"It's a blessed day!"

No, I didn't find something that was lost. Nope, but God did! This morning was Amber's baptism day with Judy C. and I standing with her as witnesses, along with the others in the congregation. She was incredibly nervous but very bravely and boldly made her confession of belief in what was about to be bestowed on her. I ought to get a medal for holding myself together at the font but had to, I felt, in order to be supportive of Amber.

Before the service began, I saw Amber and her family file in, but I was on the far side at my podium. Amber whispered to Frank, her husband, "There's Kim..." and he turned around to wave at me. I went up there to put my hand on her shoulder and to greet Frank, after all these years. I told him we'd catch up at my house this afternoon. Amber's daughter and two granddaughters also came to witness the baptism.

                                                   

Not only was it a blessed day for Amber, but the congregation heard good news about Bonnie S. A prayer of thanksgiving was offered on her behalf, as her recent PET scan indicated she was cancer-free. I am almost crying now, thinking about this, as she was diagnosed at Stage Four and is now cancer-free. It was audible in the congregation when Pastor announced this prayer was going to be offered on her behalf, and I am sure more people than just me were dabbing their eyes. She first lost her son around Labor Day, and then was found to have this cancer. It's a blessed day!

***

I got to church in time for Bible study, and since there was no Sunday school opening, arrived just barely in time! Usually I allow a few minutes for the opening to take place, some wiggle room, but if I want to sit with my friends, have to get there on time.

We were having a one-time stewardship class again, not unlike the one the congregation went through last fall. It was held over and over again, even at people's homes, to reach as many members as possible. The sheets from today's class were made up from 'slides' which were also shown on the wall. 

On the first 'square' of the page, we were asked to draw a picture of ourselves or of something that showed how we felt when writing the check for the offering. The looks on people's faces at my table were priceless, like, "WHAT??? Draw a picture?" Oh my! Mike S. was sitting across from me, and he drew a rainbow, a sun in the sky, and a stick man with his arms raised up, in thanksgiving. Jackie drew a smiley face on her page. The other four of us left it blank, like our faces.

Pastor said visual learners would like to draw, but one man, a newer member from Christ, Keystone, from across the room said, "Well, I'm not!" I think some people attempted to draw a picture but most were not. Paul was behind me making copies for Sunday school and I asked him to bring me some crayons. He was glad he had to make more copies because they had 5 kids today. One of the kids brought a friend, whoo hoo!

We look forward to the day of getting the Fellowship Hall finished, as we hold the Sunday class in the church office. Three conference tables set up fan-styled, tight quarters, with 5 kids using the large classroom next door. Though suggested more than once, for some reason it was not feasible to swap rooms for these months of renovation. People have to keep going in and out of the classroom to get their coffee or soda, which is disruptive to both classes taking place. Maybe by the time I get back from WI, the work will be done. I hope so, as we have need of that building for VBS in early July.

***

After church was the reception for Amber's baptism, but I decided to head for home to get things ready for this reception. I was delayed in leaving though, as I had some good-byes to hand out. Robbie was showing Sterling how to do the MIDI as he will sit in when Robbie is gone to the mountains with his family. I got to give Robbie a big hug before leaving for WI. And said, "Good bye" to Sterling, too!

Carol and Cliff had attended a conference this past week in Atlanta and she brought me an extra packet of the information. After church they excitedly told me about what they saw and heard those couple of days. Also, they got to spend some time with our former pastor, Schuppe, and hear marvelous papers presented. Pastor Huebner from Palm Coast was there, also, but he did not present a paper. Carol was one of two ladies in attendance but she was fine, she said. I wish I had known this was coming up and that anyone could go, because I might have gone along with them. Shoot! But, as Carol said, now I have stuff to read on the plane!

When I got home, Justin was there waiting for me. This was unexpected as he had not planned on coming by. He helped me get some stuff together, his job being to break up the ice for putting in the bucket. Much had been readied the night before, and just needed to be put on the table, but I waited to slice the buns until people were coming in the door. We had a nice group for this reception, including the two Mike's, Terri T., Judy J., and Amber's family who had been in church. 

Judy C. made sugar-free cookies, an assortment, for the dessert, in consideration of those who were diabetic. I had plenty of food, and though Terri offered to leave the remainder of the veggie tray for me, I respectively declined. She knew that before asking! Judy J. came in a bit later, having had to count the offering alone, but she caught up nicely.

                     

I had a chance to visit with Amber's husband, Frank. It's been over 11 years since we have spoken, so I could have talked for hours! He looked at all the photos and memorabilia around the house, saying, "You keep Timmy close to you..." I reminded him that Timmy is with the Lord, that these are only reminders of him. You just never know where some people are in their thinking, and why waste an opportunity to share the 'reason for the hope you have'? When they left, I told Frank that I would save a seat for him in church, so we'll see....

By 2:30 everyone was ready to go, which is the saddest time of the party for me. The ladies had been busy getting dishes cleared away, rinsed plates for the dishwasher, and all that. So helpful! We got stuff carried into the kitchen and in no time, no evidence of a party remained except full tummies and happy hearts! And tired feet!

***

At Happy Hour the other night, the gang was discussing our upcoming assessment for replacing/repairing the sun deck. It is going to be extremely expensive, or has the potential to be, with the Owners share being divided, based on square footage of the Units. Get that? There is a great variation of thought on just how much needs to be done to rectify the situation, cause by rain water leaking through the deck onto the ceiling of the garage, rusting the support bars. That's the layman's explanation of what is going on. 

Because the underside is compromised, supposedly, the cars parked beneath this ceiling get dripped on during rains, a white chalky material which is damaging the finish on the cars. An engineer or two have looked it over and found the supports not being in good condition, so it must be torn up starting from the bottom. 

                      

One of the tenants in the building worked at the time for the company which installed this roof/deck in the first place and thinks what is being done is overkill. But he has no influence other than his opinion and expertise. Yikes! I got my bill for the first of the three equal payments, which I knew was coming, but still....yikes again!