November is for Giving Thanks

Posted by on November 9, 2012 in Blog, Featured, Portfolio | 2 comments

November is for Giving Thanks

This past weekend started off with quite a wonderful donation by Adrianne Smith Floral Design! Last Wednesday, I received a call. Due to the severe storms on the East Coast, Adrianne’s clients had to cancel an event, and she was wondering if Heliotrope for Hospice could use a donation of fresh flowers. Absolutely! On Saturday, I picked up 250 red roses, 90 violet hydrangea, 70 stems of rose hips and 6 bunches of acacia foliage!! WoW! my work space was filled with opulence as I made floral arrangements in mason jars, and any other extra vases I could find! It was a pleasure to have such incredible blooms, and I knew the patients who received these flowers were going to be very happy. As you would say, thanks be to you, Adrianne!

mason jars       close up of rose and hydrangea

I want to share with you a bit of what this experience is like for my volunteer, Julia, who distributes the flowers every week. Julia is the eyes and ears of Heliotrope for Hospice. I just get the flowers and make the arrangements. Julia is the person who goes to each room, and gives the flowers  to each person. I can’t begin to tell  you how thankful I am for Julia.  She is amazing…

“…I had quite a few patients who were alert and very receptive to the  arrangements.  One woman had arrived  yesterday after a week in  a hospital.  She told me how sad she had been in the hospital when no one  gave her flowers…  She said our flowers were the best thing that has happened to her since she became ill.”
 
“…there was a nurse I hadn’t seen before.  She normally  works nights and sought me out to tell me how much the fresh flowers mean to all  the night nurses when they arrive for work on Monday evenings.
 
…And there were two family members, of different patients, who were so  grateful for the flowers they had tears in their eyes when they thanked  me. So much joy and pleasure!  You could not have created a more important  gift to those at hospice.  Every week I am so touched by this work.   Thank you.”  -Julia
 

Adrianne Smith Donation

November is a busy month- the start of the holiday season, when everyone is decorating for upcoming celebrations. Take a moment or two, out of a hectic daily schedule… I wish you reflections of thankfulness for love, health, people, memories, beauty, laughter, joy… an infinite list of gratitude.

 

 

2 Comments

  1. Diane November 11, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    thanks for your response , Ann. And so thankful for you and our time together-

    Reply
  2. Shirley Citrowske November 18, 2014 at 3:22 am

    H0w sadness on the East coast brought such happiness on the West coast because of Adrianne Smith Floral Design Heliotrope for Hospice and Julia with ~ fresh flowers. This is an amazing story of what giving is all about with a thankful heart. Julia’s comments are the rewards. Thank you, Diane. I am filled with gratitude for you and how you are using your gifts.

    Reply

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