Day of Light and Joy

 I was a bit overwhelmed with kindness today. I was invited to a special event at the city’s Art and Culture center. It was called Day of Light and Joy and it was for women going through treatments at the hospitals cancer center. I would never wish to have cancer but the people I have met are worth more than their weight in gold! I have been surrounded by some beautiful compassionate health professionals, volunteers and new friends who are also cancer warriors. I met some more ladies today who shared their stories of survival and other hobbies and interests with me. There were arts and craft tables, an exercise station where we did stretches, skin care and makeovers and even massage therapy which felt wonderful all by kind volunteer professionals.

How precious to see people caring for others that way. We even had coffee and muffins to start the day and lunch at the end of the event.

It was a wonderful day! I pray to bless others as I have been blessed!

Wishing you all joy and light!

      Blessed

In the darkness plant a seed.

Give not just in abundance but also in need,

Within your longing choose to share

Within your deep sorrow take time to care.

His strength is perfect when we are weak.

His words bring life when we can barely speak.

Blessed are they who bring comfort 

Blessed are they who mourn,

Blessed are they who rejoice with others 

Even when their heart is torn.

Cheryl N

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Romans 12:15 KJV

Remembering Mom

 Today is the date my beloved mother went home to be with Jesus 3 years ago. I believe Proverbs 3:5,6 were her life verses. She often referred to them and wrote them in a Bible she gave me when I was a child.

  My mom had a deep faith but it wasn’t just about going to church although we did, it was about living in kindness and finding joy in everyday things. The neighborhood kids were always welcomed and sometimes she made us all popsicles and things like that. We had our youth teen meetings there and would sing to guitar music.

As you probably could guess these photos are way back from the 1970s. We had some great times. One of the young men who led the group grew up to be a pastor of a large church in Arkansas and the one playing guitar was on the music praise team. He had a heart for God and so much compassion for people, sadly he passed away a few years ago but he touched many life’s and he’s probably playing music in heaven!

I’m so happy for my moms patience with us all and always being so welcoming. She fed us all snacks too! 

My mama was a great poet, perhaps I’ll share some of those another time plus I have journals that she wrote prayers and things in.

This morning at church one of my good friends walked up to me and told me I look just like my mother now with my new hair. That’s a good thing to me , my mom was a lovely lady with a great ❤️ heart. The pic above is one day we accidentally dressed just alike when we were going to visit dad at the nursing home so we had to get a picture. Now mom and dad and my sister Gail are with the Lord. Gail just lived to be 2. What a great reunion 

What a day it will be when my Jesus I shall see and I look upon His face the one who saved me by His grace, when He takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land , what a day glorious day it will be ! 🎶 🎵 

Florida friends , family and treasures

 

I know that the things in my life that mattered the most were never really things at all, yes there have been things I’ve loved but usually small gifts or kindnesses that couldn’t be measured as earthly wealth. My grandma in Michigan was one of the richest ladies I’ve known but she was not wealthy in earthly things. She raised 8 girls and 2 boys in hard times when there was not as much help as is available today. My mom said they got oranges and special food for Christmas but the Salvation Army gave them toys. Perhaps that’s why grandma joined the Salvation Army years later. Grandma had the best hugs and kisses and her voice was the sweetest. She could make you feel really special. She liked to give off what she had, sometimes cookies or a can of soda. She’d send her English homemade saffron rolls with raisins home with me. My grandma and grandpa loved to cook and bake together.

There are also special people who come into our life’s who become family, people who you genuinely connect with and grow to really care for. Since my son Justin and his family have moved to Lakeland Florida they have also gotten to know our friend Terri. Last night we all went out for pizza and enjoyed good food. Later at her home we told stories and laughed so hard we cried sometimes. Those grandchildren of ours surely can be entertaining. Thanks Terri for your wonderful hospitality. Hope we didn’t tire you too much that’s a whole lot of energy at once. Vinny and Casper hid for awhile lol! Smart 🐱 🐈 cats!

I was able to meet up with my cousin Cindy at Clearwater Beach. She grew up in northern Michigan like me. Her and her husband recently retired and moved to Florida so I have lots of family in Florida!

They were tired of shoveling Michigan snow and now take walks on white sand beaches. Feels wonderful to experience these kinds of days in January.

We had a fun day!