Outreach Project Day

We've been getting ready for this day all year.  We've been collecting items to put in the shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  We've purchased fleece and pre-cut it so it's all ready to tie into blankets for the Boy's Republic.  And today we're going to put it all together.  This is one of our favorite events - the day we focus outward and do for others.  It's our way of giving back, or maybe it's better to say we're paying forward the blessings that God has bestowed on us.  It's such a great feeling to know you are helping to put a smile on the faces of some kids who really need some love and blessings in their lives.

We gathered at Carol N's house, and Queen Debbie got the day started by having us tie the fleece blankets.  We had tied some a few weeks ago when we had our Project Prep Day, but there were plenty that still needed tying.  So we spread them out on the table and we all gathered around and started making knots . . .
 

 

With so many hands, it doesn't take long to get the job done

Look how many blankets we made!

Oops- Forget our hats!  Let's take another photo!

One project finished.  Time to break for lunch . . . Everyone headed to the kitchen for our delicious potluck soup and salad feast.

Yummy soup and salad lunch!   Delish!

After lunch we cleared the table and started laying out all the goodies for the shoe boxes . . .

We were aiming our shoe boxes at boys and girls in the 10-14 year range, and we had collected everything from personal care items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap and wash clothes, to useful things like tools, sewing kits and school supplies, plus some games and of course, candy!  Do you know that some of the kids who receive these boxes may have never tasted candy in their entire lives?  It breaks my heart to think about how much stuff the kids in this country have, and how little stuff kids have in some of these 3rd world counties where the shoe boxes go.  Truly makes you realize how much we take for granted - very humbling!

Praying for our boxes and for the kids who will receive them.
 We know that God will find the perfect child for each box.

And then we passed the boxes around and started filling them up . . .

Trust me - those boxes were filled to capacity!

14 Shoe Boxes Done!  7 Girls, 7 Boys

Some of the ladies had to leave at this point.  The rest of us spent the remainder of the afternoon playing a silly (and very fun!) game called "What's Yours Like?"  Lots of laughs for sure!

What's Yours Like?

Front Row - Linda, Carol N, Joy
Middle Row - Carol L, Debbie, Sharon
Back Row - Robin, Seema, Barbara L, Tina, Annie 

Good job ladies.  Let's do this again next year!

Outreach Project Prep Day

We have an Outreach Project Day scheduled for later this month where we plan to tie fleece blankets for Boy's Republic and fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  So today we decided to get together at Debbie's house and cut some of the fleece fabric and get it ready to tie into blankets.  Amazing how much we can get done when we all work together. 

Debbie set up two work stations in her living and dining rooms, and everyone gathered around with their rotary cutters and rulers and it didn't take long to go through a whole pile of fleece.

Showing off a few of the blankets that are ready to be tied -
L-R - Carol N, Barbara L, Dixie, Debbie, Lupe, Sharon, Seema, Joy

After the work was done, we relaxed around Debbie's pool and had a good time just chatting and laughing together.



Oh that water feels so good on a hot summer day!

And just look at how productive we were !

Good job ladies!  We're all set now for our Outreach Project Day later this month!

Secret City Comic Society

Queen Seema planned a really fun evening, something totally new and different from anything we had ever done before.  We started off with a delicious dinner at . . .

 

The Old Spaghetti Factory in Fullerton

Here we are at the  table, waiting for our dinner - who doesn't love Italian food?

Carol N, Joy, Seema

Dixie, Debbie

And of course, a group shot after our tummy's were full . . .

Yum!  Dinner was SO Good!

After dinner, we took a short walk through downtown Fullerton - such a pretty area .  . .

Downtown Fullerton

To the Secret City Comic Society . . .

We're Here !

The show was so much fun.  Everything is improvisational - the audience is asked to give a suggestion, and then the actors make up a comedy skit right on the spot.  Nothing is scripted, nothing is rehearsed, it's all totally off-the-cuff, totally clean and family friendly, and every performance is completely new and different.  The audience was asked for volunteers, and Queen Seema jumped right up to be part of the action . . .

Go Seema!

Here we are with a few of the cast members after the show . . .

Some very talented comics - watch for them in the future!

Walking back to our cars, we enjoyed the lighted trees along the main street. 

So pretty.

Thanks Queen Seema for a really nice evening!

Forever Plaid

We really really like live stage productions, and today we're at the Center Stage Theatre in Fontana to see another one - this one is called "Forever Plaid" and is the story of four young male singers who are killed in a car crash on their way to their first big concert, and now they get a chance to come back to fulfill their dreams and perform the show that never was.  The show is full of humor, favorite songs from the 1950's, and such great performances from these amazingly talented young men.  We had the best time! 

In front of the theatre -
L-R - Iris, Debbie, Carol L, Joy, Dixie, Carol N, Seema

Forever Plaid!  Awesome!

    

Carol L

Debbie

Dixie

Carol N

Iris

Seema



Joy

We enjoyed a yummy lunch, and then the show began.  We were totally blown away by the cuteness of the actors and the awesomeness of their voices.  Such a fun time!!!   Here's a few pictures from the show . . . 

They brought this girl from the audience - she was a great sport!

At the end of the show, they finally get their plaid jackets

And after the final curtain, the guys graciously posed with us for a picture . . .

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. meet Forever Plaid

We had already enjoyed a great lunch including a delish dessert, but . . . . .

We decided to stop at Marie's on the way home for a second one.  You can never have too much dessert, right?

Waiting for PIE!!!

Another wonderful day spent with the bestest ladies!!!

Planning, Pot Luck and Pool Party

Queen Debbie invited everyone over for a pot luck lunch, to relax in and/or around her pool, to share ideas for future events, and to play some games.  More details and photos coming soon.

The King & I

We've been here before, and it's always fun to come back to the Candlelight Pavilion - the food is good, the staff is friendly, and the shows are always top notch.  And once again, we were not disappointed.

One of our favorite places

The show this time was "The King and I" and during lunch before the performance, we were all remarking how it was almost impossible to even imagine it without Yul Brenner as the King and Deborah Kerr as Anna, but after just a few moments into the show, we were mesmerized by the actors and their amazing voices.  No photos were allowed during the performance, but here's a brief synopsis of the storyline (as if you didn't already know it by heart!)

Mrs. Anna Leonowens and her son Louis arrive in Bangkok, where she has contracted to teach English to the children of the royal household. She threatens to leave when the house she had been promised is not available, but falls in love with the children. A new slave, a gift of a vassal king, translates "Uncle Tom's Cabin" into a Siamese ballet, expressing her unhappiness at being with the King. She attempts to escape with her lover. Anna and the King fall in love, but her British upbringing inhibits her from joining his harem. She is just about to leave Siam when she hears of the King's imminent death, and returns to help his son, her favorite pupil, rule his people.

The production was great, the acting was very professional, the children were adorable, and the voices were amazing.  We loved every minute!

Here we are before the show
L-R - Dixie, Carol N, Carol L, Robin, Joy, Debbie, Annie, Barbara L, Tina

And at lunch
Seated - L-R - Joy, Dixie, Annie, Barbara L
Standing - L-R - Carol N, Tina, Robin, Debbie, Carol L

Looking forward to our next visit to the Candlelight Pavilion!

Bowling

Queen Debbie and the ladies gathered at Chaparral 300 for a fun afternoon of camaraderie  and maybe even a little exercise.  What a fun time everyone had hurling that colorful orb down the alley - and sometimes even hitting some pins!  More details and photos coming soon.