Thursday, February 3, 2011

Taking a shower~taking it for granted

Taking a shower~taking it for granted.
Is humbling to realize how much we take for granted. I always took having water for granted. The last few days have made me realize how blessed we are. I know much of the world does not have clean water and I complain because I cant take a shower whenever the mood strikes.

We have had both hot and cold water, then just cold water but not draining, now hot and cold water but not draining. We are hoping the drain thaws today. The black tank is about full. We have been bailing the water out of the sinks and tub and using buckets to wash in and tossing the water out on the trees. Makes me think of the old days when the ladies had to do that every day.

We had not had a shower since the day before yesterday. Not that long but long enough. It was such a blessing to shower at Kristy's today. I am amazed at what water and clean clothes can do for a person.

It makes me think of homeless folks. I had made beans and cornbread for lunch yesterday so I took some to a guy who lives in his truck. I also took some soap and lotion. He was happy to get them. I asked him if he knew where to get a free shower and he said he did, that's when I gave him the soap and lotion. I also had some hats I had made so I put one of them in there too.

I want to make some hygiene packs. I can put my homemade soap and things like that in there. It would be good to have in each vehicle to give when I see someone who can use them. Here are a few things I would try to put in a hygiene pack. You can also make a meal kit.
1. soap
2. lotion
3. wash cloth
4. comb
5. clean socks
6. deodorant
7. Q-tips
8. toothbrush
9. toothpaste
10. bandanna
11. small hand towell (suggestion from Yolanda)

Can any of you think of other things that would be good to put in? I would try to get this all into a gallon zip lock type bag.

Have a blessed day everyone.

11 comments:

Yolanda said...

If you could add a small hand towel, that would be good. Bless your heart. It must be made of pure gold.

Oh, and by the way, a while back you had mentioned the pillowcase dresses for little girls in Africa. I had not heard of that, but looked it up and lately have been working on some. My plan is to make enough to cram full a large priority mail box and send it and then send another one, as I can gather the materials. I've even started making my own bias tape to use. Thank you!

debbieo said...

Yolanda,
We also sent some of the dresses to some missionary friends in southern mexico and the girls there loved them. I learned to make bias tape doing those dresses too.
Thanks for the suggestion for a small hand towell. I will add it to my list.

Beautifully Veiled said...

That's a great idea! We were with a homeless ministry in a major city for 6 years. They really appreciate things like that. I used to joke that our homeless guys were neater than we were. They took their time ironing their clothes every night and organizing their stuff. It really helps them under the circumstances they are in to be able to be neat and clean and smell nice!

Yolanda said...

You're most welcome. I didn't know anyone else was accepting the dresses. How nice! Do you know how to contact those folks?

debbieo said...

I will ask at church how to contact the dresses for Africa ppl.

Yolanda said...

I already know how to send them to Africa. I was wondering about Mexico. ??

debbieo said...

Oh sorry Yolanda, I misunderstood. If you go on my right sidebar to the Lockwood family I think their address is on her right sidebar. If not just leave her a message and tell her what you have and she can give it to you.
We sent the stuff to Calif. and they picked it up when they came home for a short visit. Saved lots of postage.

debbieo said...

Oh and Yolanda, Our church ladies also make little boy shorts. We usually make navy blue ones for some reason. We just attach a tag that says the size of the shorts or dresses. But that is not mandatory. I think the shorts are sizes 2 to 14, like the dresses.

Yolanda said...

Do you use a commercial pattern for the shorts? I emailed the folks you mentioned. :)

We are turning this post of yours into a discussion forum. lol

debbieo said...

Yolanda,
We just used patterns we had I think, I never actually made any shorts but they looked like simple shorts with an elastic waist. I will ask next time I see one of the ladies from church who are in the group.
debbie

Yolanda said...

Thank you!