Friday and Saturday on Sunday

Friday was another cool morning here with temp's down in the low 40's and a breeze out of the north. It actually felt like in the 30's with all the humidity in the air. My garden and plants fared well, they act as if this coolness invigorates them into a growing spurt. After my quiet time and lite breakfast I headed out to the Rec. on my bike and got in 2 + hours of pickle ball. Nancy was at her weekly Bible Study and would later in the day get her work out in.

The afternoon brought Amy and Ava by for lunch. Amy had picked up fresh lunch meat and bread from the deli at Publix so we had sumptuous sandwiches. Thanks Amy. Ava and I played outside for awhile before they headed out to do some shopping.

Ava came back in the evening to eat dinner with us while her mommy and daddy went out for dinner, to a movie and to do some Christmas shopping for Ava. Nancy baked chicken in the oven and made some macaroni for Ava. Ava also loves beans so we open a jar of canned 1/2 runner beans our friend Theia Hampton gave to us before leaving the mountains. Ava was delighted to say the least. She is a good eater when it comes to things she likes.

After dinner we played hard with her and by 7:30 she was starting to show signs of sleepiness so into the tub for her bath. By the time we finished with her bath, the reading of a couple books, brushing her teeth and prayers she was ready for bed. She is so sweet and goes right to sleep. Her folks picked her up around 10:30 and took her home. What a great time we had with her and the ending for a great day.

Saturday morning found Nancy and I getting ready to head out to Calvary Chapel in Pinellas Park for the Angel Food Distribution Day. WOW what a ministry to serve others and its so worth while. We have enlisted our friends and neighbor's the Botbyl's and now neighbor Jon Perry. We are going to do this as a service project for Element Church as a part of our house church in Pinellas County for Element Church in Tampa.. The relationships to be made are unlimited and the opportunity to share Christ with unbelievers is magnified. I think we feel blessed more than those who are blessed with this food distribution. Just being a light of kindness, thoughtfulness and sharing kind words and actions says more than all the liturgy, tracts and preaching for folks who have never felt the joy and hope of believing in Christ.

After leaving Calvary Chapel we headed , yelp you guessed it to Wal-Mart for a litle shopping. This Wal-Mart is so much closer than any we visit in the mountains of N.C. but we only go there when we are down that way for the food distribution day. The scenery on the way is nothing compared to N.C. but the savings are just the same. I know why they are one of the few bright spots in our economy and their employees go out of their way to assist you. We had a first hand experience Sat. while trying to find 2 learning toys for Ava and Annslely. They actually went out into a parked trailer filled with toys and found a matching toy. I know it took them at least 30 minutes but they did it. The store was filled with shoppers and they could have stocked this item later in the day. Kudos to Wal-Mart!!!

After leaving Wal-Mart we once again stopped by the Christian Book Store, Grandma and Pap Pap then headed home for a pizza for lunch. It was 1 PM by now and time for a little college football. The air was still a bit nippy but slowing warming up to a high in the 60's.

We had made a commitment to attend a fund raiser for Stopthetraffic.org. It is unknown to most of us how young children are kidnapped to be used in the harvesting of the cocoa crop in different areas of the world but most notably in West Africa where 40% of the cocoa crop is grown and then chocolate is produced from the cocoa. So, when you buy chocolate make sure it say's Fair Trade, 100% Slavery Free on the product. The least we can do as consumers is to not purchase chocolate from those who exploit children in the manufacturing of this product. We attended this gathering where we met new people; many who have the same ideals as we, many who are believers and Christ followers and many who just love children no matter where they live. Thanks to our friend, Carol Botbyl for spearheading and to all the young mothers and women married without children who get together weekly for making us aware of this abuse against children.The work abuse and kidnapping is just a small atrocity to these kids compared to the other degrading acts these little ones are subjected too. So go to their website and learn as we did, to what you can do to help.

The day was a full one and we had such a great time interacting with so many people from different walks of life. We are attending a milestone at Element Church this morning as they are starting a tradition in the birth of this new church. For all the particulars click on Bobby's link from this blog. When we get back from Tampa this afternoon Nancy and I are leading the devotions at the nursing home at Freedom Square at 2 PM. She will lead the singing and I will give a short devotion on Thanksgiving Hero's. Take care and I will try to post some pics tomorrow. Nancy is fixing a roast pork dinner tonight for our family. LATER.