Dream Team

I have such a neat stack of Thank You cards now.  I am working my way through my list, playing catch up.  After today, I have eight days to complete 15 cards.  Are you working out the numbers, my mathophiles?

Thank you for division.

Looking at my list, I have decided to share with you a quick outline of a few of the amazing, wonderful women to whom I owe a debt of gratitude.  Alphabetical order is safest--not that any of these women would care about competing for top billing; there is not one diva among them.  Every one of them deserves an entire chapter of praise and thanks for all the work they do.  This is just a sampling.

Thank you for bulleted lists.

• Amybeth.  Organizes restaurant fundraisers, Operation Christmas Child mission, beach clean-ups, Children's Christmas Mart, and movie nights, among other things.  Have you enjoyed NUMC Eat Out Night at Maria's Italian Kitchen?  Drop Amybeth a thank you card.

• Jenifer.  Publishes "The Methodist" Newsletter so efficiently, I never have to actually submit any announcements for the events I'm organizing; it's like she reads my mind!  Do you know what's happening at church because you read it in "The Methodist"?  Thank Jenifer.

• Katie.  Organizes the events and activities for children, families, and youth at NUMC. She leads the team behind our Sunday School programming and singlehandedly planned our Children's and Families' Christmas Eve Service.  Did you wear donkey ears or a shepherd hat on Christmas Eve?  Blame Katie (oops, I mean "thank").

• Lacey.  Runs an architectural landscape business, teaches infant swim lessons, manages her son's soccer team, and volunteers on all children's and youth events at church, including Sunday School.  Did you enjoy the Dinner & Silent Auction?  Chances are, Lacey and her family were serving you.  Thank you, Lacey, for reminding me to say "no" sometimes.

• Nancy.  Super supporter of Sunday School and Seniors.  As a creative crafter, she goes out of her way to prepare children's art projects that reinforce the Bible stories.  Plus, she started the traveling angels program to provide needed transportation to our stranded members.  Do your children know the stories of Jesus?  Thank you, Nancy.

• Sally.  Chancel Choir member, storyteller, Bell Choir member, grief support counselor, Healing Hands practitioner, nature lover, hiker, and volunteer for Family Ministries and Preschool programs.  She is a constant source of cheer and inspiration.  Thank you, Sally.

• Tandy.  Okay, well, Tandy is a force of nature. Artist, web-designer, backpacker, athlete, Girl Scout leader, and more.  She has her talented, creative hands in almost everything happening at NUMC.  She contributes time and muscle to Mission Rebuild at North Valley Caring Services, Operation Christmas Child, Children's Christmas Mart, Operation Gratitude, and the Rose Parade among so many other worthwhile programs.  Just go thank Tandy.   

As I attempt to describe the great work of these women, I'm struck by how much they do and how much more they do that I don't know about.  This is just the tip of the iceberg.  Their accomplishments are many, and I fall far short of doing them justice.  But you can see why I wrote them thank you cards.  If they've done something for you, or inspired you in some way, add them to your list.

Thank you, God, for Amybeth, Jenifer, Lacey, Katie, Nancy, Sally, and Tandy.