Dear Reader:

When you watch HGTV as “religiously” as I do, it is easy to notice the subtle trends of change emerging over the years. One of these is the return of wallpaper…which for years now has been pretty taboo. *Look at the wallpaper in the photo…it is faux brick-looking wallpaper…pretty cool isn’t it? Wallpaper has come a long, long way!

The other change I am noticing is the “open concept” popular phenomenon (for years now); it is slowly beginning to close again into individual rooms. I am hearing more young ‘house hunters’ say they want the option of closing off their kitchens… especially.

Sometimes a cook just needs some privacy and quiet time to put food together and the other reason is that cooking can be quite messy and hosts would like to close this sight off too. So sliding doors are becoming popular again as an option to open or close the kitchen off from the rest of the house.

Another new, innovative construction idea is going with half-walls, sometimes in the form of bookshelves.

It all comes back to …’If we live long enough we come full circle’ in so many ways…including popular trends in homes. If these trends keep up…perhaps popcorn ceilings will be popular again and then I will be fixed for life…my home will be back on the cutting edge. One can only hope!

Yesterday, I read a story about a quite unusual wall found in a restaurant that is, perhaps, the best wall of all!

“Two Cups of Coffee…One on the Wall”

I sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop in a neighboring town of Venice, Italy, the city of lights and water.

As we enjoyed our coffee, a man entered and sat at an empty table beside us. He called the waiter and placed his order saying, “Two cups of coffee, one of them there on the wall.”

We heard this order with piqued interest and observed that he was served  one cup of coffee but he paid for two.

When he left, the waiter put a piece of paper on the wall saying “A Cup of Coffee”.

While we were still there, two other men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one on the wall. They had two cups of coffee but paid for three and left. This time also, the waiter did the same; he put a piece of paper on the wall saying, “A Cup of Coffee”.

It was something unique and perplexing for us. We finished our coffee, paid the bill and left.

After a few days, we had a chance to go to this coffee shop again. While we were enjoying our coffee, a man poorly dressed entered. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said, “One cup of coffee from the wall.”

The waiter served coffee to this man with the customary respect and dignity. The man had his coffee and left without paying.

We were amazed to watch all this, as the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the trash bin.

Now it was no surprise for us – the matter was very clear. The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town made our eyes well up in tears.

A truly beautiful thought. Probably the most beautiful wall you may ever see anywhere!

(Author Unknown)

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Isn’t it amazing what humanity is capable of doing…helping everyone while maintaining the dignity of those in need?  If we can do something like this…surely we are capable of helping so many more people in so many more situations that just need a helping hand. It must be the prettiest “wall paper” ever to those in need of a smile, a pat, an encouraging word, and a cup of coffee.

So until tomorrow…Remind us each day Father…that helping others is not complicated…it is, instead, quite simple…and yet…quite life-altering at the same time.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Mollie sent me this picture of the fire that destroyed parts of St. Andrews church in Mt. Pleasant. It is an aerial view and even though the destruction is mind-boggling…there in the center still lies the hope of tomorrow…the cross. Chills!

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* Lassie shared with the family a photo Bill Dingle and family sent of his oldest daughter, Emma, getting ready for the prom! Such a special moment.  How beautiful Emma looks…like a fairy tale princess! Oh my goodness, can this still be the little flower girl who was once in John and Mandy’s wedding? Tempus fugit.