"Many hands make work light!"

A few of you said you enjoy seeing people from "back home" on my posts. So this is especially for Joanne, Theda,  and Gloria!

 

 Darlene was buzzing around cleaning several Sunday School rooms. It's a joy to have her help teach in my classroom! She just radiates; she's a neat testimony of allowing Christ's love to shine through her. 

 

 

 

 

Okay Erma, get down on those knees to get those black spots off the floor! (That's what the spray is for in her hand.) Sorry Shawn!

 

 

 

Lowell and Charles teach this classroom of 12 and 13 year old boys.  Titus was really watching his Daddy at work until he spied my camera.

 

 

 

 

 Arlene and John had just cleaned the S.S. room with the window right behind her. She can enjoy the courtyard view while teaching the four and five year old boys and girls.

 

 

 

 This is a small room but a pretty big job. It's our tape and CD library. Charlene was cleaning this by herself - but - if you would have been there to clean with her, the entire time would have been fun!!

 

 

 

 It takes awhile to clean the sanctuary so we need many hands in here. The benches get dusted, someone sweeps them, and then furniture polish is used. You'll remember Sara - we stopped around 12:30 and she took me for a yummy birthday lunch. My friend Marian, is in the background.

 

 

 

Janice is wiping the racks where the song books are placed. She has a job that isn't hard but does take awhile and is tiring on the knees! The rack is right behind her.  

 

 

 

 

Julia and some of her family helping to clean this S.S. room.  We had fun times with Julia while she was growing up as she and our children spent time together. 

  

 

 

  My other S.S. teacher is Louie. She and her family provided all these delicious items for us. It was so special to come here and be treated to their gift of love.

I didn't ask Marv if this was snack time or lunch time for him! He deserved BOTH! Marv is one of our ministers and also our elder. He wouldn't need to be here. We do not ask our ministers to come today as they give of themselves in other ways. But for years he has been cleaning the ceiling lights in all the hallways - upstairs and downstairs. A job where you are always working "over your head." It's not a desirable job as you have to drop a cover to clean the lights underneath that. We really appreciate him and his wife, Sue. 

 

 

 

As I tiptoed behind Martha to get this picture, she saw me at the last minute and said, "People will think all I did was eat!"  

She and her sister still teach the kindergarten class and are super at what they do! They've been teaching a  l-o-n-g time!

  

 

 

This is a huge job and I missed many of the people who were part of this kitchen housecleaning!  Joanne and Rachel are just about finished. Thank you ladies! 

 

 

 

 One of my very favorite uncles! (Kathy, I told you I have a good picture of your Dad!) You ladies have seen him other times on my posts. It really, really blessed me to see men helping today. There were some jobs that we really needed the men to tackle  them - other jobs they just did because this project is large - and - many hands make work light! Love you, Harold.

 

 

 

 This is our committee that worked hard to organize and make this day come together! Erma (second from left; the one who was trying to wipe the black mark with her shoe  ) brought a special lunch for these ladies!

 

 

 

 

 Break time for Autumn and Jayna. Their parents were at church early with their little sweethearts working in some of the entrances.....cleaning walls, doors, steps, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

My cousin Darlene, again, and Emily. It was so special to be cleaning and someone would stop by your room and chat a little! 

 

 

 

My best friend cleaning this floor - the final part of each room was buffing.  (This room does not have white spots all over the walls! I don't understand why that happened with my camera; it didn't for any other picture.)

 

 

 

 Jim always has a helping hand and heart for various needs.

 

 

 

 Bob did all the outside windows today - a very long and tiring job - dragging a heavy ladder from window to window. He worked so hard.

 

 

 

A completed room!!

 

 

 

I came back to church after Sara and I had lunch together and spent some time at that antique shop I showed you in the last post. For the last three or four years when I enter my S.S. room there is a gift bag for me! It always takes me by surprise when I walk inside because I truly forget that this dear friend does this. My birthday is always near our church housecleaning day and she has something thoughtful for me. How special is that on cleaning day!!

 

 

 

Here's the dear friend; yes, the "get the black marks off" friend!  She has a servant's heart.  In the last post we were celebrating her 60th birthday. 

 

 

 

 

 My classroom isn't large but it takes awhile to finish everything. Louie (who made our food items) said she will try to have one of her sons help me. I told her that really wasn't necessary; I will be fine. Soon after I was in my room, Sam came to help me. HE WAS SUCH A BLESSING!! He quietly went about his work....finishing one job and asking what to do next. Erma came in at one point to show me pictures - and he just kept right at his work the entire time we looked/talked about her memories she gathered through pictures. I was so impressed.

 

 

 

 We had about 17 chairs to take to the hall. It's much nicer to sweep and then buff the floor with the chairs removed.

 

 

 

 

Sam wiped all the chairs for me! I would have liked to hug him after we finished the room but he's 14 - at that age I didn't know if he would appreciate it!!

 

We have approximately 30 Sunday School classrooms and it takes many, many hands to do this job. There are many people I missed who were working here today. I would have enjoyed being a roving photographer!  

What a blessing to have a church family who are willing to work together. Yes, we do have people who never help. I'm just so grateful for those who do.

  "I'm So Glad I'm a Part of The Family of God.................You will notice we say brother and sister 'round here, it's because we're a family and these folks are so dear........!"

 

 

Reminiscing! 

(From years ago to five days ago)

I visited Rachel's Mother. I went to bless her....took some pictures of Rachel along. You know how that is; you leave and realize you are the one that received the blessing! 

We were reminiscing about the many days I was in their home spending time with Rachel in my early teen years! We ate together, played together, and prayed together. The time went by quickly for Mary and me as we remembered, together.

Mary will be 99 in October!!! Her mind is SO clear! She gives the glory to God.

 

 

 

 

 This reminiscing is from about a year ago. Reba (the smallest friend) offered a "tea certificate" for our school benefit sale. We ladies had the blessing of her hospitality and delicious meal. Her joy is contagious. I love looking at my pictures to keep this time of fellowship a dear memory.

 

 

 

 Doretta, on left, is VERY careful with her sugar intake! That's what made this scene enjoyable to me. I think someone was giving her a hard time that she took THREE pieces!

 

 

 

 We were outside enjoying Reba's flower beds. This is my niece, Gwenda on the left and my daughter, Barb, in the center.

 

 

 

 

 This finds me reminiscing about a month ago. While their Mother and oldest brother went school shopping, I asked if they would help me tame these kittens. They were born in our shed (we don't have indoor pets) and therefore don't have hourly contact.

There is no question of the beautiful difference between little boys and little girls as they play with trucks or dolls. But I saw it in the way they played with kittens!!

I think someone is scheming - something!!

 

 

 

 Her first ride in a wagon! She even seemed to enjoy it. But it wasn't too long 'till I heard a sliding sound. I decided to investigate.......the kittens were on blankets (required by grandma) and were on a fast ride that went in circles!!

 

 

 

 Seth and Darin - we found other things to do after the kittens went back in the shed....before they got motion sickness!

 

 

 

 

This lovely friend is celebrating her 60th birthday! This reminiscing comes as recently as last week!

 

 

 

These ladies met ahead of us at the restaurant and sat at the table awhile. Erma thought she is meeting Nancy and me to celebrate her birthday. We told her it is time to catch up in each others' lives. Erma said goodbye to a son and daughter-in-law who moved to Maine in mission work and Nancy said goodbye to her mother who went to her Heavenly Home.

My stomach was in knots when I stopped by Erma's home to take her along to the restaurant. I love surprises but let's get there quickly and make it happen!

Nancy, Erma, and I happened to meet someone elderly right outside the door of the restaurant who knew ALL of us - the ladies inside, included. They talked with us awhile (I was getting more knots in my stomach) - and then the dear man said, "There are ladies waiting inside for you!!!!!!"

Well, these happen to be some of the "dear ladies!"

Dorinda's (on right) cell phone rang about two hours into the meal and it was her husband Ken. In conversation she told him we are still at the restaurant. "You're still THERE?!!" was Ken's reply!  You just can't rush a good thing, Ken!

 

 

 

Meet Julia, my dear, dear prayer warrior.

 She wasn't hiding from my camera; I don't remember what was said that brought this reaction.

 

 

 

 

Marian is the oldest in our group today but truly young at heart. She works so hard in her garden as they sell produce. I learned today that she enjoys it. From early produce to late, they have it. Another lady I have learned to love dearly.

 

 

 

 Well, these were to be the original ladies in Erma's mind to have a time of sharing over a birthday meal! When we were told "there are ladies in there waiting for you" I didn't dare look at Nancy and quickly said  - something - I'm not sure what anymore!! Surprised or not, Erma made the day special for the rest of us! Happy Birthday Friend!

 

 (Theda, it felt like you should be here today! May the Lord bless you as you serve Him in Grenada.)

 

 

 

 

 

 Sara was also at Erma's birthday celebration but I failed to get a picture of her!

The above picture brings sweet reminiscing from five days ago! She blessed me by inviting me to lunch to celebrate my birthday! It was the first time for Sara and me to do this. It's good no one was keeping tabs on our time at the table as we talked, and talked, and talked!

 

 

 

 

 She bought my meal so even though I AM a dessert person, I didn't want to order dessert. Sara said, "We must have dessert at birthday meals!" Oh, my kind of friend!  This restaurant is known for their chocolate cake so we shared this as I truly was getting full.

 

 

 

 In the same parking lot where the restaurant is there is an antique store. Sara asked if I enjoy antiques so we decided to spend some time in there. Reminiscing was what happened big time in here as we saw items that our grandmas had....and items our mothers had in their kitchens. Do you like this canister set?

Thank you Sara for new, fun, and meaningful memories for this birthday!

 

 

 

 Last but not least............

 

Do any of you remember this quote in an earlier picture I showed you? It was early Spring when we were at a cottage enjoying a Christmas gift from our daughter and her husband.

"Enjoy the little things in life for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things!"

At that time of posting I said, "I would love to find this in a store - it's a wonderful reminder to keep relationships a priority."

 

Oh my! Oh my! Several weeks later there was a bag above our church mailbox. It was securely closed so I started pulling it open because I couldn't remember anything that was to be coming. I had only a little bit open when I saw what was inside. I wish I could have seen my eyes! I couldn't believe it! The very words that I longed to have in front of me!!!!!

And I have NO idea who gave it to me as there was no name included! I long to thank someone for your dear kindness and leave you know how much I appreciate this gift! I would love to do that in person - but for now, I hope you will read on here how precious this gift is to me. Thank You!