It occurred to me that, perhaps, we all needed to do a little something for someone else, thus Service Week was born. It proved to be a good week at Mellie Camp. Again, I write these blogs to document camp for the boys, of course, my sharing it on FB belies my protests of understanding if you don't read it. Such a conundrum, or is it hypocrisy?
Day 1
Today, we decided to make lunches for those who are experiencing homelessness, but our first service project was to make the bed, then write cards for Fizzy. Fizzy is definitely a wonderful model of servant leadership in this family and deserves to be honored. One note said, "Fizzy I love you," and the other said, "we made your beb. I love you." Is there anything more precious than handwritten messages from one's grandchildren? Our next act of service was to replace the flapper in Fizzy's toilet. I explained about turning the water off at the wall, what a flapper does, how the chain needs to be the right length and presto, no more running toilet. Later in the day, when one sweet little granddaughter felt the need to use most of a roll of toilet paper to take care of her needs, it was Mellie to the rescue again with my handy plunger.
Then, we went to the store to buy supplies for our lunches. It was decided that we would make 6 and each boy could deliver 3. I was very concerned about fixing sandwiches made with meat and cheese and mayonnaise, so we did what I don't really like to do when I am fixing meals for those in need, and that is make peanut butter sandwiches. I figured the humbleness of PB&J would be better received than a sandwich which provided ptomaine poisoning. Nobody wants that.
Each boy got to pick the kind of chips, dessert, and drink that would go in the lunch and we also got fresh cherries and grapes. One of my sweet boys has great difficulty in making decisions and so we stood in the refrigerated section of the store for as long as I could stand as he pondered which kind of lemonade he wanted...for himself. Finally, I told him I was counting to 30 (I know, right? Why not 5?) and if he had not made a decision, I would make it for him. At 29 he decided, I returned the one not chosen to the refrigerator and he immediately began to moan that he had made the wrong choice. "Tough luck" was the most loving response I could come up with at that moment.
Finally, back home to put the lunches together. One little guy was struggling a bit pulling himself back together, but he did and enthusiastically packed his 3 lunches. I had each boy write a note to put in each lunch. I don't know what they ended up writing, but one boy on the first one wrote, "bless you, Bob," and I made him redo it. He was incensed that I was not planning on driving around until we found a man named Bob who needed a lunch.
Finding the first few folks was not terribly difficult, even in the heart of Green Hills. We delivered 5 of the meals, were growing weary of being in the car and so came home where one boy and I split the lunch we did not deliver. It was a pretty good PB&J with orange marmalade on it. I hope those who received a lunch thought so too.
We came home, ate lunch, did some art projects, one of which did not go well with one boy climbing under the table declaring himself a failure at art. I assured him it was a process, but he's more the type that wants to be at step 15 without working through steps 1-14. I understand that. 30 minutes of quiet time, where I may or may not have set the timer for 40 minutes instead. I didn't realize that 7 year olds had such a refined sense of timing and I did get a bit tickled when Simmy was convinced that something was wrong with the timer. I, perhaps, was not as forthcoming as I should have been about my duplicity, but I was reading a good book and I was tired!
Both boys and Violet ended up staying for supper, which, let me just say, was so awful that Fizzy suggested that I not even make an effort for Wednesday night. I eagerly took him up on that offer. I can do nothing for dinner quite easily. By the time everyone left, I was ready to hit the sofa with my good book. It was a good day.
Day 2
For the second year in a row, we restocked the pews at church. We talked a lot about how sometimes children don't realize how they can contribute to their church family, but that, in fact, they have much to offer. We stocked pews last year, and this year went a bit more smoothly. We stopped at Fresh Market to get snacks to fortify us after stocking the balcony. Once again, we went through which drink to buy. I am happy to report that a decision was made in a timely fashion with no buyer's remorse following. The snack was a bit trickier, so I gave him 2 options, he chose one and seemed quite happy with the decision. Progress!!
We arrived at church and visited a moment with "Miss" Nancy then hustled to the sanctuary to put out pens, cards, and to clean out the book racks. Let me just say, that balcony-sitters, are a good deal messier than those who sit downstairs. Balcony finished, or so I thought, and downstairs to have the snacks and hit the sanctuary. Max got himself a system which worked quite nicely. Simeon was putting the cards in the card racks and decided that he would shout each time he saw where a pen was needed. Nevermind that Max was on the other side of the room placing pens and would eventually get to it. If Simmy yelled "here!" once he yelled it 500 times. As we were finishing up, Max looked upstairs and said, "Melly, we only did one of the decks upstairs." What foolishness was this? Oh, shoot, he was right. So, back upstairs we went. The entire time boys wanted to know if they could drop pens off the balcony downstairs. I capitulated, because I, myself, wondered how far they could throw pens. I let them each throw one pen off the balcony as far as they could. Both boys were convinced that theirs made it to the stage. I have my doubts, but I was getting weary. Do you see a theme here. They asked if they could play tag in the sanctuary, I said, "yes, if you stay off the stage." About 5 minutes into the game, one ran up on the stage and did not come down immediately, so I declared it time to leave.
We went home to have lunch where our conversation took some turns. First of all, Max wanted to know how church family has ever helped him. I said that his church family prayed for him when he had his eye surgery and he was prayed for constantly when he was born. We talked about how he had to stay in the hospital because of complications. He wanted to know if Simmy had taken so long to be born and I said, '"no, Simmy came in a big hurry." Max expressed how Simmy burst how of his mama's belly and I just smiled. Let him think what he will, but Simeon asked THE question..."how do babies get out?" I'm not sure I've ever been so eager to play the grandmother card and replied, "that's something it's best for your parents to share with you." Yes, score one for grandparent deflection. Then, Max wanted to know what I think happens when someone dies. I told him that I was not sure exactly, but that I do believe we go into the presence of God, while I might not know exactly what that would be like. Simmy then relayed a story that Fizzy had told about someone who recently spoke at a conference about his near-death experience. It was a beautiful depiction of the peace I anticipate when the time comes for my departure. So, all in all, it was quite the deep lunch conversation.
Afterwards, we had a true 30 minute quiet/reading time, followed by making yarn dolls and charm necklaces.
Day 3
Today was flower-delivery day. We did this last year. It is more an act of kindness service to celebrate the boys turning 7. I try to do this each year, though I have fallen short a couple years. We had already bought vases at $Tree, so we were off to Trader Joe's to buy flowers. I gave them the limit of what they could spend and both boys picked out lovely bouquets. Because my house was being cleaned, I did not want to go home to fix the vases, so we arranged the flowers in the back of the car. Each vase had a note tied on it that said, "My name is (Simeon, Max). I turned 7 in the spring. I am doing acts of kindness to celebrate that birthday. I hope these flowers bless your day." Our first stop was the Daily's in Green Hills. One of the ladies we gave flowers to had received flowers from Max last year. She was so moved and told him that she had saved one of the roses. Isn't that so sweet? She had pressed and saved the rose. I explained to the boys that not everyone has a husband or child or grandchild to bring them flowers, and they may not have the extra money to go buy them for themselves. Most people like flowers.
Next we went to the Purple Cow. The cashier there was just basically overwhelmed and offered two or three times to pay Simeon for the flowers. Each time, he told her that he did not want money, he just wanted her to enjoy the flowers. Next we went to the Brentwood CVS because soon this will be the home clinic for Simmy's mom as a nurse practitioner. We decided that we would give flowers to the NP working today. Max, first of all gave flowers to the cashier in the front. She was stunned. He's a little shyer and I had to explain what was going on. She just had a big smile on her face. Then we went back to the Minute Clinic to see if the nurse on duty had a patient where we found a waiting patient vomiting in the trashcan outside the examining room. I immediately hustled the boys away from there. We found another cashier and gave her flowers as well. Flowers to someone taking orders at Chick-fil-a where we might have revived ourselves with frosted lemonades and then to the Urgent Care clinic where we gave out last two arrangements away.
We came home, filled water balloons...lots of water balloons and the boys proceeded to throw many of them up on the roof. Why? I don't know. But they had fun, got soaking wet, came in, put on pajamas, made things with melty beads. We ordered pizza, had lunch, made more melty bead things and started watching a movie. Parents came early to get them and now Fizzy and Mellie are going out to dinner...because, you know, Tuesday night's dinner.
It was a good week. I hope they learned a little of the importance of serving others and gained some pleasure in seeing the joy in people's faces as they surprised them with an unexpected kindness.
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