The Computer Studio "Big Dig" unearthed 20+ "Earth Angel" cards sent back in late 2010/early 2011. All are precious, although the most treasured are ones from friends & loved ones no longer with us.
The card - on one side were two angel wings with room between for a message and/or name; on the other our address, already stamped - was sent with the hope of having a host of "angels" smiling down on us from on high (well, from the top of the Front Room walls).
2010 was a rocky year. Out of the blue, was informed in August that the school where I'd taught for 5+ years was cutting staff & my services weren't needed.
While this was financially catastrophic, it also seemed strangely copacetic - 2009-10 was a sublime teaching experience, one that was a perfect coda to my teaching years.
As I wrote in the letter, "Strange as it might seem, I feel a strong sense of calm; an inexplicable sense of peace has been my response from the 1st shock to now. 'For peace has in it confidence in the Lord, that God leads all things to a good end.' I really don't fear anything, with no worries about things to come. Just like the passage says."
My prediction - "Actually, we have reason to feel fearless. John & I look forward to many productive years, free to apply our best traits & talents to presenting opportunities." - has come gloriously true.
Had completely forgotten that the inspiration for writing the letter was a chance encounter with Dick & Sally Brickman at the meeting of New Church minds that the Lemoles sponsored at the Philmont Country Club.
As the unearthed letter describes, that brief connection "Got me to thinking - if people invest money, time & energy in institutions & organizations, why not in other people? Such investments aren't tax deductible & dividends are less tangible, but they have the potential to be deeply enriching."
I look back at the last five years & realize that the loving energies - represented by the returned cards - & monies invested in us at that dicey time have yielded pretty good dividends. This weekend, I am off to The Great Turning, Becoming Vibrant Elders in Our Evolving World, a gathering of all ages. I'm signed up for my second Leading to Well-Being Conference & third National Center for Creative Aging Conference & Leadership Exchange. Hopefully, will attend various other inspiring gatherings over the rest of the year - we will see.
It's a joy writing my brace of blogs - Dream Reweaver, older2elder, Secrets of the Home, any my just-started, Tea Cup Tours. Having such immediate contact, the ability to effortlessly share what's afoot on the eldering front & expansive living for all ages, was not even a glimmer in my eye back in 2010!
All the predictions mentioned in the letter have come true, even surpassed our every expectation. Smiling, reading the ways we listed that people could help get us through that nail-biting time:
#1 - GIVE your caring support - return your signed card; we're posting them throughout our home, helping welcome & open up unimaginable streams of prosperity.
#2 - CONNECT with us - a smile & a wave, a quick chat after church or at the post office or in the grocery store, Facebook "friending," or something more substantial. Studies show a circle of caring friends is essential to making lasting changes in our lives!
#3 - LEND a hand - as basic as helping us lop off some totally dead tree limbs (the last came down in winter 2016!) or prune or plant; occasionally loan Deev your oven for an hour or two (ours conked out <2016 - we still depend on our handy dandy portable oven>), or just offer advice on becoming better housekeepers & yardeners.
#4 - RECOMMEND Deev's tender loving senior care to friends looking to make life easier for themselves and/or loved ones.
#5 - CHIP IN - we'll pay forward any financial support! (while this is our most urgent situation, it is far & away NOT the most important contribution you can make - see #1 & 2)
MEGA big smile, reading the closing paragraph, that is still as true today as it was back in 2010:
Wherever our paths take us, John & I will always sense we won the greatest "Life Lottery" ~ prosperous beyond measure, thanks to a loving partnership with each other & our Creator; by our Earth Angels, family who feel like friends & so many friends who feel like family; and full confidence that we will always find the trust, strength & inspiration to build whatever presents itself along the way into something remarkable.
Looking forward to when The Big Dig is done. The Computer Studio should be finished by the weekend. Then onto similar endeavors in the Front Room, the dining room, the kitchen, den, basement, garage, master bedroom. (Our cozy living room is great reinforcement for what the rest of the house will look like!)
A lot of work, but if our experience with the rest of the house is anything like what's happened with the Computer Studio, there will be some lovely surprises uncovered, memories recaptured, unforgettable moments recalled.
To all our Earth Angels, past present future - thanks thanks & more thanks!
Credits:
planetware.com
allfreedownload.com
peacemealproject.com
newbeginningswithgina.com
multilinkearthworks.com
clkr.com
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