Today we celebrate and give thanks to God for Nancy Hemminger on her 80th birthday. Throughout her life, Nancy has had an impact on countless people around the world through her love, compassion, and determination to make their lives better, but especially by how she embodies hope itself, bringing Christ to all she meets.

Friends from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the Latin Patriarchate Schools in the Holy Land joined together to write 80 things we love about Nancy:

1.How she is attuned to the Gospel message, and strives to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

2. How she believes in others’ gifts and talents, and sees the good in everyone.

3. How she recognizes, appreciates, and uses the gifts and talents of other people.

4. Her dedication to the best practices in education, she is a teacher through and through.

5. Her effervescent nature, Nancy’s smile makes saying no to her requests an impossibility!

6. Her faithfulness to God, Nancy trusts in whatever path her journey takes.

7. Her gratitude to others, Nancy gives the best gifts ever because they come from her heart.

8. Her hopes, what more can one add to this? Nancy embodies hope, and it is no wonder that HOPE was born from her dream.

9. How she is ageless and her spirit is as lively and energetic as those of us half her age!

10. How she believes, “justice and peace will flourish in its time.”

11. Her kindness to all, Nancy sees the good in everyone from the lowly to the arrogant.

12. Her unconditional love, who would travel around the world to attend funerals, feed the starving, or clothe the naked? Nancy!

13. How she is a mother to all. Oh, how Nancy mothers. Never smothers, but loves with a mama’s loving touch.

14. Her nuanced way, she knows just how to say the hard words that need voicing, having mastered the fine art of craft and delicacy.

15. How she is a champion of the oppressed. Why else would she spend her days and nights which turned into years and decades for those who have no say?

16. How she is peace-seeking. Her body is a reed that is hollowed to the tune of the Spirit’s breath. “Make me a channel of Your peace.”

17. How she is inquisitive by nature.  Nancy takes on the toughest challenges and seeks answers to those burning questions which created the situations.

18. How she reacts to children in need. If Nancy ever needs a heart scan, the doctors will only see children’s faces in every valve, chamber, and artery within her body.

19. Her solidarity with the suffering, some people watch the news, shrug, and say, “What can I do? I am only one person.” Nancy watches the news and says, “Lord, how can I serve you?”

20. Her talents beyond belief, with her humble approach, Nancy takes the 10,000 talents given to her and sees that they are multiplied like the good and faithful servant.

21. How she is unflinching in the face of opposition. Nancy will stare down any obstacle that comes her way if and only if she believes the Spirit is guiding her to take that leap of faith.

22. How she is valorous in her decisions.  She takes everyone’s needs into consideration, never chooses foolhardiness, yet moves forward on tough projects.

23. Her where-with-all and savviness in her dealings, she knows how to make things happen without stepping on anyone’s toes.

24. Her example of Gospel living, Nancy embodies the corporal and spiritual works of mercy in every step she takes.

25. How she is young at heart.  Nancy’s age has many scratching their heads, asking “How can this be?!”

26. How she will not rest (zzzz) until the children’s needs are met. Up in the wee hours to make phone calls, skype, and send messages, Nancy will not rest until the children’s needs are met or until the good Lord says, “Faithful servant, you may now rest.”

27. Her selflessness, it’s always about others and never about Nancy!

28. Her unshakeable faith!

29. Her optimism, the glass is always half-full, and there is always room for more! Nancy sees positive possibilities in any situation.

30. Her devotion to the unborn

31. Her smile and her laugh…which always brightens the room

32. Her commitment and passion for the people of the Holy Land, especially its children, which has opened the eyes and hearts of so many educators and parishioners in our Archdiocese.  And that she has forged relationships that have empowered us to live our own faith more fully!  Her work teaches us the true meaning of solidarity.

33. How nothing can keep her down. No matter how sick, she’s always working on something to make others’ lives better.

34. Her complete surrender and trust in the Holy Spirit.

35. How she laughs at my jokes, even when they’re not funny!

36. Her imitation of Mary, in always saying, “Yes” to all that God asks of her.

37. Her long lasting hugs!

38. How she always has your back whether it’s with your airline seat or the quality of your Sea of Galilee hotel room.

39. Her deep love for children, which led to the creation hope

40. How deeply she loves Jesus.

41. How she is a role model for diplomacy

42. Her forgiving nature,  Nancy always forgives, forgets, and deliberately re-engages the hurting people.

43. How she sees the good in everyone

44. How she makes everyone feel that their contributions matter

45. The twinkle in her eye and the dance in her step!

46. How she knows exactly what to say, when and how!

47. That she has Christ-like love for everyone, but especially the love she shares with Dave!!! What an example for all married couples!

48. How she can beg to get anything she needs, and it’s always for the needs of others!

49. How she brings JOY wherever she goes!

50. How she can leave her door open with her keys in it!

51. How she has eyes that see the heart.

52. How she is connected to Our Blessed Mother

53. Her smile, her energy, and I love she is so small but rises to be a giant.

54. How she is a woman of great faith,  gives hope and is charitable beyond measure!

55. How she doesn’t know a stranger.

56. How she doesn’t believe the word “no” exists.

57. How she is a “master” teacher!

58. How she is reflective. Nancy looks for the hand of God in events that have happened, and looks to how these actions of the Holy Spirit are reflected in the people involved.

59. Her prayer life!

60. Her hugs that keep me warm.

61. Her eyes that shine with love for all around her

62. Her love for God and God’s children, and her tenacity to build bridges across some very difficult circumstances

63. How she is a champion for the needs not only of the children in the Holy Land, but also the needs of the teachers and students in the AOC to become God’ s instruments of solidarity and HOPE!

64. How she is a life-long learner

65. How she is a beacon of hope!

66. Her sense of humor

67. Her indefatigable determination and her genuine sweetness!

68. Her kindness, Nancy would do anything for you!

69. Her compassion, which is deeply rooted in her heart and soul.

70. Her tight and long hugs, she makes sure that you know that you are loved!

71. How she is the master of convincing someone to be cheerfully eager to accomplish something “for the children” that they had been adamantly opposed to only moments before.

72. Her family, which is a model of a caring and loving environment, supporting her in all of her endeavors.

73. How I am a better teacher and a better person, because of Nancy and the HOPE experience.

74. Her tenacity that is unrivaled and her spirit which sees things through that do not seem possible.

75. Her HOPE for the children of Jordan, Palestine, Israel, and beyond, which inspires so many people far beyond what even she realizes.

76. That when she talks to you she is focused on nothing else… it’s like you are the only person in the room.

77. Her soul, mind, smile and heart, because they spread ,peace, love, hope and happiness all around . In Palestine, we consider her as our saint.

78. How much she loves the children of the world, and that she loves her family even more.

79. How she is one woman who does the work of ten men!

80. How she is a constant companion to Dave, their marriage mirrors the image of Christ’s relationship to His Church.

Happy 80th Birthday, Nancy!!