Frank Woods

The day I arrived at Shop at Home I was greeted by such a kind man asking about my travels after a questionable snow storm in Nashville, Tennessee. Don't laugh, from Atlanta. Little did I know that the man who greeted me was our President and CEO. Frank Woods. I have no idea why but he saw something in me in music and in life. I made 60 million in 6 months so I was awarded the Scripps Howard award and if he could have gotten be a recording deal he would have.

He also took me to the Palm restaurant because I could not afford to go on my own at the time. He believed in me and I in him. It was never a relationship built on anything but friendship, faith and his brown bag.

Frank Allen Woods, age 74, died on May 13, 2015 from complications of Parkinson's disease. Born in Frankfort, Kentucky and raised in Nashville, he is preceded in death by his parents, Allen Woods and Loyce Woods. He is survived by his wife Jayne Ann Woods; daughters, Ashley Woods and Grayson (Russ) Woods Brown; grandchildren, Grayson Jayne and Freddie; brothers, Rondall and Larry (Saralee) Woods; nieces and nephews, and his dog Buddy.Frank's entrepreneurial career began early. In 6th grade, he started with his first paper route, and within several months he had almost doubled his customer base. Frank was a proud graduate of Donelson High School where he was a basketball and debate star and a sometime practical joker. With the help of scholarships, midnight poker games, and a variety of jobs, he spent his college career at Vanderbilt (B.A. 1963, J.D. 1966) becoming a finalist in the National Debate Tournament, serving in the student senate, and campaigning for Democrats. He spent summers working with other Nashville boys in Walla Walla, Washington in a cannery, and stories from these summers have passed into family legend. When asked which of his life's accomplishments he was most proud of, he invariably replied "working my way through Vanderbilt." While in law school, Frank agreed to coach the undergraduate debate team. During this period he met a very special debater, Jayne Ann Owens. They shared a love of debate, politics, and basketball. Married on May 29, 1966, their New Orleans honeymoon lasted only a few days because they were eager to resume campaigning for John J. Hooker in the governor's race. After law school, Frank went to work for Hooker, Hooker, and Willis law firm, then he went to work for Lin Broadcasting. At Lin he had a mentor like none other in Fred Gregg. Gregg taught him the fundamentals of deal making. Frank helped broker deals for Lin, including the purchase of radio and TV stations, an independent record label, and he attempted to buy the Harlem Globetrotters. He went on to run his own businesses, including U.S. Bank, Sun Group, Woods Group, and Woods Capital. He helped launch CMT and Americana cable networks, and brokered a deal for the purchase of Shop at Home network by EW Scripps. Frank was always replete with ideas for new businesses and partnerships. His interest in people and curiosity about life provided him with adventures in business and politics. Frank had a true gift for friendship. If he was your friend, then you had a friend for life. Though his approach to life could often be low-key, his eyes always sparkled with intelligence and humor. Until his Parkinson's diagnosis 12 years ago, he played basketball at the Vanderbilt gym three times a week. He took life with his disease in stride, and he enjoyed many visitors at the Meadows nursing facility. There, all his buddies frequently gathered around him to tell old stories. He will be missed tremendously by his family and friends. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tennessean/obituary.aspx?pid=174861761#sthash.2ZY0cAib.dpuf

Finding grateful in God.

Its hard to explain things sometimes and some people and situations its hard for me to embrace. Not because I harbor ill will, its because I just don't get it. We are all given our lives and its under the grace of God. Mind you, I cannot quote scripture, but God is always present in my life.  I don't hate and  never did.  (I do remember) I will fully acknowledge my COMPLETE confusion at times.

In case this post is looking you at the face like HUH? It is steming from a heart that tries to learn from the hurt (opinions), grow from mistakes and embrace the situations I cannot possibly control. Social bullying, mean comments and just opinions that are allowed but should never be cast without knowing the source.

I am not going to call people out for personal hate. Its life and not everyone will like you and some just go out of their way not to because it makes their life easier.

Its been years since I lost my parents and they I promise would have ZERO tolerance for social media as a hate tool. Their hearts died and yet this all would have broken their hearts it a catastrophic way.

We can't pick family and sometimes we cannot "friends". What we can choose to do is love who TRULY loves you, embrace your journey.

Each day is our blessing....lets soar with it.

Love, Friendship and Faith~

I am a Mom of special. What does that mean? In my land of silence lays my life of reality. I don't expose my family to reality but the reality is life brings things to life. Here is our story.

Six and a half years ago I was introduced to my miracle. The one that was meant to be....born at 23 weeks with no faith behind him but Mommy and Daddy he arrived. At his own will. For 165 days I sat there, annoying I am sure, the staff . No one sat next to me for 6 months but my husband, Clay, Joey and Terri , Danni and Amy Gregorio and Lois Lane and my in laws.  That when I found belief.

In my most lonely time and in all 165 days, I never felt alone.

To Amy, I remain baffled how I was to loose the friend in you.  Life is a firestorm. I appreciate you.

My children are my world and my world gets caught in dreams sometimes. I have truly learned that the best of me is found in we and God gave me you!

With all my heart and honesty~D