Sunday Gratitudes (On a Monday) 1-26-09

I am grateful for my full pantry.
I was at the grocery store after work one day last week. I was running low on staples and so I was plodding through the store finding the things I needed. As I reached for a bag of flour it occurred to me how blessed my husband and I are. If we need something from the grocery store we can just go and get it. And by "we" I mean "me" that man has not been in a grocery store since 2007 and that was the first time in ten years.

My point being - there are too many people and families that can't take that small liberty. To go pick up a few things at the grocery store. Times are tough and thousands of Americans are losing their jobs everyday. This sadly forces many people to have to make the hard choice of where to spend the money they have - food? prescriptions? clothes for their children?.

Last month Matt, a friend of mine, invited me to a volunteer opportunity at his church. It was for a program called Angel Food Ministries. Angel Food Ministries is an organization that distributes food at a low cost. It is able to do this through bulk purchasing power and an all volunteer work force. A local church is usually the pick up location. Participants can call in their order or place it online.

As volunteers, Matt and I helped purchasers collect their order and bring it to their vehicles. The program is open to all people but a majority of the participants are people in tough situations. We hear a lot of stories while we help them collect their order and do our best to offer support through encouragement and prayer.

Sunday Gratitudes 1/4/09

I am borrowing the Sunday Gratitudes idea from my friend Carrie in Idaho. Thanks Carrie! (I know it is really Monday - hey I am trying)


This is a picture of my DH and his best friend from childhood, Kante. The picture was taken 1/31/05, the day my wonderful DH was baptized in our Church. What a wonderful experience that whole day was and we were blessed with many friends and family to share it with.

Kante is living out of state right now. He was home for Christmas and he and his GF spent a day with us. It was fun to catch up on each others lives, to share the stories, the laughter, and the concerns. We enjoyed a yummy meal at the best Chinese restaurant in the area, Lotus Blossom, and then went to the Saturday evening service at Candleberry Chapel . You should checkout the web site.

I am very grateful to have Kante as a part of our family and life. Kante has had his trials in life. Some of which were scarier than many of us will ever experience. But he came through them with grace, dignity, an a wonderful sense of humor. Hi faith in God is inspiring to say the least.


Mr. Thorpe and his second grade class.