Gayla's Magazine

How do you spell busy?

B bustling from activity to activity all day long!
U using all of my heart, mind, soul and strength in the Lord's work!
S still trying to get the last of my duties done at 10:30 tonight!
Y yes it's still fun after all these years as a pastor's wife!

New Signs!

Finally the new signs are here and the staff is excited! Hurricane Ike ripped up our Community Center signs last year - yes families and businesses in our area are still recovering from that horrific hurricane last year.  So here is the new one and the new logo!

The Cafe gets a new name, just in time for the new menu and the drive thru opening. 

And the signs go up.... while we are watch with baited breath!

And the drive thru signs are in place - and 'on' so the staff can take orders inside right now. The menu boards will be coming soon.

And now for the awnings that got shredded in the storm....

It's taking shape and different people stop by all day long to help, admire and offer their thoughts about the changes.

That's another  reason why you need  a home church.  What projects that serve the good of a entire community are you involved in? Being a member of a church provides that outlet and collective force to bless a community.

The word 'church' is not a noun, it's a verb!

Not just a descriptive subject name, but rather a working, viable, interesting place full of activity and joy in God's Kingdom!

The Next Post Office Experience!

It's time to go again to the Post Office, and after my last experience it's a little stressful to think what might occur this time.  Talk about wondering if the Post Office staff is going to go 'postal' on me..... it brings back some bad memories! 

So dutifully I weigh each packet carefully  for CBC like I was told too.  What will they do this time?!? Am I doing this right?  The staff has to allow me to personally do this, as to eliminate any issues that might arise at the Post Office at my next interrigation.  

Praying for these men and women while weighing each one, I feel like I know some of them after reading so many letters. Enrolled in CBC are ex-cops, professional men and women with money issues, many many people caught in the web of addictions, broken hearted moms and dads with terrible regrets, young and old alike, so many mistakes caused by drugs and alcohol.  Some with life sentences never to get out, who depend upon this lifeline of encouragement.   And some of the inmates are straining ahead counting the days till parole dates materialize.  So many lives all ruined by sin, yet God loves them and His grace is extended to them. Each packet is going to a life and it is the mission of CBC to reach each one for Christ.   

Each packet is weighed and  each one of these souls are prayed for. Memories come of a recent phone call to a mother of an inmate who begged me to call his mom for him.  She is dying of cancer and it was an honor to pray with her and for her son.  She wants to live until he gets out and back home to her.  He wants her to live till he can see her again.  Time is ticking.... he still has 3 years to serve if all goes well .... Truly CBC is a ministry to the hurting both inside institutions and outside to the hurting families now alone without their loved one.

And when they are all done, I go to my husband and tell him my concerns.  I am glad I am married to such an awesome guy!  He picked up the phone right then and called the Postal Services and ask for the 'top man' - the Post Master. Of course he gets right straight through to him, no waiting, no message taking, no excuses - straight to the top man!  That's my man.... that's my man!!

And after explaining what had happened to me in the Pasadena Post Office with the 'head woman' - D Gonzalez, who had demanded that I not come back 'with all that mail'.  To make a long story short, he got instant support, instant service and instantly things jumped into place for my trip to the LaPorte Postal service to mail all of these packets! 

And when I arrived at this Post Office I was met with cordial reception and great customer service!  "Yes by all means we want your business.... and we will help you mail as many packets as you can bring to us"! We have been awaiting your arrival and welcome you! 

She informed me I did not need to weigh each one (thanks for this - I spent 2 hours weighing everything) and that I just needed to let them do their job!  Wow - who knew this is what the Post Office really does!

Stacks and stacks of packets were done by this great worker.  And the Post Master himself took stacks to another station to weigh for me!   This is the first time I have not spent hours putting stamps on each one at the Post Office.  I did not put ONE stamp on here, it was all done automatically.  Now this is more like it! My what a help this is to  me!

The only bad news about the whole experience was paying the postage.  On the average each packet costs different depending upon the number of Bibles mailed, and or certificates for course completions.  And the total is climbing each time.... more concerns for me to pray about.  I can see I am going to need partners to join with me in postage costs. 

This is today's receipt minus 45 other packet costs. Ok Lord thank you for solving the Postal problem.  I believe You also have a plan to help provide finanaces for all these souls too.

I leave with a light step and a joy knowing that 149 prisoners  will soon open 149 packets, and begin to study their next lessons about God through His Word!!

What a joy  this is!  

My thoughts today

When ambition is lost to destiny...
and dreams lay down at the cross and say...
'not my will...'
the defining moment comes
and His Presence unfolds
in perfected Will
and submitted hearts
become the hands and feet of Jesus
in a hurting world.

The lessons of Christ in my heart and soul..
1. His Kingdom is an internal Kingdom - not an external one.
2.  A leader is a man or a woman into whose keeping God has placed his honor.
3.  Limitation is needed for Increase.

The Cafe gets a boost!

The new drive through for the Cafe is taking shape.... and we are excited about it.

The new sign boards are getting set into place.

The drive up area gets poured and set. 

And today?  We started receiving drive through orders.... even without the signage done.

Soon we will have a new image, new name, new menu and the staff is gearing up for the new Cafe. If you live nearby - come visit and use the drive through!

I think the drink of the week is called  Cinnamon Apple Cider, it's my favorite fall drink! 

Craft Day continued....

Fun decoupage projects were being done by youth and adults alike. 

A variety of boxes and frames were completed - now all ready for next month.

This year we will have something new.....  'shabby chic' room dividers. It's an idea I had... hope this is a good one.Scott completes them and then sands them down for the certain look and feel of these - previous closet doors now beautiful dividers.

Turning old furniture into refreshed pieces is my plan.

Decorating... gluing... sanding... painting... stapling... arranging... amongst laughter and good conversations all day long.  What a fun time we all had.

Many floral arrangements along with wreaths for Fall, Christmas and home decor were created.

Lunchtime came and we stopped for a buffet style lunch. 

At the end of the day, all the crafts are done.  And the last of the day involves the coordination of all the RMA leaders to carefully pack, and transport everything to our storage place (across town) come back and clean up the Gym.  This effort all by itself takes planning and divisions of people. Tables are all put back in their positions, trash is taken out, and the gym floor is swept.  When we all leave it is transformed back into the regular gym.  No event is an success without this part being done well.  

This event was led by Deborah and her team - she did an excellent job.  And all these beautiful things are now ready for the next month's event and the leadership of Angela's team.  Can't wait! This part of the Fall Festival is prepared.

Role Models of America Craft Day 2009

It's taken many weeks of planning for the team leader over this event.  And a entire year of gathering from RMA donations to make this day happen.  And it was a great day of fun, good fellowship and quality crafts were created by the many hands together.Some got there and set right down and went to work, others came as a part of their days activities.

There was a whole line of seamstresses making pillow sets.  And another one stuffing them.  They turned out some beautiful work.

Tiny little angels were created and are ready for the Fall Festival next month.

Beautiful  Gift Jars of Orange Spice Tea were created, packaged and sealed.

Watches were inspected and new batteries put in them... Over a hundred at last count were done.

Furniture pieces were sanded, some painted and buffed, some recreated....

 

It's a job well done

Another intense day of several activities happening at the same time, all in different areas of the Community Center.  It's been a beehive of action!
Outside - the new Drive thru in going in by the Cafe - so it's trucks, rocks and steel, the asphalt company and our staff guys working together.
The new signs are also going up at the Community Center - so it's JLGLift  or rather a manlift in place with trucks, staff and watchers as the old sign comes down and the new signs begin to be lifted into place.

Inside there are ladies beginning to get started on their craft areas.  It's prep day so flowers, wreaths, Styrofoam blocks and balls, glue guns, ribbons, knickknacks, scissors, and pins, cloth and patterns plus countless other details are being set up and readied for tomorrow's big event.

The sewing machines are in place, all the designed pillows to be made are being cut out and pinned together,  Tomorrow there will be 25 sets of 'designer' pillows created.

More about all of this tomorrow.  Today had enough of it's own activities for sure!

I began my day by going by RMA and taking a picture to show you what was created yesterday - remember the sofa table? This is how it looks - it's sure to encourage sales by good presentation. 

Next go ck the outgoing mission area and talk with staff about their days activities. They have the extras that they need to pack their mission gaylords. 

Head off to purchase an electric staple gun.  I used to own one but in some project somewhere it's been transported elsewhere so it's time for a new one.  My day is going to be busy so energy must be used effectively!

Ok now I am ready for my own project to be completed. 

It's been given to me to turn this room into a Cry Room for nursing moms at church.  And in the alloted time - today only.  So.... roll up my sleeves and get started.

So the quickest way to transform a room is to staple fabric to the walls.  Thank God a good friend calls, and she decides to drop by to help me.  I am so thankful she did.  This was a bigger job than I thought it would be!

We measure, cut and hang, measure, cut and hang - then decide to measure all the panels needed, cut all of them and then the process speeds up a little. 

Soon the walls are covered, then we start on the curtains for the big window.  Until some darkening film can be put over the window, some curtains will need to be in place for privacy. 

Now the walls are done, it's time to scrub this floor.  Which was done on hands and knees twice, then mopped.  I'm thinking...... and scrubbing.... and praying.....and sweating....

Finally everything is done, and I head off to RMA to find accessories, fabrics, a little table and lamp, and yes even the rocker set came from there. 

We get the furniture  moved into place, the picture on the wall, the screws tightened on the changing table and stand back to take a look.

This will be nice and I think the moms will enjoy this room.  It's a tiny cozy room just right for a nursing mom to have a little space to feed her baby.  We have several moms right now with more expectant moms due soon. so this room will be used immediately. 

It's taken me more time than I thought it would, (only the entire day) but it's done now. 

Walk outside and go to the Community Center to see how the ladies are doing and I am happy to see that one set of pillows is done and ready to show tomorrow.

Go into CBC and have a short meeting with Tiffany about the details of the day and what she may need to tell me.  Yes.... there are things, that we will take care of tomorrow.

Thank God for Tiffany... and Deborah.... and Angela... and Markie.... and Carol.... and Kelly.... and the list goes on of those who all work with me in the varied activities I am involved in.  For every one who covers all the details and areas of ministry I am responsible for I thank the Lord for .... plus an electric staple gun too.   

Outside?  the end of the day comes and silence is over the equipment that will all fire up again first thing in the morning. And a team of workers will descend to begin again.

And the inside?  The very same way....

Good night. I'm tired, it's a job well done. 

 

All in a Days Work!

This has been such a busy day.... juggling and carrying various different issues of the ministry here at home.  Here's a glimpse of it (whenever I remembered to pull my camera out and take a picture to share with you).
Arrive at the RMA store the minute they open the doors and get all the crafts staged and lined up for the truck to arrive to take everything to the Gym to set up.  This might take a long time depending on the details the staff already have to do this day.
Between 2 CS workers and myself we get things ready to be loaded - it's all upstairs.  
After we are ready and waiting... go back downstairs and help the staff here set up a way to help create a presentation for a empty corner and a nice sofa table.  Hmmmm here's an idea.

Take a mannequin head, put a cute hat on it, a necklace, a scarf, an upscale bag, a pair of pretty shoes, a candlestick, a book and a nice knicknack all in black and white.  Sorry I didn't take a picture of the end result.  If it's all still there tomorrow I will try to remember to take a shot to show you.  But it could be sold and gone when I get back here!
Truck arrives and everything gets trooped downstairs and loaded in the truck. 
It's heating up outside and we all are feeling the heat a little.  After a while things are getting completed here at RMA and we start heading toward the Community Center.
One last walk through the store giving instructions to the staff - the sorting room is nice and straight.  Makes me happy to see order.
Things are being kept up here and it makes for effecient work - give a couple of 'atta boys' and head out toward the C Center.  Oops... don't forget to say thank you to the workers whose help I could not do without this day!
Ok let's unload... carefully guys there are breakables in these tubs.  The staff has gather these items all year long in preparation of this coming Saturday Fall Craft Day for our Role Models of America Fall Festival coming soon.
  The RMA Leader over this event has carefully outlined every craft that will be created, so all of the tubs, baskets, bins, boxes, bags have to be put into a line so the coming ladies will be able to collect the crafting items for their particular artform later today.
It takes a day to set up, a day to get things organized and prepared, and then the big day to actually create visions of all sorts of wonderful things to sell. 

When this is done, my good husband takes me across Houston to gather the 140+ batteries for the watches that will be worked on.
And race to a fabric store to get the special fabric for a chair that will be reupholstered.

Go back to the Community Center - oh forgot to eat - grab a quick bite at a Indian Vegetarian Resterant. (absolutely fabulously flavored good food)

Go into the CBC office and work on some letters, responses and special exam needs Tiffany has laid out for me to respond to.

Complete them, and leave a few notes for several things to be done tomorrow.
Attend a staff meeting for the Cafe staff, and text 10 different people with issues while the meeting goes on.  Thank God for texting!!

Go to the Warehouse and pick out the missing furniture pieces I would like to see used in this Craft Day.  Oh yes and can we please use some of these bi-fold doors I think we can make some very special shabby chic screens out of them. 

This all gets delivered back at the Community Center.

Spend a few minutes with several Leaders arriving for their part in the set up of the craft areas. 

Rush home to let our poor dog out for a little while who has been in her 'apartment' all day long by herself!  Go eat some supper with my tired husband, and then get to go home.
I am just too tired to look at my 65+ yesterday emails that I haven't even opened, and there is no telling how many came in today!!! Ughhhhhh....
Ohhh no.... I forgot to make a important phone call to California - for a ministry project happening there! 

Read a couple of chapters in a current book, get this post done and collaspe to rest.  Another day wrung out of every drop and moment!

Yogi Bear

Yesterday we got a surprise picture of Yogi Bear.  Remember when Missy had puppies?  Well here is one of the 'bears' born in Yellowstone National Park.  Isn't he cute!!  He now lives with his 'parents' in another state, boy and I glad to see this little tyke!  He is still adorable.