Wonderful Day!

My dear friend, Penny, didn't really get to celebrate her birthday last month. We were out of town and she was flying between here and Kansas City, where her little granddaughter was dying. Not a time of celebration at all. But we talked on Monday and I said I still wanted to be together and "uncelebrate." We planned for next week thinking I would be perfectly healed...then I called her back and said I really wanted to go today. Elsa suggested that wearing a silky scarf around my neck might help protect my owies...and I tried it and it did help. Penny is a reservationist with JetBlue...and does a split shift....so I picked her up at noon. I told her we were going for a little adventure. First we drove to Starbucks....and I ordered us Caramel Apple drinks....and also bought a bottle of Cinnamon syrup for each of us. She had never had the drink before so we were both in heaven. Then a nummy lunch at Stella's where she opened her gift bag...to find Apple Juice, whipped cream and caramel sauce....so she can go home and make her and Tom a Caramel Apple nightcap. There was also a card....with a homemade gift certificate. The game was that I was going to take her to a wowzer store....and she had to pick out her own birthday gift (or gifts) (since I haven't been able to go out and shop) ...something for her...not someone else....and she had to spend the entire amount and come within 4 cents of the total. We were both wowed by the wowzer store (that I will share about later in another post since I don't want someone to know I went to this wowzer store without them)....and we both had so much fun picking out fun things. I was very excited because I found my favorite earrings there! I have had these earrings for about a year. And every time I wear them, honestly, I have MANY comments from everyone I meet..."Oh those are the CUTEST earrings!" So, several months ago I decided that I needed to have an "earring ministry." In case that sounds strange, let me explain. My best friend in Portland, Cynthia, is one of the most amazing women I have ever met and taught me many years ago about service. She works in a hospital....and is always busy....but she told me that she has a "cake ministry." I asked her what in the heck she was talking about. She said that she makes homemade over-the-top birthday cakes for everyone she works with....which is a ton of people. She finds out that person's favorite cake...and then makes a wowzer (my favorite word of this post) edition. She said, "It is such a little thing, but it really has come to matter to these people and it is a great way to spread joy." I left that visit thinking I needed a personal joy ministry. One time, again wearing the "magic" earrings, and after receiving several compliments, I decided that I needed an earring ministry. I would try and duplicate the magic ones. So I headed off to the bead store....spent an arm and a leg.....and came home....and found out how HARD they were to reproduce! I think I made one and a half pairs. And they are still sitting with the rest of the beads. The plan was that each time I wear the magic earrings, I would have another pair in my pocket. And when someone would compliment me, I would smile and bring out a pair from my pocket and say, "Have a great day!" Ta-da! Fun, huh? Well, it was until I tried to make them! But today, at the wowzer store, I found them. Several pair. Enough to make a few people happy.

So..........let's hear some comments on what you would do, to start your own "bring joy to others" ministry. Think of a little something that you could do to make the world a better place. Or the world better for just one person. Like my sweet friend, Cynthia, sharing her love of baking...and my almost-earring business, what would you do? I will do a drawing of everyone that comments on this post on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m......and the lucky winner will get a pair of magic earrings. Now, you might be surprised when you see them. You'll think, "What? These are what she thinks are so cool?" But trust me....they go with anything casual....to a little dressy...match everything...are light to wear...and best of all ....they are magic! Like the traveling pants!

Penny and I had a magical day today. She said this was the happiest day of her life for the past seven years.........wow. Such a little thing to help make another have a happy day.