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The Beeker family is well known in the Hope area. Once a month, they gather at WILLow LeaVes to enjoy the company of one another.  I know because of seeing them there and consequently several former students.  Some of the Beekers live in other states; however, there is a wonderful cause that recently brought them to Hope:  Planting for Joye.

I found out about it through speaking to Barry Beeker at Hope United Methodist Church whose guest was his sister, Victoria, who traveled here from West Virginia. Another sister, Penny, would arrive the next day from Kentucky, Earth Day, to join Barry, Victoria, other relatives and friends at Barry's home to plant flowers to honor the life of Penny's daughter, Alyssa Joye Kanouse, as well as Barry's young brother, Rene, and their parents, Dean and Ollie.  One sister, Carolyn, could not make the trip and called. Many who could not make it honored the occasion in some way at their homes, including Penny's three other daughters. I was fortunate enough to be invited after sharing we had a local media source and felt deeply that others would benefit from their positive actions. While entering the doors, I immediately felt a warm welcome, the same warmth when Barry invites people over during Christmas. Rena Blake Dillman, good friends with Ollie and Dean, stated: “They were quite hospitable and always opened their homes and hearts to all who visited with Ollie's Cajun food, heavenly.”

Alyssa passed from this earth at the young age of 24 due to a tragic shooting and would have been 31 this year. I am choosing not to dwell on the tragedy, but to dwell on what I witnessed and heard from Penny and Victoria as we talked in the comfortable area of the home their dad built; the home the sisters lived in before moving away. Following, you will find key words from that conversation.

Every year, the family would go to a nursery with Alyssa; it brought her joy; it brought them joy. Thus, they felt one of the best ways to celebrate her life was by each year gathering and planting flowers to create a Memory Garden in her honor; a way to also help them wade through the tragedy. Penny has never had anger or hate but has found strength through her unwavering faith and has focused on forgiveness and joy. She chose not to be devastated by grief but to allow Alyssa's light to continue to shine. One of Alyssa's favorite Biblical verses was Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Farther in heaven.”

In listening to words thoughtfully expressed about Alyssa's special spirit and the day, I was reminded of the book, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, and shared a little with them. Within the book is one of my very favorite passages with some slight changes: “Our world tends to be a blend of huge, terrible, beautiful, and very fragile. There are those who help us to understand the importance of handle with care - every person and every thing. And eventually we move on for one another and pay back to the world in beauty and in caring what they have loaned us in vision and in strength. As for that which lies ahead of us, even the bad, we must not allow it to squeeze the walls of our minds together. It is with open minds and open hearts that we continue to make a lasting difference to those closest to us and consequently the world.”

They only had praise for Hope, our small community, how good it was to be back home. While at Estes Materials, a relative shared with someone what was happening, and he was so touched that he personally purchased a truck load of mulch. When I was trying to determine the best place to park due to all the vehicles, a neighbor came out of his home to let me know I could park in his driveway.  Another neighbor mowed their grass. Penny, Victoria, and Barry kept on using the words amazing and blessings when talking about the day, a gorgeous day at that, and our town.

A Cardinal appeared as Penny, Victoria, and I were talking. They both rushed to see it since seeing one means a loved one is close by. Undoubtedly, a loved one was close by; I felt it. And I know Penny and Victoria would say that they were pleased that many loved ones chose to be close by on April 22, 2024, Earth Day, a day in Hope all present at the Beeker home will always fondly remember, including this writer.