Thanking God for His mercies, Mother’s Day Weekend 25.

Another birthday and Mother’s Day has come and gone without my mom, 6 years. I am learning to cope in a world without my mom, each day is a lesson on surviving without her, but God knows best. 6 years ago, today we buried mom. Today the memories of her still live on in so many ways within us her children, grandchildren, great grandchild, other families and friends. One of my ways of keeping her memories alive is by doing something that she had a passion doing, and that she taught us to do, giving back. Something I have been doing for some time now, but in 2024 I decided to do it on a bigger scale, this year was a bit bigger.

After the successful launch of the Mother’s Day give back in Jamaica in 2024, I started planning for 2025. July 2024, I reached out to the municipality of St. Catherine, Jamaica to gather information on how I could assist or contribute to one of their adult facilities that might be in need. After multiple emails, in October I finally got the go-a-head I needed complete with the approval letter to carry out what I outlined to them I wanted to do. In the midst of waiting for approval I was also planning a Mother’s Day brunch. Lord knows I was stressed because I was not hearing from the venue that I really wanted to host the event, and the other locations were overpriced. Multiple emails and calls to several locations later, I decided to go a different route and landed what I thought would be the perfect place, but unfortunately, it was not. My husband, kids and sister were not having it. So, I go back to the drawing board, with only 3 weeks to the event. Back to making calls and sending emails. Mek mi tell yu sumting, trying to organize an event in Jamaica when you are not there, may I just say is STRESSFULL…. After much cussing where it was needed and asking to speak to management for individuals who did not do their best, I was able to finally get the location for the Mother’s Day event. Thank God for persistence.

Now, on to purchasing the rest of things I needed for the facility, (I had purchased most already on amazon). This part was easy, thank God for a good friend who was willing to go collect the items for me after I did the purchase online at PriceSmart. Most of the items I carried with me; can I just tell you that my 2 larges suitcases were overweight, thankfully we had taken somethings with us on our trip to Jamaica in April, my husband’s idea. Don’t laugh, they took my hand luggage at the airport because it too was overweight and could not go in the overhead compartment, lol!

Got to Jamaica on Thursday morning, picked up the rental car, checked into the hotel early, packed out and wrapped the gifts for the ladies for the Mother’s Day brunch, ate and went to bed. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling I like someone hit me in the gut really hard. Had a moment in the bathroom losing everything I ate or better yet, that I did not eat, I honestly thought I was going to die my chest started hurting so bad from all the heaving. But here I am on the other side. Friday came and I felt so much better. I made sure I ate breakfast with some mint tea, lol. I went to pick up my BFF, Denise, and we went to PriceSmart to get some things. We went back to the hotel, ate lunch (I am making sure I eat today no hurling later, lol) and packed out the items, 118 bags for the handover to the residences and facility on Saturday, I also made my center pieces for Mother’s Day brunch, then dropped Denise home. After which I spent some time just chilling before dinner and bed.

Saturday, I met up with my sister, Natalee at the facility, my friend delivered the other Items he picked up for me (he stayed and helped with the distribution). Denise and another friend volunteered to help distribute the items to the residences (the 118 bags) and the rest of the items were left at the office of the facility to be distributed to the nursing staff when needed for the residents. The charge nurse walked around with us and identified who was able to accept the items, 78 of the 118 bags were handed out and the rest left at the facility for other residence. God is an awesome God and He knows just how to use us. There is so much need at this facility. It is my prayer that I will be able to continue what I started this year there. I belief there is more that needs to be done not only by the Government to ensure these facilities are better manned, but that individuals can also make a big difference. We just must join hands and hearts to do more. Speaking with the charge nurse who expressed much gratitude for the contributions, I could also see for myself, this facility needs bed linen, clothes for the residence, diapers, toiletries and so much more. Volunteers are needed just to sit and talk with residence. Lord, help us. Another friend of mine also gave a give back in the town where meals of fried chicken, brown stewed chicken, rice and peas and coleslaw were prepared, and I assisted her along with Natalee and other friends to walk around the town and distributed box meals, a bottle of water and a bottle of juice to people in need. These events show where one person CAN make a difference.

Sunday, it was time to get the venue ready for the Mother’s Day brunch, then I went to my room and got dressed. Mi say, WOW, WOW and WOW, everything was so beautiful. The ladies came dresses in their pastel color dresses; the scene looked like a flower garden. Everyone was gorgeous. I did a mini presentation on “the best you can be”, it was well received. We played games where prizes were won, we laughed, we ate, we danced, took pictures, cried and laughed some more. After the event was over, we went to Devon house to have ice cream. What a way to end the day and a weekend full of awesome things.

Monday, it was time to head home with a lot of reservations, but work must go on so I can do this again. A great big thank you to my team, my husband Courtney, my children Danielle, Maria and Christian, my son-in-law, Joseph, my granddaughter, Luna, my sisters Natalee and Tanya and my brother, Errol. I could not have done this without you guys’ unwavering support, love and financial assistance. A special thank you to some of my classmates who also contributed to the event. Thank you to Denise, Adrene and Moses for your assistance. I pray your store baskets will NEVER be empty. Thank you to the 17 ladies who showed up for the Mother’s Day brunch, you were all beautiful.

Until next time, walk good, do all the good you can for all the people you can, expecting nothing in return. With love and appreciation, Stephne. #LiveLoveLearnLaugh