Summer is almost over! Can you believe it? While I'm not as in touch with my calendar as I normally am, the business of my daily life sure has changed. For that reason, I’m thankful to have Coffee Days circled on my calendar with our virtual gatherings on Zoom three times each month.
August is a special month for me. We celebrate my daughter’s birthday this month. She was not only the reason for starting Coffee Days, but also the one who encouraged me to do so 11 years ago.
Our journey has not been easy the past 13 years, but I'm happy to share with you that the past two years have been a miraculous turn of events. My daughter has found stability, independent living, and even a job transfer across the country during the pandemic. Life for her is still progressing, but she's happy and we're relieved and breathing a little easier. I don’t think I realized how much I was holding my breath.
“We know the cruel disease of mental illness doesn’t have a cure, but we always believed it could improve and never gave up hope.”
She still lives with her emotional health issue, but she's managing well with the help of medication and lifestyle support. We're close and talk daily. I'm so grateful.
The lyrics to the song “Beacon of Hope" highlights my daughter’s life journey and is written from her perspective. The biggest compliment I ever received was from her. She said, "Mom, you wrote the truth."
I want to share the audio of the song "Beacon of Hope" with you. I hope it will give you hope today, tomorrow, or whenever you may need it. This song was a collaboration and co-written with the incredibly talented Annie Dingwall. Annie also wrote the music and performed the vocals.
COLLABORATORS | Barb Farmer and Annie Dingwall co-wrote the song “Beacon of Hope” for the first Beacon of Hope Luncheon.
You can listen HERE.
Be well and take care of yourself.
Barb Farmer
Founder, Coffee Days
Barb Farmer is the Founder of Coffee Days, our free monthly peer support group for mothers of young people with emotional or mental health challenges.
Coffee Days meetings are on the first Thursday, second Thursday, and third Saturday of every month at 9:30 a.m. at Grant Halliburton Foundation in the Barb Farmer Community Room. There is no fee to attend.