Last Friday we had our annual Thanksgiving dinner at church. I felt kind of nostalgic when I remembered that it's been ten years since our first Thanksgiving dinner as a new branch, over in the old house. TEN!
At that first dinner, Abbey and Loretta (my counselors) were very busy with organizing and serving, as was I. Loretta and I almost ruined the gravy in the big pot. So, every year, we joke about that now. "Don't let Loretta near the gravy!"
Dawn H had the idea to ask everyone who has been here in these 'pioneer' years to write down some memories or experiences or thoughts, and she will compile them into a book. Here is part of what I wrote:
" My husband had been commuting to Kentucky for work, and he attended the Elizabethtown ward when he was not home in Utah. We moved to Bardstown in the summer of 2003, a month or so after the Bardstown LDS branch was formed. I was immediately called as relief society president. Two wonderful sisters, Abbey Schluter and Loretta Wainscott, were called as counselors.
We were a very little group of pioneering members who met in a former family home on Templin Avenue. It was wonderful. I loved everything about our time there - the house itself, the cozy atmosphere, the close family feeling among all of us in the branch, and especially the Holy Spirit which was strongly present in our Sunday meetings and in our activities during the week. We had a lot of fun, too.
Sitting in sacrament meeting, we had the prettiest view out the large picture windows - green fields and trees. Sometimes there were horses. In the winter all was white. It was idyllic.
My very favorite part of my relief society work and service at that time was going to Louisville to the truck that brought the welfare food and items for the needy families in our stake, and then delivering them locally. Seeing that truck full of nourishing foods and everything a family needs to get by, and thinking of the love and and work and sacrifice and fast offering moneys it takes to supply that to so many, made me realize more strongly than ever that we truly are in the Savior's church.
When our new chapel was completed and it was time to move, everyone was excited. But not me! Someone joked that "Sister Charles is against progress." I just wanted everything to remain as it was. And yet, I knew the Lord wanted our branch to grow. New brothers and sisters would be joining us, through conversion and moving in. We needed more room and a permanent location. And it would all be good.
My husband and I love to visit members and especially new members in their homes, home teaching and teaching new-member lessons and bringing encouragement and support. We feel it is a privilege and blessing to be members of Bardstown branch."
Good friends, fun times, great memories --
this is the evening we had square dancing
And then, the day of the groundbreaking for our new church building, in April 2004 --
At that first dinner, Abbey and Loretta (my counselors) were very busy with organizing and serving, as was I. Loretta and I almost ruined the gravy in the big pot. So, every year, we joke about that now. "Don't let Loretta near the gravy!"
Dawn H had the idea to ask everyone who has been here in these 'pioneer' years to write down some memories or experiences or thoughts, and she will compile them into a book. Here is part of what I wrote:
" My husband had been commuting to Kentucky for work, and he attended the Elizabethtown ward when he was not home in Utah. We moved to Bardstown in the summer of 2003, a month or so after the Bardstown LDS branch was formed. I was immediately called as relief society president. Two wonderful sisters, Abbey Schluter and Loretta Wainscott, were called as counselors.
We were a very little group of pioneering members who met in a former family home on Templin Avenue. It was wonderful. I loved everything about our time there - the house itself, the cozy atmosphere, the close family feeling among all of us in the branch, and especially the Holy Spirit which was strongly present in our Sunday meetings and in our activities during the week. We had a lot of fun, too.
Sitting in sacrament meeting, we had the prettiest view out the large picture windows - green fields and trees. Sometimes there were horses. In the winter all was white. It was idyllic.
My very favorite part of my relief society work and service at that time was going to Louisville to the truck that brought the welfare food and items for the needy families in our stake, and then delivering them locally. Seeing that truck full of nourishing foods and everything a family needs to get by, and thinking of the love and and work and sacrifice and fast offering moneys it takes to supply that to so many, made me realize more strongly than ever that we truly are in the Savior's church.
When our new chapel was completed and it was time to move, everyone was excited. But not me! Someone joked that "Sister Charles is against progress." I just wanted everything to remain as it was. And yet, I knew the Lord wanted our branch to grow. New brothers and sisters would be joining us, through conversion and moving in. We needed more room and a permanent location. And it would all be good.
My husband and I love to visit members and especially new members in their homes, home teaching and teaching new-member lessons and bringing encouragement and support. We feel it is a privilege and blessing to be members of Bardstown branch."
Good friends, fun times, great memories --
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| Game night on Friday nights. Jake is at left. |
this is the evening we had square dancing
And then, the day of the groundbreaking for our new church building, in April 2004 --
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| a few of these people are visitors (e.g. third from left is the mayor), but most are the branch members at that time. |
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| Great picture of a wonderful family |
