When I came home from Trinity Oaks in October 2015, I was shocked at how I had left my television room. So from October through December, I worked at rearranging files and “card stuff.” During this period of time, I continued finishing up Christmas cards for the soldiers and jumped right into the January winter cards and February Valentine cards.

I watched the Hallmark Christmas shows repeatedly as I used my hands to design those cards. I also had to use the alert button twice; once when I fell off the scooter out on the porch as I tried to get in the door and once when I caught the button between me and the arm of the chair.

Thank God my porch was not wet and I had on my wool coat and a lap quilt. It didn’t take the Woodleaf First Responders long to get here. Since I was not hurt and nothing was broken, I didn’t have to go to the hospital this time!

My friend, Donna, recycled 11,815 cards and I had about 1,750 homemade ones for the soldiers to send home to their loved ones throughout 2015. Food Lion has continued to cover the shipping costs for three boxes a month, but now envelopes are costing about $80 per thousand. We get very few free envelopes to mail now as the card business throws new envelopes away instead of donating them to our card ministry. I personally think that is disgraceful! If we are unable to get financial assistance, we will soon have to cut back on recycling cards.

But, yes in answer to numerous phone calls, for now cards to be recycled can be left at the front desk at the YMCA addressed to Donna Fessler, or they can be delivered to my home. Please call 704-278-9355 before coming. Donations for the cost of envelopes can be addressed to me or Donna Fessler and mailed to me at 717 Lochshire Lane, Woodleaf, NC 27054. I personally have already made over 400 Valentine cards for 2016 and those have been shipped.

While cleaning up this room, I came across some material to use for Easter cards so now I have started working on those. Back in the early days when I first started this ministry, folks asked how long I intended to keep it up and I had said I didn’t know.  Well, over 175,000 cards have been sent since 2004. This is something God enables me to do night and day sitting in my power wheelchair. I would have a lot of empty hours if I did not continue using my time doing something for others. But the only reason I am still able to make these cards for our soldiers is because of the generosity of people like Donna and those of you who have made donations.

If you are involved in a club of people with cards available to recycle, it would be a big help if the group could buy some envelopes to fit those cards or send a check addressed to Donna Fessler or Linda Beck at the address given above. Once again, thanks to all of you who have contributed to this ministry for our soldiers. We will all be blessed when we stand before the Lord and he says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”