Beautiful Strangers

Wednesday thru Friday were such beautiful days. I was looking forward to my ladies group gathering on Friday evening, though it was the closing of our current study, and already I'm missing them and being in their fellowship weekly! But I had several busy days ahead of me, cleaning, sorting & organizing......efforts toward trying to prepare additional rooms at our plant for all the donations that are pouring in. Also.....trying to seek some quiet time to work on a presentation for a women’s church group I'm speaking at about our adoption & ministry. We've only talked about doing this for 2+ years so it's not too serious that I waited this long, is it? Be nice now! But all of this isn't what stood out and made the days so beautiful. It was the strangers who I met, but don't feel like strangers at all. And the young girl who's not a stranger, but a little lady in training (my joyful 12 yr old daughter) also made these three days exceptionally beautiful.

During our travels, my daughter suddenly announces that "we should pray for our busy day Mom." And she did just that, in the most sweet & tender innocence of a child. Let's just say I had to pull over in order to not be a reckless driver and wait until I could see again. Pass the tissues please.....you get the picture right? So while passing through Middletown, I met with a gal at The Little Gym to pickup shoe donations from her. She happily introduces me to the manager, who was so excited to help us and work on establishing "shoe drops" in their establishments for an ongoing collection of shoe donations! That was awesome!

Later we meet several ladies at our plant who also have shoe donations. But that wasn't all - they sincerely, wholeheartedly, with devotion to serving, want to help beyond this. They have already rolled up their sleeves and are serving in many ways, and I'm sure I'm not the only person on this earth who has experienced the blessings through these women.

So thanks to Kristi, Deborah, Linda, Barbara & Wendy - strangers in passing no more, but ladies who I will be happy to continue experiencing the gift of their true desire to help others.
And also a special thanks to other women who have impacted me: Mom (aka Monnie), Laurice, Stef, Lynn, Maria, Heather, Merrily, Annie, Lisa, Kathy, Maureen, Kelly, Stacey, Debbie, Kim, Karen, Margie, Jamie, Cindy, Tammy, Elizabeth, Hope, Ellen, Nicole, Summer, Kris, Kathy, Chris, Robin, Isman, Sharon, Jacinta, Allison, Jen, Lisa, Joni, Margo, Stephanie, Lydia, Sandra, Cheryl, Gina, Nancy, Connie, Donna, Jo-El, Beth & Pocahontas (kidding, kinda). If your name is not here it's only because I'm running on overload with emotion and little sleep. I haven't forgotten you, but rather just my human memory is running at a slower pace than I'd like it to at the moment. My Ginko-Biloba herbal supplements don't always do what I'd like them to! HA! So much to be thankful for..........celebrate it daily! I feel like dancing - and I think I will!