Common Ground remembers with Riley's Gift

Today was an awe inspiring day. My Common Ground group sponsored a shower for three refugee moms-to-be who are newly arrived in the US. None of them has been here more than six months. One has already gotten a job and received a promotion. She is from Somalia and arrived from Kenya. Another is from Somalia and arrived with her husband and six other children one month ago. The third is an Iragi refugee who met the man to become her husband (also Iraqi) the day she arrived in Memphis. All three are beautiful women of amazing strength and determination. They brought friends and translators with them who are also refugees. We had food aplenty and so many gifts it was amazing. Lots of the gifts were donated by friends of our Common Ground-ers. It is astounding what these women manage to do when they get here--although sponsored by an organization they receive help for such a short amount of time and then they are on their own.

Today's shower was in memory of Riley Jane Lawrence who died one year ago today at the hands of an habitual criminal who killed Riley, her companion Claudia and injured Claudia's mother. The two girls, 4 and 5, were innocent victims of a system that allows criminals to live in violation of parole for way too long. But today was a day of remembrance, so we had a baby shower to celebrate the upcoming births of four precious babies--yes four, as one of the mother's is having twins! Today was called Riley's Gift.

Just spent a week in KY with Mother, who is 87 and really becoming more frail, but hanging in there. Hub is there now seeing about his mother who is a victim Alzheimer's, that horrible disease.

Plans for daughter's wedding continues---flowers the topic of today. There is something called an Adirondack basket pack--florists use them to make beautiful flower arrangements which will look beautiful in the Adirondack chairs next to the lake where the wedding will take place.

Next week looms with lots to do but for today that's the way it is here in Memphis town. Will the mayor REALLY leave office this week--we will see!