DONNA TAYLOR

Hi Jackie,

Sandy called me Friday morning after Julie called her.  I was totally shocked.  It really helped me to go back and read some of her posts.  Friday was such a busy day at work, we were getting ready for a big event today for the whole Mobile area catholic religion teachers, both Sunday school teachers in the churches and religion teachers in the catholic schools, but I had totake the time...the need was really strong.  I know it was God leading me to understand the beauty in her trip home to paradise.  She is really loved!

I can't wait to see you on Saturday!!

Thank  you Connie!   I am so beside myself....

You're welcome Karen...Just posting what I felt and I hope it has helped.  I think we are all still in shock...

Connie...my friend.  I just want to step in here and give you a big hug!

Love,
Joni

Joni...it's so good to see you posting again.  Thanks for the hug!

ere is this sweet woman who comes into our office who suffers from the mental illness, schizophrenia and has really been shunned throughout her life, physically and emotionally abused.  Misunderstood by her family, she was put into foster care at the age of 17 and she never saw her mother again.  She has overcome the pain in her life by serving others.  She is a lay sister in the order of Fransicans, she has a degree from the University of South Alabama in criminology.  She has taken every religious education or theology course that we offer throught he office that I work at in the archdiocese, she has started a support group, Schizophenics Anonymous, she volunteers for Red Cross, was given the Clifford Beard award (a top honor in the mental health community), she is the subject of an article in AARP this month entitled shunned, she is a professional advocate for the mentally ill and she is always ready to help anyone who needs help.

Why did I go into this long....and I know it is long description of this woman?  Because the one thing she says helps her more than anything is giving hugs.  She comes by our office and we all get hugs from her.  The thing she always says that she likes about hugs are you can't give one without getting one.  So after all this long, long post...I am finally sending a hug back to you! Love you Joni!!!