Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve blogged…between the baby, the holidays,  and now a new job, I just haven’t had the time to devote to you, dear readers. For that I apologize. But two days ago, after learning about beautiful 2-year old Layla Grace and her touching story, I felt compelled to write again. Her story is heart-breaking and will stir your soul…and reminds us all what is truly important in this life–our children, our spouses, our family and close friends…the rest of it just doesn’t matter. We tend to get so caught up in the petty mechanisms of ”busy-ness” that it clouds our view of the precious people we too often take for granted.

Layla Grace Marsh is a beautiful 2-year old little girl who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma cancer about 10 months ago. She has undergone multiple chemotherapy treatments, a bone marrow transplant in November and has been undergoing a series of immunotherapy injections.  Everyone has been hopeful that she would win the battle with cancer, and for a while she was winning but in late January, the cancer returned.

So Layla is possibly in her last days or weeks of her short life now–but it has been a life that has touched so many in the last several months, via www.laylagrace.org blogposts and a Twitter page that her parents set up at http://www.twitter.com/laylagrace. Layla gained 5000 new followers just since yesterday. People respond on the blog site with their prayers for Layla and her family, and share with parents Ryan and Shanna how much she has touched their lives and either brought them closer to God, or reminded them of what’s important. 

We can’t imagine the pain this is causing Ryan and Shanna as parents–it is unimagineable to me how they make it through each day–and it is unthinkable what poor little Layla has had to endure with her treatments and hospital stays. She is a brave little angel. All we can do is send our thoughts and prayers and love to the Marshes and beautiful Layla, and donate money if possible to help with her hospital bills.

Layla has brought good out in so many people, has shown that people DO still care and can come together, even in Cyberspace–she has over 30,000 followers on Twitter at the time of this writing–and wouldn’t those followers  rejoice if a miracle could take place for little Layla Grace and she could somehow recover from her cancer.

I know I personally think about her every day now. I cry as I read updates, and look at her beautiful photos. I have a 7 month old baby girl and wish I didn’t have to work so I could spend more time with my baby, because Layla’s story reminds us you never know what hand you’re going to be dealt in life, or how quickly things can change.

So…leave the laundry…the house can be cleaned later…take some time today to tell someone you love them. Play with your children. Visit your parents, if you’re lucky enough that they’re still alive. Forgive someone today. Make the best of this life, now.  That is the lesson we can learn from Layla’s story.

Thank you, sweet angel Layla, for visiting us for as long as we are honored with your presence. I hope you find peace soon, and that you know how much you are loved and will live on forever in our hearts.

For more information, visit www.laylagrace.org or www.twitter.com/laylagrace.

After ABC’s Good Morning America canceled Adam’s free concert scheduled for this morning, CBS wasted no time bringing him on board for an interview and to perform two tracks from his newly released album, “For Your Entertainment”.  He sang “Whadya Want From Me” and “Music Again”, this time as a more subdued, G-rated Adam.

Perhaps the risque Glampire only comes out when it’s dark…

Ever since his outrageous performance at the American Music Awards Sunday night, Lambert has been in the spotlight, chastised by many for his raunchy sexual antics and who say his behavior was inappropriate for prime time network TV.  Other die-hard fans clearly weren’t phased by any of this, apparent by the huge crowd that gathered to meet Adam and watch him perform on the show. One fan even came all the way from Japan to see him.

And Adam makes no apologies for his racy performance. Although some of the sexy choreography was pre-planned and rehearsed, Adam stated that he got a bit carried away and some of the moves were ”in the moment”. But his goal was to “promote freedom of expression and artistic freedom”, not to offend anyone. 

Read the entire article here…

There’s a fantastic new way to enjoy your evening out at the Adrienne Arsht Center, with the addition of the Prelude restaurant by Barton G.. You can now pre-purchase parking, dinner and performance tickets, and indulge in a culinary feast either before or after your show.

Prelude is the Arsht Center’s only on-site restaurant, featuring a $23 (plus tax and gratuity) lunch/brunch menu (matinee performance days only) and $39 (plus tax and gratuity) dinner fixed-price menu. The restaurant also introduces a new concept to South Florida’s restaurant scene with its “Diner’s Decision” option, allowing patrons to choose from any three items at dinner (two at lunch) from a menu that blends classic American fare with the tastes of Miami. After 8 p.m., an a la carte menu is available in addition to the prix fixe dinners.

Read more about Prelude here…