From a Burden of Material to Blessings of Quilts

We have missed 4 days this week due to the ice storm. I should do my homework (like I expect of the children) but instead, I have been making quilts for an orphanage in the Philippines. It's an interesting story of how someone's burden became the blessing of so many. One of my teacher friends had a "ton" of material to get "rid of" after her grandmother passed. While talking about it to me one day, I told her that I would be able to use some at our church for costumes. Long story short, she was able to bring three loads of the material to my house. Besides using it at school for bulletin board covers, at church for the stage at Children's Worship, and for costumes, I was able to send three shipments to a mission called Gifts for the Nations which uses/sends materials all over the world. And now several ladies from our church are making quilts from the last of the material for an orphanage in the Philippines. And a local nursing home has ladies ready to tie the quilts. The blessings keep growing and blessing more.

Day By Day By Night By Night By Day By Night

When I woke up this morning, it occurred to me that life is just passing by, marked by minutes, hours, nights and days, projects, assignments, holidays, work. For some reason this morning it seemed to me that there is no purpose in life. We do the same things over and over again, never completing. Is this what life is suppose to be? The sad part is that while I am doing mission work on the home front, I still see life just passing by. Is it me? Do I need an attitude adjustment? Am I still suffering the effects of the allergy? Am I like my Chia pet--great expectations but short lived?

Reflections of the Year Past and Resolutions of the Year Present

Ok, so the title is not original, but I'm tired and can't think. It seems as if 2010 has zoomed past me and at times dragged me along with it. I had many deadlines to meet, goals to accomplish, work to be done, and on and on. I guess it would behoove me to make a list of those things accomplished for my own sake, for motivation to do even more in 2011. So here goes in no particular order:

• Babysat my granddaughter on our days off from school, including most of the summer. We had lots of fun, learned a lot, and enjoyed our time.
• Welcomed a new grandson into the world. He is so cute. He loves to stick out his tongue, and he is only 8 months old. Looking forward to many new adventures.
• Enjoyed time with our step-grandsons (I hate that word step!) playing, eating, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, watching football, and just spending time together.
• Enjoyed time with my three children, their mates, and grandchildren, but always wishing it were more time.
• With a great group of people, we sewed and shipped 1001 diapers for the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. This is the most we have ever done. PTL
• Went on a mission trip to South Dakota to help build the addition to their church. In just 3 1/2 days the project went from a hole in the ground to complete roof.
• Went on a mission trip to Honduras where Lorraine and I helped with their sewing program. I took oversized and unwanted clothes and showed them how to make backpacks, bags, skirts from jeans, save items from the clothes and much more. I was so thrilled to be doing mission work in my area of skill.
• Worked Vacation Bible School which is always a fun activity to be with the children.
• Continued with Beginner Bible Bowl kids at our monthly competitions and the Nationals. The young ones keep you hopping and all was good!
• Attended the National Missionary Convention to renew our desire to work in missions, pick up new ideas, and make new contacts. It's better than a family reunion.
• Accepted the challenge and read through the Bible in one year along with 80+ others from our church.
• Continued with our small group for the third year. As a group we sent Children's Spanish Bibles to a project in Honduras, sold Christmas wreaths for project money, worked at SOS in town, sponsored a child for the year, and purchased Christmas for an extended family. We love getting together and especially eating.
• Finished agonizing physical therapy on my hip, and had a root canal. Yippee!
• Continued with our Sign Language Interpreters at church.
• Became Marty's nurse after he had shoulder surgery. I was creative on ways to make his recovery easier such as elastic bands to hold his phone and TV remote while he recovered in his recliner.
• Continued to serve on the Missions Team, collect food for the CARES program, and substitute at the Senior Dinners.
• Attended the graduation, honors dinner, and parties for my nephew, Kyle, who graduated second in his class. Way to go, Kyle!!
• Continued another year as teacher of fourth graders. I have a great class this year:)
• Celebrated 60 years of life and 38 years of marriage to my life partner, Marty. Looking forward to many more years of life and marriage.

As I have listed these accomplishments, it has been cathartic as well as encouraging to me. I see that I need to get busy on a whole new list of things to accomplish in the year 2011. God, I'm ready to serve.

Black Friday Yields Bounty of Flannel

We did it! My husband and I stood in line, in the freezing cold, to buy flannel material for the construction of Diapers for Haiti for 2011. We found the flannel aisle first and quickly began snatching the thickest bolts off the racks. When hubby pulled our number for the cutting line, we were the second one in order. We piled two shopping carts completely full and headed to the cutting table. Several of the bolts were full and did not have to be measured which saved us time. Bolt by bolt the lady unrolled and measured, handed the piles to us to fold and put back in the carts. This process continued till every piece was accounted for and recorded. There were many customers with smiles on their faces and full carts also, but there were others who had only a few things to cut and were indeed miffed at the long wait. If I could have told them the reason for our large load, perhaps they would have understood. Several people asked us what we were going to do with the material so we were able to share our ministry. At the end of 90 minutes, we pushed our carts out of the store, having saved $1,886, and racking up 425 yards!!

Duct Tape and Faces Do Not Make Good Combinations

Our preacher had a very unusual sermon this past Sunday. We were featuring 30 of the ministries people can be involved with in our church. For example, I manned the booth for Diapers for Haiti, Gifts for the Nations, and CARES. We need help sewing, clipping threads, turning, and stacking the diapers that are sent to a birthing center in Haiti. Well, the minister had a lady from the congregation tape his mouth shut with duct tape to illustrate, well, I'm not sure what it meant. Anyway, he had balloons with the names of each of the ministries written on them. He ask the lady to juggle two, then three, then more. He eventually had the congregation try to keep the balloons going. His point was to show that the ministries are in need of people. It was a great sermon, very effective. Then he had a man rip off the tape! The preacher was stunned, speechless again. The tape ripped off part of his skin and sideburns. OUCH!

Your Shirt Talks

I was daring yesterday. I was bold. I could have been reprimanded. But I did it any way. I wore a shirt with a Christian message on it to school. The shirt even said the name of a very important person. I figured that since the students were wearing shirts covered in skulls, my shirt would be acceptable. And it was.

Covered Bridge Festival, the Ultimate Yard Sale

Have you ever heard of the Covered Bridge Festival? Millions of people trek to Park County, Indiana, to attend the event. It is scattered throughout several little villages, all complete with covered bridges. On the off season, you would not venture into most of the places or even see them as you sped by. But during the festival, people flock from many states away to attend the fall event. Food, junk, junk food, antiques, crafts, junk, knick-knacks, junk, "I can't believe they are selling THAT", spices, food, very old antiques, glass dishes, ice cream, jewelry, shoes, clothing, Christmas decorations, junk, food, junk food, sweatshirts, t-shirts, recycled items, repurposed items, food, junk, socks, purses, signs, equipment, and food are all for sale. On a good day, you can fill you car with your purchases. On a lucky day, you can come home empty-handed. It all depends on how you look at it. I'm going today to see people, eat foods I don't normally eat, and look for that rare item, probably something repurposed that becomes my trophy.

Update on the Bible Bowl Yard Sale

Well, the sale was great. At least for me. I was able to buy about 30 books for my school library at a low price. My students will be thrilled with the new books. I also found books for my granddaughter, and she has already enjoyed them the first time through. I also found two plastic chests with three drawers each. Once they are cleaned up, they will be a great addition at school for additional storage. I found cookie cutters, Christmas decorations, plastic containers with paper clips and push pins, a staple gun that works, a small basket for cards, and other containers. Once I clean them, I will be so thrilled to have them at school. BUT, my job at the sale was to help people find and buy items. I'm good at that. And I helped sell many items, especially the wooden entrance door with leaded glass. I knew it was perfect for my neighbors so I called them to come look. The husband was not sure until I told him it would look perfect in their gazebo. He bought it.

I Hate Yard Sales! Well, Most of the Time

I mean, I hate doing a yard sale. I'd rather give the stuff away. But I am working one of those sales today. Our Bible Bowl teams are hosting a yard sale to earn money for our season. It's a ton of work, but worth it for us and all those people who were able to unload their stuff on us. All the shoes that are wearable will be pulled aside to be sent to Honduras, to a mission we support. Sometimes other items are pulled out to be distributed to other groups in more need than just our fund raiser. So all in all, every minute is worthy of our time and your.

How Many Bibles Do You Have?

That is a good question and probably one we don't consider. We are so blessed with the Bibles we have, all the versions, various sizes, as well as study guides. I know of a place where they are desperate for the Bible, to hold, to read, to study, to share. Our small group has taken on the challenge to buy and send Bibles to that place--Honduras. The challenge is not the money required to purchase the books, but the way to get them to Honduras inexpensively and quickly. Our small group has purchased a dozen study Bibles and have a way to send them. We hope to be able to purchase and send many more. Soon!! The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that's the book for me, I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E!

A Rainy Walk to Defeat ALS

My sister-in-law, Sherri, and I walked in the Walk to Defeat ALS this past Saturday. It was a miserable day with pouring rain the entire time. I only saw two people, presumably with ALS, in wheelchairs, when we usually see 15 or more. They cannot afford to get sick. After Sherri and I registered, I told her that we didn't really have to walk the walk, we could walk back to the car and say we did. I asked her what Joe would say. She quickly replied, "He would say that since you are already here, you might as well walk." So we did. I'm not sure of the length of the walk, but I am sure that it rained the all way with pools of water in many places. My jeans were wet from the knees down as well as my shoes and socks. But we did it. Joe would have been proud of us. Let's pray that the money raised will help discover a cure for ALS, the always fatal disease.

The Passing of an Old Friend

A dear friend of mine is ill and near to expiring. She has been with me through the rough times. She has dealt with my dirt, faithfully. I knew she was having problems. I tried to console her, but she wept, wept all over the floor. I bandaged her numerous times, but with limited success. She cries from both sides now. Perhaps I will cry when she leaves my laundry room soon. She has been my faithful friend. She will not be lonely though, because we are sending her mate to be with her. Hope she doesn't catch a glimpse of my new friends, the ones I'm buying their friendship with real money. In time, they, too, will become my faithful friends. (Thanks to Laurie for the post idea, and thanks to my washer. May you rest in peace.)

Prayers for the School

I had the opportunity to attend a prayer meeting for our Christian school last night. There must have been 25 or 30 people who attended. Divided into 2 groups, we went into each classroom and prayed specifically for the teachers, children, and the success of all. I was honored to be able to so. Wish we could do the same for our public schools, especially mine.

Glad School Is Out So I Can Do All This Other Stuff

I know it's been awhile since I have posted. Guess when school got out, I totally left my blog. No, really, I have been busy with so many other things that I only get to do in the summer. Hubby and I went on a mission trip to an Indian Reservation in South Dakota. We were privileged to help build an educational wing on the existing church. I lifted and toted so many boards, planks, joists, trusses, etc. during the construction. Don't know how I was able physically to do the work. Great satisfaction to have helped them in such a small way. I have also been to the Beginner Bible Bowl National Competition with our team in Cincy. They did very well. I am so proud of them and all their hard work the entire year. They have learned so much scripture that will always be in their hearts. This week I began babysitting my granddaughter, Toots, so she doesn't have to go to daycare. We are having fun and getting a lot done. She wants to play on her swing set, watch TV, work on the computer reading program, play the WII, and swim. We have done all but the WII in three days. We have also pulled weeds, which she thought was boring. Sorry, sometimes you have to be bored. Now we are gearing up for Vacation Bible School and all that goes with it. Toots is excited because she will be a regular attender this year for the first time. Hope we can hold out with vbs and swimming everyday. It's a tough life, and we are going to do it. LOL

Sure Sign of Spring

People are mowing their grass today--a sure sign of Spring. If you cut your grass, will it start growing faster? If you wait to cut your grass, will it not need a haircut as soon?

My Last Amen

I heard this song, My Last Amen, on the Christian radio this past week and became an instant fan. The youtube version, is from a live concert and has an awesome coronet solo at the beginning. It is not the best for vocals, but you can hear it here.

Post 801

My daughter helped me start my blog in 2005. She started hers in 2003, while in school. I have surpassed her entries a long time ago. With Facebook, it is difficult to keep up both, but I do love my blog. Here is to another 800 entries.

Happy New Year

Can you believe it is 2010? Can you believe the controversy on how to say it? Some are saying two thousand ten. What is wrong with twenty ten? 1999 was pronounced as nineteen ninety-nine and not one thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine. Always has to be an angle.

Children Obey Your Parents

The other day when Toots was smarting off to her dad and misbehaving, I decided to try another way of correction. I asked her to bring to me my Bible and together we looked up the verses that say, "Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor your father and mother--which is the first commandment with a promise--so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Eph. 6:1-3 Well, it made an impression. She apologized and was better behaved. Later when we had to refer to it again, she brought her little testament to me so she could highlight it in yellow. It wasn't long before she could quote most of it. Yesterday I heard her quoting it to her Papa and finishing by saying, "So you may live happily ever after."

Mold Defeater

I read about a new mold control product that is environmentally safe and actually works. It contains no bleach or ammonia. Its called Concrobium Mold Control. Can't wait to try it. It suppose to work on fabric and wood by encapsulating the mold and suffocating it.