Author Archives: joyocala

Yesterday, I, along with some members of our congregation, provided a home-cooked meal for the local Interfaith Family Shelter. What’s cooking? Well, we are planned a full menu of baked ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, baked beans, rolls, cookies and … Continue reading →

What do you know? Leap Year Day falls on a Thursday so I get to write an extra blog this month. It doesn’t happen often. 1996 was the last one and it won’t happen again until 2052, so I’m unlikely … Continue reading →

I still like to shop the old-fashioned way by ordering out of catalogs.  One of my favorite catalogs is Signals which is put out for the fans and friends of public television.  It has a wide range of unique gift and … Continue reading →

I spent a lot of time in the classroom of life trying to learn this lesson. I even stayed after school in the attempt to free myself from the chains of being enslaved by what others thought of me.  “Fear … Continue reading →

There’s something about old friends that is so restoring.  No matter what the lapse of time, when you get together you feel that same old closeness.  You have years of history together.  You know the life journey that has brought … Continue reading →

        There was a cartoon character who was Popeye’s buddy.  His name was Wimpy. I guess I would be considered “wimpy,” as I do not like confrontation nor fights.  Interestingly, I was reading a devotional with this verse II Corinithians10:4-5 “The weapons we … Continue reading →

I have more wonderful words from the Reb (Albert Lewis) from Mitch Albom’s book Have a Little Faith. His words are so simple, yet they packed meaning on every page and as you can obviously tell, they had a profound … Continue reading →

What would February be without Valentine’s Day. Yes, I know that it was last week, but I was very sick and didn’t really get a chance to appreciate the day. So, I thought that I would write about love this … Continue reading →

This memory is fixed in my mind. I’m walking at a good pace down Cornelia Avenue heading towards Ascension Lutheran Church where my family belonged. I think I’m in my teens. It’s evening and there are piles of snow on … Continue reading →

Let me tell you a story about a little donkey named Pedro.  He lived with some men who mistreated him.  They would beat him with sticks and 2 x 4’s.  When they got drunk they would throw beer cans and bottles … Continue reading →