Day Of Service..Helping Hands-Linking Arms

Helping Hands....Linking Arms

All over the Southeastern United States, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints invited those of other faiths and community organizations to join them in a Day of Service.

For details on Day of Service activities in other areas, click HERE

Under the direction of Colin Baenziger, The Wellington Ward teamed up with CROS Ministries to organize 3 Projects. All 3 projects took place in the Belle Glade area of Western Palm Beach County. This area is afflicted by the challenges that come with severe poverty. In some areas of the Glades, it feels like being in a 3rd World Country, yet home is only separated by Sugar Cane Fields and a 40 minute drive.

Along with providing Manpower, the projects were funded by cash donations from members of our Ward. Members were generous with their time and money.

Prior to departure for the various Service Projects: President Don Smarinsky, County Commisioner Jess Santamaria, and Bishop Mark Watson

Three Projects were organized, funded, and completed:
1) Re-roofing a home for a Grandmother who is raising 8 Grandchildren. The roof was damaged in one of the hurricanes a few years back and every time it rains outside, it rains inside, also. NOW...the roof is repaired and her house will stay dry inside.

2) Building a wheelchair ramp and replacing the flooring in a trailer. This Trailer is occupied by a family of 3. One of the sons has two legs, but cannot use them. He has to crawl on the floor or use his wheelchair to get around. The floor was severely warped, making it difficult to crawl on and impossible to use the wheelchair on. The wheelchair ramp was destroyed in one of the hurricanes a few years ago.
NOW....he has a new smooth floor to crawl on and a beautiful wheelchair ramp outside. The trailer will blow away before that ramp goes anywhere...you will note in the photos below. A new refrigerator was also donated.

Ron, Don, Meaghan, Jan, and Lauren Smarinsky, Katie Klemas

3) Cornfield Gleaning. A large group went to a corn field to glean the corn left behind after the mechanical harvest. This corn ended up at Local Food Banks and in turn, was on some one's plate within 24 hours. This was a great project to have so the children could be involved in Day of Service.Katherine and Allara
TO VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS CLICK HERE, HERE, and HERE

Many hands working together can pull off miracles. I feel blessed to know so many angels disguised as every day people just "doing their part".

Did your area participate in Day of Service? I would love to hear about it!

Mi Amiga

Chili Cook-Off

No event is complete without a photo with my favorite amiga...

Pink and Green...

Clearly, all the time on the Island of Palm Beach is telling on us.

(But we still dont tell who we work for....)

I love this woman dearly!

Tonight was The Wellington Ward Chili Cook-off. Look for photos of The Chili Cook Off and the recent Primary Activity Day HERE. Chili, Salsa, and Tamales to die for!

Sneak Peak

Oh What A Night...

Time does not permit a detailed account of the wonderful

Gingerbread Activity we hosted at our home last night.

For now...enjoy a drop in the bucket sampling of

the oodles of photos shot throughout the evening....

I was smart...I handed my camera to someone else and

viola...living proof...I am the Gingerbread Mom...

With lots of help from the leaders and moms, this was the perfect start to a season of Christmas Celebrations! More photos on the Wellington Ward Blog later. And......drum roll...because many have asked for it.... a detailed tutorial on Gingerbread (Graham Cracker) Houses, Icing, Strategies, etc. I think I just may be an expert at these little houses after 25 years.

Blast From The Past....

Wellington Ward Primary

circa early 1990's

Does anyone know the exact year?

Can you name some of the faces?

I will post on Facebook with tags I know. I have been hoping to

find a photo of Carol-Ann and Ryan Jump together as children.

I see Ryan and her sister, Hannah, but not Carol Ann.

I will also post on my Wellington Ward Blog I am thinking this is when Sis. Rane was Primary President???

Farewell Ian

Called To Serve

Ian is on his way to serve in The Canada Montreal Mission

What pleasure to know Ian, his father, Colin, and his brother,

Sean. My love and prayers go with Ian. The Canada-Montreal

Mission will be blessed to have such a wonderful missionary.

Ian with his Dad, Colin at an Open House held today.
Me, Ian, Ron (see I remembered to include myself in a photo)

Ian and Andrew (today was Andrew's last Sunday before he

heads to College) Next Sunday, Andrew will be in Gainesville

attending Church after a Gator Game.

Speaking of last Sundays....Star and Jade leave for BYU

this week.

This photo is

Star, Jade, Summer, and Natalia

Women's Softball Photo Edits

Women's Softball Edited...

The Memorial Day Picnic photos were a perfect excuse for me to practice using my newly acquired Photoshop Skills...don't get too excited I am a Photoshop newbie. Recently, I took a 6 week course to help me learn how to use my Adobe Photoshop Elements Program. The result is not a flood of knowledge or skill, however, I know just enough to do some basic editing and cropping.

Taking the class also helped me not be afraid to open my PS Program and experiment...

That being said...enjoy the cropping and closer views of our fabulous

Wellington Ward Women's Softball game

Here, Mother and Daughter...Jolynn and Marquelle were strategizing...

This is our Bishop as our Batting Coach. Stephanie B was so much fun to watch as the catcher. She was awesome! Here is her daughter, Star, up to bat.
Julie I. up close....
Julie's Mother In Law... the lovely Laurie!

This is such a great shot of Lacy.... a little closer than in the previous post.

This was so much fun...now you can see a little closer.

It was rally time....

Don't you hate when you have a bruise on your arm

and you cannot remember how, when, or where it happened?

That is how I feel about my arm in this photo...

(What was I thinking... I know how to brush that out! Next time!)

Team #2 got to wait in the shade for their "at-bats"

This, comfort, however, did not bring victory in the end! Team #1 won!

A Little Closer view of our "Good Game" Congratulations Line!

The awesome Team #2...they were great competition.

And the winners are.... Team #1

You Go, Girls!

More photos to follow!

Check This Out

Check Here

To see What John Klemas presented to

Bishop Watson for Easter....

Keep in mind... due to a serious injury,

Bishop Watson has been on crutches since January

and will be for most of 2008!

It goes without saying....

Bishop Watson is LOVED and is a

Very GOOD SPORT!

I wish I could have been there to witness this presentation!

I know, I know....If you used to live here... you really miss The Wellington Ward....And John Klemas!

Old Home Week Excitement

Every One Is Growing Up...

At Christmas, it is always fun to see the college students return at Church. Most of these kids, I have known for years, if not their entire lives. My boys grew up with these kids and they are part of our family. I feel like a second mother to so many of these kids. I love them like my own. I wish I had taken more pictures of everyone I saw. They would be so fun to share.

Yesterday was also Keith and Stacia's wedding reception, which added to the excitement of this season of Christmas and reunions with loved ones.

John, Lesley, Jeff, Alison at Keith and Stacia's Reception
Today at Church. The above photo includes Shane home from BYU-I and the below has the newly weds, Keith and Stacia, The no-so-newly weds, Kendra and Jeff, and The engaged to be weds, Jeff and Alison. This was taken outside the Wellington Chapel.
Shane made the mistake of asking if I was taking his photo for my blog.... YES, Shane, here you are! It was so great to see him. He is still tall, handsome, and has such a great spirit!

Keith and Jeffrey have been friends since birth. I could write a book about them. Keith has been married for a week now and heads back to Utah tomorrow with his bride, Stacia.

Jeff and Uncle Melvin

Melvin was bonding with his newest nephew, Austin, son of Michelle and Brett, who are here while Brett is doing an internship for.....guess who.... yes The Golden Arches!!!!

Sundays like these are so fun. Seeing all of these kids growing up into such incredible adults. I wish now that I had been a little more camera happy this weekend. Perhaps I will catch a few stragglers this week.