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Mondays are for Memories – A Teen Challenge Christmas Story

Since we are heading back to Teen Challenge next month I was looking through some of my posts from back during the time we served there in 2007 and 2008. I found this one that reminded me about what special times those were! Here’s…..
A Teen Challenge Christmas Story – (original post date 01/06/08)

Homemade Cookies. Fudge. Bags and bags of candy. Hot chocolate mix. More Candy. More Cookies. Lots and lots of goodies arrive at Teen Challenge over the Christmas holidays, sent by parents and grandparent of the students. But let me tell you about one box that arrived for one of the 1st platoon boys with Happy New Year wishes for the staff and students.
It came from NYC – overnight UPS. Inside the box were 2 large bags of cooked rice, 2 large bags of red beans and rice, 4 containers of what looked like baked beans but with some added goodies, a pork roast and a bag of gravy. (Oh, and a couple bags of mini-chocolate bars!). The food arrived still a little frozen, so we put it right in the fridge and figured out what day we could serve it. Gary & I were “on” for New Year’s Day, so it seemed the perfect chance to serve this food that had traveled so far and had come with such love. But since we weren’t exactly sure how it all “fit together” we called the son in to act as our guest chef. As would be the case with most 14 year olds, he really had no idea how it “fit together”, but he offered what advice he could and was pleased to be part of the process. Since I had to add some rice to the dishes, I asked him to give it a taste, since I really had no idea what it was supposed to taste like (not being an expert in red beans and rice!). Little did I know it is against regulations for the cadets to taste any food before it has been served, so he refused (very politely, of course!). After much persuasion and assurances that he would not be written up, he finally took a spoonful of the rice. One taste and with his eyes closed, a smile spread across his face.

“It tastes like home.”

So thanks, Mom and Dad, for sending that little bit of home. And for letting us share it with 40 other young men who were longing for “home”.
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All the “boys” are back from their Christmas break, we’ve said good-bye to our Sower friends who were here in December, and ten new Sower couples have arrived for January. Should be an exciting month – especially if Gary gets to start some of the A/C –Heating work.

And if tomorrow’s Monday – it must be spaghetti and meat sauce day!

Monday’s are for Memories – February 20, 2008

Looking back nine years from today – we were in the Florida Panhandle, working at Teen Challenge Boys Ranch in Bonifay. This was our second winter there, and it seems like we were pretty anxious for some spring weather.

Spring is coming, right? Feb 20, 2008
Ok, even though we’re here in Florida if you’ve been reading along this winter, you know we’ve had some pretty darn cold weather. So I am happy to report that there are definate signs of spring appearing. I noticed leaf buds on some of the shrubs this morning, and just outside the rig I saw these lovely spring flowers….
spring
And if it’s starting here, I’m sure it will be coming to a neighborhood near you soon! 🙂

Tammy 2And now a Happy Birthday shout out to our daughter-in-law Tammy She’s been part of our family for the last 7 (or so) years, and we have been blessed to call her our daughter. She loves the Lord, she loves our son, and she’s a wonderful mother to our three granddaughters. We love you, Tammy – Happy, Happy Birthday!

Real time update – It’s Tammy’s birthday again (of course!), but some of her ‘stat’s have changed. She’s been part of our family for the last 15+ years and we continue to be blessed to call her daughter! She still loves the Lord, she love our son, and she’s a wonderful mother to FIVE of our beautiful grandchildren! We love you to the moon and back, Tammy – Happy, Happy Birthday Again!
ConradFam2016