Sheletta Makes Me Laugh

RV

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I Almost Turned Around…

When I got to Lake Charles with an RV filled with books and toys, I started to have doubts, especially after I crossed the IH-10 bridge overlooking the entire town and saw all the blue tarp on the rooftops.

The devastation was apparent and the true gravity of the situation was right before my eyes.

The people in this town had lost everything they owned.

Windows were blown out, rooftops were in the middle of the street, cars had been overturned

It looked like a bomb had gone off in the city.

I turned to my  husband Shawn who was driving our Camping World Thor Motor Coach to the Calcasieu Parish Public Library to pass out toys and books to children who survived to hurricanes and said “Honey we need to go back home.”

“Why would you say something like that?” He demanded to know.

“Because this is ridiculous. These folks have lost their homes, their jobs, their cars, everything they own. And I’m coming to help with a coach filled with books and kid toys. They’re going to cuss me.”

“No they won’t,” my husband tried to reassure me, “besides, this is what God placed on your heart: to give away books and toys to kids. You’ve got 1,500 books and 500 plushies. We have to give them to somebody, we can’t take them back to Minnesota.”

“You’re right,” I chuckled, “we ain’t got but four kids, that’s a lot of books to divide between them.”

The laughter was infectious but nervous. I could tell he was thinking what I was thinking: that these people needed more than trinkets for the kids, they needed real help.

But we kept going, unsure of how we’d be received when we arrived.

We exited the highway and made our way through the town to the library

We were surprised and amazed at what we saw

Dozens of cars had been lined up for hours idling with children inside them waiting for our arrival.

They were giddy, like they were about to meet Santa at the mall

The children were clapping and happy while parents cried and expressed their gratitude

“This is the first time,” one woman told me, “that my child has had anything to look forward to in months. When we saw your post on Facebook, we knew we couldn’t miss it.”

We couldn’t unload the books and toys fast enough

Police had to be called in order to direct traffic

Teachers walked up to ask for cases of books for their students who couldn’t be there because they’d been dislocated after the storms.

I prayed with folks, gave one woman the shirt off my back, and blessed babies with my autism book.

In less than three hours we gave away 1,500 books and toys.

I’m glad I didn’t turn around or go back

I’m glad I listened to God and my husband’s wise counsel

Every little bit helps and even something as small as a children’s autism book can brighten someone’s day.

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Can’t stop, Won’t Stop…

When me and These Brundidge Babies hit the road in our Thor Motor Coach we won from Camping World, we hit the road to start exploring all that nature had to offer. We went to Northern Minnesota to explore some of the camp sites that we’d heard so much about from co-workers and friends. They said it would be a great way to escape from the world, unplug and take a break from the hustle and bustle of life. I told the folks at WCCO Radio that I’d be gone and not to disturb me. My TPT Almanac family knew as well I’d be out of pocket. I told everyone except Steve and Elizabeth at KSTP TV’s Twin Cities Live. While I was in the great outdoors burning up s’mores and swatting mosquitoes away from These Brundidge Babies, I got a call to be a guest on the show for their Watch, Listen and Read segment. If it were just an opportunity to talk about pop culture and what kind of First Lady I think Kim Kardashian would make if Kanye West got elected for President. But this segment is different.

This segment on Twin Cities Live is an opportunity to talk about what shows I’m watching, what music I’m listening to and what books I’m reading. I said “Well, of course I can do the segment.” But I didn’t tell my friends Steve and Elizabeth that I was in the middle of the woods with bad reception and no camera to do a live talk back. But how could I turn it down? This was an opportunity to showcase some Twin Cities musicians, film makers and authors. Without me, they might not get an opportunity to get the word out to the masses about their projects. I thought about how I had been listening to the Sounds of Blackness’ new song Sick & Tired, which has become the anthem of the Black Live Matters protests around the country and new author Crown Shepherd’s new book Black Boy, Black Boy, she could really use the publicity that my appearance on Twin Cities Live would afford her.

I decided I needed to make this happen. So I put a call in to my friend Travis Johanson from Provid Films, he’s been our family’s photographer since last winter, documenting the highs and the lows of our lives to pass down to future generations. I asked him to do something absolutely outrageous: meet me in Northern Minnesota, bring his camera equipment and his gear so that he could shoot the live talk back between me and Steve and Elizabeth at Twin Cities Live. As crazy as it sounds, he agreed. So he packed up all his gear and a few folks from his staff and headed north. When he got to the RV it was difficult to set everything up because These Brundidge Babies were poking the cameras and running around like wild animals. Since they were acting like wild animals, I sent them out in the woods to play them. That’s right, during my live talk back with Steve and Elizabeth on Twin Cities Live, I told the kids to go out into the woods to find a bear to play with. I don’t know what happened to the poor bear, but I got a brand new rug and the kids didn’t have a scratch on ’em.

The segment went off without a hitch. Travis and his team at Provid Films did their best to make sure I looked good and the signal was clear. I was able to give some media attention to Crown and her book, Gary Hines and his new song and Sergio Rapu, a local film maker who has a new documentary about his heritage on Easter Island. I mean, I could have talked about Beyonce’s new Disney Plus film or Hamilton The Musical, but my community of local artists needed me, and I am glad I was able to deliver, even though I was in an RV in the middle of nowhere. This reminds me that life can’t stop and it won’t stop, no matter what happens you have to be ready to take advantage of every single opportunity God sends your way.

So glad I have folks like Travis in my corner!

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Houston, We Have a Problem!

The first thing my kids wanted to do when we won the RV from Camping World was head out to Houston to see my parents. Andrew, Brandon, Cameron and Daniel haven’t spent time with my parents since Christmas last year. So our first stop was going to get some grandparent love, but when I called my mom and dad, they told us we couldn’t come to The Lone Star state. Why? Because COVID19 cases are so high there, they don’t want the kids to be at risk getting sick because we visited them. My children were devastated and I can’t lie and say I wasn’t disappointed as well. I understood their point and want to keep my kids safe and healthy; however, it still saddens me that it’ll soon be a year since I’ve seen my parents and we have no idea when I’ll be able to see them again. COVID19 isn’t just taking lives, it’s taking relationships away and that makes me sad.

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Blessed to be a Blessing

When I took These Brundidge Babies to Camping World to go shopping for RV supplies before we hit the road, I was overwhelmed by how kind and supportive the entire staff was. Having three kids with autism who often times ask the same questions over and over again, people get easily annoyed by their pestering. But everyone at Camping World was so patient with them. Daniel asked one man his name about fifty-leven times and each and every single time, the service technician answered “My name is Aaron, buddy.” to which my son replied “Hi, my name is Daniel, it’s nice to meet you.” I cried all the way home because I was so grateful. I knew I had to do something to show the staff my appreciation, so the next day, I made gift bags for everyone, drove to Monticello and passed them out. I don’t know if Marcus Lemonis has a training to teach his staff how to take care of customers who have special needs children or if the workers are just this kind and sweet or both. It wasn’t much in the bag, a card, #SHElettaMakesMeLaugh shirt, sweet treats and a copy of Cameron Goes To School, but i was compelled to do something to let them all know their work is valued by me and other families who shop there who have kids with special needs.

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2020 Thor Freedom Rider

Photo courtesy of Camping World

OMG! I can not believe that THIS is going to be parked in my driveway in a week! Gracie called this week to tell me that Marcus had selected the 2020 Thor Freedom Rider as the RV we’d be getting as part of our celebrity endorsement deal with Camping World. This Class A is perfect for our family. It’s got bunk beds for the little babies, a queen bed for us, an outdoor TV to enjoy and the kitchen is perfect. It sleeps 8 so that my father in law, Poppa B, can come with and won’t be cramped for space. I’m LOVING this. Can’t wait to go from a picture to it being parked at our cottage in Cottage Grove!

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IT’S REALLY HAPPENING

I thought surely after accepting the deal to be the celebrity endorser of Camping World, Marcus Lemonis would pass me off to one of his “handlers” to work out the details, but the exact opposite happened. In our first meeting, Marcus made sure I had all his personal contacts, assured me that he and Gracie, his right hand at the company, would take care of me and my family and make sure we had everything we needed to have a great time in the new RV. He even had me and Shawn send Gracie a list of all the things we would need for the children and offered to provide those supplies. He’s been genuine, kind and supportive throughout this whole process. I can’t wait to get the RV so These Brundidge Babies and I can hit the road.