Chapel of Hope Stories

Dear Reader:

I remember when I was going through mother’s desk drawers after she passed I came across this school project that David and his classmates had made for Mother’s Day one year. It was now tattered and faded-but it had obviously meant a lot to mother… for she had kept it all those years.

David died a quarter of a century ( 21) before mother and every day she missed him-David did love mother with all his ” sole” and mother loved him back with all hers… until the day she died. Mothers are like that you know…

I love this true anecdote Jenna Bush told about the morning her family got the news her grandfather, George H. W. Bush had passed. Her husband, Henry, offered to take the kids to give her time to process her devastating loss.

Out loud Jenna commented” I can’t believe this is happening right before Christmas!”

Her then five-year-old daughter said to Henry… ” Daddy, of course it’s happening around Christmas. Gampy had to get up there with Ganny to decorate the Christmas tree!”

Oh so heavenly… What a comforting image that little one tucked into Jenna’s heart at such a sad time.

So until tomorrow… Success isn’t permanent, failure isn’t fatal, and death isn’t the end… only a new beginning.

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

I love my witch’s wine goblet-now to think up a special brew! 🤣

Dear Reader:

I promise I am not going back on my pledge to start celebrating Christmas before Halloween… the title is just a case of some hidden cerebral neuron lighting up and making a connection.

From what you ask? This quote from Hoda Kotb’s book This Just Speaks To Me. Apparently Hoda and I share a passion for quotes , lines of prose, and thoughts on inner clarity.

Sleep doesn’t help if it’s your soul that’s tired.

Hoda chose this quote to be in her book and made an interesting observation after reading it. ” I think that’s the difference between sleep and soul are the same as tired and weary. ”

Are we physically tired or just world weary of constant depressing news?

Now where had I heard the phrase ” world weary ” before? Got it! O Holy Night. ” The thrill of Hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Now imagine this…. one glorious morning we wake up to news filled with joy! Covid is over! Jobs are filled! Tankers and truckers are ahead of their arrival time schedules, food prices are dropping and there are more than enough toys for all girls and boys! So fall on your knees and thank God for prayers fulfilled and angels voices!

Don’t you imagine we would all feel the weight of the world lifted off our shoulders! What a Christmas gift that would be!

But first Boo is getting ready for Boo Day-Halloween! All the grandchildren’s Boo Crew bags are packed and ready for delivery Saturday!

Anne sent the cutest BOO card that arrived yesterday-for my ” Boo” collection! Thank you so much! Too cute!

Cotillion Night ended with a five course meal so the students could practice their table manners! ( I think Eva Cate has shot up six inches this past summer) she used to be the shortest in her class and now she is one of the tallest! Will soon be leaving me behind!

So until tomorrow… To You from Boo… with love!

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

Dear Reader:

I am working on getting the grandchildren’s Halloween paraphernalia wrapped and ready to give them this weekend and wouldn’t you know it? I went to CVS, Walgreens, and two different dollar stores to get orange/ black wrapping paper and all were sold out.

I ended up looking for wrapping paper on Amazon-one roll that could arrive in one day and still ended up having to get different colors that included black and orange -a new world where holidays all run together.

I would much more prefer a ” wrapped” hug from God… and Tuesday I got it! Whoever says God doesn’t have a sense of humor hasn’t met my God!

After picking Ben up Tuesday I kept hearing a noise in the car and kept wondering where it was coming from? I discovered Ben. He was nervous about the doctor visit and was nervously tapping his foot on the floorboard.

I tried to make light of it and told him he must like the song playing on the radio-tapping in tune to the music-he went along with the ruse and I started tapping the steering wheel.

Just then a truck pulled in front of me as I got on interstate I-26. On the back of his cargo section, in big letters , was written…

FORGET THE DOG! IT’S THE KIDS YOU SHOULD MOST FEAR!!!

I started laughing and pointed it out to Ben who started laughing too. Suddenly every vehicle that passed the truck started beeping snd yelling out the windows with thumbs up and calls like ” You got that right man” or” ” No KIDDING …kids ARE scary these days!”

I stayed right behind the truck until my exit off I-26- it was then I noticed Ben’s foot wasn’t tapping anymore. That truck made our day and relieved the stress. A God Wink- ” Yes Virginia God Does Have a Sense of Humor! “

So until tomorrow…H. O. P. E. -Hold on, pain ends.

Today is my favorite day. Winnie the Pooh

We are in for a series of cool fall days-time for the pansy baskets!

Dear Reader:

Late yesterday afternoon when I got home from taking Ben to his new orthopedic surgeon appointment, I found myself throwing open the windows and letting fall tumble in with beautiful leaves, cool breezes, and a sense of spiritual serenity that separates itself from our troubled home here on earth.

Many of you might keep up with the latest emojis but I stay faithful to three main ones-thumb up, smile, and heart. They are my traditional emoji ” trinity” ( thumbs up) -everything will be okay; a 😊- nothing turns a day around faster than a simple smile and the world’s number one emoji-heart-love conquers all!

I am learning every day that the more we share a bit of ourselves to others the fuller our own hearts become. For example a mystery was solved yesterday.

When Doodle and Lassie came by Monday bringing a large portion of mother’s vanilla wafer cake-they noticed, as they started to leave that I had a smiley stickie on my collar and asked me who gave it to me… I had no clue?

I had been to see my oncologist Monday and Dr. Jeter was smiling-good office visit but no smiley sticker. I left and went to a recommended orthopedic surgeon nearby-filled out some endless information forms and took another set home to complete before I took Ben back yesterday to his referral first office visit.

The same pretty, sweet girl was checking for masks and temperatures as I re-entered with Ben this time-soon after we sat down I noticed something on Ben’s Purple Heart Vietnam cap and asked if he had added something-it was a smiley face sticker-then Ben laughed and pulled another sticker off the back of my collar.

The pretty young greeter smiled and then giggled-I walked over and asked if she had ” snuck ” one on the back of my collar the day before and she nodded and winked. Mystery solved! Once again a simple smile won the day!

So until tomorrow… We must remember… we are meant to be here in this exact moment-writer and reader! 😊

Today is my favorite day. Winnie the Pooh

Dear Reader:

I am always so delighted when I find a book I have tucked away for a rainy day read… and then re-discover it …on a rainy day!

Actually yesterday didn’t turn out as rainy as forecasters predicted-much to my chagrin-the plants all need a long cool drink! The Secret Garden author, Frances Hodgson Burnett gave the well-known title quote.

From the beginning of world history gardens have played important roles in historical events and even battles. Spiritually we start civilization with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and Jesus spends his last hours in the Garden of Gethsemane. There is just something so serene and powerful about being surrounded by the beauty of a garden -especially one you ” raised” ( with a lot of help) from infancy to maturity!

Alex Trebek -( Jeopardy) got his last wish-to spend his final hours in a swing in his garden with his wife watching the horizon. What a lovely way to leave life. I can think of no better place than saying my final farewell in my garden!

Ponder all the life lessons we take with us from a garden. Commitment, Continuous Care, Hard Work, Patience, Faith-these attributes teach us how to be good citizens, good friends, good neighbors, and good members of the human race-sharing and distributing what brings us nourishment of the body and soul.

So until tomorrow… the art of gardening restores us to our senses, both literally and figuratively; it propels us away from screens and walls and gets us out into the world!

Today is my favorite day! Winnie the Pooh

Dear Reader:

Have you ever witnessed a child playing …giving into the sheer joy of a moment-they kicked a goal, caught a ball for the first time or heard the ice cream truck? It is one of the most beautiful events to witness… no holding back-just squeals of delight and wonder!

Why do we adults feel like we have to contain our moments of joy to perhaps a ” more appropriate time” or place? Why not live that very moment at the very time it occurs?

Two memories popped up when I witnessed and then later participated in such moments of joy.

The first memory took place in my third grade class. Mrs. Johnson was my third grade teacher and was one of the sweetest teachers I had-she was rather timid but so kind.

One day this man came to the door and spoke to Mrs Johnson out in the hall-we heard a shriek and then she came back in holding a handkerchief with trembling fingers. The man returned too… holding her hands tightly while he reassured our startled faces that everything was okay-in fact better than okay! Our teacher was going to have a baby.

The husband asked us to help them out with possible boy/girl names-it would be a big help! We spent the rest of the afternoon writing names on the board.

Not only had the joy been told-in that joyous moment but more importantly shared! We were all made to feel special and joyous -a part of another’s joy!

The next joyous moment came years later in college when I was dating an upperclassman and going to some event when suddenly my date slammed on the brakes and yelled-” Get out! Circle the car! It just turned 100,000 miles! “

I was startled …but within seconds all the occupants in the car were dancing around the stopped car to the radio music blaring from within -instead of being irritated the cars behind us started beeping and laughing too! A joyous moment of youth, abandoned freedom. and sheer delight!

So until tomorrow if you are lucky enough to feel joyful-don’t hesitate! Give in and share the moment with others! Joy begets joy!

Today is my favorite day! Winnie the Pooh

Dear Reader:

When I think back on my childhood. with so many early tragedies… I have to stop and remember that, in spite of the losses, God provided adult family and extended family members as strong examples of mentors who fell into one of two categories-lessons and blessings. And oh what strength they displayed on a daily basis.

In one of Mitch Albom’s books, Finding Chika, he shares the true story of the battle to save their adopted five-year-old daughter, Chika, who developed a brain tumor.

As her illness spread Mitch carried her everywhere. One day Mitch told her he had to stop coloring with her to go to work. She insisted he must stay and play. When Mitch tried to explain that this was his job, Chika disagreed. ” Your job is carrying me.”

Her words stuck with him-she taught him a lifetime lesson-” What we carry defines who we are.”

Don’t we all admire people who seem to carry more than their share of burdens, yet remain strong and filled with Hope, Faith, and Love-enough to fill everyone’s pail?

So until tomorrow…Whatever or whoever carries the full weight of our attention and devotion defines us as a person. We should take time to think about what and who we are carrying.

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

What fun we had at Scarecrows on the Square Friday and picking out pumpkins-so Eva Cate could do her creative artwork!

The dew was still heavy on the grass when John, Mandy, and I went to watch Jake play soccer!

After leaving the Turners I stopped by Wellmore to take Ben his Pepsi’s and cheese crackers-and pick up another referral for another doctor for Ben to see-endless list it feels some days…

Then onto catch up with the Dingle boys and their games-look who is missing a cast now? A football memoir for Rutledge to remember his first football injury came in and I got to deliver it finally!

Dear Reader:

After the amazing Fall Harvest full moon Wednesday came the most beautiful sunset Thursday evening! It truly left me breathless-the oranges and yellows were almost blindly bewitching!

Sunsets bring back long-lost memories like a sunset I remember after a day trip with a young man I had a crush on at Erskine. I still remember a beautiful sunset ending a memorable day in my life.

Recently our class at Erskine had a big reunion but it coincided too close to our YaYa reunion-still memories of Erskine and the adorable little town of Due West linger within me.

In the Fall Azalea magazine-Ellen Hyatt-a local gifted poet, writes a poem called Autumn Sunset. I love this phrase from it…

…Colors in the sky wow and awe. Yellow, bright but not blinding, patches of orange, wisps of pink, fevered red-sailors delight; a quiet layer of violet drifted in like a memory or a sigh.

So until tomorrow… don’t we all wonder at some point in our lives how many sunsets we will see before we start our last journey around the sun. It will never be enough.

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

And speaking of beauty and shades of pink… encore azaleas, roses and sasanquas beyond beautiful-they must know it is pink breast cancer month.

***Mandy and the children had no school Friday so they came to enjoy the Scarecrows in the Square and a chance to pick out a pumpkin 🎃 to decorate-fun day …pictures coming soon!

Dear Reader:

All the grandchildren’s Japanese Maples are turning beautifully this year-Jake’s is just a little farther along.

In the Fall edition of Azalea Magazine, Summerville’s wonderful read … thanks to Will Rizzo-Editor-in-Chief, he included a field guide with interesting tidbits on this popular season! Some included:

Americans typically refer to this time of year as ” Fall,” while our British ” Brethren” use the word ” Autumn.”

Fall is caused by the Earth’s tilt, not our distance from the sun. Fall colors are caused by the amount of sugar in the leaves.

Birds spend most of the fall migrating. The Arctic Tern travels 44,000 miles, from the North Pole to the South Pole! Wow! Unbelievable! They must have to check their wings a lot during this amazing journey!

Fall … Pumpkin spice, colorful leaves, cooler weather, and college 🏈 football!

Interesting study-According to the University of Chicago, children born in the fall are statistically better students and live longer. ( I will take the ” live longer” stat and run with it. )

Historically, fall was called “harvest” because of the ” harvest moon” that occurs close to the autumn equinox. It is also called the ” hunters'” moon because it coincides with the start of hunting season.

Jake, the fisherman hunter fished for over an hour Wednesday after school -waiting patiently and it paid off! He caught both a big and small mouth bass! It must have been the magical pull of the Hunter moon -but Jake was deliriously happy! ( excuse the pun-but he was over the moon!!!)

So until tomorrow… Even though we are told to give thanks in all circumstances-being grateful for fall comes quite easily-a perfect season!

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

Dear Reader:

This recent church message touched many congregational members… including my good friend, Dee Lesko. Haven’t we, as followers of God, been ” guilty of not hearing God’s knock on the door to our hearts?”

Haven’t we become too preoccupied with our own dreams, ambitions, opportunities and personal agendas… to such an extent that our ears are closed to the sound of God’s voice through his knock!

These thoughts immediately made me think of the old African-American spiritual “Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door.” I remembering loving singing all the different verses-Can’t you hear him? Answer Jesus. Jesus calls you. Can’t you trust him? O sinner, why don’t you answer? Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door.

I remember in an old romantic comedy called New in Town starring Rene Zellwegger and Harry McConnick, Jr-there was a funny one-liner in the movie when the rural farm scrapbooking women asked the sophisticated Rene character if she had found Jesus? Rene promptly reponds ” I didn’t know he was lost.”

A funny one- liner but more serious when we realize that God is never lost-He knows where we are too, at any given moment-but we have to let him in to find ourselves.

So until tomorrow Matthew: 7 -” Ask and it will be given to you; Seek and you will find; Knock and the door will be opened.”

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

I lucked up and found all three stages of the Confederate Rose today-first the pure white bloom, then the pale pink and then the last rose/ red depicting the last withered drops of blood from the soldier

Happy children-birthday mommy is home!