A legacy......for my Mom!

Recently I became a member of the Niles Service League and it has brought me great pleasure. Mostly because I share a membership to this service organization with my mother. She is not currently a member, in fact I don't think an active sustainer, but she was an active member and served this organization in the late 70's and early 80's! The main reason I am so proud to serve is that my mother, on her birthday in 2005, strongly suggested that I join, that a group like this was 'right up my alley', because of my desire to volunteer and be active within the community.

Well, I was hoping to become a member before Alzheimer's robbed her of the memory of her request. I was so proud to tell her that I am now a member, although I don't know if she really remembers that part of her life, she smiles back because she sees my expression when I talk of my involvement. What I like best is when I talk with her of how her involvement helped me understand the importance of giving and serving. I often remind her of the times we would deliver Meals-on Wheels together, or the times we would volunteer at the Open Door Residence (for the mentally challenged) and the many hours we spent when she chaired the Rummage Sale one year. What I want most to convey to her is how much she has impacted my life with the way she lived her life! I am proud to serve, but it also helps me to keep my mother's giving spirit going strong. Some day she will know that I honored her request, and when that time comes.....I hope I make her proud, because I am so very grateful to be blessed with her as my mother!

Below is a picture of a few of the ladies I served along side of, for the area Youth Parade games that we hosted.

Below is the picture that ran in the local paper with the group of new members. I showed my father, and he was so happy that I honored my mother's legacy. I have a feeling I will be getting much more out of this involvement than I could ever give!!!

"How can we expect our children to know and experience the joy of giving unless we teach them that the greater pleasure in life lies in the art of giving rather than receiving."

~James Cash Penny