Celebrations

This was a week of celebrations for the Snows.To begin the week, Sharon celebrated a major birthday and is now caught up with Don again.   The group wished her well with calls, card and a birthday cake for all to share.    It wasn't so bad.

Plus, since it was Thanksgiving week, we had Wednesday plus the holidays free since the staff had the time off.  The rest of the week centered around thanksgiving and, naturally, food.   On Wednesday evening, we took advantage of the warmer weather to have a cook out.   This time of the year, we must start early because the sun sets well before 5 pm and it gets dark even sooner than that thanks to central time in the eastern US!   On Thursday, we all pitched in for a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings.   Shocco Springs had given us one of their best places for our use complete with a normal sized kitchen!   (This is important since most RVs can't handle big items.)  We all miss our families when we are away but it is much harder during the times when most families are together for this special time.

Variety is good.   This week we did different work.   After folding laundry for a day again, on Tuesday, we were outside in the gorgeous weather pruning rose bushes.   Yes, these bushes were still loaded with bloom.   I guess we aren't back home in Indiana in November!    The men went to a house Shocco has recently purchased to tear down a deck and salvage the excellent lumber.   They loved doing it, but to a man, they were exhausted and thankful for a 2 day week.

Come Monday morning, we will be totally refreshed and more than anxious to get going again!    Can't believe we are half way done.   Well, maybe we can believe it.    We went Christmas shopping and hear Christmas music.   That means another celebration will be coming soon---but with family the next time.

We Are a Team

Once again we have come together as a diverse group of couples with the one purpose of serving God through service work. (Roving Volunteers in Christ's Service)    Each group is unique from every other team we have joined together with.   Our team members call Indiana, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Georgia home and are from different "cultures" of the US.   Even though we have worked with 2 of the couples before, but different projects, the personality of the group is in continuous change.   However, with our unity with Christ, it always works!!

It is fun getting to know each and everyone as an individual as we work together to accomplish our work.    Since we all have different talents, it is amazing to see how the Lord puts each group together (at random since the skills required are unknown prior to our arrival).  Every member of RVICS knows that if a specific talent is required on a project, one of the members will have it.   Humans can't plan that well!!

The women had the opportunity to talk while we worked since were all together the majority of our work week. As we worked in the laundry room, folding sheets, blankets, towels, etc.   The conversation flowed freely.   Another lady and I took advantage of the sunny days to walk the hills and thoroughly enjoy the colors.   As a family would, we, also, celebrated an anniversary on the team.

The men worked a little harder than the ladies. (Of course, they would say that is always the case!)   They have 3 classrooms to "rebuild" on their to-do list.   After tearing out walls, ceilings etc. they are beginning to put it back together with new wiring and dry wall.   Next week, things will look differently.

Part of  unifying our group is done through touring together one day a week.   In a few minutes, all 10 of us will climb into a couple of vehicles and head out to enjoy the day at a national forest.  

Thankful to be a part of this work!

Our 3rd Fall---

Fall continues for us, at least, the colors of fall.   However, the temps do indeed feel like November with drops to near freezing.   We have followed the turning of the seasons from Michigan in September, Indiana in October and, now, Alabama in November.   God does a give us gorgeous scenery for our enjoyment.

October was a good break to once again reconnect with family with trips to both Illinois and Oklahoma to visit "kids" and grandkids.   (Yes, we will miss Thanksgiving with them.)   Just as in life, there has to be give and takes in the volunteer work we do.    But, we were able to catch a football game and experience some other school activities with our little ones---who are growing up much too quickly!!



Early this week we arrived at Shocco Springs Conference Center, Talladega, Alabama, for work to begin next week.   This is our third visit to the center and it is always good to be here.  Since arriving, we have enjoyed seeing all the activity and use of the camp in which we will give our time.    This is a team of 5 couples from 5 different states (Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, New Hampshire and Indiana).    With just one more couple to come, we are all getting excited to get moving again.