Just got back from our weekly Vesper service. It was nice but the best part of this one was the minister that served communion. He spoke about Holidays and how many important Holidays are overlooked.
This Sunday is ALL SAINTS DAY and he asked us to close our eyes and think of the people that had touched our lives or ones that touch our lives now that have made a difference. I remember one time at Brentwood United Methodist Church on All Saints Day they read the name of people that had died during the last year and when a man's name was read that had helped with the Youth, the whole Youth Choir (123 members) stood up. The minister was rather new and he couldn't believe his eyes.
I ALWAYS think of my Aunt Ruth and my Mom when this day rolls around. Another one is Aileen Forster for she helped me start on my Faith Journey many years ago.
BUT...I think of people in my life now that make a difference to me and the list is just TOOOOOOOO long to even try and mention here. I think most of you know who you are. Many will never read this blog but I think they know they touch my life in one way or another.
I've been so blessed over the years to have a good many very good friends. And I hope my family knows how important they are to me and what they mean to me-everyone of you.
I guess this is where Benjamin would say "CUT THE SAUCE, GRAMMA"
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
One Special Volunteer
This week we have a group from Oak Ridge, TN and I have worked with a few of them before. But there is a lady in the sewing room that has become very special to me.
She was very easy to get along with yesterday, nothing outstanding but we just hit it off. Today she was sitting at a machine in front of me and we were just visiting while sewing. I was telling her two of my children were good friends with their ex-spouses.
All of a sudden she turned around and told me she had been divorced for 15 years and she and her ex were also good friends. Then she said, "He died yesterday". Tears were in her eyes and I thought for a minute I had misunderstood her but she repeated it.
I just felt so bad for her. I got up, went up and gave her a hug and then she told me about their relationship the last few years.
I asked her if I could put her on the prayer list here for Vespers Thursday night and she said yes.
I went back to my machine and was sitting there realizing how blaze I can get about these people. In a trip here I meet from 300 to 400 people from all over the U.S. I need to remind myself that I do not know what pain they bring with them or what is on their hearts and be mindful of these things.
She was very easy to get along with yesterday, nothing outstanding but we just hit it off. Today she was sitting at a machine in front of me and we were just visiting while sewing. I was telling her two of my children were good friends with their ex-spouses.
All of a sudden she turned around and told me she had been divorced for 15 years and she and her ex were also good friends. Then she said, "He died yesterday". Tears were in her eyes and I thought for a minute I had misunderstood her but she repeated it.
I just felt so bad for her. I got up, went up and gave her a hug and then she told me about their relationship the last few years.
I asked her if I could put her on the prayer list here for Vespers Thursday night and she said yes.
I went back to my machine and was sitting there realizing how blaze I can get about these people. In a trip here I meet from 300 to 400 people from all over the U.S. I need to remind myself that I do not know what pain they bring with them or what is on their hearts and be mindful of these things.
Monday, October 25, 2010
TITANS WON
Our little apartment here in Peck Hall is close quarters to the one next to us. I can hear them brush their teeth and shower. They live on the OTHER side of the bath so we never hear their T.V. or conversations but figure if they are in the bathroom they can hear ours as our living area is next to it.
Yesterday the Titans game was on and they were loosing. I was also watching the Saints who were loosing too.
BUT...about the end of the third quarter the Titans came alive and we had us a ball game. When Kerry Collins threw the LLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG pass and we came close to tying the score I came alive too and yelled something - probably a great big Y E S.
This morning at breakfast the neighbor said that she was doing some work for the Food For Family program that they hold this Wednesday and she heard this screem and at first wondered what it was. Then she realized it was me and she switched to the Titans game.
Pretty soon she said she was back at work when she heard another screem and swithced over to see the re-play of the next big one.
Ted is always telling me to be quiet and I guess I need to realize I'm not out in the country at home in our living room but that was a GOOD game and I really enjoyed it. She said her husband slept right through all my screeming so guess it wasn't TOO loud.
Yesterday the Titans game was on and they were loosing. I was also watching the Saints who were loosing too.
BUT...about the end of the third quarter the Titans came alive and we had us a ball game. When Kerry Collins threw the LLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG pass and we came close to tying the score I came alive too and yelled something - probably a great big Y E S.
This morning at breakfast the neighbor said that she was doing some work for the Food For Family program that they hold this Wednesday and she heard this screem and at first wondered what it was. Then she realized it was me and she switched to the Titans game.
Pretty soon she said she was back at work when she heard another screem and swithced over to see the re-play of the next big one.
Ted is always telling me to be quiet and I guess I need to realize I'm not out in the country at home in our living room but that was a GOOD game and I really enjoyed it. She said her husband slept right through all my screeming so guess it wasn't TOO loud.
Friday, October 22, 2010
VESPERS
Last night was our weekly Vesper service. A young woman did the sermon and I thought she was good, Ted didn't care for it. Ah, well.
We had expected a real mess. I guess they just couldn't get it together at the planning meeting and we were all anxious to see just how this went off, which was a wonderful service to me.
Especially the part where people stand up and tell their blessings they will take from the week. A couple of men spoke about going out into the community and what they saw there and how it affected them. When we put the bags together or assemble the kits at the tables we don't get to see the people but these people that go work on some of the trailers and homes in the area DO. Some of these trailers sound just almost unlivable to me. Is life relative? These people would think they were in a mansion in my little house. Maybe someone from Haiti would LOVE one of these delapolated trailers.
ANYWAY...I came away with a FULL CUP from last nights service and as we left we were handed a piece of FAIR TRADE chocolate and information on how to use Fair Trade chocolate at Halloween. Maybe Halloween isn't such a wasteful holiday after all.
If you want to know more here are two web sites for you:
HAPPY EATING OF CHOCOLATE
www.globalexchange.org/cocoa and www.equalexchange.coop/educationaltools
We had expected a real mess. I guess they just couldn't get it together at the planning meeting and we were all anxious to see just how this went off, which was a wonderful service to me.
Especially the part where people stand up and tell their blessings they will take from the week. A couple of men spoke about going out into the community and what they saw there and how it affected them. When we put the bags together or assemble the kits at the tables we don't get to see the people but these people that go work on some of the trailers and homes in the area DO. Some of these trailers sound just almost unlivable to me. Is life relative? These people would think they were in a mansion in my little house. Maybe someone from Haiti would LOVE one of these delapolated trailers.
ANYWAY...I came away with a FULL CUP from last nights service and as we left we were handed a piece of FAIR TRADE chocolate and information on how to use Fair Trade chocolate at Halloween. Maybe Halloween isn't such a wasteful holiday after all.
If you want to know more here are two web sites for you:
HAPPY EATING OF CHOCOLATE
www.globalexchange.org/cocoa and www.equalexchange.coop/educationaltools
Thursday, October 21, 2010
CHEZ HOPE
Since Ted told about the T-Shirt I won Saturday, I thought I'd tell you about the Domestic Abuse Center called Chez Hope.
Last year when I worked in the Outreach office I got to know more about this place. It was an old hotel here in Franklin, Louisiana and was about to be abandonded when someone bought it and gave it to the Abuse Center for $1 a year.
It's very large and perfect for this. We are allowed inside for a tour and you can see where they hold group meetings, the children are tutored after school, a play area, a dress up area, and Sisters Closet where they can go to get free clothing.
This is where most of our volunteers go to work. It's only a couple fo small rooms but they have baby, children, and adult clothing in there.
Most places do not let you go to the building where the abused are housed but for some reason they do here. We, however, do not see them or their apartments. I understand most of the ones that come here are from areas quite a ways from here.
It's a wonderful place and UMCOR Sager Brown does a LOT for them. Some volunteers do all their ground work and some have built shelves for books in their little library. Some go in and paint.
It's just nice to be a part of something so needed.
Last year when I worked in the Outreach office I got to know more about this place. It was an old hotel here in Franklin, Louisiana and was about to be abandonded when someone bought it and gave it to the Abuse Center for $1 a year.
It's very large and perfect for this. We are allowed inside for a tour and you can see where they hold group meetings, the children are tutored after school, a play area, a dress up area, and Sisters Closet where they can go to get free clothing.
This is where most of our volunteers go to work. It's only a couple fo small rooms but they have baby, children, and adult clothing in there.
Most places do not let you go to the building where the abused are housed but for some reason they do here. We, however, do not see them or their apartments. I understand most of the ones that come here are from areas quite a ways from here.
It's a wonderful place and UMCOR Sager Brown does a LOT for them. Some volunteers do all their ground work and some have built shelves for books in their little library. Some go in and paint.
It's just nice to be a part of something so needed.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
BLOOPER
Before each meal we all gather in the cafateria and give any announcements for the day that are needed. The Outreach office usually has the most as they take people to the Domestic Abuse Center to work or take a tour, to the Head Start program where they read to the children or go to the library with them. They are also in charge of the Vespers Service on Thursday night. They have their meeting of the planning committee for Vespers meet in an adjoining room during dinner on Monday evenings.
Now we also have what we call "The Kitchen Ministry" and they are our dishwashers. This group changes from meal to meal and everyone gets a turn to help wash dishes. The Kitchen Ministry people always get to eat first so they can start washing dishes as soon as people finish.
Yesterday the lady that plans Vespers announced that the Vespers planning people should line up right behind the "CHICKEN MINISTRY" when what she meant to say was, they should line up behind the Kitchen Ministry. The whole place came apart in laughter and she laughed right along with them.
She is a dear lady from New York. She's very petite and sweet to everyone and she and I have gotten to be great friends this trip. I told her she did my heart good because that sounded like something I would say.
Laughter is good for the soul.
Now we also have what we call "The Kitchen Ministry" and they are our dishwashers. This group changes from meal to meal and everyone gets a turn to help wash dishes. The Kitchen Ministry people always get to eat first so they can start washing dishes as soon as people finish.
Yesterday the lady that plans Vespers announced that the Vespers planning people should line up right behind the "CHICKEN MINISTRY" when what she meant to say was, they should line up behind the Kitchen Ministry. The whole place came apart in laughter and she laughed right along with them.
She is a dear lady from New York. She's very petite and sweet to everyone and she and I have gotten to be great friends this trip. I told her she did my heart good because that sounded like something I would say.
Laughter is good for the soul.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Whatever Happened to Slap Stick Comdey?
Sitting here tonight very B O R E D and thought I'd pull up the Flip Wilson video Kim had on a few days ago, "THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT". Then I noticed a Goldie Hawn one and she was another silly slap stick comedian that cracks me up.
Then I saw Lilly Tomlin. Now that lady was the best. She could walk on a set and I'd start to giggle. Kind of like Ted when we went to see Victor Borge. Victor Borge walked on stage when we went to see him and Ted laughed for an hour and fourty five minutes.
Red Skelton could get me laughing too. He and his CLEM KIDDLEHOPPER. We used to watch Laugh-In and to me that was one of the funniest shows on T.V
I think Bill Cosby was the best though. We saw him in Nashville one time and I always think of Mark doing his Dentist visit routine. One time when Kim and Jill were pretty young Bill Cosby had a T.V. show on while I was gone to a meeting and Ted and the girls taped it for me on recorder we had. I could not see it, only hear it. I laughed so hard thinking of the characters he portrayed; his dad and brother in the Turtle Heads In Your Bed story. Then later it was on T.V. and I didn't think it was near as funny as what I had imagined in my head.
Whatever happened to make them disappear? Too bad.
Then I saw Lilly Tomlin. Now that lady was the best. She could walk on a set and I'd start to giggle. Kind of like Ted when we went to see Victor Borge. Victor Borge walked on stage when we went to see him and Ted laughed for an hour and fourty five minutes.
Red Skelton could get me laughing too. He and his CLEM KIDDLEHOPPER. We used to watch Laugh-In and to me that was one of the funniest shows on T.V
I think Bill Cosby was the best though. We saw him in Nashville one time and I always think of Mark doing his Dentist visit routine. One time when Kim and Jill were pretty young Bill Cosby had a T.V. show on while I was gone to a meeting and Ted and the girls taped it for me on recorder we had. I could not see it, only hear it. I laughed so hard thinking of the characters he portrayed; his dad and brother in the Turtle Heads In Your Bed story. Then later it was on T.V. and I didn't think it was near as funny as what I had imagined in my head.
Whatever happened to make them disappear? Too bad.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)