Helping Others

This weekend was about helping others. It wasn't about me.

When I grew up, we had a neighbor named Pat. She was divorced with 2 kids and moved back home with her mother, Bea. They lived in a large house that was made into a duplex next door to us. I was older than her two children, David and Terri. Pat was always cool & in style with the latest fashions, took me places with them, taught me a lot and was like a 2nd mom to me. Later she would marry another man from Anniston, Alabama, move away and have a daughter name Chandi. Her name is pronounced Chandi.

I'd see Pat when I worked as a receptionist at a Hair Salon. Pat told me I shouldn't be working there and she was right. It was just a stepping stone to get to where I am now. Even then I was artistic and told by a hair dresser that I was wasting my tiem there. I have wasted a lot of time in my life.

Lo and behold when I married Don, Chandi was in Stephanie's class so we would run into each other at school functions especially band related ones. Chandi was a majorette.

It was always good seeing Pat. I'd see her at lunch sometimes in recent years. If I had not seen her in awhile, I'd ask mutual friends that worked with her how she was doing and to please tell her hello for me.

Chandi got married and had two girls. Rhett & I saw them and Pat at the movies when he was in elementary school. Rhett said he doesn't remember that day. I found Chandi on Facebook and we became friends there where I was able to keep up with Granny Bea and Pat thru her. I told Chandi about Market Days also as she was interested in trying it. I gave her as much information as I could via FB, emails and phone calls. Chandi set up her crafts Saturday at Market Days. She paints flower pots in Auburn & Georgia colors, birdhouses, she had wooden Christmas ornaments as well as trinket boxes. The trinket boxes reminded me of some of the artwork that Pat used to do back in the 70's and I told Chandi this.

Chandi wasn't feeling well when she set up. Once she was set up I went to see what all she had. I forgot my camera so I went back to take pics of her sitting there with her crafts as well as took individual shots of her items so she could put the photos on Facebook, hoping it would help her sell things even if I sold nothing.

I was thankful my friend Cheryl came to visit me at Market Days Saturday. I had not seen her in awhile. It was great to see her again and talk with her. She brought me a gift. Thanks, Cheryl!

Rhett & I took our sweet time packing up and unloading after Market Days. I managed to pinch my finger on the framework Don built for me, but it wasn't bad.

I really seem to be into birds lately. I'd gotten another smaller bird template. I had a small piece of scrap book paper I bought just because it had music notes on it. It was just perfect for this bird. I'd typed out the words "Song Bird" to go across the bird's width. I placed the Song bird on 1st a maroon Christmas colored card stock then put that on a dark forest green card stock so it appears double matted. I haven't measured it yet so it may be an odd size and hard to frame. Then I had some thin red card stock that had music on it. I cut the cardinal shape from the ornaments I bought on sale at JCP. I had one piece of a beautiful midnight blue thin cardstock with lighter shades in it which I placed this bird on and absolutely fell in love with it. I cut a bill out for the bird and may add some white and yellow stars to it. I placed "Song Bird" across this bird also. I plan to take them to Walmart to see how they will look as 4x6 photos. I have not tried to take photos of them yet.

Then Rhett & I wanted to watch a werewolf movie on Disney. He wanted to watch it in the dark so I had to stop being artistic. Don had not gotten home from work yet. So here we were sitting in the dark when he got home. I told Rhett Don wouldn't want to sit in the dark to eat his supper so he'd better go cut it on in his room & we 'd watch it in the dark there. I'd left the outside light on otherwise Don comes home to a dark house. Then the lights come on as we are going in Rhett's room which is now in the dark. Don couldn't figure out what we were doing. It was a really cut movie. Brook Shields was in it & played a good funny part. You should watch it if you can. You are never too old to watch Disney! LOL

Today we had a baptism at church. Their whole family was there. They had a herd and a half! LOL We went to lunch with church friends at El Vaquero. More friends joined us there. As we were waiting for our food, our old preacher, Damon, his wife Vaydra and their two boys came up to the table! I jumped up immediately to hug them. Rhett is a few months older than their son Jaden. We thought the boys would get to grow up together, but that did not happen. I got their address, phone number and emails. It was so good to see them again. I was so surprised to see them that I did not even think to grab my camera. I was a little hurt that Vaydra didn't remember my name. Who could forget Becky? Who could forget me? LOL

Nancy invited me to go with them to see Mrs. Mavis at the assisted living nursing home she is living in now. It had been awhile since I saw her. It was back last spring when Nancy, Tiffany, Doris, and I went to see her in another nursing home. The one she is in now is really nice. Mrs. Mavis has lost the use of her hands now and can no longer feed herself. We had a good visit with her. As we were leaving, I went to get my camera out of my purse. It wasn't there! Nancy was the voice of reason by telling me not to worry; that it was probably still on the church pew. She called Brother Larry while I went to the bathroom. Luckily it was there! I was so thankful.

If I had reached for my camera at El Vaquero, I would have panicked. Don would have had to take me back to the church to get it. I wouldn't have gone with Nancy and them to see Mrs. Mavis and I would have missed that.

We decided we are going to do something special for Mrs. Mavis at Christmas time. We are going to make her a wreath for her door. If she already has one, she can put in on another inside door. We found 2 roses at Big Lots; a red one and white one to go in the wreath. Nancy can make her one of those small Christmas trees she makes out of coat hangers. We will get other church memembers to come and sing Carols for her as well as the others at the facility. It was a very good day. Hope your's was too.