March 13, 2009

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  "Be A Blessing"

  This was the title for our Ladies Fellowship meeting this week!

  In our pamphlet, under the title was this sentence: "We will be creating a fruit bouquet to be given as a blessing to someone who needs encouragement."

  

  If you join us for the morning, you can help yourself to the tea and coffee table as you enter. Notice the limes in the vase of the arrangement. There are a few in the arrangement also. Our speakers brought some samples along for us to see what else can be done with fruit. (You might remember Dorinda from our Christmas caroling pictures.)

   

   

  

  On the left is Doretta, Dorinda's sister. Doretta is one of the ladies on the committee to plan these meetings. Barb Ocker is on the right; she had our devotional this morning and titled it, "Hospitality." Her name could be Joy as she sure spreads it around. I had the privilege to tape her devotional. I loved this thought - she asked us what definition comes to our minds with the word "hospitality?" Do we focus on our homes - or is it the state of our hearts! I loved that! The state of my heart wants to welcome and bless you...but my house is not always "guest ready" - does that keep me from welcoming you?! She encouraged us to try to be hospitable, regardless!

   

   

  

  This is her younger sister, Joan Nell. She demonstrated a fruit bouquet for us. Both Barb and Joan grew up in our congregation but as Barb said in her opening comments...."For the visitors - we are old home girls from Lebanon who happened to fall in love with out of town men. Because of our love for them we transplanted our roots elsewhere." This was said with Barb's laughter intermingled!! She lives about two hours from our church and Joan about an hour away. These girls were very busy this morning!!

   

   

   

  

  There were around 80 plus ladies who made fruit bouquets! You see what they are doing....we had four lines of ladies....picking up a bowl and filling it with the items needed. Each basket on the counter was clearly marked as to how many items to put in your bowls.

  Very organized..you see why the committee and our speakers were so busy this morning!

   

   

  

  Kim and LaWanda getting started...each table had the item LaWanda is holding to cut the pineapple. I forgot to mention that you also chose a mug as you finished filling your white bowl with fruit.

   

   

  

  There were three little gentlemen among us....8 week old Cade was unconcerned (he was peacefully sleeping next to mother, Jonita;)

   

   

  

  Darin was trying to help his Mother who is concentrating!  (For my new friends, this is my daughter and youngest grandchild.) And I missed a picture of our third little one, Eric, as his Grandma Erma graciously missed this part of the morning to give him a nap. Eric's  mother helps with the homeschool class.

   

   

   

  On the right is Martha - Barb and Joan's mother. She is talking to her sister-in-law, Marian - and one of my prayer warriors. There are 11 tables set up to accommodate this many ladies.

   

   

  

  As I started going from table to table I soon saw several tables had family "creating" together so I focused my pictures on that theme.

  This was the cousin table....a very special group to me...left to right,  my niece, Jolynne, then my daughter, Barb, and my niece, Gwenda!

   

   

  

  This trio happens to be sisters - you probably guessed that!!

  Laura, Andi, and Katie

   

   

  

  Next I went to mother/daughter teams.

  Far left in the blue is Bev and her mother, Julia. Next is Mary Catherine and her daughter, Mary. Aren't the pineapples beautiful!!

   

   

  

  Pink sweater is Darlene and her mother, Lois - also my cousin and aunt! Darlene is one of the teachers in my Sunday School class where we help together; I appreciate her so much. 

   

   

   

  

  Again in pink, Shawn and mother, Bernice.

   

   

   

  

  Left - Lisa  and across the table mother, Ruth Elaine - end of table is friend, Faith.

   

   

  

  Left,  Janelle and mother, Joanne.

  Is this making you hungry for fruit yet?! Or maybe the chocolate!

   

   

  

  On the right is Jill and mother, Judy. Toch is across the table. You can see the fellowship was part of the joy of the morning! 

   

   

   

  

  Last but not least, dear friend, Millie. Millie just had the first anniversary of her husband's death.

   

   

   

  

  The work is finished for Marian and Lorraine but you notice the fellowship hasn't ended for the morning yet! The fruit bouquets were wrapped with the paper you see above on the windowsill - all ready to bless someone.

  And this is what hit me as I walked around the room. At least 80 people will be blessed this morning as these bouquets will soon be delivered because these 80 ladies gathered together! 80 people being blessed! That thought kept hitting me and I was so grateful for the committee and Barb and Joan who had a part in bringing this together!

   

   

  

  You saw one sample on the coffee and tea table. These were an additional five. On the far right there is asparagus around the vase! In the center arrangement, they used lemons. The other items we were encouraged to sample!! 

  Be a Blessing!

  • 5:15 pm
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