Bless!!  Love, Grammy

Good evening all!  I have a little story I just had to share with you today.  I mentioned in my update yesterday that Jennifer, Julie, Kayla, G-Paw and I went to my niece’s graduate in Raleigh yesterday and afterwards we went out to eat.  We went to the Fox and Hound in Six Forks Mall for lunch.  We weren’t sure where it was so as we were driving around looking for it we heard sirens and saw a fire truck coming into the mall area.  As we made the turn on the street that ran in front of the restaurant, we realized the fire truck was following us.  We drove by the restaurant to go find a parking place and realized the truck was stopping in from of the restaurant.  The fire truck blew its horn when it stopped.  My sister and niece were walking up to the restaurant about that time.  They told us when we got into the restaurant it was a false alarm.  But, today my sister sent me the email below about the “fire alarm” episode yesterday.

I don't know if you realized yesterday or if I said too much about it.  But as I approached the Fox & Hound, the firemen & the manager were walking back outside extremely confused as to why the fire alarm had gone off.  They were looking at the front of the building to see if patio furniture had blown against the building.  As I walked up, the black fireman looked at me, and he smiled/greeted me so warmly with a "hello, how are you today" - he gave me a wink.  I said just fine - how are you & we exchanged the nice little words.  I was just totally taken w/his approach to me.  The white fireman then spoke to me.  I was listening to how the manager kept repeating over & over that there was no reason that the alarm should have gone off.  When I got inside, I asked the Furmages what had happened.  Susan said they had been sitting there for awhile, and all of a sudden, the lights started flashing/alarm went off.  She said there really wasn't anyone there but them when it started.  She said the manager/employees started flying around because they couldn't figure out what was going on - basically the only thing they had done to that point was to deliver beverages to them.  Susan said when the firemen came in they were looking at some computer system to tell them were the fire was located & it wouldn't tell them.  Susan said the employees/firemen were all "stumped" as to why the alarms were sounding because every indication from the computer was that the alarms were NOT going off!  I told Buddy that I was so very convinced that it was Beau letting us know that he was there with us!  Beau was there for his Mom and he was there ready to celebrate with Whitney.  You will never ever make me believe anything different.  The minute the black fireman spoke to me I felt the greatest warmth about me.  I wanted to go back outside to talk to them, but I figured everyone would think I was totally nuts.  Buddy said you should ask Fireman Jake if any unusual things have happened around their fire station since Beau left - bet Beau has been playing with the big fire trucks and they may not even realize it!  Now that I think about it I have to agree with her.  I believe Beau was letting us know he was there with us to celebrate not only Whitney’s graduation but to be close to his mom for mother’s day.  I emailed Fireman Jake today and shared Rene’s story with him.  I know he will enjoy reading it.  Matthew 9:29-30 Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’ And their eyes were opened.  So much our lives are lived by faith. I know my every though and my actions are grounded in faith and trust in the Lord.  It’s the only way I can get through the challenges of each day.  Faith is an inner knowing that assures me of my oneness with God for all eternity.  If I feel alone or disconnected from those around me, I remind myself that I am forever in God’s presence for all eternity; therefore, I am never alone.  Knowing this strengthens my faith.  God is always there loving us and protecting us. God is our one true source of health, strength, and protection.  I do believe Beau was with us yesterday.  I believe he is with us every day watching over all his family especially his mommy and daddy. He was a precious little boy while here on earth and now he is a precious little angel watching over all those who love him.  The pictures today are from one of his stays at the hospital when he just had to have the fireman’s hat to wear.  God Bless!  Love, Grammy

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers out there!!  Jennifer, Julie, Kayla, G-paw and I spent Mother’s day at my niece’s (Whitney) graduation.  She graduated from Meredith College today.  Then my brother-in-law Buddy took everyone that was there out to lunch and we had a wonderful time together.  Matthew 25:40 Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.  Mothers are as varied as the beautiful flowers we see growing all around us this time of year.  You may be a mother that has give birth or a mother that assumed the role in another way whether by marriage or adoption.  No matter what your age is, where you live or who the children are that call you mother; you are there ready to give them reassurance, encouragement, to dry their tears and to listen to the stories they have to tell you.  No matter if your children are grown with families of their own you are still their mom.  No matter if your child has received his/her angel wings and has gone to live with Jesus in heaven, you are still their mother and they live on in your heart and in your memories.  Of all the roles you will fill throughout your life, being a mother has no expiration date.  As you nurture, encourage, and support any of God’s children, you are being a mother and showing God’s love to His children.  May God richly bless all mothers today!!  We honor you for all that you have done and all you will do for not only your children but for all God’s children you come in touch with throughout your life.  The pictures of Beau I share with you today are from when he was just a few months old.  He was already “daddy’s little hunter” and Grand-dad’s “little pirate”.  That precious little face and big blue eyes were already melting the hearts of all that came in contact with him.  We missed you today at Whitney’s graduation Beau but we talked about you and we know you were there with us in spirit and that you were watching over Mommy and sending her hugs and kisses. God Bless!!  Love, Grammy

Good evening all!  I hope you are having a good week so far.  From my past stories, you know that I would keep Beau for Jennifer when she worked on Fridays.  The pictures today are from one such Friday.  Grammy has a BIG black cat named Max.  He is overweight probably about 24 lbs. now.  He looks like a black panther and has teeth like it too.  He’s a good ole boy and he usually just lies around and is a lazy cat.  Beau and Kayla love him and they always want him to play with them but he just looks at them like “what are you doing to me”.  Max had made himself comfortable on a pillow on the sofa and Kayla was sitting up there with him watching TV.  Beau had been playing on the floor with some toys. Beau decided he wanted Max to play with him but Max would have no part of it and just looked at Beau like he was crazy.  Beau had fun talking to him and poking on him and Max was a champ and just laid there.  I think he was glad when Beau gave up and went back to playing with his toys.  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." - Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)  This is one of my favorite verses and one that I’ve lived by for a long time.  As I looked at these pictures of Beau I thought back to that day.  Little did we know that day the changes that were ahead for Beau and his family.  I guess it was a good thing we didn’t know or we might have looked to the days with fear instead of hope, faith and trust.  God knew what was ahead and He was there leading us safely through all that we would face over those long months.  During the moments and days that we didn’t think we could make it, God carried us until we were strong enough to move forward on our own.  As Shelia Walsh said in a recent newsletter, “when we place our hope in God our Father, however, we are placing our hope in someone who has never and will never fail us.”  This doesn’t mean our life will always be easy and that we will always know what to do and that there won’t be times when we are ready to give up but if we continue to have faith and trust in God then we will make it thru the dark days.  Shelia says we should hold on to what we cannot see which, by faith, we know is more real than what we can see with our human eyes. We hold onto the truth that God loves us and is watching over us. We hold onto the promise that God will make everything work together for good to those who are the called, according to his purposes. We come to our Father daily for the grace that He has made available for that day. We lift our eyes and our hearts and by faith we worship. And, we remember that no matter how difficult this journey might get at times, because of Jesus-THIS ENDS WELL FOR US!  I think Shelia hit it the nail on the head.  God Bless!  Love, Grammy