~DeAnn Hollis
This month has been a whirlwind, my mother passed away and I have had to deal with all the final affairs. She had a antique and doll restoration business and digging out of all of that was just overwhelming. One of the things she had on her wall was a reproduction of a Monet "The Garden", I always liked that piece but I chose to give it away and hopefully add just a touch of it to the piece I was working on.
Painting number three of my art project series.
This painting is from a photo taken from Megan Pratt / World Vision of a volunteer "Dee Billing" visiting her sponsor child in Uganda. The first time I met this lady was at a conference, she was praying over all the cubeicals of the staff in the building. I think she’s a pretty remarkable lady doing what she does in her eighties and I just couldn’t resist the sweet interaction in the photo. (and of course the chicken) :)
The amazing thing is that I had no idea how valuable volunteers were until I was on the receiving end.
“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”
~James Matthew Barrie
My mother was a collector, I mean vintage things, a lot of things you can’t just throw away, so when I had to be the administrator of the estate, I was overwhelmed and upset, it really was my worst fear to deal with all this. I felt the weight of it in my body, the backaches and stress after was a real thing! Stress shows up physical on me and I tried to manage work and the demands of the estate at the same time. All the planning and help I could find for me fell through. My son in-law helped on the weekend of the funeral. My husband and I worked on it regularly, but every time we would spend hours on it, it wouldn't even put a dent in it and we were overwhelmed and time was running out on trying to list it.
My husband knew someone from work that recommended her sister’s church, they sell items for their annual rummage sale. He said they would bring a team to collect the things that they can sell for their youth programs and missions work. I agreed, thinking they would just pick through everything and I would still have to go back to work after.
They showed up Monday morning and to my surprize many of them were seniors, I texted my husband to tell him to pray that no one gets hurt, I was concerned.
They cleaned out the entire house, top to bottom. I was in awe! (In shock more like it). I have been a volunteer for many years but I have never been at the receiving end of what this little church did for me.
What a miracle! ✾
They are my heroes!
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| I found this little patch in one of boxes. |
because anybody can serve.
You don’t have to have a
college degree to serve.
You don’t have to make your subject
and verb agree to serve.
You only need a heart full of grace.
A soul generated by love” 💜
Martin Luther King, Jr.
A friend came with his son and cleaned out the garage, and the weight feels lighter now. I pray that I can feel 100 percent soon.
🀦
So in the middle of the mess, this happened, "Franklin" my third grandchild. I am so thankful to be in the delivery room with all three, and he came in the most gentle and peaceful way!
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| My son in law and his son Franklin. |
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| My daughter, the one that did all the work here! :) |
My Easter post is a little different this year but I definitely can say God has been faithful,
and to me that meant everything!
"Is He Worthy ?" 🎜♬
Andrew Peterson
🎕🖼🎕
"Ain't No Grave" 🎝♫
Bethel Music
🕆
Because of the empty tomb, we have peace. Because of His resurrection, we can have peace during even the most troubling of times because we know He is in control of all that happens in the world.Paul Chappell
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🀦Happy Easter!🀦
