Back to Summer

Now we are back to summer in winter. Beautiful days - cool amazing evenings. Everyone is out walking, biking, talking, just enjoying being in S Texas for the winter. We need to pray for so many in our park - many in the hospital. Two families had to return to their Northern homes because of serious illnesses, lots of sickness that doesn't allow residents to leave their homes here. Yesterday we made 6 hospital/rehab visits, plus all the home visits during the week.

just enjoying the breezes and cool air

as evening rolls round, the birds gather to roost in the trees

the water birds just cooling off and looking for their supper

if you need propane just clip this to your house number and it will be delivered - no muss no fuss - of course you have to tape the check to the propane tank!!

I thank God for the little bit of spare time He grants me to to relax and sew!!! Tuesdays the Helping Hands group makes quilts hundreds of them a year - for those in need and they graciously donate some to our ministry. I sew on Fridays with a group called Busy Bees -and it certainly is busy as bees!! They feature 2 quilt patterns for us to sew - or a person could work on whatever project they wanted. I am doing the Arkansas Crossroads quilt  as well as a few place mats. It is a wonderful time to just get together and visit and sew - sometimes more sewing, sometimes more visiting. Every 2nd Thursday of the month is an all day workshop - again a project is featured or just sew on your own. Last Thursday we made a quilted jacket from a sweatshirt - an easy project but so diverse because of the fabric used. Most of the ladies chose flowers some very rich patterns, some whimsical.. Of course,  I tend to do things a bit different I chose doves. Every one's turns out so beautiful and original.

quilters working -some checking out the progress

quilt back ready to"Sandwich"

Sandwiching ladies

even the men help - Ron is tying

Maggie is tying today  - note the stack of completed quilts in the background

making bibs - now called shirt protectors!

Don, our ever present repair - fixer up guy

the refueling table

my jacket - just needs the binding and then it is done - it is quilted front and back - fun to make

Today after church, we went to visit with Miss Opal (she cane to church with us). At her request, we shared black beans and rice as we viewed the video of her husband's funeral in North Carolina, as next week-end is the 2nd anniversary of his death. Grieving is a process that most everyone goes through at their own pace. Don't ever let anyone tell you that "It is time to get over it". Miss Opal is a very special lady who moved to the park to be near her sister last August. She loves being involved in Caring ❤'s Ministry helping to bag beans, sew quilts, whatever she can do. And we love Miss Opal.

Pastor Robert Perales continued his sermon service on the journey to discipleship in today's service. Our discipleship comes with an unexpected call which empowers us to do the work of God. All of this comes at a big cost. When a child sees a free puppies sign, he gets all excited because they are free - but not really, There is a cost for free. Grace is free to us because Jesus paid the price, but the cost to follow Him is great. The cost of comfort is the first cost. If you take a mission trip, you lose all of your former comforts. You perhaps sleep on a straw mat with bugs all over, you struggle to get fresh drinking water, etc. Our personal comfort is a barrier between God and us. Another cost is our culture cost - you leave your family and friends to follow Jesus. Your former way of life is no longer. The third cost of discipleship is connections cost. Sometimes the greatest cost is giving up a relationship to create a firmer relationship with God by following Him. Discipleship costs us everything but it is better than what we had. So if you are called to discipleship, don't be afraid as the costs are worth as Jesus is worth it.

 A new week begins - let us strive to follow God - perhaps not as the disciples did, giving up everything, but always keeping our eyes on Jesus.