Today we are reminded of Hope.

Hope for a Renewal of Spirit.

Hope for a brighter future for ourselves and for the world.

A Cacophony of Life

While aspects of the world experience COVID-19 illness and death,
the croaks of a thousand newly-hatched tree frogs eager for the life that awaits them and
the honks of a gaggle of geese glad for the return to the comfort of their summer environs,
remind me that also around the globe new life emerges and
there will be a grateful return to the comfort of familiar life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LRqqvhe7Gk

My all-time fav Mother Teresa quote is:

“Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”

Day after day Mother Teresa personally encountered an unyielding number of poor, sick and unwanted. Yet, she relentlessly extended bodily and figurative touch through her deep well of compassionate love, returning to God when needing to replenish her cache of goodness. At this time of global illness and isolation, let us heed her call to see and touch the lonely, suffering and unwanted all around us, by whatever means we are able.

Preparing lentils as do my cousins in Hungary to beckon a Szilveszter (New Year) of good fortune.

(Lentils symbolizing many coins in your pocket.)

Hungarian New Year Lentils with smoked paprika

May lasting health, positivity, peace, and joy pervade your New Year and New Decade!

Hope Restores! Come-two weeks from today-charge your spirit and mind!

Hear Coraggio: Courage to Believe in the Miracle of Hope

and other dynamic women talk of hope and love that will uplift the most weary or worried of souls!

https://www.lansingdiocesecwc.org/

    Hope Restores Women’s Conference 2019

I always look forward to the gift of a rose on Nonna’s birthday.

Sure enough, right on time did this beauty appear.

The gift of a rose on Nonna’s birthday.

Drum roll please…the 2018 Coraggio Spirit Award is bestowed to Brandie DeHaan, for her courage to advocate for herself and for others.

She displayed the courage to step up and to continue asking questions until correctly diagnosed and again used courage to step up until she found a treatment that worked for her. When no longer able to serve others as an EMS worker, she turned her passion for helping others into serving her family of eight and other MG patients.  Grazie for your inspiration Brandie!

                  Coraggio 2018 Spirit Award

Chase after your dreams, no matter your age!

I am thrilled to have met Italian Director Katia Bernardi and Co-producer Davide Valentini, who brought this message alive in their film “Funne.”

Italian Funne film Katia Bernardi e Co-ProducerDavide Valentini

Their heart-warming and humorous story follows a group of older women
from a remote, picturesque mountain village,
in pursuit of  their dream to travel to the sea.
Bravo Katia and Davide!

Grazie organizer of the Italian Film Fest Carmen De Lorenzo!

Liz & Lisa #GoRedMI 

Do you know that sudden jaw pain is a sign of heart attack in women? 

— with Lisa Gigliotti and Elizabeth Wudyka Smalley at Soup Spoon Cafe.

                    #GoRedMI Feb 3, 2018

#GoRedforWomen 

Perfect meal for Wear Red Day–heart smart vegan chickpea veggie stew

served over sweet potato mash.

That’s Amore 

How can you help but express joy when being in the presence of the great love between this couple?

And the amazing families who celebrate their love!

Photo by Veronica Dana