And the Rest



This is really a poor picture, but it was a special moment for us when a few of the former Agape Messengers sang some songs.  Back in the late 60's a youth revival took place in our area and after having their lives changed by accepting Jesus, the youth in our area started a weekly Bible study and then began putting on programs in local churches.  They branched out as far as South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.  One year they put on over 50 programs.  Wayne was their advisor for over 5 years.  Tim, to the left, commented that at that time he thought Wayne was sooo old but looking back he realized he was in his late 20's.  Wish we were that old now!  ...or at least our bodies!



It was fun to reminisce with old friends.

For our teens, we asked our first Youth Director to come back and share with the kids.  You can tell he and his wife are much loved by the turn out!  He is the adult in the green shirt front row.  The other adult is Tom Eggum, one of our speakers.

The Erdahl's

And good food.  We had Parker Oaks cater the two meals.  They were wonderful to work with.  The first meal was Saturday night and they wanted the final number on Saturday morning.  We had been talking back and forth so they had a pretty good idea, but their flexability sure made our jobs a lot easier. 
And then it was over....except for the clean  up.  It is amazing how everybody just pitches in.  Tent went down, chairs and tables went back to Frost,  floor was vacuumed, dishes got washed.  Just another part of the fellowship!
Jolyn

More Celebrating

We have decorators who make every nook and cranny festive.  The shelf above the coat rack served also served as a place to put Pastors and Youth Directors pictures.

Starting off the activities was the pie and ice cream social!  Being one who likes to have extra....I asked for waaaaaaaaaaay too many pies. So Kim, my sis-in-law came up with the brilliant idea to freeze them and use them this Saturday when we interview another Youth Director candidate.  (Think I might have to sneak down to church and have another piece....want to join me??)

And they came...Jill and Gina were catching up.

Paul (former Pastor) and Mary Jo with Vonnie and Carter.

Even this guest....Anita is training him to be a service dog.  He's a big ball of fluff!  I can see how he's matured since last summer. 

And here's one of our younger set.  The kids had so much fun that the carnival for them went longer than planned.  So many people gave of time and talents to make this such a great weekend for all ages.  More next post....
Jolyn

Dell's 150th Anniversary

After over a year of events and planning, the actual Anniversary was here.  Oct 2, 1861 was the signing of the first church organization.   Our two days were absolutely beautiful weather!  We were blessed in so many ways!!!

Tables were decorated!  A florist from Minneapolis...formally from the Frost area...whose great-great-grandfather built the first church...offered to decorate.  As we served three times...pie and ice cream, supper and Sunday noon banquet...he layered his decorations.  This was set up for the first event....the place mats were changed for the second.  For Sunday, the stenciled leaves were removed and underneath were white tablecloths and he added silk fall colored leaves and different colors for the place mats and napkins.  He also added brightly colored branches of leaves to some of the vases.  All those were live flowers and so beautiful!!  And....he let us take them home!   What a gift!

Our main speaker, Tom Eggum, takes little dresses to little girls in Africa.  So as a project a bunch of us made over 150 and the best part...we don't have to ship them as Tom took them with him!!!  We're not done with this project!!

Even outside the church was decorated.

The tent was up for the children's ministries.

Memorabilia tables were ready.



Even the bulletin board celebrated!  More to come....

Jolyn

Best Made Plans



Do you ever make plans and then have them fizzle out?  My plan yesterday was to go to Albert Lea to the funeral of a classmate's husband, meet up with a customer from Owatonna and give her the quilts I had quilted for her, stop at the "Quilt Shop", look for some paper, go to the Bible book store and on and on etc.  BUT on the Interstate, my tire blew.  (I know...it doesn't look flat...but believe me it was! Wayne had already started working on it.) I wondered what the noise was and then the van started wobbling, so I pulled over to the side of the road.  Sure enough...flat tire.  Thank goodness for cell phones!  Called Wayne, he called his brother in Albert Lea who came out and got me so I could make it to the funeral and then would call someone about fixing it.  To make a long story short (guess I've already made it long) Wayne ended up driving up and changing the tire and we ran into Bauer Bilt and had it fixed.  (He is not resting in the front seat...this van has a release button in the center of the floor to make the spare tire drop that didn't want to release.) But by this time...forget the rest of the list.  But so many things to be thankful for....could have happened in Branson, the tire affected was on the ditch side of the road (some semi's do not pull over)...I was able to make it to the funeral.



On a good note, I finished my last applique and got the border on.  Now to hand quilt it.  It turned out a little bigger than what I had planned even tho I left off an additional border.  So instead of eventually hanging in my kitchen, it will be hanging in my dining room or bedroom.  But first...get the quilting done!   Best made plans!   My next plan is to blog less...we'll see.  This weekend is our 150th Anniversary at our church...Dell Lutheran.  Wayne and I have been on the committee for over a year and one more meeting tonight and hopefully our plans all come together. Whatever...it's all in the Lord's hands...He's got better plans than we do anyway!
Jolyn

And the Last of Them

We all talked about what we plan to get done in the future...like this winter.   Was kind of a common theme that we all want to finish some of our UFO's.  Tracy has a head start as she finished this UFO (unfinished objects).  Makes a beautiful table quilt or wall hanging.

Another UFO to cross off the list. 

Jude needed a quick baby quilt and whipped this one up.

These were panels she sashed and quilted.

Mike's story of things his Mother had in her house continued.  Instead of his Grandmother making this, his Great-Grandma made this for his father. 

This was hiding in his Mother's basement!

....and this

...and two of this!

He had taken Marilyn Forman's class and if you look close...you can see he added applique to his.  It was a fun night with all the Show and Tell.  We also went over ideas for next year's Expo.  Isn't that the way...you've hardly recovered from one thing and you start planning the next one!  For the first time in our history...we went over our rule for one hour meetings....but with show and tell so great....no one complained. 
Jolyn

The Quilts Go On

Ruth made this one for the Quilts of Valor.  Her grandson liked it so well, so she found an eagle panel and will be making one similar for him.

Wendy brought a friend, Sharon who showed her 5 year quilt.  She hand quilted it in a cross-hatch pattern about every 2"...amazing that she could get it done in 5 years!!!

This gal was a newcomer from Florida...moved to our area so she could enjoy our mild winters...we hope they will be mild! 

Not a real good picture, but you can kind of get the idea...same blocks...different sashing and borders.

Lorraine had picked this fabric up at the Expo from the guest teacher....beautiful!

Felecia also made a place mat of the month...she talked about ripping out something but we all voted her down.

Jackie's quilt for a little boy.

I know--I should have elminated this one...but of the three pictures... this actually was the best.  The first one added an extra chin and we won't talk about the other one.  My latest woolie....Merry Christmas!  And I'm early!!
Jolyn

September BE VAlley Quilters

We had one of our biggest turnouts for our quilter's meeting Monday night.  And lots of show and tell!  Tracy is a fairly new quilter and is not afraid to try things.  This is made of old denim jeans for her son.  She'll be appliqueing the word  REBELS to it too.

Corrine goes to a "place mat of the Month" group and this is the latest project.

Elaine has spent her time off from work making charity quilts.

And she's hiding behind this one.

Wow!  Arlene said the hardest  part of this was the outer pieces that had to be set in.

This is so unlike Dorothy!  She always does precision work and here she's tackling some "wonkies"....blocks that are supposed to look a little wonky.  I have blocks that look that way without trying!

This was still hot off the machine.... Jan had quilted this for one of her customers.

The backside was also a work of art!  More next time!
Jolyn