Scout Court of Honor

On Monday night, Wesley was awarded the rank of First Class. His process to this has been longer because of a stoppage of attending Scouts during the first year of the pandemic. He's trying to make up for it now - Star, Life and Eagle are all that's left. Congratulations Wesley! 

 

They also recognized Eagle Scouts getting ready to leave the nest. Parker (on the far right end) was the most recent Eagle Scout to have had his ceremony. The kid on the far left just passed his Eagle Board of Review. The five kids in between them are in various stages of completing their Eagle Projects and should all earn Eagle before the summer is over. That's a big group from Troop 143! 

Ash Wednesday

Daryl and CJ started off Ash Wednesday with Ashes to Go in the church parking lot 

bright and early in the cool morning. 

I went with the Cabinet to noon worship at First UMC Lakeland and got to hear one of my RIMees preach (Nicki Taylor) and she gave me the ashes on my forehead. I made it home in time to be able to participate in the night service at Community with Daryl and with CJ. Such a gift to be in ministry with them. 

And I finished up my observance of Ash Wednesday at the labyrinth. 

Grateful to live so close by and be able to walk it so often. 

Another Different Winterfest

Like last year, we did not offer Winterfest as a huge block party for the community on our property. 

Instead we went out into the community and spread a little love and free no-strings-attached help. It started on Friday at Fruitland Park Elementary with a pizza and cookie lunch for all the teachers and staff at the school! 

Then Saturday morning, we had volunteers at New York Diner, the local laundromat, the Circle K gas station and also the Family Dollar. We paid for people's breakfasts, their laundry, and gave people $25 gift cards towards their gas or Family Dollar purchase! So many happy smiles and grateful people around town. Daryl, CJ and I went by all the locations during both shifts to thank our volunteers. 

In addition, the church paid off fines for children at the local library, helped pay past due utility bills at city hall, and sponsored several teams of youth sports through the city recreation department. 

Random Things from our Week

Choir Pracitice on Wednesday night. We're working towards our musical presentation on December 10 and 11th - Christmas Then and Now. 

Parker got some swag from one of the colleges that has accepted him - Moc Socks! 

This was Caspian passed out on the futon. He got bored while I was walking on the treadmill one night this week and took a nap. 

 

Get Lost in the Maze

Saturday we spent time with Davis and the other 4th-6th graders from the Connect Ministry at church at Long and Scott Farms in Mount Dora for their annual Corn Maze. The corn was really tall this year and we got a little lost out in the big maze for a while. 

The field next to the maze has already been harvested - they were selling corn in their farm store. 

Kids in the Wind Tunnel 

Kids on the Jumping Pillow 

Hanging out at lunch - with some boiled corn! 

And of course we brought some corn home!