Story Time: Double Blessing

Remember the Ice Cream Social Night from five weeks ago (Friday the 13^th)?  Tonight Doc and I met with the family again.  This time to deliver their “double blessings”  (See Pocket Cash Story posted on Dec 5th).  We told the kids we were coming over to share a Christmas Story with them. 

What an incredible 30 minutes of Pure JOY!!!!   When Doc and I rang the doorbell at the Hohl house, we could hear the four youngest children (the Littlies) jumping up and down in anticipation.

 

I started by asking what the kids remembered about our previous night together.  They remembered making the Thankfulness Cards, the little Thankfulness tree which the Elves picked out for them, eating ice cream and the Giving Game.

 

That was the perfect lead-in for the Pocket Cash Story.  Instead of just telling the kids about what happened, Doc and I acted out the story.  Doc was the voice of God.  I played the roles of Tina (Penny Finders shirt on) and Mary (when wearing black apron with pockets).  All ten of us were laughing ourselves silly as I tried to switch back and forth to pay both roles.   The kids liked when I “sassed back” to God or got “inspiration” while talking to God in the shower.

 

The skit concluded with the Lesson “The More You Give, the More You are Blessed”.

 

The concept became more real as I counted out the money to each child.  The child who donated $5 to sponsor a rabbit received her $5 back PLUS another $5.  The children who donated $20  (40% of their $50 allotment), received their $20 back PLUS $20 more!  WOW.  That left an impression.

 

The Hohl Family

Additional JOY:  This afternoon the oldest boy, Ty, submitted an on-line application for Azusa Pacific University (APU).  Within an hour, a counselor had called to say Ty had been accepted!  So tonight also became a Celebration of that Good News!

 

Playing a Beat for Us

As Doc and I were packing up to leave, the two youngest boys hopped up saying “You gave us a Gift, so we want to Gift You back!  We want to Play a Beat for You!”  They proceeded to create an original piece of music for us while one of the little girls danced across the room.

 

 

Talk about JOY Being Contagious!  WOW!!!!

 

 

 

P.S.  If any of you like Cinnamon Rolls …. Louis and Lakiesha own Sweet Dough Café.  They offer over 100 flavors of gourmet Cinnamon Roles.         https://www.facebook.com/sweetdoughcafe/

 

Beautiful

WOW!  It’s been six months since the last posting.  Time sure flies!

Some of you are on the Penny Tales List as well as this Tales from the Penny Palace Post.  You saw the land when it was bare (except for the weeds).  You saw the house day by day as it was being constructed.  You saw the move in and the House Blessing (May 2012), then the Open House Celebrations (Oct 2012).

Bare Land

Ground Breaking - Valentine's Day 2011

                                                                                                                 

Flooring and Drain Lines

Framing

Stucco

Rev. Roger Blessing the House

It has now been 6.5 years that Doc, doggies and I have been living in the Penny Palace.  During that time, the COINcidence stories have touched many, many people.  The Penny Palace has hosted visitors from around the world.  Each of them has left their “imprint” on the energy field of the home.

In just this past week, the PP has hosted four different tours! Guests ranged in ages from 2-80+, came from numerous countries, were of various ethnicities, and represented very diverse occupations.

vvvvvvvvvv

Right now the Penny Palace is the most beautiful it has ever been.  Sure wish you could be here and see if for yourself.  There are Fall decorations at the mailbox, driveway and leading to the front door.  Once inside, there are garlands trailing on the spiral staircase and upstairs railing.  Autumn decor peeks from every corner and complements the color scheme of the house.  The fireplace is inviting (despite the 80 degree temperatures last week). The Thankfulness Tree stands tall to remind us of all the things for which we should be grateful. 

This is truly a very special place.  THANK YOU for your part in it. 

Here are a few photos to help you feel as though you are here...

Welcome!

Meander Up to the Front Door

Go Ahead and Knock

So Happy to See You.  Happy Tales!

Looking North

Looking West

Get Cozy by the Fire and the Thankfulness Tree

Hope You Enjoyed Your Visit

Note:  To the active Penny Finders out there, this is Day #484 of consecutive Coin Finding.  Getting close to that 500 mark again! 

Tax Time

Many people seem to dread tax time.  Sure, it’s a lot of work, but it’s also a chance to Count Our Blessings!  When you sort your receipts and bills, do you think “there’s the bill for when the sink line was clogged” or do you think “how great it was the serviceman responded so quickly and we were only inconvenienced for a little while?”  When you see a charge for a special meal, does it bring you smiles to reflect back?

There is a new display at the Penny Palace mailbox.  The theme is : Counting Your Blessings.

For a year I have been wanting to create this mailbox display, just could not figure out how to do it.  I asked at least a dozen people for ideas and for their help.  They pretty much wished me good luck with MY project.

So finally last week I told (I was too frustrated to politely request help) the Angels I needed some divine help and it was time for them to take over.

I was walking toward the grocery store, but “nudged” to detour into a UPS store.  The owner, Lori, asked if there was something she could do for me?  I shared with her what I was trying to create and she agreed to help with the printout portion of it!  She was super nice.  Kim at the sign shop helped with the fine tuning of my 5421 Tax Form Banner when I couldn’t make it look right.

Doc and I went to Home Depot to obtain wind weights for the banners.  Had originally thought of PVC pipe filled with sand and capped.  Then decided lengths of galvanized pipes would be simpler.  I asked the sales attendant the price of the pipe pieces.  It would be around $20 for those weights.  Ugggg… This already has been the most expensive display I’ve assembled.  I was standing in front of the pipes and asking the Angels what to do.   There was a closed 5 gallon bucket being used as a trash can.  Doc opened the bucket to toss his Starbucks coffee cup.  Guess what was inside?  Yup, you guessed it – four pieces of galvanized pipe in lengths I could use!  I explained to the sales guy that I was doing a Neighborhood Joy project and asked him if I might have that “trash”?  It was “trash” in the store, but “treasure” when I got home with it!

The mailbox display must resist nightly sprinklers, winds up to 80 mph, and rain.  Thus, it is fairly heavy.  Since Doc is still in no condition to do much lifting, sons Brian and Steve erected the contraption.  Note the First Blessing on the Banner – FAMILY.

Take a look at this Tax Form 5421.
See how many Itemized Blessings YOU can claim.