Tag Archives: Heartland Retreat

A more important update

So many of you expressed concern about Gary and his trip to the ER earlier this week – thank you! With a clear report from the ER doctor (who did suggest that it might be the beginning of shingles, which we thankfully have NOT seen!), Gary has had a good week – riding that big ol’ mower!
He did develop one more symptom, though –
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Sunburned knees!

Laundry Update

Remember the laundry room?
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Now I’ll confess that I am generally considered a “Party Worker”. Let me tackle a job with a group of friends, and the day goes quickly and the job gets done. While Gary is in his element working alone, it’s not my favorite. But I have to say, working all by my lonesome in that nice clean laundry room was quite the pleasure! I plugged in my earbuds, caught up on some podcasts, and then sang along with my favorite Pandora station (Keith & Kristen Getty and Andrew Peterson). Oh, the sweet harmonies we made! Before I knew it – everything was washed, dried, and folded!
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There was an added bonus too – all that folding (essentially arm waving, right?) tricked my Fitbit into thinking I had walked over 8000 steps. Without even leaving the room!
Yep, it was a good couple of days!
Have a great weekend,friends!
Steph

Spreadsheets to Bed sheets

And just like that, our May project is over! During the first of our three weeks at a project we’re finding our way, scoping out the new surroundings and getting to know our co-servants. During the second week we’re in our stride.  Our ‘new’ neighbors have become good friends, and we have a pretty good understanding of what we’ve been doing and what we’ll be doing in the days ahead. Then the third week hits. It’s like – WAIT. It’s almost over? But, but….didn’t we just get here? This month was no different! Thursday was our final official work day and already one of our neighbors has returned home.  So I before get too maudlin over these ‘leaving’ days, here’s a bit of a recap of our time here at Heartland Conference Center!

As mentioned before, I started out in the Health Office, helping to organize registrations and health forms that came in daily for summer camp. (YEA for summer camp this year!!!)
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This last week I moved from spreadsheets to bed sheets as I joined the other ladies in housekeeping – transforming this
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into this!
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It was fun to work as a team as we got the rooms ready for the next batch of visitors!
Since I had my sewing machine set up, I also mended about 10 of the spreads that were showing some wear and tear.
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But lest you be too impressed – I was really only stitching a small void in the binding – trying to prevent further ‘unsewing’.
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I truly did enjoy working with these sweet ladies!
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The guys worked on a variety of painting and plumbing projects, but I think the most memorable “guy job” on this project was the mowing on those fun zero-turn mowers!

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They were on those mowers at some point most days that the weather allowed it, ’cause folks, there is a LOT of grass here!
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(and this is only the view from our coach!).

Although it was work, I think it was just a bit like playing on go-carts for them as they’d drive them to break and home for lunch!
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The Mowing Team – spruced up for pictures!
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In the three short weeks we have been here, the trees have filled out,

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and so has our circle of SOWER family (also known as friends!)! We welcomed a brand new SOWER couple (whose last name is Sowers – how crazy is that!), and got to know a couple who reminded me of Gary & I ten years ago (high school sweethearts, three kids, full-timing, etc…)! Today we’re wrapping up loose ends, tonight we watch our beautiful Ellie graduate from high school, tomorrow everyone is coming here for a post-graduation/last day with Grams and Pops picnic, and Monday we pull up stakes (or levelers as it were) and hit the road!

What a stellar month it has been – filled with family and friends and a good bit of Kingdom work!  Thank-you, LORD, for this adventure you have led us on!