Author Archives: joyocala

Headline: “Nineteen children and two teachers killed in Uvalde, Texas shooting.”   I admit, that as I write these words I am still overwhelmed and angry that another shooter has taken the lives of children and teachers in an elementary school.   … Continue reading →

Jewels, artwork, priceless treasures, money, real estate…. hmm, I was not the inheritor of any of these “things.”  My mother collected angels and I have some beautiful pieces from her collection.  I have my father’s watch and a ring that I hold … Continue reading →

I just read an article in the AARP Bulletin (from October, 2021 as I’m a bit behind) by Linda Stern talking about the futility of people constantly checking their credit scores and worrying about them if they drop a point … Continue reading →

      In the Old Testament, there is the book of Esther.  Esther, in Hebrew, means silent or hidden.  Esther was a beautiful, humble, Jewish young woman.  After the death of her parents, she was raised by her uncle, Mordecai. She won a beauty contest … Continue reading →

Thinking about time and order has lead me to writing about the Sabbath. Sabbath is a Hebrew word for “cease.” It means to stop working. Observing the Sabbath is one of God’s commandments: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it … Continue reading →

One of my favorite expressions is “It’s like herding cats.”  I usually thought of it in the context of an administrator moderating a meeting of unorganized, opinionated teachers (I was one of the cats).  As you would expect I was … Continue reading →

Last night I attended the Florida Orchestra’s last concert of the season with my dad and stepmom. It was marvelous, as they all are. After a piano concerto, during the standing ovation, a woman behind us started yelling “Bravo! Bravissimo!” … Continue reading →

If we were in Canada today, we’d be celebrating Victoria Day.  As this holiday rolls around, Canadians have been through a long, snowy, gray winter.  Now the trees are turning green, and the chill gives way to warmer breezes. Time … Continue reading →

We are talking about a HUGE blessing bestowed on me, my parents. Were they perfect? No.  Were they perfect for me? Yes.  I was given a loving home, caring, loving parents who brought me up in the church. My parents fed, clothed … Continue reading →

Why do we believe in God?  No one currently living on Earth has ever seen Him in any form. Many do not believe what they can’t physically see. That’s stand to reason, I suppose. Things are not so great in … Continue reading →