Chapel of Hope Stories

Dear Reader:

True confession time! After I retired and subsequently became an ” empty nester ” I made a dramatic ” Scarlet O’ Hara” declaration, in which I vowed…that I never wanted to hear the question ” What’s for supper ?” again in my lifetime or attend another “meeting.” I was cooked and “meet-ed” out!

And though I have been retired for quite a few years now-these two “vows” have been kept in check!

My memories of teaching while being a single parent can be summed up in one word-TIRED. In those days I stay tired-bone-marrow tired.

The easiest part of my day was teaching-then it really got wacky-like a pinball machine-working out rides ( drop-off’s and pick-up’s) for every sports practice and game-in addition to play practices, school or church functions …multiplied by three. Remember there were no mobile phones-so a last-minute change-in-plans call wrought total disaster.

And then just when you thought everyone was ” covered” … the inevitable question from the back of the car whined out” What’s for supper … I’m starving!”

Of course I was thinking to myself-Well guess what?I am starving too-I had lunch duty so didn’t get to eat and a teacher’s meeting after

school, so I couldn’t get to the store , as planned, and I have laundry to do and papers to grade. Once again the Golden Arches called!

These days I rarely hear the dreaded supper question and I always agree to do a presentation- as long as there are no meetings attached-just show up and do it.

Life is good. When the cupboard is empty I can make do with a bowl of cereal for supper and the whining ghost voices of yester-year have now

fallen on my adult children’s ears. Life is fair… if we just live long enough!

In this article from the Boston Globe by Priscilla Kipp on this same subject she adds some humor to her situation-she and her husband are newly ” empty-nesters” and her husband just retired while the wife is semi-retired-working from home.

…” The house is empty after family left and then my husband asks the dreaded question-” What’s for supper?” When I am stumped, he says ” How about hot dogs?” Some things never change. But being old now-and not naive-this much I know. I must be careful what I wish for.

The time may come when my cooking days are over. If l’m lucky, I will have a choice about what is served me on a tray. So I find the last two hot dogs, smell them to be safe, discover I have run out of mustard, and smile as I raise my glass: Bon appetit! “

So until tomorrow… if we really are what we eat… I am in a world of trouble-like the squirrel!

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Dear Reader:

For awhile now I have been in a quandary. I am by nature pretty happy-go-lucky but how do we brush away the troubling news we hear and see daily on our computers, radios, and televisions with so much at stake?

We can hide our heads in the sand and pretend not to see the corruption and attack on democratic ideals but history has taught us that we will pay a high price eventually for that misjudgment.

When did doing the right thing in politics become detrimental to one’s public perception ? Individual power and greed appear to hold precedence over being recognized for decency and putting others’ welfare first.

I have discovered I am not alone in this time of dismay and confusion. Kathy Giorgio decided one day to post one moment of happiness on Facebook. Soon readership grew so these observations turned into blogs and then a book.

It is a sad state of affairs if we start feeling guilty over finding joy in the daily moments of life.

Every time I feel frustrated I return to my garden where God’s presence abounds and I feel His nod and smile in welcoming new plants, new creative endeavors (like my decorated mailbox) captured moments of beauty… like these…

So until tomorrow… Help us Father find the balance and solution we need and pray for in our lives …to sustain moments of joy while protecting our precious country by reuniting core values that connect us together as the human race.

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

* Today is a very important game in the season and Rutledge will have to watch while his wrist mends! Encourage your team tomorrow and be Rutledge Strong -Number-18 -for them from the sidelines!

Dear Reader:

On my way to Daniel Island to see Ben yesterday … I had a rare opportunity to snap a quick photo from the car window… as I circled the first round-about and no other cars were on it! Nothing short of a miracle-usually it is bumper to bumper traffic.

Scenes like these flowers accompany every street, sidewalk, and full circle round-abouts… all over the island-a garden of Eden in every direction.

I tried calling Ben to let him know I was coming but his phone wasn’t working… so I dragged his Pepsi’s and snacks to his room on the second floor at the end of the hall!

Only to discover he wasn’t there… I was still writing a note when he came in…and we started talking. Our conversations vary from light and airy to deep conversations of our past.

Many times I leave feeling bonded through a shared story from our past-only to have that moment disappear when Ben calls later and remembers me coming …but nothing about what we talked about.

WordPress let me know this week that I had posted over 4000 blogs since Chapel of Hope started in 2010! There would be a celebration at 5000!

From that number I have written many posts on the importance of living in the present –in the moment. Only now I understand that my ” sound advice” only works if memory is attached to those moments.

I will remember our talks but I want Ben to have this gift too-so at night if he feels lonely, he can remember family while growing up and how much he was and is still loved.

I love this verse from one of my favorite country songs-Precious Memories!

Precious memories, how they linger-How they ever flood my soul-In the stillness, of the midnight-Precious sacred scenes unfold.

So until tomorrow – that stanza is my prayer… that God shares memories with Ben that I can’t help him retain but God can.

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

A shout-out to Lee-my talented nephew-loved the article in the Charleston City Paper! Great interview-your deepest feelings emerged!

” The Many Deprivations of Guitarist Lee Barbour”

Dear Reader:

My neighbor, Virginia and her adorable little dog Meadows came with a Fall Surprise for me yesterday Double-Wow!

Virginia and her husband, Finn, moved to Summerville to be near her mother, Myrtle, at the Presbyterian Village. Myrtle passed several weeks back and now they are in the midst of making decisions about family locations and finding the best spot to be.

With Covid interruptions, we have not been able to spend much time together-until yesterday and it was wonderful to finally be able to converse!

After Virginia left I turned on television and caught the end of a conversation with Dr Michael Beckwith. I immediately got caught up in his own unique observations of life seen through a different spiritual perspective. ( Some of which I have experienced myself.)

I wrote this quote down because I sense it everytime I return home to the flowers on the porch. It is, as if, they have been waiting on me!

” If you look at it really close with your consciousness, you see that a flower is how God is smiling at you.” What a beautiful thought!

I do actually find myself turning around sometimes, while working in the garden, because I feel someone or something staring at me-only to find no neighbor or physical presence around me-though the feeling continues. The same for my porch flowers!

Dr. Beckwith believes that God doesn’t go on or off like a light ( at our human will.) The Divine Spirit within us is always flowing! When we pray… we do so to open the channels of communication -to be receptive to what God is: “Presence, Love, Beauty, Intelligence… Life itself.”

So until tomorrow…Thank you Father for precious time spent with neighbors and friends alike-sharing stories that bring us closer together!

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

This is an artistic clock design by Kellie Rae Robert’s-several years back the minute hand broke off and the hour hand is stuck on 12:00-midnight-inviting pumpkins, ghosts, and bats! 👻BOO! 😁

Dear Reader:

Las Vegas comedian, George Wallace, has written a new comedy book -so he has been on certain talk shows and he mentioned that the reason he used’ Whatnot’ in his title was so if he forgot what he wrote while being interviewed, he could just end his train of thought with ” and whatnot.”

Whatnot is a catch-all word for nondescript items that are similar in appearance. Originally a whatnot was a term for an open set of shelves for holding bric-a-brac.

But soon the term became synonymous with the bric-a-brac itself-objects that were similar as in – this shelf holds candles, wine glasses and whatnot. ( same as etc. -when you can’t remember a whole list. )

Isn’t it frustrating when you are talking to someone in person or on a call and you find yourself playing charades with the other person over a name?

” Oh you know who I am talking about-that really really big teacher in fourth grade who looked like she had swallowed another person and the rumor got out she ate bad children so we were terrified of her -she had a plural name… oh shoot-whatchamacallut! That’s it!!!!

Mrs. Persons-appropriately named since we thought more than one person was inside her!”

These days my ‘ etc’ or/ and ‘ whatnot’ consists of pumpkins-lots and lots of pumpkins!

So until tomorrow… the next time you forget a name while talking… just remember you are alive, life is grand, happiness and joy surround you and most importantly God loves you-He never forgets your name… Fill yourself with gratitude, blessings, love and whatnot!

” Today is my favorite day and whatnot! Winnie the Pooh

* If you are like me -not wanting to get pushed into Christmas before Halloween-enjoy this cartoon!

Dear Reader:

I always loved it when Aunt Eva would come visit mom while she lived with us. The sisters were very entertaining and it was where I learned the most about the Wilson family history …and Eva and mother’s adventures growing up.

One time, I remember they were talking about the anticipation of circuit or tent ” Chautauquas.” I remember asking what in the world was a ” Chautauqua?”

I found out it was an annual arts/ cultural event for poor rural families who would never be able to travel and hear an opera or famous politician, musician, band, singer, actor or evangelist… so these traveling tent shows came to them!

It really was like a carnival/ circus also with rides and strange creatures on display.

One year mother was teasing Aunt Eva about a picture of her in the photo album-this was the picture.

It was so different from any picture of Aunt Eva that I had ever seen I asked her about it-mother smiled and told Eva to share the story behind it.

Aunt Eva, like her older twin brothers was a day student at Presbyterian College. Apparently, as part of some cultural exchange program a small replica of the Eiffel Tower was erected on campus and students taking French were eligible to participate in ‘ A Week in Paris ” enactment-they got to eat French cuisine, listen to French music and attend French plays.

Unfortunately these students could only speak French that week and an outdoor French play was performed. At the end of the week a male and female student was selected to be honored with the title of Honorary Ambassador-for dressing in French style clothes and participating in all the activities. Aunt Eva won in her category. She was given a bottle of French perfume that she saved for decades… for special occasions.

Eva Cate is named for her great great Aunt Eva and guess what? She is obsessed with Paris and the Eiffel Tower. A chip off the old block!

You might remember last Halloween she dressed up as the Eiffel Tower.

I have given her Eiffel Tower lego sets- she has drawings of Paris all around her room!

My hope is one day Eva Cate will get to Paris and while looking out over ” The City of Light” from the Eiffel Tower she will give a loud shout-out to Aunt Eva … ” We did it Aunt Eva!”

So until tomorrow… Let us pick up the torch from those who came before us and see their dreams come true through us!

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Shh! Mum’s the word-the mums are coming!

Dear Reader:

Artist Kelly Rae Roberts has recently started sharing more of herself than simply her art designs. She has started sharing words and ideas that shaped and changed her ” earlier self” -words that lead her on detours and sharp curves to land where she was meant to be-an artist.

Her 30 year self answered the questions like: What in your life is calling you, when all the noise is silenced, meetings adjourned, lists laid aside, and the wild iris blooms by itself in the dark forest…What still pulls on your soul? -Rumi

She took the leap of faith back then… but that was then. What about now? Life is never stagnant, leaps of faith are not meant to be one time solo acts-they are a process spread throughout our lifetimes.

Kelly is realizing that it is the words and phrases that accompany her artworks that excite her more these days-writing is its own unique artistic form and it is tugging at her soul.

When we start feeling these pulls and tugs… messages from the universe we have a decision to make-ignore them and stick with the familiar or answer and then wait for the ” directions.”

So when we find ourselves in transition-willing to peek (at least) at changing our lives… but uncertain of the path to follow to get there… we need to work on “allowing ” ourselves or giving ourselves “permission” to live in the frontier-the unknown-as long as needed before we form our plan of action.

Roberts sees ” allowing” as a catalyst to open our minds and hearts to let new thoughts flow through our hearts, allowing small steps to lead us, practicing quieting our minds so we can allow the the spirit of the Divine to enter and turn dreams and wishes into reality,

So until tomorrow ( Ann Graves sent this thoughtful card inside my birthday card)

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Rutledge showed me his cast when the Dingles gathered yesterday. Sharing the story of his challenge and how he now wants to help the new quarterback gain confidence! You got it right Rutledge! The best way to overcome your disappointment is to help another!

Dear Reader:

As you well suspect-I am addicted to morning glories! I have always known this fact -but until yesterday ( going through old journals and albums…) I had forgotten the reason!

The year I turned fourteen we had just recently moved to Laurens and I was starting high school. Mother knew I was sad and homesick for Fayetteville so she decided to go all out for my birthday.

All my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandmother were invited-everyone bringing a special dish! The crowd was so large we had set up tables and chairs on the back deck.

As the sun was going down Aunt Eva noticed a cluster of beautiful morning glories raising their heads to the setting sun one last time.

Suddenly she looked at me and said ” I have a special birthday story for you and it has to do with morning glories.” Immediately my curiosity was captured-and as I glanced at mother she was smiling but her eyes were moist with memory. Aunt Eva began:

She had gotten the call that I had arrived that late September day fourteen years earlier-already packed… Aunt Eva immediately headed to North Carolina to be with mom those first couple of weeks after my birth.

When Aunt Eva arrived at the hospital she noticed that lots of flowers had already arrived from family and friend well-wishers.

However, upon second glance, there were also several straggly vines of wilted flowers dropping off the hospital office desk.

Daddy had picked and brought them! The nurses and mother had kept straight faces as he asked for a vase to put those beautiful purple flowers in. Eva immediately went into action to remedy the situation!

One nurse told Eva there was a field of morning glories in a nearby park. Aunt Eva dashed out and brought back handfuls of morning glories.

She and the nurses found a wooden bucket on the ground floor-took all the flower arrangements that had already arrived…and added Eva’s morning glories soaked and intertwined in this huge floral arrangement!

By the time daddy returned with Ben …he gasped in delight at the morning glory extravaganza! His chest puffed out as Aunt Eva and the nurses all complimented him on the idea of using morning glories.

Later when mother heard the whole story from Eva… they made a ” pinkie promise” to never tell daddy the story behind the arrangement.

Daddy told the nurses that when he saw the pink and purple flowers he knew they would be the perfect gift for his little girl!

Sadly morning glories and daddy both have and had short life spans, five years for daddy… one day for a morning glory …

but both bloomed in delight and joy to everyone they encountered for as long as they circled the sun!

So until tomorrow… Let us never forget the power of a birthday story with a child. The antics, funny happenings, sweet memories but most importantly the reassurance of treasured love!

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Sadly our family had a mishap today! On the first play of the youth football game in Holly Hill, Rutledge was knocked down and fell backwards on his throwing arm-he is the quarterback for the Iron Horses at Phillip Simmons Elementary!

His wrist is broken but he showed a lot of character still leading his team on. A lesson in disappointment but also in how to handle the ” valleys” that come one’s way.

Bekah and Ady had lunch with Ben yesterday! BLT’s-yummy! I know Ben loved it! ❤️💕

Dear Reader:

” What if trees really did refuse to let go of their dying leaves?”

Sounds bizarre doesn’t it? Yet aren’t we all guilty of doing just this to ourselves? Don’t we try any and everything we can, to postpone letting go of something familiar and comforting in our lives …even when we know it’s viable purpose no longer serves our needs?

In fact we are so afraid of being forced into a new career, move, home, or relationship we hang on to the old … even when we know it is ” killing” our opportunity for a fresh start… new opportunities? Sometimes we go as far as to ” clothes pin” ourselves to the past!

A God Wink! When I came across this spiritual message I knew I needed to open myself up more to changes around me.

Sometimes you just have to turn the page to realize there is more to your book of life than the page you’re stuck on.

Stop being afraid to move on. Close this chapter of hurt, and never re-read it again.

It’s time to get what your life deserves, and move on from the things that don’t deserve you.

Don’t spend your days trying to correct your past, instead, let go and let God create something better for your future.

I remember when Rutledge and Lachlan were little… Rutledge would always come running up to me and say ” BooBoo I’m crazy ( while making circle motions around his head) BUT ” Lachie” is REALLY CRAZY !” Rutledge would start laughing while I laughed so Lachlan joined in too-( happy to be part of the laughter! )

Rutledge was right… we humans are all just a little bit crazy when it comes to avoiding change and refusing to take leaps of faith! But if we don’t …we stay mired down in the ” what could have been” mud puddles of life!

So until tomorrow…we can all learn from October. ” Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.”

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Dear Reader:

October 1! Just saying October out loud makes me happy! Like Anne… I can’t imagine a world without this most popular month!

Today I picked out a few of my favorite quotes about October to share with you.

How true! We wait and wait-especially in the Lowcountry, surviving one hot humid day after another and suddenly the North Wind brings us the first. dry cool day and we are so excited! We go shopping for sweaters!

Yes! The leaves take center stage pushing the flowers behind them!

Love you and have missed you notes mysteriously appear in post offices addressed to ” someone” named October!

This quote speaks for one and all!

Apples and Apple Cider-can’t get much more October than that…

All I can think of is my first fire of the season -it will come one evening this month! I can hardly wait!

October makes me appreciate living in a region that gets to taste all four seasons… though some of our seasons last longer-it just makes us appreciate every glorious moment that we can squeeze from October!

So until tomorrow…

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Don’t forget! It is the first day of the month! Say ” Rabbit Rabbit” and have the most amazing October of all!