Monday, November 22, 2010

Shoeboxes and Thanksgiving Dinner

Today is the day I look forward to all year....and also breathe a sigh of relief!  To get all the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child packed, counted, packed in cartons and counted again for accuracy, packed in trucks and delivered to the collection center requires much work!  I am the co-ordinator for our relay center in our area but I am not a lone ranger!  I could not have done any of this without help from
Sharon, Therese, Joe, Shonnye, Berta, Pat, Libby, Harold, Jo, another Sharon, Ginny, Arnold, Joe, Becky, Carol, Bert, Gordon, Charlie, another Joe, Jacquie, Tyler, David, Daisy, Maddie, Bryan , Bryce and Hubs!!


   Did I forget anyone?  If I did, I apologize and tell you I suffer from short-term memory (among other things!)

Also, Thanks to the people of our community who gave so generously and to our church who filled many boxes.  We delivered 459 boxes today!  May each child who receives a box be blessed!


Last night was our annual Thanksgiving dinner at church. 



Everyone brought their best recipes and Gaye made a beautiful chocolate cake to add to the dessert table!
These two ladies, Sharon and Becky, are the chief planners and cooks!  Great job ladies!!  They said it was the most we have fed yet!



We even had some pilgrims ladies show up!











All of the people above are new members in our church in recent times.  We welcome them all!






Love to see the young families.........


And our lovely older members.....and all those in between!!


After our Thanksgiving dinner we heard testimonies from all our team who went this past week to Nicaragua.  Jaclyn, above with her family, gave such a special recap of what the week meant to her.
It was her first plane ride and first mission trip.  She was such a blessing to her team and I think she will be ready to go again in the years to come!

Thinking of the coming holiday, I just want to say that I am so very thankful to the Lord for all He has done this year in my life.  He continues to show me daily that He is with me no matter what comes my way.  Why I am blessed so much I will never understand but I will praise the One who holds my hand.


Psalm 27:4
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple."

Praying you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving!  Count your blessings....you may be surprised how long your list is!













8 comments:

Sandy said...

I would love to belong to your church. It seems like one big, happy family.

Jacquie Wallace said...

Not to correct you, but I wanted to mention that Bryan and Bryce helped a LOT with the boxes.

459 little children will have BIG smiles!!

Candis Berge said...

The fellowship of believers looks the same whether Minnesota or in your neck of the woods! I guess when we all get to heaven, we'll feel right at home together! (I stop by your blog every once in a while after having to check out Harper on Kelly's blog!) I'm a grandma to 10 sweet ones and it's such a blessing!

ashmhendrix said...

Oh, how fun!! I love, love, love OCC!! We're going this weekend to the distribution center in Atlanta to help! I'm so excited!! Too neat how people all over the world have a hand in God's ministry! :) Hope you and your sweet family have a great Thanksgiving!! We have so much to be thankful for!

Kimberly said...

Happy Thanksgiving Judy!!!

Nancy said...

Happy Thanksgiving! And what a great thing to do with shoes..
May your family be blessed this holiday season!

His Doorkeeper said...

Jacquie, Thanks.....I knew I would forget someone! Forgive me and thank you Bryan and Bryce!!! They were a HUGE help!!

Candis Berge said...

Hi again. Thanks for your comments; I have to tell you that the reason I started decorating cookies was because I saw the cutest baby cookies at some shower from Kelly's blog and was so impressed! I figured I must learn how to do that. I love how much more "fuss" goes into showers in the south;the gals all dress up more too, in my opinion. I think I should have been born a southern woman! ha ha. Thanks again, Candis