Chapel of Hope Stories

Dear Reader:

I remember the days of working full time as a teacher and single mother of three children and staying angry at time. How unfair it was to have the same amount of hours, minutes, and seconds each day while the list of everyday responsibilities grew and grew and grew. Something had to give!

Time began to feel like a burden… a yoke on my shoulders pulling me down. I kept chastising myself for not being more structured… and then one day last week I came across the Gaines’ spring edition ( Magnolia Journal) whose theme was on time.

If you have ever watched any of their early HGTV episodes you picked up quickly that Joanna Gaines was one of the most organized structured people on the show… with then four, now five, children and numerous projects she would have had to be structured to stay afloat of it all.

But even Joanna admits that she got to the point where efficiency started controlling her time over everything… even the precious moments that were worthy of her time.

She tells the story of a family reunion at her parents’ home which began happily enough-but then she started fretting over getting her youngest, Crew, home and in bed by 8. If not he would be cranky the next day and they would all pay the price. As she started packing up her father came up and asked her to stay and watch the sunset with him. Her father rarely asked for anything but Joanna regretfully told him “no” she had to get Crew home.

She began to regret her decision almost immediately and then Covid hit and she couldn’t be with her father. Just recently for their first reunion after vaccinations she made a date with him to watch the sun set. Joanna concluded that too much structure leaves little space to simply be delighted… to let a moment catch you by surprise!

So until tomorrow…It wasn’t until I faced a health crisis that seemed destined to shorten my life that I began to view it as the greatest gift of all and now I leave time to garden and watch light dapple through the trees.

I now understand that sometimes wasted time isn’t wasted time at all… but the best use of my moments and my most valuable resource.

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Results of my precious time in the garden!

Dear Reader:

Yesterday Eva Cate could hardly wait to give me her “present.” It had been a project in social studies. Each student was to tell what a grandparent had taught them about history and she quickly chose me-the retired history teacher. I was so proud.

( Though I had to laugh…Eva Cate wrote ” My grandmother has made me love history. She was a history teacher… back in her day! I love her! “

From the time Eva Cate was a toddler I was showing her pictures of famous leaders in our country, male and female, and what they did for our country to ensure a democracy-a free country.

By kindergarten Eva Cate was entertaining her teacher and class about who Washington was, where he lived, what he did, and most importantly myths, legends, and anecdotes about him.

I have always been on the side of philosophy that it is perfectly fine to tell students yarns ( that might be slightly askew or exaggerated by the famous storytellers of the time.) It is the old ” bait and hook” trick for age- appropriate learners-first catching their interest and helping them understand how one’s true life experiences are always much more powerful than fables, yarns, and myths.

Part of my desire to educate my grandchildren on our country’s history stems from those humiliating episodes from late night hosts like Jay Leno who would stop people on the sidewalks and ask who wrote the Declaration of Independence or the number of states we have or the number of the original colonies …and the pedestrian would stare blankly back at the camera… finally giving some ridiculous erroneous answer to the audience’s laughter. I made a silent pledge to myself-not on my watch-not my students and certainly not my grandchildren!

Eva Cate, these days is in to recognizing famous women throughout history who have previously been left out-plus earlier standard heroines like Eleanor Roosevelt and Helen Keller.

Today I am so pleased that the arts immersing with history are attracting more interest in history and the power of the story in this arena.

Take for example HAMILTON-now considered a new American Civic Myth. This amazing play allows everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity of immigration a claim, a sense of belonging to this nation.

I agree with Lin-Manuel Miranda that when it comes to understanding history we must share an important belief in stories and their power to change the world!

So until tomorrow…

It is up to each generation to pass down the baton of democracy to the next generation… how to do it… tell your story.

“Today is my favorite day ” Winnie the Pooh

Enjoying my Mother’s Day gifts…

Dear Reader:

When I returned home from our family Mother’s Day gathering yesterday I placed the pink dahlias and teapot succulent under the tree while I carried in other packages. It wasn’t until late afternoon that I went back out and the sun now dappled through the branches adding to the flowers a beautiful glow . Dappled light! My favorite!

The Japanese have the most accurate term for dappled light ” Komorebi.” No comparable English word for this ” tree light” exists. The best we can come up with is sunbeam or a more generalized term dappled light.

Webster dictionary says ” dappled” is no longer a popular term but I give it my vote… I think it and the result of filtered light through trees is stunning!

I remember Grandmother Wilson would sometimes replaced dawdle with dapple! She would tell us to quit “dappling” around and finish our chores.

Once when I was about 12 I became “Miss Know it All” and decided to correct grandmother when she yelled at us to hurry back home and quit dappling around. I yelled back ” Don’t you mean dawdling around Grandmother”? My brothers and I started giggling!

When we got back inside Grandmother sat me down and said firmly-” dapple light is filtered light that doesn’t let full light in-so when I tell you to quit ” dappling ” I mean to give whatever you are doing your ” full ” attention and finish the job… as she walked away she turned and added ” and don’t dawdle while doing it.”

As I watched my family playing yesterday all together I understood what Grandmother meant… when it comes to family relationships we are either all in or out-our children deserve a full light of love from us -and should never settle for less-even dappled!

So until tomorrow… I hope everyone yesterday, whether scattered or not, felt glimpses of filtered sunlight on their shoulders- and in their hearts!

” Today is my favorite day”

Fun in the Sun

Dear Reader:

I can think of no better analogy than the title of this blog. Think about it. A mother is suppose to do the impossible! And not just in the day-to-day work, sacrifice and love. In essence a mother takes a child who is totally dependent on her for life and then turns around and sets them free. In the interval mothers are responsible for their every moment and yet expected to help them find their way to thrive independently. One extreme to the other.

So if you have ever heard that mothers’ prayers have a special hot-line to God… our original Creator- it sounds deservedly so.

This year the Summerville Public Works Art Center had a special Mother’s Day exhibition for all mothers to be honored. A big thank you to Anne who found a large frame for the photo I selected and it ended up right smack in the middle of the exhibition. When I went by to see it-the volunteer said many people asked about it – the first one that caught visitors’ attention. It made me so proud!

There was also a clothes line where messages could be left for each mother. I wanted mother to know that her strongest attributes-courage, perseverance, and faith have continued in the next generations.

So until tomorrow… After Mother passed I found the following book mark in her Bible-I realized she depended on God to be our father and help out when she desperately needed her rest. He did.

” Today is my favorite day”

I met Walsh and Rutledge to watch him play flag football yesterday and enjoyed watching my oldest grandson (7) play his heart out! Way to go Rutledge!

Dear Reader:

How many times do we find ourselves giving ourselves pep talks on exactly why we “should would could” do something we have put off for various reasons and when finally accomplished … are so glad we ” did?”

I only have to look at this photo to realize that the definition of grit in the dictionary should simply have mother’s name beside the word. Lost her husband at 31, left hand to cancer a year later but never considered quitting life or her three children -instead she re-taught herself to type with one hand and raised three children alone as a secretary and put all three through college! She should be the Should, Would, Could Did pin- up girl!

And how exceptionally lucky my two siblings and I were to have this remarkable woman in our lives as a mentor and path finder!

Since Mother’s Day is almost here I want to save more of her amazing life for then but her greatest gift she gave us was her faith… her unbelievable unfaltering faith in God and His love for her.

So until tomorrow… Take time to reminisce over the people in your life, to date, who have made the biggest difference in it. Then thank them!

Here is my shout out to two of the best neighbor/ friends anyone could hope for and they live right next to my brother… no doubt in my mind God placed them right there for my brother because they are his guardian angels with not one but two sets of wings! Tony and Lori Grainger!

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Happy Fourth Anniversary Tommy and Kaitlyn ! They are in the Highlands this weekend celebrating !

Hopefully next year they might be in their favorite spot on earth-Dingle Ireland!

Dear Reader:

Show up… simply show up! These past few days have been spent in Conway tending to my brother who had a pacemaker put in. It turned out to be some of the best times we have spent together.

At a certain point in life, if we are really lucky, we are finally struck by the realization that we, as a human race, are all in this amazing life experience together and as my brother, an ex- Marine, would say ” No man left behind.” No man , woman, child- any living creature of God’s should ever be left alone. In this particular instance family first followed by everyone we have come to love , admire and then all mankind-including strangers-who are our brothers and sisters.

As we have collectively, as a human race,gone through Covid 19-one remaining constant is the strength of people’s ability to come together and try to lift each other up. We must release our spirit to rise and meet life’s challenges-especially providing hope in the hard times.

” It does take a village to raise a child but communal support can’t stop at the end of childhood-community support is needed through out all our lives. We must be there for each other!

So until tomorrow… “One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know that they are not alone” -Alder

Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

While admiring Ben’s Grace sign on his front door and Ben special relationship with the word GRACE that encompasses a type of love or favor completely unmerited has been Ben’s compass during Vietnam and still today. And Grace saw Ben through his surgery Tuesday. I couldn’t hook to his Wi-Fi so that is why there are some missing posts. Thank you for your prayers for him .

It has been a crazy few days and sorry the posts couldn’t post but we can only control the controllable!

Dear Reader:

Just a quick note to say that all went well with my brother’s surgery-it was a long night and long day-had planned to send some pictures but my brother!/ internet isn’t working….

I just want to thank everyone for their prayers, calls, love and concern!

I will be staying a little longer since Ben can’t drive for three days and has dressings that need attention. Hopefully tomorrow I can figure out the internet problem here and send a longer post with photos!

So until tomorrow thank you God for guiding your instrument’ hands ( surgeons) and bringing Ben home again to us.

” Today is my favorite day”

Dear Reader:

Today I am packing to head to Conway to be there for my brother Ben after he receives his pacemaker tomorrow. Always nice to have an extra pair of hands and ears post surgery-the patient is always so anxious to leave that one can miss out on some necessary instructions.

As I was reading up on the internet a little more on this procedure I slowly began to realize that a spiritual synonym for a pacemaker is God.

Think about God’s role in our lives as you read the definition of a heart pacemaker.

A pacemaker is a small battery operated device that senses when your heart is beating irregularly or too slowly. It sends a signal to your heart that makes it beat at the correct pace. One part controls the heartbeat and the second part carries electrical messages to the heart.

Haven’t we all felt God tugging at our own heart on occasion? He is asking if our own faith is acting irregularly or if our faith has slowed down .

And haven’t we felt the messages God has sent us directly to our hearts electrifying and stimulating our sense of heartfelt gratitude for life and love… remembering to let God set the pace for our personal journey?

So until tomorrow the family would appreciate all prayers today!

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

My brother Ben’s story! So proud of him .

Yesterday I had surprise guests and phone calls-an amazing day-will catch you up tomorrow! Finishing packing and watering… gotta go! 👍

Dear Reader:

While picking up some CVS prescriptions yesterday a song came on Casey Kasem’s Top Forty from 1977. One song I didn’t remember or the English singer ( Charlene) had a stanza that caught my curiosity-“I’ve been to Paradise but I’ve never been to me. ” I started mulling the phrase over and over.

Off the top of my head I figured from the complete lyrics that the woman in the song had fulfilled all her material and fantasy dreams-money, travel to exotic places while ultimately failing to find personal fulfillment.

When I pulled the phrase up on the internet an article from Psychology Today popped up. It started talking about the relationship in ourselves between ” I” and “Me, Myself. ” Haven’t we all found ourselves talking to ourselves-where one side of us is admonishing the other?

I do this more often as I age… talking to myself to chill or do something I don’t want to do but know I should… the secret to inner happiness is getting “I” and “Myself on the same team!

Something like…”I tell myself to calm down and take it one step at a time. ”

So until tomorrow -mother probably summed it up best…” Before you can love someone else… you must first love yourself-find that inner peace… and then go to paradise!

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

It is also a special anniversary… John and Mandy’s 13th anniversary-May 3 2008!

Two weeks later ( after the wedding) I was diagnosed with breast cancer with a three year prediction of life-two years later Eva Cate arrived and I knew I wasn’t going anywhere with God’s help-and obviously His plan has been for me to hang around to see my children married with adorable grandchildren -five… to date.. and five precious grand dogs!

I can find paradise in my garden simply by looking at things with a different perspective!

Dear Reader:

We had the most perfect first day of spring-cool topping out in the mid seventies. The perfect day for an outdoor birthday tea party for Eva Cate and her wonderful ” aunties” from two generations! It was the first time that I actually felt that ” normal” had returned to the family!

We had all had our two vaccinations and the freedom of sharing hugs and love without fear of giving anybody anything but love back was exhilarating!

We ate outside under a majestic oak with gigantic chimes that soothed the soul – and a tea pot hanging down.

When I stared at my oldest granddaughter I was reminded of Peter Pan hunting for his shadow… I still had glimpses of the little girl I knew …but she was trying very hard to leave her childhood shadows behind… acting very “proper ” drinking her tea.

Whereas Eloise, my youngest granddaughter -at 3 -was enjoying her pink lemonade! I know in the blink of an eye she will grow up too-too fast for Boo Boo.

Mother’s and daughters-hold on tight Mandy and Mollie-these precious moments will be replaced by trying times soon enough but remember keep heart- in the end they return with new life experiences to share.

So until tomorrow your sons and daughters will fulfill their own expectations by becoming their journey…changing directions and then returning home.

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Yesterday was my grand-dog Pip’s big day! With so many of your votes last year Pip made the top ten calendar dog contest and he is Master ” May. “

As you can see he is so proud he spread the calendar out to relish his victory!

PS. Thank you for allowing me to share these memories with you- like ” milk does a body good ” … these memories do a grandmother’s soul good.”