Category Archives: SOWER Projects 2022

Family and Friends, RV Life, SOWER Projects, SOWER Projects 2022, The Adventure

A couple of things….

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    1. As always, it’s hard to believe that this month’s project is more than half over. So far it’s been quite the painting extravaganza for us ladies. We’ve painted a large conference room and just finished up three motel rooms. And sometimes you have to be creative to get the job done!
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    2. More details to follow about the project here, but let’s just say that Gary was in his happy place last week.
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    3. And speaking of that guy….
      this hardworking fellow stepped on the scale this morning
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      and saw a number that did not start with a 2.

I’m so proud of him and his determination to make this journey!

4.  And since we’re talking about family…. this young man turned SEVEN today!!
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And although he looks like he could be just a few years away from college in the picture above,
Frogman Taran
THIS picture speaks more why we love us some Taran!
Happy Birthday, Taran!! We love you to the moon and back!

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On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure, RV Life, SOWER Projects, SOWER Projects 2022, The Adventure

Meanwhile…..

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I’m still processing (and trying to figure out how to put into words) the wonderful time I had with my sisters in the past couple of weeks. I returned home about midnight Thursday night (after a very long masked 12 hour day in airports and planes) and we were on the road the next morning by 10AM, heading to our February SOWER project. So once again, I’ll do a little cheating and just repost what I wrote over on the “So Where Are We Now?” page to keep us all up to date!
Feb 4 – Feb  25
Our February SOWER project is at Lake Swan Camp just east of Melrose, Florida. Melrose is just east Gainesville
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It was only about 90 miles from our January Spot (see map below)

but between a fuel stop (OUCH) and a propane fill-up (good news for these chilly mornings)
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we were able to accomplish it in just under 3 hours! (When you’re on the interstate and the “Oversize Load” (as in 1/2 a house) passes you, you know you’re just lumbering along!)
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We’re parked in a temporary spot until tomorrow since the official campground is full
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but we’re hooked up to power and have a lovely view of the lake, so we’re enjoying our little bit of temporary solitude.
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We’ll be working with three other SOWER couples (none of which we have worked with before, so YEA – new friends!), plus there is a plethora of other volunteers on campus, so we’re looking forward to a grand month! Praying much is accomplished for the LORD!

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Pictures of the Adventure, SOWER Projects, SOWER Projects 2022, The Adventure

A Short January

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Tomorrow at Zero Dark Thirty, I’m leaving for a much anticipated “Winter Sisters Getaway” back at that lovely cottage on Alton Bay in New Hampshire. Since my days will soon be filled with all things “sister,” I thought it would be wise to do a little SOWER wrap-up before I leave.
Aside from the weather being a little on the cool side (but still – no snow!) it’s been a perfectly lovely project. I mentioned in my last post (Week One Done Again)six of the 8 of us were working on refreshing (i.e. patching and painting and painting some more) one of the cottages that had been vacated due to COVID several months ago.
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While they finished up that project and then moved to a variety of other maintenance chores, Beth and I kept busy in the kitchen.
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Yes, that is a monster pile of bacon (about 50# – lunch later that week was going to be breakfast for lunch!)

It was a busy week and lots of work was done, but the best part of the last week was really the fellowship!
We enjoyed a campfire last weekend
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and this weekend we checked out the Suwanee County Historical Commission Museum.
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It was filled with all kinds of local history and since we had the place all to ourselves, we even enjoyed a private tour by the curator!
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You can’t check out a museum in the morning and not go out for lunch, right? (I think it’s a SOWER (unwritten) rule.)
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We ladies had a very good week of fellowship, starting with a little tea party at Jan’s on Monday afternoon complete fancy tea, homemade scones, clotted cream and lemon curd.  What a precious time of fellowship!
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Then Wednesday (after work) we had a little LDO (Ladies Day Out). We did lunch in Live Oak and a bit of ‘in town’ shopping! It was a sweet time of fellowship and sharing life.
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(No pictures of the shopping, but we did find some great bargains at a little Christian Book Store that was (sadly) closing! At least we helped them clear out some inventory?)
We rounded out this last weekend with putting together our group picture at a massive Live Oak tree on the edge of the property!
Since we like to see actually those dear faces, we started out with this configuration.

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But that tree was calling for some more creative photography! This one was really fun!
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Today was my official last day of this SOWER month, so for me it’s a ‘short January’. Gary and the rest of the team will be working through Thursday (well, except when Gary is taking me to the airport tomorrow!) and will be finishing up a variety of jobs around the property.
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This afternoon I took a break from pre-trip preparations (i.e. trying to figure out packing for WINTER), and the four of us ladies gathered for one last cup of tea and prayer.
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What sweet new friends God has blessed me with this month!

Tomorrow’s an early day (and a long one with a 4 hour layover in Baltimore)and there are still some odds and ends to wrap up before I call it a day. I can’t promise lots of blogging over the next ten days – the computer is staying home. But the tablet is coming along so you just never know what may (or may not) be happening here at this little corner of the internet. Thank you for your patience with me!

And (as always) thanks for stopping by!

Steph

 

PS – If you’d like to see a few more pictures of our time here at FL Sheriffs Youth Ranch (work and play) you can check them out here!

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Pictures of the Adventure, RV Life, SOWER Projects, SOWER Projects 2022, The Adventure

Week One Done – again!

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Why is it these weeks go by so fast??
After a slow start on Monday morning (which often happens as everyone figures out where things are and who’s good at what and just when things need to happen) here at FL Sheriffs Boys Ranch, the week picked right up! Most of our team (6 of the 8 of us) are working at one of the cottages. They’ve had a reduction of residents due to COVID and the cottage was empty, so it seemed like a good time to do a little rehab and refurb!
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Walls were being patched
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and painted
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and everyone worked as a team to get ‘er done!
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Since I’m not working in that area, I’m sure exactly how far along they are, but I do know they’ll be busy well into next week!
Beth and I (the other two team members) have been working in the kitchen, helping to feed the kids that live here!
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We’ve cut up chicken, peeled eggs, prepped cabbage for coleslaw, cut up fresh fruit for the lunch bar and (the best part) helped in the serving line. (There’s nothing like feeding kids in my book!)
Because Beth and I are working slightly different hours, we’ve been walking from the RV parking area to the dining hall – a nice 30 minute walk.
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And then after lunch (after we feed the boys and staff, then they feed us! Sweet!) the four of us girls walk back to the Rv’s!
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To summarize – the work has been good, the weather has been cool but (mostly) sunny AND I’m even getting some great exercise!
Oh – and we’ve even enjoyed a fun evening of games!
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Yep, it was a good first week all around!

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RV Life, SOWER Projects, SOWER Projects 2022

The New Neighborhood

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Every time we move I try to update the “Where are we now” page to keep our location (mostly) current. Since that page changes each month, I thought it made sense for me to also post that update here as we start out the month!
January 7 – February 4, 2022
Our January SOWER project is at Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch located just outside of Live Oak, Florida.

There are four of us SOWER couples here this month – one couple we’ve worked with before, one couple we’ve met before, and one couple that is on their first SOWER project! We haven’t met with our host yet, so while I’m not sure exactly what we’ll be doing, I have heard very familiar words like painting, cleaning, kitchen and renovation. As always, we’re looking forward to see what the LORD will be teaching us this month as we do “Our Best*” to serve him!

*Our Best is our official SOWER song, and we usually sing it each morning as we wrap up our devotional time:

Hear ye the Master’s call, “Give Me thy best!”
For, be it great or small, that is His test.
Do then the best you can, not for reward,
Not for the praise of men, but for the Lord.
Refrain:
Every work for Jesus will be blest,
But He asks from everyone his best.
Our talents may be few, these may be small,
But unto Him is due our best, our all.

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