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"Let's be cheerful"! We have no more right to steal the brightness out of the day for our own family than we have to steal the purse of a stranger. Let us be as careful that our homes are furnished with pleasant & happy thoughts as we are that the rugs are the right color and texture & the furniture comfortable and beautiful"! Laura Ingalls Wilder

Friday, December 9, 2011

frosted blessings











When I try to imagine what it would be like to be stuck inside a body that won't cooperate or is in constant pain... or with a mind that won't remember anymore (not like I've been complaining about lately but real loss)... or the rest of my years in a small little room with no windows, even if the staff is loving and things are clean...  I cry.  When I think to take the time to bless these people who live just up the hill from me... I feel frustrated that we don't do it more often.

Being as this is the season when we are more apt to look for these opportunities, I love it that much more. Being as I am a selfish human being... I'm embarrassed that it takes this feel good season for me to remember what shouldn't be forgotten.

Our Keepers at Home group made and delivered gingerbread houses to make the tables festive.  We were able to visit several of the residents.  Some were delighted.  Some weren't very responsive.  The girls were unsure but willing to grow.

We've purposed to come back with valentines for every resident in February.  I pray I'm never a forgotten one.  And I pray that I will be better about remembering...


Blessings, Debbie

35 comments:

  1. The houses turned out beautifully! So creative & charming.

    And you're RIGHT ON about remembering the forgotten ones...

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  2. I'm praying with you on that, Debbie. blessings ~ tanna
    ps those houses are amazing. love the log cabin look and the little pretzel fence!

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  3. How sweet and I bet every single recipient "knew" the king gesture is some way :)

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  4. Oh, how dear! The gingerbread houses are GORGEOUS! Bless you for extending Jesus love.

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  5. Inspirational...so moving..."blessed to be a blessing" (do you remember Scott Wesley Brown?). Thanks for sharing these beautiful creations and the beautiful lessons of sharing.

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  6. So very true Debbie.....and the houses turned out amazing!

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  7. I was just going to say what beautiful houses (we're planning on making some mini ones today), but then I saw what you did with them...such a blessing to those who reside and work there.

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  8. That's a wonderful thing that your group did, Debbie and the houses are wonderful. Back in the olden days, the church youth groups and Girl Scouts used to take turns making little weekly favors for the meal trays and there was Christmas caroling, sing-alongs, etc.

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  9. Debbie,

    This is a precious thing! The houses are sweet - I love the one with the Christmas tree visible through the window.

    It makes my heart sad to about how we treat our elderly...

    Deanna

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  10. Debbie, I am so with you! When I was a teenager I spent most of my Sunday afternoons helping at a nursing home and most afternoons I left in tears. That time in my life affected how I live today. I saw so many elderly just tossed aside and forgotten. Now I make an effort to try and reach out to my fellow humans especially those who have lost everyone. Isn't that what we're suppose to do? Love to you and I hope your weekend is a great one.

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  12. What a great thing to do. Such sweet and festive blessings that I am sure where much appreciated. It makes me sad that so much of our culture is age segregated. We have so much to offer each other.

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  13. Very nice! The pretzels really add to the little houses. They all put so much loving care into them. I'm sure it brightened up the nursing home residents day! love,andrea

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  14. When I was a little girl my mom and brother would go each week to visit Ruth and give her communion. I loved going each week and loved how Ruth loved us too. I for years kept the crocheted doll she made for me. Such wonderful memories and makes me want to get my act together and visit a home and just love some of these people who live in a home. I too hope my children are able to care for me. One reason to do everything I can to stay healthy and strong so I can.

    Blessings and ((HUGS))
    -Mary

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  16. When the girls were small we volunteered at a nursing home and had ourselves a Grandpa Glen. Unfortunately, after Glen died (I needed an emotional break) we never resumed.

    We haven't adopted a new grandparent. I always mean too...:(

    My maternal grandmother is one like you describe. She still lives in Kansas and my parents moved away about fifteen years ago and her sons find it very hard to visit her (she hasn't recognized anyone in five years) and so she is only visited about once a month by them. I know I have a cousin who visits her regularly but that is about it. (We live thirteen hours away). :(

    I have a friend from church who took her FIL into her home and took care of him. In fact, she was there with him when he died. I admire what she did tremendously.

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  17. Unfortunately my mom's debilitating kidney disease and poor insurance and my working a 50-60 hour work week in the city forced us to deal with a nursing home. This particular place was like an answer to a prayer. I spent many hours there when I wasn't working and spent time getting to know the residents. They always were appreciative of any little kindness. It takes so little sometimes to put a smile on someone's face. Now I visit as a hospice volunteer. xo

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  18. They may have been somewhat unresponsive, but they knew. They *felt* that they were surrounded by the light of good will, of community, of faith.

    The houses are beautiful. Cheerful.

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  19. I love the group effort that went into sharing Jesus' love!

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  20. I don't think I've seen white frosted gingerbread houses!
    Years ago I was a nurses aide for ten years. I know sometimes they're the only solution, but I basically feel that the existence of nursing homes is due to our idea that the only life worth living is the productive one; hence, the way we treat old folks and the unborn - the culture of death. The Nazis had the same philosophy. This is a dangerous way of thinking.

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  21. Our community chorus just went to do a concert for one of our homes last weekend and will do another this week. It is so hard and such a blessing...sort of like mission work, but to be honest, I can't make myself just go there to visit...wonder why? I will join you in praying to be a better rememberer...

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  22. Sweet frosted blessings! You are so good to remember and to share your love.

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  23. That is a wonderful idea! The pictures also reminded me of when my friend and I would get together to make our gingerbread house.

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  24. Beautiful. And what a wonderful thing to present, a cozy, sweet home.

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  25. so true. My grandma is in an assisted living home and some of the residents are so frail and pitiful.....I cry my eyes out the entire ride home every time I leave. But every time I leave I'm thankful that I've had another time with her.

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  26. those gingerbread houses are so lovely im sure they will be much appreciated:)

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  27. It's a wonderful thing to reach out to those who are alone at any time of the year. I used to be a part of a civic organization in Georgia where we did all sorts of community projects. I "adopted" a senior citizen named Rose. She lived alone -- a friend and I went to clean her little apartment one time. Oh my! I can't even begin to tell you what we saw. Definitely not clean. We would get her out of the house, take her out to the park for a picnic. It was a wonderful time.

    Your gingerbread houses are great. I love the log cabin look and the heart candy cane window. Sweet! Figuratively and literally!

    No doubt you and the girls will make beautiful Valentines! And you have plenty of time to get them done. :) Happy new week to you! Tammy

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  28. what a beautiful post, makes me have tears really. your girls are beautiful too, inside and out. and i hope to always remember this too.
    xo

    your photos are also beautiful!

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  29. They did a lovely job on the gingerbread houses and I'm sure they are quite a hit at the home where you left them. What a fabulous way to serve with your children! Someone has suggested this to me at a similar home around here, but I'm unsure of how my 6 and 3 year olds would handle it??? Great idea...what a lovely family you have!

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  30. You are not only teaching your children how to give but the rest of us. What a beautiful idea as I'm sure they love it, also.

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  31. Such a beautiful gesture. You are teaching your ladies to be beautiful, beautiful women.

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  32. It always surprises me how I start out trying to give to others, but at the end I learn so much more about myself.

    What a great way to share. I love this post. The houses are beautiful and I'm sure they brought much to all the residents.

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  33. This is so beautiful!! Your Keepers at Home made some beautiful houses too. I pray that I'm not a forgotten one either.

    Blessings!
    Deborah

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  34. All of the houses turned out amazing!!! What a wonderful Christmas blessing you and your family are!! May God bless you!!

    xoxo...Gloria

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