Funny thing as I stare at this picture of these strawberries. A few days ago Justin sent me this picture of the strawberries he harvested for dinner. It was a pleasant surprise - so full of color.
A few days earlier, out in the early morning for my animal chores and I came across a half eaten strawberry in yard. I was giddy! I had been out of town for a week and when I left the strawberries were not ripe. Our first harvest of the season! So beautiful, so perfect!
Beautiful surprises fresh from the Earth, reminders of God's love for us through His Creation. This is what the last two months have been for us at Nativity House.
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An update is long overdue. As I reflect on the last two months of community life at Nativity House, honestly, I am speechless. I suppose that is why there hasn't been an update.
There is a word for it.
Overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed by the Grace that comes with this work.
Offering Hospitality
On April 11, Easter Week, Nativity House welcomed it's first guest mom. Sophiya has been with us two months now. She is 28. She is pregnant with a baby girl that is due to arrive late September. Sophiya is currently in school at Joliet Junior College with hopes of transferring and obtaining a degree in Early Childhood Education.
It has been remarkable watching our intentional community gather around Sophiya with tremendous love. We are daily reminded of the honor and privilege it is that we are able to share life together.
A Benefit Concert
A few weeks ago Julie Carrick contacted me. We had her come out to St. Dennis twice for concerts/mini retreats. She has been watching our ministry via Facebook and The Visitation for a few years now. Julie and her husband will be coming through town for ground tour and offered to do a benefit event for Nativity House!
What a tremendous blessing! The concert is entitled Sipping on Grace. How fitting! Since we welcomed Margaret our First intern back in January to now with welcoming our first guest mom and Theresa, our second intern, this is precisely what we have been doing. Julie & Kurt Carrick will offer a night of reflection and music on the Glories of God's Grace through the Sacraments. Join us!
Cars of Hope
Sophiya needs a car. We had a conversation about how stressful it is to not have transportation. I told her that I had no idea how, but that God would provide a car for her. We would say some prayers and wait.
The next day she came to me, she had looked up car donation websites and she needed me to call the head of an organization Cars of Hope, since we are her sponsoring organization. I called and we set up a meeting. Nativity House is working through the process to become a partner agency with Cars or Hope. When this process is complete, moms who come through Nativity House will have a tremendous chance at receiving a car. Sophiya has already given back to the community.
If you know of anyone who has a car to donate to Cars of Hope, they will be sure that the car is either gifted to a "deserving" individual or will resale it to pay for fixing up a gift car. Check out Cars of Hope
Garden Community
Last night we had our first garden work day in over a month. The month of May had many rainy Saturdays.
What joyful noise the garden is! 8 families working the land, Gracie and her friends cleaning out the chicken coop, friendly conversation over kicking out the weeds. "Is this a weed or a pepper plant?", fence building, potato mounding. This week we harvested strawberries, green onions, baby beet greens and spinach!
If you are ever interested in coming out on a Saturday from 9-11am to enjoy the joyful noise of gardening contact me!
*if you enjoyed reading our update please leave a message in the comments section*
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