Dear Reader:

This beautiful stain-glass window isn’t in St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope… but in Aldersgate Methodist Church in North Charleston where yesterday I gave a short message to the Women of the Church as they stoically and determinedly outlined their hopes for the outreach programs in the upcoming year.

Covid or no Covid, variant or no variant, their arms would be outstretched for any one needing a hand. Amazing Women… who were all included in the title of my talk… We Are the Miracles.

It wasn’t until I started telling my personal miraculous journey from breast cancer to Eva Cate ( my first grandchild’s arrival) to a spirit of a woman who built a chapel to God and Saint Jude in a tiny town called Trust, NC … that I suddenly saw God’s Hand in everything that had transpired! A deja vu shudder of delight and mystery.

As I was sharing the 2011 newspaper article with them … reading how the columnist started the story with the chapel and spirit of

Beverly Barutio waiting on me to arrive… all God’s signs concerning my purpose in life materialized.

Suddenly I realized how important 2011 was with letting the story of the chapel filter out into the world. It was the year our team, St Jude’s Chapel of Hope, formed to walk in the first ( of many) breast cancer “Race for the Cure” fundraisers.

Right before our first family race… Tommy wrote this article that was published in the Post and Courier! ( Excerpt)

” In our family we seemingly talk in two particular cliches when we refer to our mother’s breast cancer. We say ” it is what it is” and we always try to keep things ” in perspective.”

” While there may be some who belittle the oversimplification of what is an extremely complicated situation, those two small, innocuous statements relegate themselves to a rarified meaning. They give less an explanation, but rather lead us to acknowledge that cancer does not define our mother. That although she may be identified as someone with cancer, cancer is not her identity.

” Mom is a survivor, not a cancer survivor and certainly not a cancer victim. There is nothing more certain in this world to me than the fact nothing will beat my mother. Her legacy will remain on this earth long after she is gone, long after those reading this are gone.

” My certainty of these truths comes from the fact our mother never opined why she came to her current situation. Instead her first instinct, as a life long educator, was to figure out a way to pass on her knowledge and wisdom. ”

( Tommy went on to tell about the fictional contest between me and Scheherazade-my desire to ” best” the legendary author by writing 1002 stories. Coincidentally Tommy said it lead to the date May 29, 2013-the anniversary of my initial surgery May 29, 2008. )

Tommy concluded … ” Mother’s journey will not end after 1002 days. She will live on and so will her stories.” ( To date Tommy’s prophesy has come true. )

So until tomorrow… ” If you want to change the world, pick up a pen and write.” Martin Luther

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

After leaving Aldersgate Methodist Church I traveled on to visit Ben at Wellmore… he wanted to show me something. The coordinator for physical activities helped Ben create a makeshift hole and putt on ” Barbour Hall.”

She is also going to get Ben to help others learn the basics of golf at a nearby golf club starting in September! 👍He is excited!