Dear Reader:

WordPress sends me updated information on my blog activity and then lists the top all-time most read posts …for the last five years the ” The Legend of the Pawleys Island Shell” has unequivocally lead the pack.

If you new readers would like to read it… or you loyal older readers re-read it-you can just Google the title and it should send you right there …with Chapel of Hope attached to the story title.

It was originally published January 24, 2017-five years ago after one of our annual Ya mid-winter retreats at Pawleys Island -Libby’s sister Linda and her husband’s rental beach home. ( We have all really missed this retreat-a bright spot in winter to gather. Covid and individual health challenges intervened and interrupted our benchmark reunion-but we all have hope that we shall be able to return one day soon and gather strength again from unity.)

We had gone to Pawleys a few years before I wrote this particular post… so I was looking for a new angle or hidden story to unveil on this retreat and obviously I found it.

It involved the history behind the now famous Pawleys Island Shell, the story of its creation being implemented into fine jewelry by John Whitmire whose Whitmire Fine Jewelry shop is today a popular mainstay at Pawleys Island’s Hammocks and Shops-giving tourists and visitors a chance to take a little bit of Pawleys ‘s history back home with them! –

As I re-read the story myself yesterday… I had forgotten that for several years each new year brought an opportunity to choose a new word for the year that was symbolic of perhaps a new direction, a hope or dream or even just an attribute that we wanted to incorporate into our lives.

Before we left Pawleys that year I asked Jackson, Libby, and Brooke what word they wanted to choose. Now, five years later, with a lot of unexpected health and personal turns and twists in everyone’s lives… it is interesting to see what they chose.

Libby chose EMBRACE- Libby wanted to embrace new possibilities and changes in her life-allowing her to grow inwardly and outwardly-reaching toward new horizons

Brooke chose RENEWAL- She wanted to give herself time to rest and reflect on doing what she needs to be doing to be the best she can be for herself and others

Jackson chose AWARENESS- She first considered ” strong” -but decided on awareness because she wanted to be strong in her commitment to be aware and mindful of local, national, and global injustices that do not promote equality or kindness among mankind… and then react.

Wow! All three ” spot on” to the point of clairvoyant… combine all three ” words” and each has experienced similar health and personal challenges… fighting through each with courage and determination!

So until tomorrow… take a pause and reflect on a word that best identifies you now -at the time you are living in this exact moment-choose a word that can be your guide through the daily ups and downs of this journey we call life.

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

Update on Libby-She has called and talked to all of us and we are texting more now… so she is able to communicate some… yet Libby would be the first to admit that this part of her life journey is bumpy and rocky-still she feels the compassion and prayers so please continue-it is an arduous road with lots of unknown curves and bends ahead.

( Bright spot-Libby was the most athletic of our group and she is ” tearing up” her physical therapy and occupational therapy-it is her favorite time spent in rehab to date. )

I had the nicest comment from Bernice Sturkie, a member of Dorchester Presbyterian Church (who I don’t know personally) who follows the blog post. I already like her for her humor and wit!

Commenting on the blog ” God is Everywhere” she shared with me the Southern interpretation of 1 Corinthians 15: 28 -” God is all in all.”

It is: ” God is all in Y’all!”