1,600 teddies and counting

Ashley went with me to the hospital yesterday to deliver teddies. This delivery brings the total number of teddy bears to 1,600 since God began this ministry on July 22, 2011. No, wait....He didn't begin the ministry on July 22nd. He began it four years ago when I purchased my first teddy bear from Goodwill. At that time I didn't know anything about His plan for me and the teddies. Sometimes, God's "miracles" take time, as in "years" to formulate. Just imagine the little ones who wouldn't have been comforted by one of my teddies had I not listened to the Lord calling me. I am still amazed and delighted each time teddies come into my hands. This is God's handiwork. I believe He smiles upon all of us every day. We simply have to look up and feel His awesome presence. As I have said before "I will continue this ministry as long as God puts teddy bears in my hands". The little ones coming through the ER need to be comforted. It's not about me and God knows He gets all the credit. I'm happy to be known as "the bear lady" :) Let go and let God work through you so that you fulfill His purpose for your life. Don't waste one minute of your life allowing a "negative what if" to keep you from doing God's will. You will be amazed! I still am to this day!
I still haven't taken the December photo for the 2013 calendar as yet. It will come to me soon. Take care and shine your beautiful smile upon the world :)

1,400 teddies given and counting

Allen and I will go to the hospital this morning to make a delivery of teddy bears. The total number given since July 22, 2011, including these today is 1,400 teddies. This is a prime example of how God provides in abundance! I do not boast for myself in sharing this with you. I do it all for the glory of God and for service to mankind.... Simply for the joy of giving and expecting nothing in return. Life is good! Love to all.

P.S.  Today is our 29th wedding anniversary! Allen, I love you more than words can say!

In Joy and in Love

In Joy and in Love

Written September 18, 2012

In joy and in love

I serve my God above

Another year has come and gone

Yes, time surely marches on

I sit here on my porch and commune with Mother Earth

In quiet celebration of my birth

So in love with life

Eternally grateful to be Allen’s wife

Happy to be Ashley and John’s mother

They cherish each other – sister and brother

Thankful for each and every friend

Loyal to the very end

I give thanks for my family whether near or far

I love them wherever they are

I’ve known my share of suffering and loss

And I know Satan’s not my boss

For I know whom I have believed

Many blessings I have received

This past year God blessed me with “Nan’s Goodwill Bears”

Because He knows just how much this “bear lady” really cares

I pray for many more years

And I pray for bears to dry little ones tears

I pray for the sad, the sick and the suffering

I’m thankful for my life – a humble offering

Thank you, Jesus for seeing fit that I was born

As I celebrate my Mother’s life this morn

My Mama went to Heaven many years ago.  Had it not been for her I could not, would not celebrate this special day.  Happy birthday to me.  Happy birthday to me.  Happy birthday, dear me.  Happy birthday to me.

No, I’m not full of myself, just happy for the opportunities God gave me this past year and happy for those opportunities to serve Him in the coming year.

Birthdays are for celebrating, not for pretending we’re not getting older …..or on the other hand, “I’m not getting older, I’m getting better

Including the teddies I will deliver to the hospital this week, it brings the total  given since July 22, 2011 to 1,225 teddy bears!!! To God be the glory!!!!

September Celebration

This poem is a tribute to a special life

Mary Diane Cates Watt
August 18, 1955 - August 29, 2012

Imagine with me if you can
my dear friend named Diane
strong in faith, but weak of heart
truly, her heart didn't wholly do its part
heart attack at age twenty-four
one tough cookie, that's for sure
not to content to merely survive
she knew how to live and to thrive
one Sunday in church she scared the guest speaker
defibrillator went off as her heart grew weaker
Diane was in the hospital for the month of December
I gave her one of Nan's Goodwill Bears; yes, I remember
for six months she used the Left Ventricular Assist Device
a will to live, no matter the effort or the price
by June she was on the heart transplant list
thanks to her donor who is surely missed
the transplant was a success, but then came the infection
during one late August night she attained perfection
Diane's new heart stopped, but her spirit lives on
Jesus by his side, Kenny is never alone
the teddy bear was placed in her coffin
she comes to my thoughts quite often
today we gently laid her body to rest
I believe she passed each and every test
into the mysteries of eternal life we delve
Diane was buried Labor Day, September 3, 2012
truly we grieve and the loss of our loved one we mourn
she loved the Lord since before she was born
with no room for doubts or speculation
today was truly a September Celebration

I love you, Diane

Sunflowers, teddy bears and a little blonde

One of the most magnificent sights I've ever seen has been one of my greatest pleasures this summer.  I just love the fields of my beloved Iredell County in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.  A breathtaking display of literally huge fields of sunflowers has graced the horizon of nearby farms in recent days.  Honey bees have delighted in tickling the tender buds of millions of sunflowers.  Shutterbugs of all ages and expertise have constantly dotted the landscape searching for that "just right" spot along the outer reaches of the fields to capture the perfect bloom.  A young bride in full wedding attire, not sure who was beaming more brightly, her or the sunflower blossoms being photographed for her wedding album.  Luckily, my daughter was with me one Sunday afternoon.  Naturally, I had to snap a few shots of Ashley with the sunflowers.  I will include a beautiful photo of her soon.
And of course, I, on my way to work, stopped by the roadside to snap a few shots of the radiant blooms with a teddy bear hanging on to a stem.  One glorious morning I just had to stop for one more effort to capture the perfect specimen for my 2013 teddy bear calendar.  The parking lot of a large church ended where the sunflower field began.  Naturally, I had several teddy bears tagging along.  As I took my photos, I noticed a beautiful young mother and her little daughter with blonde hair, both barefooted a few yards away.  Mom was taking photos of her little darling, Kayleigh.  As I had time to linger, I asked Michelle if she would like for me to take some photos of her and Kayleigh over by the sunflowers.  She beamed, delighted by my offer.  It was a rare treat for me to photograph such a sweet, loving moment with mother and daughter among the sun-kissed blooms.  I gave Kayleigh one of my little teddy bears and she held it as I snapped the photos of her and her mom kissing and hugging a few feet into the field of flowers.
Though we had never met before, as we talked about the fields of sunflowers, children and the teddy bear ministry, I felt as though we had known each other all our lives.  I treasure each and every day and all the wonders God reveals to me as the day progresses.  What a great pleasure to go out and truly live life to the fullest.  Don't just think about "it".  Do it.  Whatever it is that motivates you and inspires you, do it with zest and enthusiasm!! You'll be glad you did!!

The One Thousandth Teddy Bear

I am spending time this morning catching up a bit on the latest news of the teddy bear ministry.  The poem printed below is the one I included with the 1,000th teddy bear (including the original poem "Nan's Goodwill Bears) when I delivered it to the hospital on Sunday, July 22nd.

Before you leave this site, be sure to take a moment to enjoy the newest photos I've included for you, one of which is posted to the right of this message (that being me holding the 1,000th teddy).  The other two photos are shown below the printed messages. 

One of the ER nurses, Heather gets credit for the idea of getting the silver tag engraved for the bear indicating that it's the 1,000th teddy bear.  Great idea, Heather!  You'll see the photo of the silver tag with the engraving to the right and the photo of the bear is to the left.  Have a wonderful day!! Love, Nan

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The One Thousandth Teddy Bear

Written by Nan Forehand

July 22, 2012

God granted me a vision and I believed

So many blessings I have received

His promise, unbeknownst to me, of one thousand bears, began with one teddy

Eager to please – on His mark – get set, I was willing, able and ready

This twelve month journey, an absolute joy – never iffy

Each teddy cleaned head to toe – one and all looking mighty spiffy

To the hospital ER my teddies and I would happily go

All glory to God for His love and compassion to show

He prepares our blessings before we have a need

Most assuredly this ministry was blessed with Godspeed

To bring cuddly comfort to the little children is my heart’s desire

A life lived in service to the Lord is a life lived on purpose and on fire

No tellin’ how many more teddies the good Lord will provide

“Well done, my good and faithful servant”, I think He says, beaming with pride

Author's note: on July 22, 2011, I delivered the first two dozen teddy bears to the Iredell Memorial Hospital Emergency Department to be given to those little ones (and some bigger ones) in need of cuddly comfort.  Today, July 22, 2012, I will deliver another bunch of teddies to the hospital after I get out of church and these teddies being delivered today brings us to the total of 1,000 teddies provided to the hospital in the past twelve months.  This fact continues to amaze me!   Not that I am one bit surprised at how abundantly God has blessed what has become a ministry and has brought so much joy to so many, myself included! This ministry is called Nan's Goodwill Bears.  A poem of the same name is published in my poetry database at www.wordchimes.com.  The parents of the sick or injured child receive a copy of the poem to take home with them.  The teddy is given to the child to have and to hold in sickness and in health.  I hope you are encouraged and inspired to listen to the still small voice of God whispering in your ear to see His vision for your purpose and to get on His mark - get set - be willing, able and ready.  Trust me, you can't even imagine how wonderful your own life will be.

Love,

Nan 

 "Kindness in words creates confidence"


"Kindness in thinking creates profoundness"


"Kindness in giving creates love"
author unknown

I would like for you to open your Bible and read the book of 2 John NKJ.  It's one of those short books located in the back of the Bible.  You will be glad you did!  I was!

Kindness

Kindness in words creates confidence




       Kindness in thinking creates profoundness



                     Kindness in giving creates love
                                                          author unknown