Journaling reads: I took Ilene and Carolyn to the monthly widows’ meeting at Damascus Baptist Church in Statesville today. On the way there we saw some cotton fields. In prior years these fields were yellow with canola blooms. We saw these fields last month, but the cotton was not as full on the plants as they were this trip. So I told the ladies we would stop on the way back and get some pictures.

The pastor’s wife was in the kitchen with her husband when we arrived. Upon greeting her, seeing she had no female help, I asked her what I could do to help. So she put me to work. I cut the bread and sliced the meatloaf, kept the dishes washed up.....just whatever help she needed. It is a treat for me to be able to serve with her which ministers to the widows. I know this because I was a widow for a year before Mark and I got married! Thank You, Lord, for the privilege to serve these dear saints!

We remembered to stop at the cotton fields as we drove home. I got out and took some pictures, picked up some of the cotton that had fallen to the ground so Ilene and Carolyn could touch it. It was not quite as soft as the cotton still on the plant, however, since it had been on the ground. We drove up to the house last month to ask the owners if we could possibly have a boll, but no one would come to the door. Can’t much blame them considering the times in which we live. 11/8/22