Ye ole scrub woman

Just call me” ye ole scrub woman.” Another project completed -- a really good
project. Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center holds a special place in our hearts because it was our first VMM project back in October of 2016. They host all sorts of youth camps and retreats for all ages. The summer camps are put on by Tall Timbers while other groups that come in manage their own events and retreats. We are always happy to return. In fact, this April, we finished up a cabin that Bill helped drywall last April. One of the jobs the ladies got to do was clean up the mess the guys made in the remodel process. Before we got to the cleaning, we had to prime and paint all sorts of pieces for shelving that the men would install in the closets and next to the showers. 

Our cleaning consisted of removing glue residue and layers of dirt in all four of the bathrooms including all fixtures, floors, and sleeping rooms. Scrubbing, scraping, sweeping, and mopping. It was hard work, but very satisfying. Thank you, Lord, that you sustained my body for this challenge.

The men had their work cut out for them as well. Putting up the shelves was the easy part. There was the 1000+ feet of trenching and laying water pipe for a new outdoor recreation field and then smashing concrete and digging trenches for yet another large room meeting cabin to be remodeled into four “private” sleeping quarters for ten with attached bathrooms. The men worked really hard. Bill, especially, as he was crew leader on this project and a darn good one, if I do say so myself. And I do.

We arrived on project several days ahead of time and thoroughly enjoyed the down time. Although, I was insistent we go into Alexandria as soon as possible so I could get my taste of boudin balls. I must admit I do love Louisiana cuisine. For those of you who don’t know, boudin balls are made with sausage and rice and some really tasty spicy spices. I get the plain ones but they are not plain by any means. Of course, Bill likes the ones with jalapeno cheese.

Bill had lots of fun the first two Fridays we were in Louisiana. First Friday he got to take our car in for some brake repair work to the tune of $500. The following Friday he got to take the car in on a recall for the passenger airbag. If it wasn’t potentially serious, it would be kind of comical. We have had the car 10 years and now we get the recall: if it deployed it might send out metal fragments. So grateful we never had to find this out for ourselves.PTL!!! While Bill was waiting on this work to be done, I was back at Tall Timbers helping housekeeping turn a few rooms over for the next group coming in. This isn’t something we normally do, especially on a Friday, but I had the time and they had the need to get it done quickly. Seemed like a good idea and I enjoyed it.

One of our great joys in being so close to Alexandria on this project was the opportunity to spend time with someone we met at French Camp who lives there. I met Red, as I have come to fondly call her, our first time in French Camp. Short story…we bonded. J  

Red did well at French Camp and after a summer and two school years, Red started high school back home. Our second Sunday at Tall Timbers, we went to church with Red and her family and had a lovely dinner at their home afterwards. Such a delight. I was also able to spend an entire afternoon with Red during her spring break. The timing couldn’t have been better. Thank you, Lord! She took me to her favorite coffee shop, then we went to the mall and a few other places. We had a great time. On that Friday, Bill and I took her to lunch at one of my favorite places and I was thrilled to find out it was one of her favorites too. It was another very enjoyable experience made especially fun because our waiter was a young man that caught Red’s eye. I’ll say no more as I want to remain her friend. I made one more trip to see Red. It was to pick up a couple letters she wanted me to deliver to French Camp for some of her dorm sisters. Ain’t that sweet.

While the guys were digging trenches, us ladies took a day to do some shopping. A favorite of VMMers, is to go to thrift stores. We also stopped at a LifeWay Christian store, Michael’s, Stage, Tuesday Morning, and Krogers to get pints of ice cream to eat on the way home. There aren’t any real ice cream shops in the area so we had to improvise. What was I thinking…I was driving. I ate a few ginormous bites (Blue Bunny Bunny Tracks…YUM) and saved the rest until later. I bought one novel, one autobiography, a really cute leopard print top, two packs of beautiful card making paper for 75% off, raspberry syrup (for my coffee as the selection of flavored coffees in the south is very limited), and, surprise surprise I found some Pecan Caramel coffee at Tuesdays.

After a busy day of shopping, we came home and made quick suppers for our husbands because we had a game night scheduled. We had one game night each week of the project and each time we played a different game. Aren’t we crazy and wild mixing it up like that?  J  Hand & Foot, Jokers & Pegs, and 7s. Men came from behind on H&F, Ladies won J&P, and Bill won 7s. Fun times.

We had some seriously severe weather during our stay but, thankfully we didn’t have to go to the storm shelter. One of those times was a Saturday afternoon and evening. Bill thought it a good time to go to the movies which we haven’t done in years. It helped that the movie “Unplanned” was showing. So good. Sometimes hard to watch, but I highly recommend it. One weather pattern had gone through while we were in the movies and another one was approaching. We stopped for a couple Boudin balls for a quick dinner and then Bill thought it was a good time to check out a new brewery as we would pass right by it on our way home. Initially, I just wanted to get home, but the building did appear sturdier than our rig. It was actually quite enjoyable. We watched the continual severe weather reports on TV and taste tested a few beers.  Now it was my turn to be indulged…we stopped at three gas stations as I remember seeing one advertise ice cream. The third was a charm. More Bunny Tracks for me; and I can’t even remember what Bill got as I was too busy enjoying my own. The rest of the ride home was a bit harrowing to me, as it was raining pretty hard with thunder and lightning off in the distance. Needless to say, we made it back safely.

Because the ladies got their work done, we decided to take another day off. In the morning we went to what looks like a gas station but is more of a small market with a hot food deli and fresh meats, sausages and boudin. Taking some to Illinois for a bit of Louisiana flavor. Our main goal for the afternoon was to go to the local Pregnancy Care Center to pray and encourage. What a beautiful place. God has richly blessed this particular care center. 6000 square feet. Rental cost $1 a month. All furnishings and supplies donated. What a testimony of God’s goodness.

And because, the ladies only work mornings, we were able to spend several afternoons watching a DVD series by Chewbacca mom, author of Laugh it Up, entitled Defiant Joy. What a hoot. But more importantly, what great Biblical teaching and personal application. It didn’t hurt that she quoted so many of my favorite Scriptures.

Our entire team served in a different capacity for a special purpose one Thursday night. There was a huge retirement banquet at the conference center and they needed more servers. Our entire team volunteered to help and we had a lot of fun doing it. Each team member focused on about 12 attenders. I do like to serve and was grateful there was no order taking. Just keeping the two drink options clear in my head was quite the challenge. We got “paid” with a steak dinner.

Another fun (not so much) adventure was me going to urgent care. We thought I might have a teeny sliver in my pinky finger. After both Bill and another team project member tried to find it by poking around my finger with a needle with no success (unless you call my outburst a success), we decided to seek medical attention. It had been sore for several days and was becoming more swollen, hard, and painful. The good news was, they think it’s only a broken blood vessel. The bad news was, after driving into Alexandria and registering we had to turn around and go back to the rig (about 30 minutes)  and get my Medicare card. Up to this time my health insurance card proved good enough. I guess they do things different in the South! I will say, they sure were exceptionally nice and took the time to explain possibilities and options. They did put me on an antibiotic in case there was something so small that the x-ray didn’t pick it up. I’m not used to taking medication and after the first day, I started double dosing because I’m used to taking two each of my various vitamins. Oops…not sure if I had any repercussions on that but I’m happy to say, my finger is getting better just still a little tender and raised.  So grateful, however, for no other injuries by anyone on the project. PTL!!!

In case you were wondering, Bill and I did do some fun things in good weather. Well, sort of. We visited Fort Randolph and Fort Buhrow. These were earthen forts built along the Red River to stop the Union Army late in the Civil War. However, no shots were ever fired from these two forts and they were not maintained in their original form. So as we walked the boardwalks, we had to use our imagination a bit. We enjoyed it even when it tried to rain on us a few times. Bill also might have an opportunity to be a blacksmith at some of their special events that they would schedule in April of next year if we are to return. We also managed to get in a walk around the lake at Tall Timbers without getting our feet wet after a few warm and sunny days. There were some wet spots but still very doable and beautiful. 

On the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter we took a day trip to Natchitoches  (pronounced Nack-a-tish) which has a beautiful historic downtown waterfront. Natchitoches is also home to the main house used in the movie Steel Magnolias. It is now a bed and breakfast. So for $250 a night you can sleep there. On our way, we stopped at Magnolia Plantation. It appeared to be a mostly self-guided tour. Good thing, because there was no one around to provide information. Fortunately, there were brochures available so we could give ourselves a really good tour. Very interesting place. 

We also stopped at the Melrose Plantation where we did have a guided tour that was so worth it. A lot of fascinating history as this plantation was established by “gens de couleur libres” (free people of color) around the time of the Louisiana Purchase. Here’s just a snippet of that history:  In 1742, Marie Thérèse Coincoin was born a slave and leased as a housekeeper to a young French merchant named Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer. A nineteen year relationship ensued, resulting in ten children. Eventually, Metoyer purchased Marie Thérèse and several of their children, giving them their freedom. And that’s just the beginning of a fascinating story. You’ll have to go to Louisiana to find out more or just J Google it. J

What a great place to be for the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. The church we went to with Red’s family has a small sister church about ten minutes from Tall Timbers. That’s where we went the first Sunday with our VMM team and then again on Good Friday. There was an evening service with several readings, worship songs, inspirational video clips all the while an artist was painting. Very cool! 

On Easter, I was excited to go to what I called the Big Church. The one in 

Alexandria that Red’s family attends. They had a large choir and orchestra. One of my desires on Easter morning is to make a really loud and joyful noise unto the Lord and we sure did that. They also had a couple of baptisms which only added to the joyful experience. We returned to our rig and had a sweet, just the two of us, tiny ham dinner. Mid-afternoon, in gorgeous weather, we played bag toss (corn hole) with one of the other VMMer couples. Wonderfully blessed day. He is risen! He’s risen indeed!

We left Tall Timbers the Friday after Easter, heading north to our next project at Little Galilee Christian Camp, Clinton, Illinois. Going just an hour out of our way, we popped into French Camp to say hi to our dear friends. We stayed three nights. Lotsa hugs, catching up chats, and more hugs made the trip SO VERY worthwhile. Left French Camp Monday after hanging out in the dining hall for all three lunch periods so we could say final good byes especially to graduating seniors. Illinois, here we come.

Be blessed and be a blessing!