I hope it is not too disappointing to learn that you pronounce this version of Aloha as Aloah (more like a-lo-uh). If you can remember to do that you will be in Oregon, not Hawaii. We were a little disappointed with the pronunciation when we relocated to Aloha, Oregon thirty years ago this month. We quickly overcame our disappointment and went on to meet some of the finest people on the planet. All these years later they continue to bless our lives (my life). There are so many! Some of them moved in after us and we raised our children together. Some were there long before us and raising their families. Some we see on a semi-regular basis and others we haven’t seen since we moved away. Several came to Mark’s funeral. We only lived there seven years but truly created and have been blessed by lifelong friendships.

Now that I have written that sentence… my mind is spinning with names and images! I love to see their occasional comments on Facebook and know that they read this blog and they still care about me and I still care about them… Trust me – if you lived in Aloha with us, we love you!!

Recently I have been praying to be aware of angels in my life. On this day – the three-month anniversary of Mark’s passing – I just have to write about two of these beautiful angels who have affected me today. I am always hesitant to write names because I cannot begin to include everyone about whom I feel such gratitude. So forgive me – but let’s do this!

First of all – if you ever lived near us in Aloha you will not be surprised to know that Nedra remembered it had been three months and although she lives 13 hours away… she managed to surprise me with a bag of peanut M&Ms sitting on my front porch this morning! I saw them and I knew exactly who to thank! I am pretty sure that I have written about Nedra before – she is like magic with her fun, service-filled heart and energy. M&Ms on our porch are like her signature. Her youngest child (of seven) was one month older than my oldest child (of six). Cameron and Nathan were good friends and I am guessing he was the M&M delivery boy this morning? Almost all of her girls were babysitters and one of them rushed me to the hospital to have my fourth baby when Mark was out of town! One of her boys was the ONLY person besides Mark or me that was tolerated by or allowed to hold that fourth baby! Fun fact: that same fourth baby was the only baby in history that would cry for Nedra. She has such a way with children. Nedra taught me so much about parenting and love and how to be a friend. One of these days I will be more like Nedra!

Side topic: These M&Ms this morning were particularly fun because I was rummaging through my closet and found the bag containing the leftover M&M packets from the funeral. I was surprised to see them and quickly opened one and ate the candy – even though I hadn’t even eaten breakfast. They really do remind me of Mark. As I ate them I was thinking of Mark Morris – M&M. After I met Mark I recall hoping that he would call and ask me on a date. I remember Lori and I looking up his name in our church directory. You know how it is when you have a crush…. just seeing his name in print was exciting. (I still like to see his name in print though I am now more inclined to cry than to giggle – but most often I smile.) At the time I was surprised that Morris was his middle name because I only thought of Morris the cat. Morris is a family surname – in case anyone else thought of the cat.

Back on topic. How do I begin to describe Eileen? You cannot know her without thinking of an angel. I noticed her right away when we moved to Aloha because she was so pretty. More than pretty – it was the first time I had really noticed someone’s “countenance” and thought that I would like to be more like her. Thirty years later she still has a glow about her. She had three little blonde girls and one brunette – they used to sit on the front row at church and I love them all as well. Particularly when I see them exhibit talents I know they inherited from their mother – and there are many – but their artistic skills truly stand out as does their gentleness and kindness!

Eileen’s angelic acts have literally blessed me every single day for the past three months! At Mark’s funeral she gave me a gift which included a little hand-sewn envelope packed full of folded papers. Each paper contains an inspirational thought. These thoughts come from a variety of authors ranging from Anne Shirley to J.R.R. Tolkien to Helen Keller to God (through scripture). Sometimes they contain a hymn. This envelope sits by my bed and each night I allow myself to pull out only one piece of paper. I am often startled to read something that so perfectly fits what I need to hear at that exact moment. When this happens Eileen may receive a bedtime message – but it has happened more than she knows. Also beside my bed is a regular envelope in which I place the “used” thoughts in order to recycle and reuse. I only have a couple “fresh” thoughts left and then I will refill and start over. She actually replenished my supply not long ago – because that is how she is. One of these days I will be more like Eileen!

So many people have been so kind and so thoughtful. Today I received a kind word from a friend I have known scarcely two years. I even hear from friends I have known just two weeks. I hope that someday I will be more like all of you!! If you are thinking of me now because you are reading this – who else can you think of that could use an uplifting text or a hug or a bag of M&Ms on their porch? Do it!! Maybe they are praying for an angel and it could be you!

I just found this: Aloha is an essence of being: love, peace, compassion, and a mutual understanding of respect. Aloha means living in harmony with the people and land around you with mercy, sympathy, grace, and kindness. When greeting another person with aloha, there is mutual regard and affection.

Mercy, sympathy, grace and kindness! Wow! I love this!

Now pronounce it the Hawaiian way…. ALOHA my angel friends! All of you! May you bless others or may others bless you today! (Don’t forget to include your children, then they can grow up to be angels too!)