More pictures of Maddie

What a wonderful day, well maybe a little hard on Mary Beth but a great day for all!!! Madison Louise Nickerson ( Maddie) came straight from heaven to join our family.

A healthy 8lb 11oz, black hair, and chubby cheeks. Just perfect 

My Girls

Cindy orchestrates our literacy program. This spring the Thursday night class wrote recipes and sent them in to be included in the Tennessee Literacy Coalition Cookbook. This is a picture of one of the participants as he recieves his copy of the cookbook. The members spent a few weeks learning to read cooking terms and abbreviations, understanding a recipe format, and editing their own recipes. The night the recipes were completed, each brought  samples to share with the group. Finally the cookbooks arrived. Last Thursday night the class celebrated by again sharing delicious food and autographing his/her recipe in each person's book. Every student was photographed as his/her book was presented.  While they were admiring the books, one man asked, "Did these really go out all over the state of Tennesee?" He was so proud.  Several wanted to order extra copies to share with friends and family. Cindy saw one man's wife at church this morning who said they had already tried a recipe from the book and loved it.

With the limited reading skills in this group, this was a measurable event and a great success for each individual.

Christy and I have been working with this group for quite a few years. This class began even before we named our ministry Greenhouse. We call this class the First Season Class. The lady in the background is Shelia. She brings the clients from surrounding housing complexes and senior centers in the area. Christy is so creative and helps each client feel special as they complete each project or craft. You should see her lead the group in BUNCO games! Of course we can't have a meeting without serving the group lunch.  Anywhere from 6-30 people show up for a couple of hours each month. They have blessed us as much as we bless them.

This is Candace standing out in front of her "NEW" school, Brightstone. Cliff has already shared the story of Candace's project at school and how she recieved the title of "Brightstone Shoe Drive Coordinator." Candace was thrilled to tote out some of the donated shoes. They collected several baskets full.

It took all of us to get this posted.

WOW this Fall weather is awesome

What a wonderful two days full of emotional moments!!!

Saturday evening with our two families was awesome, being in Searcy, and confessing or sharing our humorous adventures. Lingering around the table at Carolyn and Deans house is a blessing all by itself and them to add the next two generations (of our making) WOW, it was emotional, I just wish Cliff could have been there. 

Sunday was packed with excitement as well, seeing so many people who represent our special memories of Harding. I was especially emotional when Connie Corban White came in and I realized that she is so like Ruth Ann.

The great worship and singing was inspiring as always, and I just got a warm fuzzy feeling just remembering all the good years we had there. I will leave the diagnosis of the sermon for another day. Ha Ha. Next time we should just stay and go to class, as it seems the last two times we have been there we have interrupted several classes trying to visit too long after the church service.

Then off to camp, well by then I was a basket case, just walking onto the camp ground brings up more emotion than my words can put on paper. My heart wells up with all the sweet memories and immediately I remember the calmness that floods my spirit just from being in the setting that God has created for so many to enjoy His presence.

I enjoyed seeing so many people from the past, but the funny part was since we have been gone 20 years, we missed almost a generation of campers.  The parents of these campers were not from Cindy’s contemporaries, we missed those, this group of campers belong to Christy’s school mates.      

What a great trip, we even squeezed in strawberry shortcake from the Bull Dog, thanks to Dean and Carolyn.

All in all it was a memorable two days and I look forward to many more.