Oh So Many Shoeboxes!

This week we used our time together to fill Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and we're all really excited about it! Charlie served up some of his famous soup to get us warmed up and ready for the work ahead. It must have been a popular choice because everyone asked for the recipe.


Before long, we split up into small teams and began getting organized. The guys sat in the living room and filled baggies with an assortment of candies. It looks like Jay and Mike enjoyed having Charlie join them. We all did! He's not 'yet' an official member of our team but joins us for the social events.


Melinda and Mindy worked hard wrapping the shoeboxes. It's actually the most challenging part of the entire project. Notice how intensely focused they both are! They did a Great job!


Laurie organized and spread out all of the goodies we had purchased for the children who will receive these shoeboxes filled with lots of great stuff! I think that we all enjoy the giving as much as the children love receiving them.

The Deacons bench was filled with toys!

The dining room table was piled high with clothing and school supplies! And we had personal hygiene items like hairbrushes, combs, soaps, toothbrushes and toothpaste scattered at other locations around the room.


Once we had the boxes wrapped, the candy bagged and the goodies all laid out and organized, it was time for the fun to begin. Everyone got into the packing of boxes. With lots of encouragement, even Jay and Mike got involved and did a great job!


Charlie and I are so proud to see that two of our four legged family members helped us too! Since it's become a Dyer family tradition to fill shoeboxes for OCC, it's great seeing even our cats getting in on the fun.

When we were finished, we had filled sixteen boxes ! I sure hope that Christian, a young friend in PA, is happy to learn that lots of poor children will be helped!

It took us a bit longer than expected to get all of our work done but we made time to enjoy Mindy's cheese cake and truffles! I hope that this posting hasn't made you envious or hungry.
Since Dedication Sunday isn't until Nov. 8, who knows how many more boxes we might fill?

We strive always to be In Line With The Word,
Sally and friends

Spectacular

This is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year here in the North East! The leaves have turned to fiery shades of red and orange and mellow shades of gold, yellow and brown. Contrast those with the brilliant blue skies and the picture is perfect.

Unfortunately, the leaves don't remain on the trees, so we have lots of work to get ready for the long, cold winter months ahead. I absolutely love the 4 seasons that we experience so clearly here in NE. Each one makes me appreciate the next season even more!

Autumn mornings may start out a bit nippy, after an overnight frost, but the warm sun is welcomed. As Winter approaches the temperatures start to drop, the days grow shorter, and our focus gradually shifts to working on indoor projects.

Now that our 'Operation Buddy' has ended with Doug's safe return home from Afghanistan, we're preparing to begin packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. As always, our home team enjoys time for food, fun and fellowship but we chose to take a night off from our study to do this missions work.

We strive to remain In Line With The Word,
Sally and friends

Birthday Surprise

This posting was originally a bit different but I received permission to include the great photo below. Thanks Judy for your comment because you helped us keep the pressure on to get this into our posting.

Melinda celebrates her birthday later this week, so we decided to have a Surprise Party for her but with a little curve ball thrown in for fun. Our regular Tuesday night home team get together started a little earlier than usual, after just a brief half hour of fellowship. We enjoyed discussion of prayer requests and praise reports, opened in prayer and then we were into our study of the Church of Ephesus in Revelation!

Melinda might have thought that we'd forgotten her birthday, or just decided not to do anything at all but at about 8:15 a very yummy Birthday cake was delivered by a tall, dark and handsome guest from the Cat in the Hat and his partner as a surprise for Melinda.



Happy Birthday Melinda! We all love you !

Your Friends In Line With The Word team!