Have you ever planned a surprise birthday party? There’s a lot more involved than people realize. Coordination. Invitations. Timing. Details. Backup plans. Emotions. Hope. Pressure. Anticipation. Recently, I planned a surprise party on my own. Some guests were traveling from far away. Others were local. My heart was fully invested. I poured creativity into every detail. As the date got closer, I felt excited and proud—I was making sure I had all my ducks in a row. And then… things started to fall apart. People have busy lives. Plans change. Emergencies happen. Travel becomes complicated. Commitments shift. What felt like a perfectly orchestrated plan suddenly began to unravel. I’ll be honest—I didn’t react like my usual self. I got upset. I got mad. I felt overwhelmed. Nothing was going as planned. Suddenly, I had to re-engineer the entire surprise party…without telling the person who was supposed to be surprised. It felt heavy. I felt alone. I felt like no one understood how much effort, emotion, and energy I had poured into making this moment special. I had worked so hard—and it felt like it was all falling apart. I reached out to a friend. Not for solutions at first—just to vent. To breathe. To process. And something beautiful happened. She understood. She helped me gather my thoughts. She helped me think through a new plan. She helped me shift from frustration to creativity. From disappointment to possibility. I picked myself up…and started making lemonade out of lemons. I created a new plan. A new approach. A new way to surprise. And it hit me: Many Mighty Caregivers are planning surprise parties—completely on their own. Coordinating care. Managing schedules. Anticipating needs. Holding emotional weight. Trying to make things meaningful and joyful for the people we love. But doing it solo is exhausting. Looking back, this whole experience would have been easier if I’d had someone helping from the start. Someone who understood logistics. Someone who could share the load. Someone who could steady the wheel when the road got bumpy.

A quick reminder that I’ve shared a collection of stories in the Classroom from my time as an Uber driver — moments with caregivers who ended up in my backseat. These are real conversations, real emotions, and real glimpses into the invisible work caregivers carry every day. If you ever need a quiet moment to feel seen, understood, or reminded that you’re not alone, take a few minutes to explore those stories. You might recognize your own journey in them. Read In Classroom Here

In every community, some people quietly carry the weight of others’ burdens, lift spirits, and shine light into places that feel dark. Here at Capes, we celebrate those heroes. Today, we honor two extraordinary Mighty Caregivers who don’t just wear capes—they live the mission behind them. Meet Pastor Patti Aupperlee and her husband, Paul—a couple grounded in faith, fueled by compassion, and devoted to making God’s love visible in everyday life. A Calling Woven Into Their Lives Pastor Patti shares her heart openly: “Jesus has my heart and my life. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ, called to transform the world, is who I am, not what I do.” That’s the heartbeat of a Mighty Caregiver. Her journey began with a strong foundation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, where she earned her Master of Divinity. But her calling didn’t wait for graduation—God met her early, as she served in newcomer ministry at United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches. Those years shaped her into a pastor who understands the diverse needs of both urban and rural communities. Her ministry is simple and powerful: Create spaces where every person feels seen, valued, and welcomed. She believes the church is not just a building—it’s a living, breathing expression of God’s love. Under her leadership, people find a place to belong, to ask hard questions, and to explore grace in real-world ways. That’s why Patti wears a cape. Every day, she shows what it means to stand in the gap for others. Paul – A Caregiver Behind the Scenes, and a Hero in His Own Right. Beside her stands Paul, a man whose talents and servant heart amplify everything they do together. A former chef and gifted woodworker, Paul creates—meals, spaces, moments—that bring comfort and joy. Before ministry, he and Patti worked side-by-side in the hospitality industry, learning early how to serve with warmth and welcome. Together, they raised three beautiful children, now adults who reflect their parents’ values of kindness and faith. And in one of God’s sweetest gifts, they share a grandson, born on Patti’s birthday. A blessing she joyfully proclaims: “Thank you, God!”

I want to invite you to explore Jigsaw Passport — a gentle, creative journey that helps people slow down, connect, and find meaning through shared puzzling experiences. It’s a beautiful way to practice calm, creativity, connection, and memory in everyday life. As part of the experience, this is a sneak peek into February's Scavenger Hunt that is offered in the Layover Lounge, searching for simple items in their daily world that represent peace, imagination, relationships, and meaningful moments. It’s not about pressure or performance — it’s about noticing the small, beautiful things that often go unseen. For those who want to go deeper, the Layover Lounge is available for Premium Members, offering extra activities, reflections, and connection while your puzzle journey is “in flight.” If you love meaningful moments, storytelling, creativity, and connection, I would love for you to explore Jigsaw Passport and see what’s unfolding. Join Here Enjoy your sneek peek Scavenger Hunt activity. Simply click and print!

Friends, I want to share something that happened this past Sunday. I wasn’t able to attend church in person at Edge UMC, so I watched the service on Facebook Live instead. As I was watching, an idea came to me — what if Mighty Caregivers across the globe worshiped together in real time, even when we can’t be in the building? Each week, we’ll gather online to join Pastor Patti Aupperlee and the Edge UMC church family, where the Mighty Caregivers Ministry thrives in Groveland, Florida. 🕊 Service starts at 11:00 AM EST🌍 Open to Mighty Caregivers everywhere💬 A space to share prayers, reflections, and encouragement during the service. Join us on Facebook: Edge UMC Facebook Page Mighty Live is about worshiping together — wherever we are.