Joshua's Pictures!

My boss, Gene, gave the kids his old camera - they are loving taking pictures of everything under the sun! Joshua had it on Sunday - here's a few for grins... (gotta love the pink cowboy hat on Dad!!!)

103rd National Western Stock Show and Rodeo

We spent the day at the 103rd National Western Stock Show and Rodeo. The kids loved the animals in the Hall of Education and also sitting on the tractors and climbing in the horse trailers! The rodeo was great with the bareback and bronc riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, the Westernaires' performance teams, and of course - the dogs with monkeys on their backs herding sheep!!! huh?

Mean Street Ministry

Greg and I spent last night with Mean Street Ministry. It was an amazing evening spent ministering to people living in motels and shelters along Colfax. The first family that my group visited was a single dad and his two sons that are Joshua's age. We were able to provide burritos or sandwiches, sweet treats, toiletry items, resource guides and bibles, prayer, and sometimes just an ear to listen. Many of these people are just down on their luck - struggling in our economy - and trying to make ends meet. Mean Street also provides food boxes later in the week, bus tokens, and so many other requested items. There is so much that we can do right here in our own community - sometimes it just takes the courage to step out of our comfort zone and take a leap of faith. Rather than trying to sum it all up in my own words, here is the scoop from their website.

To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. 1 Corinthians 4:11-13

Many know that Mean Street ministers to the homeless living in motels, shelters, and the poor living in projects along east and west Colfax Avenue. About a dozen people grouped into threes, knock on doors and offer burritos, sweets and fruit, an extensive Resource Guide for every kind of need, toiletries, Bibles, bus tokens, formula and diapers, toys and books, prayer, a caring presence, and a listening ear.

Few know the process of events and the number of volunteers involved in making all this happen, and that there are many places within the ministry where people can serve aside from going out on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Before the Mean Street van goes out each week, food is purchased and/or received through donations by two to three volunteers and delivered to the burrito makers, eight to ten people, who assemble 320 burritos every Monday morning. The burritos make two transfers before being loaded in baskets on the van later that day. Meanwhile, every Saturday morning, one or two volunteers pick up boxes of bread and pastries donated by the Bergen Park King Soopers. The bread is taken to a trailer park near Colfax and Depew on Monday afternoon and the sweets are added to the van to go out on Tuesdays. Monday and Tuesday evenings, anywhere from six to sixteen “willing souls”, as James Fry calls them, show up to hit the motels and projects. Always, our evenings start and end with prayer for God’s guidance, thankfulness for being able to serve, and the desire to glorify Him through what we do. Volunteers come from many different churches as we desire this to be a Christian ministry and not to be about recruiting people to go to or support one particular church.

On Tuesday night, while passing out burritos, we offer food boxes, and assess situations for which we might offer further assistance. This could include: mentoring, financial assistance, addiction help, transient housing, the need for physical items like furniture, dishes or school supplies, spiritual counseling or just someone to listen.

Wednesday morning food boxes are assembled and delivered, later that day, directly to the ones who requested them so the people do not have to have transportation to receive the boxes. This big job is currently being done by just two to four volunteers. Ideally, during these deliveries, further assessment of needs can be done and more help offered. Sometimes, due to lack of volunteers, we cannot meet the needs as well as we would like.

Thursday is another busy day in the Mean Street Ministry. In the morning two to four people drive the large Mean Street truck to COMPA to lift and load large quantities of food into the back. This is unloaded to the refrigerators, freezers and storage sheds at the Frys’ homes. A trip to do the same at Rocky Mountain Food Bank also takes place that day. In the afternoon Mean Street sets up food stations in the yard. People come from many different areas, as far away as Evergreen, Bailey, Denver, Aurora, and Thornton, to pick up food that they then distribute in their own communities. Additional volunteers would enable this part of the ministry to function more efficiently and give relief to those already participating.

Throughout the week Mean Street fields many calls of people asking for help of all kinds. We average 45 calls a day, many regarding information in the Resource Guide and desiring further assistance. We are reminded often that the work of God done through volunteers is not always very obvious and may happen totally unaware. But we know by faith and with the evidence God gives us that what we do make a difference. Just when we need encouragement God is generous in showing us the results of his grace in the lives we touch.

There is much going on with Mean Street Ministry. We would like to grow our outreach and expand into new areas such as more effective mentoring, small fellowship groups, ex-felon assistance, home fix-up and repair and who knows what else God may have planned! We continually seek God’s direction and counsel in all that we do.

Check it out ~ www.meanstreetministry.org

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

We woke up to find 3" on the ground and the good stuff still coming down; about 6" by the end of the day! Not enough for a Snow Day, but after school it was time for a good old fashioned snowball fight, snow angel making and hot chocolate with marshmallows!!!

Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we've no place to go

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Hard at Work!

It's been a busy place here the past few weeks! Joshua has been working so hard on his Craftsman projects to earn his Webelos badge. He completed two candles, a tin lantern, a clay pot, a wooden shelf, a presentation stand, and a birdhouse! Wow! And of course ~ Hannah made her own cup and candle as well!

Man Cannot Live By Banana Bread Alone

...but Hannah sure would like to try!!!

Grammy Darls makes the BEST banana bread - it's actually my Grandma Meta's recipe - it's so yummy! (p.s. DO NOT try to "health it up" by substituting applesauce - Hannah says it's too sticky and not as good that way!). Enjoy!

Grammy's Banana Bread
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
3 ripe bananas
2 beaten eggs
1/2 cup sour milk (add milk to 1 tsp vinegar to equal 1/2 cup)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour

Bake at 350-degrees for 1 hour - makes 1 loaf.

New Years Eve Fun!

We spent the day playing outside with Tanner and riding bikes and scooters! Dad, Mom and Gary came over for dinner before church - shrimp cocktail, crab legs, mussels, baked potatoes, and steamed vegies. After church, we came home to watch the ball drop in New York City! Look at those tired eyes on Hannah! Happy New Year to you all!!!