Only in NYC, or so I think... would be house slippers residing comfortablely in the church pew aisle....
Good day!! The weather has been so picture perfect I say to myself and others....I do love spring in the city!
And so to finish the story I started in my title... while Kendon's, Clay's and 4 young men were singing yesterday morning...I happened to look over to the men's side of church and I seen these house slippers sitting there....I poked Elsie and busted up laughing.... silent of course....😂 I caught the eye of the owner of the above mentioned slippers and his eyes started to twinkle and I laughed again....I knew I had better behave, because my behavior could affect the sobriety of the young man!! Then to truly finish the story, I looked over during the sermon and said young man had them on and Sunday dress shoes sitting beside!! 😂 Only when you live where you also worship!!! Ah... memories to store away!
Monday....the house is quiet and I have been loving it! I have laundry, I also did some deeper cleaning, like cleaning in the pantry. When done, I had some food items in a bag marked: Free and I took that and a bag of cans outside to our front gate...I'm sure by now they are long gone! It's a fantastic way to get rid of some unwanted items!! Ron is with Wade and Alex on a tract route today, they drove into Brooklyn. Jordan and Spencer went to Lincoln hospital to work and Spencer quickly filled out his paperwork and took that with!
Yes our new guy arrived on Saturday afternoon. He answers to Spencer Fast from Bridgewater Maine. His parents are Doug and Lisa. We like him, he seems of a quieter nature, but that isn't all bad!! Spencer was a good sport about rather unsettling events that happen at 2 am on Sunday morning!! He laughed along with the rest of us, as we rehashed details in the light of day!! 😂 He tells us he has 5 siblings, so we look forward to meeting the Fasts!
Dexter left on Friday, later afternoon...and our hearts were quiet and sad! Oh how we grow to love these boys, we bond, we laugh ( much ) we share , we roll with the punches together and then we have to say goodbye.... Papa and I both hugged him and hollered bye as he made his way down the stairs...we look at each other with tear blinded eyes, make our way to the window and watch until Sugar Hill van drives away! Once the guys were back from the airport, we had supper and a much more subdued evening! It's hard on all of us, and if you know what I'm talking about....then you get this!! We will miss his one liners, his " Dad" jokes and his wonderful person related skills! God bless him!
This evening is service at Tribeca and eat out supper later....we leave by 6.
Last Monday evening, we were at Kendon's and had a most wonderful evening!! Kendon's have a pizza oven and so that and a green salad that I brought was on the menu!!! Kendon's made 12 pizza's and all were eaten....now think a smaller size! ☺️ For dessert we enjoyed sorbet, flavor was blue berries and Earl grey tea! Awesome! Kendon and the guys played a game after supper, Ron, Kaitlyn, Olivia, Thomas and I were in the living room, talking and playing with the children! The drive over took 2 hours + , but coming home wasuch swifter, due to less traffic.
Tuesday was Lincoln hospital..go to help sing! This time we did alot of singing, a nurse came to ask us, if we sing to a family, where the Dad had just passed away!! Sure we say..... What a friend we have in Jesus...oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer. We hope the song was a source of comfort. In the evening, we headed to men's Bowery service....sang 10 songs and Alex brought some scriptures and thoughts.... Dexter closed with prayer. The men were so engaged with the service this time, calling out numbers of songs to be sung, visiting and hand shakes! Unit, Rogers and Clays made up the group. We went to Katz for supper and Ron and I shared a pastrami sandwich with mayo on this time, instead of their signature mustard! ( I don't care for the spicy mustard!) When the guy cutting the meat, heard that Ron wanted mayo, he asked, are you crazy???? 😀 To be honest, the guys love this restaurant and us women maybe just like it!!!! 😊 Clays and the guys went for gelato, Rogers and us caught trains for home!
Wednesday... laundry, made supper and also made maple twists....have been having a awful time with my dough.....finally after throwing away those twists too, plus another lump of dough, that didn't even raise in the trash can.....we concluded the yeast was bad and it was also thrown into file 13!!! ( I baked again on Friday and butter horns and cinnamon rolls were scrumptious and I don't mean to brag! Just utter frustration, until I solved the problem!! ) Bible study in the evening, Alex had a lesson on Living for self...good discussion, maybe not always staying on lesson! Alistair, Eric Iverson and DeDe were our locals. Clays were the only ones to stay for supper, I fixed beef burritos, refried beans, Mexican rice and Caesar salad...Ice cream pies topped it off. Alistair did come up to say goodbye to Dexter, as did DeDe later.
Thursday.... shopping day for us....we got completely tried....at BJ's....NO carts....we seen Target carts, Food Bazaar carts, Home depot carts, wagons, little shopping carts....no BJ carts to be had though...I finally went to the checkout line, and started asking there, as people paid for their items....no luck there either...the people I asked already had someone waiting beside them! So Ron also located a Target cart and we commenced to shop! We think and say sometimes....we are not in Kansas anymore!! And no use talking to BJ personal about it.... just go find one, or the security guard just grinned!! Ron went for cash on 125th in the afternoon and also stopped by a flower shop on Broadway and brought home flowers for me, from our girls!!! Lovely, thanks again! In the evening was Dexter's eat out, we were 10... Rogers and Clay's also joined us. He picked Skirt Steak and it didn't disappoint!!! After supper, walked to Anita's and got gelato! Ate outside! Book signing and sign signing after we got home!
Friday, house cleaning and laundry.... extra laundry with all of Dexter's bedding. Ron cleaned his room real well and the boys moved to their appropriate rooms. Papa got a T+shirt from Dexter and I got a 2026 NYC calendar....we had company for night in our spare room... Nicole Toews, she is at Hartford Connecticut and teaching there. Lives with Titus and Grace Stutzman, the missionaries at Hartford. They wanted to explore the city, so Rogers took them around Friday evening and Saturday. Had heart sharing with 2 of the guys late evening! ❤️
Saturday, later breakfast of Dutch babies and bacon... fruit smoothies and a couple of the guys also fried themselves some eggs. Guys did chores, cleaned rooms and got ready for the nights activities! Ron and I had more laundry etc. Spencer flew in at 2:10, down early and had collected his luggage by the time we walked in....the 3 guys went dressed as individuals of their own choosing!! 😃 We had already met Spencer at youth rally, so some of the fun was already had! Anyway, Wade and Spencer first came walking...and Spencer had no luggage!!! Jordan and Alex had just walked up to him, nary a word and took his luggage!!! I said, you trusted those guys?? Spencer told me, he thought he recognized them!!! We ate a late lunch at Jackson Hole Diner, where the owner shakes all of our hands!! Our waitress asked, if these were all our boys?! Yes, we claim them, but later Papa told the waitress, what we do, where we live and so forth! Huge burgers later...Ron and I shared one! Back to 762 St Nicholas Ave and Spencer unpacked and Papa and Wade showed him around and explained lots of schedules etc....all the things that look overwhelming when you are new!! It was one of those most lovely evenings, so we headed to Central Park, guys came a bit later. Ron and I first went to the reservoir, the beauty almost makes your heart ache! Strolled in another part and the Jews were out thick! Met our guys on a grassy lawn with huge rocks to perch ourselves upon. Guys brought spike ball along and played that for a long time. With occasional looks at the lingering day, gradually sliding into evening and night time! The skyline was so, so awesome and the lights...and the moon....we all just stood on the rocks and looked.....one can't get enough! Finally we pulled ourselves away and found a station and went to Penn station, used bathroom and then we wanted just a light snack......which turned into supper!!! We stopped at Raising Canes in Penn station and got 13 chicken fingers...I just had one, but that wasn't enough, so purchased another 6 fingers and the guys polished that off too....we had to laugh about our light snack!! 😂Of course, up and out of the station for gelato, before heading home!
Sunday... Mother's day....my heart about melted....it was after breakfast, after setting tables and picking songs...in fact I was in our bedroom, when I heard Jordan holler Mama....so I open bedroom door and there in the hallway, stood " my" 4 boys, all with big grins and Jordan hands me beautiful flowers 🌹!! If there is ever such a moment....where love completely fills your heart and you know without a shadow of a doubt....that if here is where God wants me, this is where I want to be! Guys can just be thankful I didn't cry!!! Ron and I hurriedly got a vase and arranged them! Church was just Sugar Hill, Clay's, Kendon's, Laurence's, 5 from Poughkeepsie... Rueben and family....Dayo's and Papa stayed home, because of a health issue. Locals were Tony and Shelly, Jamie, Eric and Alistair. Larry came for 2 plates at dinner time! Clay had the opening to SS and Rueben had the sermon on Pride.... lunch was Chicken enchiladas, Mexican rice, green salads, fruit salad and burnt grapes. Chips with homemade salsa. Desserts were mocha and Chinese wedding cake! The outdoors drew us all outside.... Rogers and us first had a little meeting with Rueben and Bisi about Papa Isaac:s retirement party. Later, guys, Clays, Kendon's and us left.... went to Brooklyn, Time Out Market....and then walked the Manhattan bridge....never, never do I get tired of the stunning views...of the skyline, the Hudson River....water taxis, and also the throngs of people, well to be honest, I do get tired of people!!!! 😊 Came on home and Dana and Clay prepared supper.... little Poppy seed sandwiches and veggie tray, ranch dip and dessert.... spent a relaxing evening together! All the men folk and Olivia and Thomas went to the rooftop to view the sunset....us ladies did dishes and talked!
Need to go fold a basket full of laundry....guys will be home soon!
Love and prayers, Mama Carol