PORCH PONDERINGS

Busy Days

Busy Days

It's been a busy few days. Yesterday was the Christmas Stroll day for Roundup. It started with the Children's Bazaar from 10-12. Children ages 4-12 can come and shop for gifts for their Christmas without parents. A group of non-profits and the thrift store where I volunteer have tables with small gifts they can purchase. Prices are rarely over $5. Most of the gifts I sold for RSVP, a volunteer organization I work with, sold for 50 cents. High school students take the little ones around, shepherding them, guarding their money, helping them find gifts. There is a table for gift wrapping for free. I've done this for three years. Even though God frowns on working on the Sabbath, I find that helping little children find a gift for their mom or dad, grandma or grandpa, is a wonderful thing to do. I pray He feels the same way.

Then at church we had a baptism. One member stopped smoking months ago. She wanted to be re-baptized. We had a visitor, the head of the Montana Conference for our church. He baptized my friend and preached a wonderful message. Then we had a great potluck meal, as we do each week. I left church feeling greatly blessed. Now I have to write an article for the state newsletter about the event. I'll let the emotions and memories percolate, then write my article in a few days.

The town turned out for the rest of the big Christmas Stroll from 5-8 PM. Parade, Santa, shopping, food. I stopped by one venue on my way home from church (we meet in the afternoon), but saw nothing I couldn't live without. High times in small town Montana.

Today we had a potluck dinner for the board members of the thrift store. It was fun to gather and talk, eat and open an early Christmas present. Tomorrow I have to be at a board meeting for this store at 8 AM. Oh well.

Starting tomorrow our church is on the schedule to man the Salvation Army red kettle at a local grocery store.There are three days we need to fill. It won't be done, but I know the Salvation Army head, and she is glad for any volunteers. We've done this for the past few years. The Salvation Army is a great organization with a wonderful history. My ex-husband preached at the local unit in Mt.Vernon, OH when we lived there, way back in that previous life. Then when current hubby and I were in East Texas, Tyler to be exact, we worked at a self-storage facility. While there, we rescued outdated 'Little Debbie' treats and would take them to the Salvation Army shelter once a week. We volunteered there once a week.

Strange how history made a full circle.