Chapel of Hope Stories

Dear Reader:

As far back as my high school ( required) typing class …I was taught to unplug my machine ( as needed) to give myself time to re-settle myself. Best lesson I ever received!

As typewriters switched over to basic computers, then more sophisticated ones …to years later teaching courses with one … some days computers broke infamously leaving me ” stranded” …so throughout my computer teaching , I had to make sure I had a story to supplement the lesson or a back-up activity… they never failed me!

Taking time to unplug me was critical then and even more so now! Putting ourselves and interests first… being kind to ourselves and our needs so we can be better to our fellow man!

Isn’t plugging in together what we should all be doing… all on one circuit? Love combined making us stronger, kinder, and compatible. Share the love!

So until tomorrow…

Dear Reader:

My life soars with happiness when I make a list of my ” favorite things!”

My family …which embodies all different components… including both sides of the family, my adult children, my children’s spouses and families… my grand-dogs … as you were shown yesterday!

Seriously… how can I not be happy… and besides being with family …

my garden has returned and upon looking out the door panes ….lights makes me ecstatic!

Plus planting old and new plants with Mandy’s assistance… so much happiness and then finally new friends here at at The Palms and visits from my Summerville friends, Ya’s, and loving supporters!!!! I have daily blessings to enhance every day of my life!

Always remember… God brings us happiness everyday… but we must personally define it and make it our own! O Happy Day… every day!

… and besides visits from earlier teaching Summerville buddies, old and new friends, there is always the delight of the friendship cards, letters, and drawings…that arrive continuously!

So until tomorrow… the sun is shining brightly and my happiness is too!

Dear Reader:

I look at my three adult ” children” these days and all three of them have and adore their canine pets! I am the proud grandmother of five amazing grand dogs!

These dogs bring such love to their individual and extended families. Mandy and John just returned from visiting John’s parents -flying to Alabama and the excited love of being reunited again made everyone happy!

John, Mandy, Eva Cate, Jake,… AND WINNIE! 💗❤️♥️

Walsh, Mollie, Rutledge, Lachlan, Eloise … and Dolley!

Tommy sent this picture of the family canine clan ( including a visiting cousin ( Winnie) minus Dolley!

I never grew up with dogs because mother couldn’t ( quite simply ) afford one… and I was in the same boat, as a single parent, only had one dog Christie for two or three years and then I and Ben were in college or Vietnam so David and mother had to raise it and finally only mother was left ( after David’s death) taking care of Christie -the Pekinese, she ended up having to put Christie down! So much on mother!

So today I am one happy grandmother watching my three adult children being able to share their love and devotion to their dog or dogs with their children.

Dogs love with their eyes and it is the deepest most sincere love you will ever get from any of God’s creatures!

We must always remember to include all kinds of love from God’s creatures in our lives!

Celebrate National Love Your Pet Day!

Dear Reader:

Were you like me over the Valentines Day’s interval ? Valentines Day was just the kickoff for Presidents Day?

Happy surprises that brought me such joy arrived randomly through out the following holidays …between hearts and Presidents is a rather strange experience!

As a child … a kaleidoscope brought me such wide-eyed deliciousness… pure wonder!

As I sat yesterday afternoon looking through my new kaleidoscope ( thank you!)I, once again , felt the sheer pull backwards to the mystique of childish magic, after many years of living!

Then a fascinating article popped up from Nirmala Sankaren article about a kaleidoscope depicting a paradox on life.

A kaleidoscope represents repeating patterns …our complex minds juggling melancholy and euphoria… depending on how we see life at the moment of changing lights.

We self-discover how we build our own attitudes toward life and the universe around us! Through our own acceptance of life and light.

A great lesson to learn about living in harmony (about living in light and darkness) is that things fall apart sometimes but they can always be put back together …in a different pattern!

Mollie and the children stopped by yesterday and we had such fun… Rutledge stayed behind with me while Lachlan and Eloise went to the park with Mollie. Rut and I tried out some of the play rooms especially the puzzles room.

So until tomorrow we had fun yesterday!!!

I had such wonderful news about my weekend and who is sitting in my garden, my spend the night with Tommy Friday and our fun Saturday…. wrote the blog post and scheduled it for the 18th -today at six and then nothing popped up … just said it was would be published tomorrow… how can that be… so disappointed! But hopefully something will untangle tomorrow… bringing a wonderful story…. take care and tomorrow will post yesterday’s message for today-it was a terrific one! 💘

These past two days have been amazingly happy-spent the night with Tommy and Pip Friday night and Tommy managed to carry that heavy Big Red planter to my garden… I was tearful when I saw it for the first time in months!

Dear Reader:

I was brought a package and a card that together brought me much joy yesterday!

Every day God literally shows me He is still leading and supporting me …that He will never abandon me! Never!

A young home cleaner has started cleaning in our wing of the Palms and was cleaning the bathroom Thursday when I heard her yell that the ” flusher” knob broke and fell off … she was turning the problem ( writing a report over to the front desk to send maintenance over …asap , ) to get it working… we older women need bathrooms to flush… I informed the aides if anybody was upfront to remind maintenance to please replace the knob!

Nobody showed up and I was having to borrow commodes… made me so uncomfortable… at 4 I was almost in tears -what would I do overnight?

Then I heard a man’s voice and assumed it was about to get replaced… but it wasn’t maintenance, it was my chaplain arriving for our weekly hourly visit… and I had to go seeking another place to ” pee.”before our session.

I explained what had happened when the young girl was doing the clean-up and three minutes later… exuberantly my amazing chaplain exclaimed ” Fixed!!!!!

He got down on his knees and found loose parts had rolled behind the commode… and put all on parts back on …” Done” !!!

The Lord lead the chaplain to me to rid my anxiety and hopelessness! We are never abandoned!!! Happiness is! We had a special prayer in closing!

So until tomorrow… never give up…keep looking for the Good!

From God’s Notes… Sharon Joyce shared this great list

Believe you are Loved

Believe you are worthy

Believe you are able

Believe its your time

Believe I am yours

Believe you are mine

I believe in YOU!

Dear Reader:

When Anne and I traveled to Ireland ten years ago, I totally fell in love with Ireland and all the lush green vales and valleys …and realized again why I loved John O’ Donohue’s touching heart to heart poetry!

Personally I love this path…we followed… since a child I am drawn to woodsy paths to find the unknown … at the end of God’s Path!

There must be a Celtic word that describes the sacredness of the daily images we saw and embedded in my heart. If you find one …please share with me! 💗💗❤️

Happy Valentines Piglet!

I had just gone to the bar room for wine and a wonderful 50’s and 60’s singer… ( lots of Elvis) when Mandy appeared at the bar and I went back to my room to give each family their Valentines bag!

Then the whole family took me back to the bar on their way out!

May God protect You from Evil!

I hope everyone had a loveable HEARTS DAY! 💗❤️♥️