First Friends Church - Salem, Ohio

After arriving in Salem Ohio for our Thanksgiving holiday with family, we received the Visiting Friend Newsletter to find that our first Sunday there was to be the dedication of the new addition to our home church ! When asked by Pastor John if we came home for the dedication, I had to tell him that it was an added bonus! We have lived through two previously failed attempts to get this addition to our facility and are pleased that this third effort has been successful! We can only say that things take place in God's time table, not ours! As our new Sports/Wellness Director said in a later newsletter, "God has placed a mighty tool for ministry in our hands, to 'reach the people where they are with the love and hope of Jesus Christ'." Now it is our responsibility to follow through as new outreach ideas are taking shape. We look forward to our return in the summer after our wanderings, to see the new growth. I would like to share some photos of the multi purpose building that was added. It begins with a huge main entrance which has been needed for a very long time. This entrance to the sanctuary still remains the same, but this reception area now is extended with the new added space. We all love to visit with our friends and meet new people and this change will enable us to do that. These photos show the flow from the old into the new with the new being to the left in this photo . It also gives us a secure nursery area in this day and age when we must worry about who is picking up the children. They will also have four larger rooms and two new restrooms to accomodate little people (note how low to the floor!). There will be two more rooms on this ground level which can house two ABF classes of older people who will no longer have to struggle with the stairs to go to the lower level. These rooms can also be opened to one large room for other purposes. There will be two new larger restrooms and a unisex room to accomodate either parent who might want to take care of a child's needs. The kitchen is filled with much more up to date equipment to help with the food preparation for serving many functions in addition to the kitchen already on the lower floor. But of course, the most popular space will probably be the gymnasium which many can't wait to put to use! The dedication held in this gym was well attended as Pastor John sank his famous basketball through the hoop! Way to go John! The services were great that morning and we didn't want to miss any when we found out the schedule. It began with a prayerful singing and worship time in the santuary with a coffee reception time following in the Chapel and then the ABF time for regular classes. This was topped off by the usual praise/sermon service. It was a very inspirational time! The dedication in the gym followed all of this. A couple weeks later after all of this excitement, we attended the church's Quaker Bells and Praise Team for their Christmas concert and were blessed with their music and fun! They had also invited the Salem High School's Chimes Ensemble under the direction of Jackie Samu, to participate. All of this was followed with a beautiful cookie and punch reception . What an evening! Sorry, but I did not have a handle on the camera's flash choices for this concert! So the photos are not many or very good. Just let your imagination take over! We are now back in SC visiting our new friends Sandy, Mike, and Mary today and will go on to southern GA for a few weeks. If we don't see some of you in the south, we will see you when we get back north to visit in the summer. God Bless you all!

OHIO - Br-r-r-r

I guess it does not matter where you are when the temperature is in the 20's and 30's! It is COLD!

On our way to Salem from Youngstown last evening for a Boy Scout Spaghetti Dinner, the drive was slippery and visibility not the greatest ! But we managed to stay safe. The dinner was very good and the boys did a great job serving! While there we got to visit with many friends, especially a retired pastor and his wife and Mrs. Beck, as well as many scout leader friends . We did not know any of the scouts except our grandson, which goes to show that we are getting OLDER.

Gary's sister was able to go out with us a couple times and she seems to be doing much better and enjoyed going out. Gary also had an opportunity to go out with his brother for breakfast. Hopefully in July when back in Ohio, we will spend more time with them.

We have spent about a week and a half since Thanksgiving visiting with friends and eating out! Sure does not help the diet, so we will have to buckle down when we leave here!

Thanksgiving was great though crowded and for the first time I got to use the turkey for additional meals of Turkey Soup and Turkey Tetrezini. I have wanted to do this for years, but never had the time. And quite often the boys would have used it all up quick. This year I have had plenty of time and I also included a lot of cookie and bread baking. We are leaving the boys with all of the baked goods so we will not be tempted. Our daughter-in-law asked if we would be here next Thanksgiving to bake the cookies! I told her NOT, but would give her all of the recipes!

Thanksgiving weekend was also a time for vegging out and just doing what comes naturally! Do you think we needed a couple more laptops? This is the guru leading the pack . Think they need a hobby?

We have also been shopping and wrapping gifts to leave here. I need one more day out to finish up.

We had dinner at our friend's, Bob and Eugenia , after which we played Boggle and visited. My friend Cindy and I also spent a day scrapbooking with Eugenia . Thanks Bob and Eugenia for your hospitality!

Another evening we got to go out to Ange Netta's for dinner with friends and former neighbors, Ray and Donna . The food was delicious, but too much as usual. While there we ran into church friends, Ralph and Ethel .

Some Agape' Sunday School ladies went to lunch at Annabell's for a short visit. Wish we could have stayed longer, but Gary needed the car to go clear to Liberty for his check-up. We always have to make concessions with just one car, but we have adjusted. Next summer with a month at home will really be the test for us! Thanks ladies for taking the time out of your busy schedules!

Gary's long time friend Rick, who is actually our family friend , has been a part of the family holidays for so many years that it would not be the same without him. He took us out to Springfield Grill for dinner and a pleasant relaxed evening. That is always a treat for us! Thanks again Rick!

Of course, my regular Monday night girls , had to get together again for old time sake. We ordered carryout and dined this time at Jeannette's house with her best canine buddy, Ina . I really miss the regular visits with Jeannette, Louise , and Ruth . There is always so much to talk about and catch up on since we are all grandmothers! See you again in July!

And last but not least, our favorite, our former places of employment! We have had to visit a couple times and brag about our freedom. Your day too shall come! Hang in there. Hope you can follow your dream as we have done!