To all of HST’s wonderful families,
It has been a while since I have sent out any emails. It’s not that I don’t love HST – it’s that I managed to be a bit clumsy, changing my plans for this summer.
On June 10th, I managed to slide feet first down the slope in my backyard which would not normally be a big deal except my right foot tucked under and snapped – breaking my ankle on both sides. I spent the next 10 days managing pain so I could attend my son’s Ordination events before having surgery that put my ankle back together with 7 screws and a metal plate. With God’s grace – the swelling went down fast enough for a hard cast to be put on early so I could travel for a weak to Minnesota with my family for an Ordination reception with relatives there. I returned July 3, exhausted but grateful.
In all these weeks, God has used HST to bless me and my family enormously – from meals, cleaning, helping with the Ordination reception, and finally….a garden of hearts all over my house that greeted my return from Minnesota. I have since found out that I was not the only recipient of HST’s loving “hearts” tradition. Both our SR Troupe Director, Cynthia Alexander, and our Shakespeare Director, Steffi Phelan, who have been battling cancer were also showered with hearts.
It is not really possible to verbalize the power of love. We all know what it feels like when your heart wells up and your eyes tear up and you are lifted out of yourself to something greater, more powerful, more enticing than anything tangible…..LOVE. This thing called love, which is the greatest of the 3 lasting things (faith, hope and love), is renewing, strengthening, healing, enriching, satisfying, and sacrificial. It is people putting aside their needs, their time, their energy, their treasure, for the sake of others. It is indescribable because it is eternal. Love lives on forever. It is God’s gift to us which we share with each other. It is life.
So, while “Thank You,” is totally inadequate for such an abundance of love shared – I pray that God will let our simple words fill you with our love for each of you. HST is truly a loving community that we are SO blessed to be a part of.
Below are Steffi’s and Cynthia’s notes to all of you. Please makes sure you share our gratitude with your children because we teach generosity by being examples of generosity so our children can see the beautiful impact loving service has on others.
With an overflowing heart and abundant prayers for your blessings, Marilyn PS – There will be business emails that will follow (registration is still not open…so keep praying!), but for now I hope you can just bask in gift of love that God has given to all of us. ___________________________________________ Dear HST ~ I don’t know if you realize how poignant, uplifting, and empowering your ‘rainshower’ of hearts were to me last Wednesday. That would have been the day for me to begin my next cycle of treatment. Instead, it was the first day of my next phase – the chemo-free recovery phase. For me, it was the first day of happier, healthier, easier living. Your hearts could not have rained down on a more poignant and remarkable day. Thank you for being a part of this new & hopeful phase. Also, thank you for being some of the Good in our sometimes difficult world. I will continue to follow your examples in my approach to others having tough times. Peace, ~ Steffi
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Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”
Buckets of words fitly spoken: scripture verses, prayers, advice from the Saints, children’s art–these greeted me on the blessed fourth! A huge thank you and shout out to my HST families, who know just how to reach out with comfort and care!
These are meant to be savored like a rich meal; eaten a little at a time. I delighted in each one in order to get the scope of this great gift. Now, they’re safely inside and residing in these buckets to be pulled and read through over time. What treasure!
Thank you for loving me through the most challenging days, weeks, months, and now, years I have ever encountered. I have treasured my HST years and am so thrilled when I see the FB posts that bring me up to date on my now adult actors; pictures of proms, vacations, college graduations, weddings, babies, and the latest, a live stream that gave me the opportunity to see the ordination of Patrick and Brendan in June. What an amazing experience to be a little part of these lives. Do all teachers get to feel this way? How blessed we are!
It was wonderful to be loved and treasured by our current HST family this past weekend. The future is so filled with beauty in all of our lives as I see how the sacrifices of homeschooling become so outweighed by the blessed results. It continues to be my great privilege to be a part of God’s plan for HST. Thank you for all that you do to cherish and love one another in this community. Surely, we follow the example of our Great Shepherd!
Blessings!
<*)))>< Mrs. A
