December 8. Christmas Party. 763.Jamie. 764.Gail. 765.Janna. 766.Mary VDW

 Good morning ladies on another bright sunny day.  It does not feel like December.

Last night was a good night for our party.  Nine of us enjoyed good food, conversation, and a time of prayer for four people.  We did quilts for 

763. Jamie, Kerri DeBerry’s cousin…her finance suddenly died after complications  from surgery.  Pray that somehow she may reach out and find faith in God…………

764. Gail, a young lady waiting surgery for a brain tumor……….

765. Janna, a preschool teacher from the Christian school who has cancer….

766. Mary, Sony Thayer’s sister dealing with cancer. 

 Continue to pray for each of these individual’s especially now during this Christmas season.

                                              Joyce, Karen Marci, Stephanie, Amy B

                                                      Mary K, Holly, Marian, Barb

                                                    (Photo credit Nate H.  Thanks!)

Our year has certainly been a different one but may we remember many special joys that have happened during this pandemic.  We need to take time and to reflect on all of God’s goodness.

Thanks go out to each one of you that have been so faithful to keep our ministry going.  Many of you are doing a lot of home work.  During 2020 despite the pandemic we gave away 105 quilts.  I pray that as we soon enter a New Year that we may continue our ministry.  It is not about us or the quilts it is about the prayers.

Thank you so much for your gifts but the most special one is your gift of  friendship and love.

Our next meeting is the second Tuesday in January 2021.

Remember the true meaning of Christmas.

God is good.

Love, Joyce

There are two secrets to joy and both involve serving others.  Get your mind off of yourself.  The more you focus on yourself, the more miserable you will become.  To find real joy, you must shift your focus from inward to outward.  Change “it’s all about me”, to”it’s all about serving others.”  Instead of focusing only on your personal needs, take time to recognize the needs of others.

A  blessed Christmas to each and everyone

November 2020. 757.Dan&Claudia. 758.Dick&Roxi. 759.Elayne. 760.Ron&Donna. 761.Mike&Jean. 762.William V.

 Good morning ladies on a beautiful sunny day.

We had another good night last night.  Seven quilts were pinned and 9 quilts had ties put in.

We did quilts for 

757.Dan & Claudia who have been in Joyce’s apartment the past 7 weeks,  

758.for Dick and Roxi Margeson…Dick is recovering from a stroke…

759.for Joel’s aunt Elayne who has cancer…

760.for Susan’s sister and husband Ron & Donna….Ron had a kidney transplant 4 weeks ago and hopes to return to their home in 2 weeks…..

761.for Sen. Mike & Jean Rounds….Jean is on her second round of fighting breast cancer….

762.for Mike& Heidi Vetter’s son, William…William is bleeding internally and they have not found the cause

.

Last night was the last work night for 2020.  We will have our Christmas party on December 8^th at 6:30……bring something good to eat.  We will be doing quilts for teachers that have not been remembered in some way before.

Stay well but be positive each day.  We don’t get today to do over again.

My thanks go out to each one of you.  2020 was a challenge but with your help we just kept going.

My love goes out to each one of you.

Joyce

“Try to have good days and bad moments.

Life is too short to have a bad day.”

October 2020. 755.Charlie. 756.Karen

 

Good morning ladies….and did you know it is going to warm up so we can clean up our leaves.

There were only five of us last night but as always it was good.  I just had to crack the whip harder.

We did quilts for 

755.  Charlie who has covid-19…he has been very sick but is at home…..                  

756.   for my daughter-in-law Karen  whose 20 yr. old grandson committed suicide……pray for faith, hope, peace.  We are living in a different time but God knows and is in control. 

Our next work night is Nov. 10^th.  Amy is doing treats.  Thanks Holly for the wonderful dessert with no calories……just butter, cream cheese, and sugar.

Enjoy each day because we are not going to get to do it over again.

Love, Joyce

 

“tweet others as you want to be tweeted”

October 2020. 750.Landon&Rachel&Noah. 751.James. 752.Emily. 753.Angie. 754.Pastor Baba

 We had a great night last night.  Thank you each one of you for your faithfulness.

We sewed, pinned, put in ties, ironed, laughted, cried, ate……it was good.

We did quilts for 

750. Landon & Rachel…they have a baby boy, Noah born at 25 weeks…..pray for doctors and nurses as they care for this tiny special baby….

751. James, who is one…..pray for the entire family as they continue to adjust to 2 foster children……

752. also a quilt for Emily, James mother….pray that she may get and accept some help……

753.for Angie, Holly’s co-worker, who has breast cancer….                                                                      

                                      

754.for Pastor Baba who is the new pastor at the church where Shan is in Japan.

Pastor Baba, Ayumi (first year of nursing school), Yuka (10th grade), Chiaki (mom)  (Not pictured, Yuki, son, 3rd year of university)

 

Our next quilt night is October 27^th.  …….anybody want to bring a treat.  Thanks Amy B. for the delicious dessert last night.

Enjoy the rest of your week.  Life is different this year but we are so fortunate…..continue to look around and see all that God has done…..CHOOSE JOY

Love, Joyce

God is in Control

We believe that His children will not be forsaken

God is in control

We will choose to remember and never be shaken

There is no power above or beside Him we know

Oh, God is in control

September 23, 2020. 718-747. Madison Volunteer Fire Department. 748. Kalia 749. JN

 Good morning to each one of you.

Last night was a wonderful evening.  

718-747.  Three of the firemen came to accept the quilts that we made for them……..29 of  them.  We had several minutes of prayer for them before they packed them up and took them with them.  What a delight it was but we need to give God the Glory that we were able to do this……it is not about us…….

From Facebook post 01292021

City of Madison SD Fire Department

 “The West  Center Baptist Church quilting group donated 30 handmade quilts to our volunteer firefighters. From what I have heard, this group has donated over 750 quilts to people in our area. Well done and thank you for the gifts!”

We also prayed for two more …..

for 748.  Kaila who will be 8 in Oct.  Kaila lives on one of the chain of love homes in Brazil…she was adopted but then turned back in to the authorities.  Pray for all of these young children who want to have a Mom and a Dad…

749.  we prayed for another special lady with medical problems.

There are 5 Tuesdays in Sept. so it will be three weeks before we meet again on Oct. 13^th (Jim’s birthday).  If anyone wants to bring a treat let me know.

Thank you ladies for putting up with me.  You continue to do homework which has kept us so we are able to give the quilts when we get a request.  We still have 20 quilts that are completed and several in the making….isn’t that amazing.  With our new source of getting fabric cheaper I can really crack the whip.  I love buying fabric when you can get a good deal.

Continue to pray for each other.  I talked to Shonda and Joy is doing fair.  Pray for the Schuberts as they continue to not feel well and have 2 foster  children to care for. Pray for our country as the election draw closer.

May you CHOOSE JOY on this another wonderful fall day.

Love, Joyce

Glorifying God means being occupied with and committed to His ways rather than preoccupied with and determined to go my own way.  It is being so thrilled with Him, so devoted to Him, so committed to Him that we cannot get enough of Him.  (Chuck Swindoll from his book Rise & Shine)

September 9, 2020. 716. Dawn B. 717. Emily

  

Good morning ladies on a cool fall day but it is going to get warmer.  My flannel shirt feels so good today.

We had a good night last night.  We got the ties tied and the 29 quilts all ready for the firemen……….we prayed for two

716. Dawn B. who has many health problems plus a nephew and a granddaughter dying…

717. Emily, Amy Brown’s cousin, who has breast cancer.

We enjoyed fellowship together and good food……a lemon dessert made by Karen….thanks Karen.

Our next quilt night is Sept. 22^nd.  The firemen are coming that  night to receive their quilts.  I hope that many of you can come and so we can show our appreciation to these men who give much of their time to our community.

Keep warm and see you on the 22^nd.

Love, Joyce

     But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.  O my Strength, I sing praise to you;, O God, you are my fortress, my loving God.  Psalm 59:16-17

August 25, 2020. 712.Mel. 713.Nancy. 714.Bob. 715.Debbie

 Good morning ladies.  Seven of us had a good night last night.  We got lots done.  We did quilts for Marcie’s friend, 

712.Mel….Mel is dealing with some depression….

713. Nancy who had a stroke and will be working towards lots of therapy….Nancy lives with my son Tim and his wife….

714. Bob dealing with pancreatic cancer…Bob has been so good to Tim

 715. Debbie Waugh who was in a car accident.

We are going to meet on the 3^rd and 5^th Tuesdays in Sept…….Sept.15^th and 29^th……..we are going to be working at getting the firemen’s quilts ready.

 

I was just thinking….Sept. 8^th would be our regular work night……what would you think of just having a fellowship night on my deck at around 7:00PM…….we would just visit and I can make some kind of dessert.  Who would come?  Let me know if you think this would be a good idea.

 

Miss many of you….you are special

Love, Joyce

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are Serving.  Colossians 3:23-24

August 12, 2020 708.Barb&Dave. 709.Jim&MaryJane. 710.Jan. 711.Jace

Good morning ladies.  Six of us had a good night last night.  We miss each one of you and hope that you are doing well during this very different year.

We sewed, we pinned, we put in ties, and most important we prayed .  We did quilts for

708. Barb & Dave Bishop 

 

 

709.  Barb’s parents Jim and Mary Jane Bohlender.  We prayed for them as they begin this new time of living in the same home.  There are so many adjustments

 

710. Jan Pearson….Jan is Mary Kenyon’s neighbor……Jan’s husband, Royce, died recently after being on  hospice care after suffering a severe stroke

 

711.   Jace Reverts…Jace is Betty Wilbur’s Gr. Grandson…..Jace broke his leg.

 

Who have we missed?  I don’t hear a lot of the news so you need to tell us of people who could use a cheer.

Don’t forget to send Freda Slaughter a birthday card for her 90th birthday.

May we continue to pray and love one another and someday we will all be able to get together.

Love to you all, Joyce

 

Meditate on the fact that like a tree, your roots are tapped into Jesus.

 He will nourish and sustain you through every

season.

July 29, 2020. 701.Karen&Jerry. 702.Virginia Johnson. 703.Deb Hollingsworth. 704.Clay Misar. 705.Ken Terwilliger. 706,707. .Ken&Kevin

Good morning ladies on another nice summer day.  July is almost gone.

We had a very good night last night.  There were seven of us.  I cracked the whip so we got lots done.  We prayed for seven people……

701. Karen and Jerry….a couple in the Bethel Apartments….they both have medical problems….Karen has become Betty Wilbur’s walking partner….

702.  Virginia Johnson….Jackie William’s mother…..Virginia had surgery for breast cancer…..

703.  Deb Hollingsworth who had a freak fireworks accident…Deb had the prayer quilt we had given her when she had cancer across her shoulders….it saved her from more burns………

704. Clay Misar…..a 7^th grader from the Ramona area…..Clay has leukemia….

705. Ken Terwilliger…Susan S. dad…..Ken has parkingson’s….

706.  Ken and 
707.  Kevin…relatives of Holly…Ken is doctoring trying to find reason for severe pain……Ken is the caretaker for his brother Kevin.  

Continue to pray for the many people that we have reached out to.

Who have we forgotten?  Please tell us of anyone we can bless.

Thank you to each one of you….those who work at home, those who come, those of you who say a prayer.  Each one of you is important……the little things….the big things….put them all  together and we can keep going.

Next quilt night is August 11^th.

We live in a different time right now but remember God loves each one of you and so do I.

Joyce

Use your passion, your skills, to bring a smile, to boost a spirit, and make a difference, one person at a time.

Take 2 heaping cups of Patience

2 handfuls of Generosity

Sprinkle with Kindness

Add plenty of Faith

Mix well and spread over a period of a lifetime and serve everybody you meet.

July 15, 2020

Good morning dear friends.  I miss all of you and some day we will all get together.

Last night there was just Mary K., Karen L., Amy B., and myself.  We pinned 5 quilts and then had coffee (tea), and dessert and had good conversation.

We are limping along…..and someday it will be different.  I appreciate each one of you and thank those who have done much homework.  We will meet again on July 28^th.

I want to share a portion of the devotions that I read last night.

“Not only has Jesus provided us with eternal life, but He’s provided for our physical needs here on earth….from the electricity that lights up our homes to the food on our table.  He gives us so much.  Often, we take it as if we deserve it.  Like rich kids who don’t recognize their dad’s generosity.  In the presence of Jesus’s daily abundance, we easily feel entitled and forget how truly blessed we are.   But we don’t have to forget.  We can choose to move away from an attitude of entitlement and embrace an attitude of gratitude.  Jesus has blessed our socks off.  Let’s decide to live with open hearts, full of thankfulness, for every good and perfect gift that Jesus has sent our way.”

Jesus has truly blessed our socks off so let’s remember to give him thanks today.

Love you all, Joyce

June 24,2020. 693.Paul. 694.Rachel and Dustin Kodak. 695.Corrine Gillespie. 696.Eric Nelson. 697.Taiya Coomes. 698.Anna Vonkeman. 699.AJ Peters. 700. Cecelia

June 24 2020

Good morning ladies on a beautiful summer day.

There were only five of us last night so I really had to crack the whip.  Thanks Nate for helping out.

 693.  On Sunday we gave Paul (the drummer) a quilt.  What a joy it was to have his young friends tie and pray for his quilt….Noah, Ishara, and Nate.  Paul was leaving for his home in AK yesterday. 

     

Last night we prayed for seven quilts.  …

        694.

For Rachel & Dustin Kocak & family with many needs…..Dustin has Lyme's disease….they need a home…and they need jobs and they need our prayers

     

695. for Corrin Gillespie…Corrin graduated from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls this year.  She is a dancer and noticed pain in her lower leg……went to Mayo and found out she had cancer and had to have her leg amputated below the knee….in the meantime she got the virus.  She is home now in Sioux Falls after her surgery. 

     

We prayed for four high school graduates…

696.Eric Nelson 

       

     

697.Taiya Coomes 

       

        698. Anna Vonkeman

                 
        699. AJ Peters.  

                

Continue to pray for these young people as they go on to the next step in their lives………


and now for number 700…that goes to Cecelia.  Cecelia is the 2 year old foster child that Stephanie is caring for.

Pray that the Schubert’s may soon be united in the same home.

     

Thank you ladies for making it possible to limp along with our prayer quilts.  There are  many complications now with summer activities and that virus.  Soon we hope to meet again…….now that we are at 700 we need to  celebrate the fact that we are still going and that we can put joy into many lives.

Take care but don’t be fearful.  God is good.

Love you all,

Joyce

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those 

who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  

Roman 8:28