Wonderful Women In My Life-Day #7 of Thanksgiving

Don't you just love daylight savings time?

Having lived far from our parents, brothers, and other extended family members for nearly all of our married life, I know we've missed a lot. 

We raised our own family with just us to celebrate

all of the stuff of family life

that needs to be celebrated:

birthdays, holidays, piano recitals, well-played tennis matches, soccer games, track meets, baseball games, family dinners on [whatever] night of the week, 

3 generation girls-only tea parties & guys-only golfing.

You get the picture.

It was just us 5.

What helped me find joy in life without extended family living nearby?

The wonderful women

of my church family!

They've invited me to be part of their lives for 17 years now. 

I've had the priviledge of watching their marriages mature, their children be born and grow up, go to college or other pursuits, get married, and become parents themselves!  We've walked together through the valley of the shadow of deaths and illnesses.  We've prayed each other through our shtuff [no, that's not a typo, it's a euphemism], sharing our joys and sorrows along the way.

I'm so thankful for them. 

I truly don't know where I or my family would be

if it weren't for those relationships!

But the Lord knew I needed to be in fellowship with other Christian women.

He provided me

with a large, available, salt-of-the-earth-precious network of them at my church.

As much as I often thought to the contrary [hehe],

He knew I didn't know it all!

But there's ALWAYS at least 1 girlfriend,

more likely several,

willing to give me Godly guidance and pray with and for me

to find the answers to my questions about life.

Have I taken these women for granted?

Yes.

But they show me grace

and always take me back,

no questions asked.

Only genuine concerns expressed.

Thank You, Lord. for these dear ones!

Today I want to share the fun afternoon I spent with about 15 of them.

Sunday morning was bright with promise.

What better to do than can apple pie filling with girlfriends?

So after worship that's just what we did.

'Course a girl's gotta have fuel for that. 

Robin fired up her crockpots and blessed us with her Dad's homemade chili.

And just for good measure, she brought brownies, too.



We are all still married to the husbands of our youth.



Below, Susan is teaching us the order of worship

[*giggle*we Lutherans love our liturgy]

what we need to do before we can can [couldn't resist] the apple pie filling mix.

Hint:  It involves knives and lots of crispy Jonagold apples .

Sherryl's son and my daughter, both 30, have been friends since middle school.

Nan and I worked together on the Women's Retreat committee this spring.
I'm so thankful I got to serve with her and the others. 
I was blessed by their willingness to share openly about themselves.

Jennifer and I have connected at Women's events several times over the years.

Sarah & I used to sing in the choir together.

I want to get to know Ruby better.

I love her quiet, gentle spirit.

In the last several photos, have you noticed these women's hands?
They have always used their hands,
as well as other gifts, in service to others.

Here's the game plan:

Here are the usual suspects:

Here's what gives the pie filling it's juicy yumminess:

30 jars, stuffed to capacity, awaiting their fateful hotwater baths.

Slavin' over a hot stove with smiles.

Multitasking-21st century homemaker style.

And lookin' good while she does it!

Mary decided this tool could be used for
more than lifting jars out of the canner.
Mary makes me smile
and her Bible studies help me grow in my faith. 

 Cutting the fabric for the fussy lid covers.

 Robin and I needed photos of each other.
I've been priviledged to work on many fun, girly events with her.

 Fussy labels for each jar.

 Installing the fussy lid covers and labels.

Don't the fussy lid covers, labels, and twine
look pretty on our finished product?
We will sell them at our Craft & Bake Sale
the weekend before Thanksgiveing.
The proceeds go to bring the Good News of Jesus
to missions around the world.

Yes, raising money for missions is a good, Godly endeavor.

But God also blesses the fellowship we shared this afternoon.

Cost: $0

Value:  Priceless 

Thank You, all you dear women,

for the richness you add to my life.

God bless you!

Love, Karen

Linking with
Dr. Laura for

and Alissa