Author Archives: joyocala

I remember very vividly begging my mother to buy a certain cereal, not because of the cereal but because of the toy inside that I just had to have, like a Captain Midnight ring.  Cracker Jacks popcorn/peanut snacks were always a … Continue reading →

I am just coming off a wonderful week.  I have the joy of having my life-long friend Marlis, visit me and we had a delightful time.  She is one of those friends who I may not talk to for four … Continue reading →

From the middle of January until the end of May, our family has an almost continual birthday celebration.  Starting in the middle of January, there are three sisters-all within a week’s time and a niece at the end of the … Continue reading →

According to tradition, Agnes was  born to a wealthy, Roman Christian family in 291. She was martyred at the age of twelve or thirteen during the persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, on 21 January 304. Agnes’ only crime was … Continue reading →

My desk calendar offers an inspirational quote for each month. I’m looking at January: “You have to dream before your dreams can come true.” I’ve been thinking about those words. Today we watch the inauguration of a new President. Ordinarily … Continue reading →

This is the week that churches would normally have special ecumenical celebrations,  mutual prayer services, or even exchange preachers (my congregation might welcome that)! We recall Jesus’s “high priestly prayer” in John 13-17, otherwise known as “the long farewell” to … Continue reading →

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”    Martin Luther King, Jr. How succinctly Dr. King reminds us.   Immigrants all, we or our families came to this nation from countries around the world.   … Continue reading →

My dad’s side of the family were “savers.”  I can remember periodically my father would “dig” out heirlooms and explain their significance.  As a youngster and even teen, I would lament and find this boring and sometimes the musty smell of age … Continue reading →

I recently got around to reading the October/November 2020 AARP magazine.  I always surprises me the people they interview for the magazine are actually senior citizens (although it is a magazine for seniors).  What amazes me are they are my … Continue reading →

Long time show host Alex Trebek died in early November 2020.  He had announced his stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis in the Spring of 2019 with the intention that he was going to beat this horrible condition and survive.  He … Continue reading →