Thanks for the prayers, I slept like a baby last night—awake every couple hours. (grin)
The good news is I listened to husband’s soft snore, realized he slept well, and then fell back asleep.

This morning I read Psalm 126. I love the phrase in the second verse, “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.” Decided today I’ll search for things that bring laughter to our household. Then I continued to read to verse nine, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”

Like I said, this isn’t about me. Truly thought the whole trip to a surgeon’s office had to do with other caregivers, their needs, there loneliness—how do I create a great awareness? After reading today’s devotional I know God has a plan to turn this into something I can neither think nor fathom.

Read the Psalm again and thought back to December 2001 when I whined to my friend Lynn, “My life feels like a little box. Do the same things in the same square every day.” Lynn gave me The Prayer of Jabez, where Jabez prayed God would enlarge his territory. Well no way in the world did I choose husband’s cancer to meet more people, but Psuedomyxoma Peritonei (pmp) definitely increased the size of my world.

Wonder what will happen in the next few weeks? Who will I meet? Will Capsules of Hope create a difference in another’s life or will I just write a new saga in the next book?

This weekend I grabbed my mug of coffee and studied mission statements. I wanted to share a concise reason for my giving Capsules of Hope Caregiver Seminars. Writing a mission statement isn’t new to me, still I couldn’t define my goals simply.

• I truly wanted to brainstorm, but didn’t find any brains going my direction—two or three friends listened to me. Even husband gave up a few commercials during Tour De France, but no one came up with catchy, mind boggling perspective on where I’m going with the seminars. Okay, so I cracked open the books—not really, I used the internet.
  
  After hours of studying Disney, 3-M, Walmart and a few ministry statements, I found several words repeated: encourage, educate, teach, empower, offer help and hope. Finally I came up with a list of do’s and don’ts.
  
  The negatives:
• Avoid lengthy verbiage difficult to read or memorize.
• Avoid coined phrases familiar only to your circle of friends.
• Avoid promises you cannot keep.
  
  The positives:
• Focus on what guides your goals, be realistic and inspirational?
• State your purpose clear and concise, in ways to motivate others.
• Write for the one in need of your service.

The result:

Capsules of Hope Mission Statement:
To help the ordinary caregiver, whatever their circumstance—chronic illness, disability or terminal illness—realize they aren’t alone, help and hope is available. To create an awareness of how neighbors, co-workers, family, friends and the church can help the caregiver cope.

Purpose: To encourage caregivers, no matter their age or situation.

Vision: To create an awareness of the needs in a caregiver’s life.

Plan: To help people of all ages see how one ordinary person can make a remarkable difference in the life of a caregiver, one caregiver at a time.

In the process of building my mission statement I stumbled into a website where the author suggested every caregiver should build her own mission statement. What a great suggestion, only today I couldn’t find that same website, sigh.

This I know, when I finished the project, I felt empowered and inspired, ready to make more phone calls and schedule more Capsules of Hope Caregiver Seminars. I want to create a difference in the world around me before I leave earth.

Oh, be aware, I’m not into giving out cute mugs yet, but who knows what the future holds.