Dear Reader:

God does work in mysterious ways. I am leaving today, along with Brooke and Jackson, to go see our our favorite mountain couple, Honey and Mike, to make our (long-awaited) pilgrimage return to St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope.

There is no doubt that this experience will feel like seeing it again “for the first time.” Every time I return the encounter takes a new twist and turn for me spiritually. I have been away too long and I am anxious to re-visit the place that “birthed” the creation of the on-going eight-year old blog...Chapel of Hope Stories.

I can always remember the year the blog began – it was Eva Cate’s birth year (2010.)

I left my first 3-month old grandchild to go see a “special place” that the Burrells insisted would spark a story for me. We just didn’t know then…it was a spark that would light a fire. It would be a “first time” experience that would last a “lifetime.”

Eight years…and five grandchildren! I am so blessed and I know it.

As I listened to Rutledge talk about the sports camps he is attending this summer Saturday….I asked the same question (I am sure all the other adults around him had already asked)…“Which sport is your favorite so far?” Rutledge looked at me and said he didn’t have a favorite…he liked this about tennis….that about basketball…and was excited to find out more about the other sports this summer.

It was then I realized that everything was fresh and new to him…he didn’t attend any of the week long camps with pre-conceived ideas or biases… about liking or not liking any of them. He was just having fun learning how each sport worked.

Oh where do we lose that openness to new opportunities..is it based on bad experiences we have confronted with certain choices? Especially if we have walked away from them in disappointment? When do we stop leaving our comfort zones to try something or experience something new and different? When do we stop living… in the very essence of the word?

My prayer for this mountain trip is that my eyes will be open to discovering new things along the way and see familiar things with different lens.

*When I started this blog off saying “God Works in Mysterious Ways” I meant it. Getting ready for a trip is always the hardest part as we all know. For me…creating and writing blogs ahead of time for the number of days I will be gone…can take a sizable bite out of packing time and other preparations.

But then a God Wink! My sweet friend, Janet Bender- retired educator, who sells Juice Plus products (which I do give credit for keeping my metabolism working hard to fight cancer cells) had recently re-ordered some more products for me since I was getting low.

I was so glad they came in…just in time to take to the mountains.

Inside the box with the pouches I found a card that opened up…with three different pictures and messages. As I read these life lessons…I thought to myself…thank you God…you just gave me my three blog posts for the three days I will be gone.

(If anyone is interested in learning more about these products…let me know and I will connect you with Janet!)

So until tomorrow…the next time we hear the nay-sayer voice within us telling us not to try something new….just tell it to ‘take a hike’ (and while we are at it…get up off the sofa and take a hike around our own neighborhood)…it is amazing what new things we see that we pass everyday without noticing. Remember those gates?

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Today Sir Paul McCartney is honored to share his birthday with Master Rutledge Dingle…June 18. Paul is turning 76 and Rutledge 5. No matter the age …it is a very good day! Paul McCartney’s financial net worth is estimated at 1.2 billion dollars…whereas Rutledge’s net worth is priceless!!! (Especially to his Boo!)

…and especially to his dad since Rutledge was born on Father’s Day five years ago. No doubt it was Walsh’s best present ever! I hope everyone had a wonderful Father’s Day yesterday!