with Mary Lynn Lambert
Prayer request for Ann Hinson, Joie Freeman, Brenda Cooper, John Jordan and Sarah Chandler.
Pastor Michael and Frances Cormier of the Standing on God’s Word Ministry are getting closer to opening their church in Silerton. Mrs. Cormier stated that they are looking forward to the opportunity to be a blessing to the Silerton community. They purchased the Silerton Methodist Church and have been busy with odds and ins, carpet installation and painting. They had envisioned having the church open, but the coronavirus quarantine changed their plans. They will be holding services on Saturday morning. During the quarantine, they have served meals to the some of the residents. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a hot meal may be picked up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Melea Beshires shared some her of her thoughts on the quarantine. She writes, “2020 is a year that will be talked about for years to come. Future generations will ask us, ‘What were you doing during Covid-19?’ This pandemic has left no one untouched, and we all have stories to tell. Like any challenging time, while we feel loss of comforts and securities, a renewed sense of gratitude can co-occur. The main shift for my family has been changing our routine. We have been working from home since mid-March, which has allowed me to spend more time with my 15-month-old son, Otto. For Otto, quarantine means he has a playmate all day. He enjoys getting pulled by Papaw in his wagon and eating delicious home-cooked meals with Nana (a luxury we are all enjoying!). He loves to come ‘help’ work by typing on the keyboards and then is usually swept up on Kevin’s shoulders and zoomed down the hall. Otto’s grandparents in Knoxville have been sure to tend to his entertainment as well. Thanks to them, he has his first kid tree house, a pop-up tent and many other fun surprises.
To keep from going stir crazy, we started the tradition of Saturday drives. We pack our own food and head out for several hours and just enjoy the countryside. It has been beautiful to see the spring blooms each week and just to be together. Otto is a recent walker and a begrudging shoe wearer, so there is nothing that makes us smile more than seeing him run in a big open field. Last week, when we stopped to stretch our legs, he picked up a rock, looking so pleased with himself. He examined it, clutched it tightly in his hand, ran toward me full throttle and placed it reverently in my hand. I realized when my fingers curled around that small white stone, that Otto had given me my first gift. It is the little moments like these that we must all keep making and hold onto. You may be isolated right now, and you may feel lonely but know that you are not alone. I would encourage anyone to take this time to call someone you have not talked to in awhile or to send a card or letter to someone you care about. While so much has changed around us one thing remains true, we all need each other, and we all need someone who brings beauty into our lives in even the hardest hours.”
I would appreciate if you would call and share some of your news and thoughts or memories so we can stay connected.
