Winter or Spring??

Winter. Spring. Winter. Or is it spring? No matter what the season was each day when we awoke, busy were our days from the 1st through the 31st.
 
EMPLOYMENT REPORT:
New jobs-8
Still working-9
Mosaic Center-1
 
Before Warren joined our team he had a lawn service. Winter arrived and the lawn needs were slow to none. This past month Warren has been training two residents to take over the business.

 Warren took Christina and Steven to each of the lawns he serviced. Each of the yards has its own personality and style. With care, Warren has taught these two how to service their equipment, how to plan their day’s work and how to manage the money they earn. Paying for supplies and maintenance comes before “pay day”.

Christina and Steven have “practiced” a day or two at GODTEL. Our yard looks pretty spiffy. With spring rains and winter clean-up, the work is building up. Go, Steven and Christina!

Not to worry-Warren is still playing in the dirt. He still has weeds to kill and pull from GODTEL’s raised gardens. The dirt has been turned and fresh soil with fertilizer has been spread over the garden sights. And, now, he is waiting for the word to plant tomatoes and cucumbers. Summer salads and cold soup meals-just right for the hot summer days.

Once again, our guest cooks came with delicious mouth-watering meals to feed the folks at GODTEL. Frito pie, baked chicken, meatballs, beef brisket, potato soup, fried chicken, smothered chicken, pork chops and pulled pork sandwiches came into the kitchen only to be dished onto plates and served to the residents. Most times the guest cooks serve themselves a plate and sit with the residents and visit with them.

Spring break happened this past month. The Central Church of Christ Youth came to spend that Thursday evening with us. Well, the Third Thursday Methodist Cooks came at their regular time and right behind them the youth came with their meal. Now we had two groups on the same night with two delicious meals. What to do? Because the Methodist cooks come every month they graciously stepped aside to allow the young people an opportunity to learn service to the Lord. The fried chicken the Methodists brought was refrigerated for the next day. Dolores was most thankful for this unexpected blessing.

The plan was for us to go to Spring to spend the weekend with our daughter and our two youngest grandchildren. I wrote in last month’s letter about mom falling and breaking her left hip. So this visit had to be cancelled. Amanda called and suggested that she and the girls come here for the day.

The visit was a joy and a half. We went to the zoo. (Yes, Bonnie, Lufkin has a zoo) We saw turtles and giraffes, lions and peacocks, birds of all kinds. We skipped the reptiles. No snakes for us. The rhinos were out, but the hippos were in the water. We saw the big tortoise. And more turtles-all around the zoo. We just had to ride the train. We purchased our tickets. When we boarded the train we were told the rules, which would mean a safer ride and more fun. After the train ride we left and headed to Café Del Rio to satisfy our Mexican food urge. The outing didn’t end there.

We headed to Parkwood Place to visit mom/grandma/great grandma. The adults visited while being entertained by the girls. Emily was sitting in the wheelchair while Lauren pushed it back and forth. Alas, the time came for the girls to go home. We said goodbye and away they went.

Mom update: Physical therapy happens five days a week. Usually her day starts with Marvin. He encourages and adds to her growing confidence to walk and use the broken-now-fixed leg. She is learning new and safer ways to bend and stretch and do simple tasks. There was a small episode of infection, but it is well on the way out of her body. We hope her next doctor’s appointment with the surgeon will bring news of her coming home. We strive to be patient and wait on God’s perfect timing. 
 
The tradition continues. St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church planned, prepared, delivered and served our Resurrection Day meal. Deanna, Judy, Ronny and Rhonda helped us serve the very delicious meal. We visited. We ate. We visited some more. What a blessing to be a part of God’s family.

We thank you and praise God for another month of sharing the Gospel with all who come through our doors. 

~Because we serve a living God, Martin and Mary Baker