MY FRIEND LINDA



 Linda looking great - as always!

 The Recreation Auditorium turned to banquet hall!


My friend Linda is a one-of-a-kind treasure! She has a heart as big as Canada - although she hails from Germany originally. She's been back several times - especially to visit her eldest who lives there with his family.

For the past 24 years we have worked together in the same organization.  She has an amazing love for seniors and constantly brings joy into their lives.  You need something? She'll drop what she is doing in order to help you. She oozes energy from every pore. She takes her knitting EVERYWHERE - except to church services - I think! She sews and sells what she sews  at craft  tables all over the city and even some places in our province.  She crafts ceramics, porcelain dolls, makes jams and jellies, bakes, drives the bus for senior's shopping trips and outings and looks after a dear old neighbor who lives in another nursing home.  

She leads a monthly German Gemuetliche Stunde (Fellowship Hour), always putting together a great program. The room is always packed which shows how much the residents love it! Very often her sister Erna and cousin Melitta join her in the singing ministry to our residents.  Other residents participate - Gordon with his violin, or someone reading a poem, volunteer Charlotte on the piano!  So much fun!

She raises and shows chihuahuas - the dogs help her with her asthma! They've been therapy puppies and doggies, some since they were born.  You can imagine the oooooohs and ahhhhhhs when she brings in newborns!

She has an awesome green thumb and has done the spring planting every year and helps with the fall clean up. She loves the Lord and her family and especially her grands.


Photo op with her Manager
after receiving her award
our President on the right 
(who himself had received his 10th year Award)
and the Board Rep. on the left

What a lovely bouquet 
among other gifts from her department
and the organization.


She was honored recently at our organization's Long-term service awards and dinner for completing her 25 years!! 

This is my tribute to a dear friend - who also meant so much to my mom as well.  God bless you Linda and give you fountains of energy to show His love to others for many more years to come.



14 comments:

ellen b. said...

Linda sounds like a treasure indeed! Congratulations to her. :0)

Marg said...

Isn't it wonderful to work with friends and co-workers like that...It looks like you and I love to honor our volunteers or recognize the difference they make in the work place...I love the gemutliche stunde...That's my favorite word and if you don't know German, then you will never quite comprehend the meaning.
Yesterday a non-speaking ladie came to the hospital...and I said, "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" You can imagine who's day I made.

Glenda said...

A life well lived - serving God and others!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

What a special friend you have, Karin.... She certainly deserved the honor....Thanks for writing such a great article about your friend, Linda...

God Bless HER for all that she does to help others.
Hugs,
Betsy

Ginny Hartzler said...

What a great tribute to your friend! Linda looks like she has lots of spunk and energy! I couldn't do half of what she does! But they say keeping active is the key to ramaining young, use it or lose it! Most people only get tributes after they are dead, so you are way cool for doing one now while Linda is still happy and healthy! I think if people would be forced to write a little tribute to each friend, it would make them see and realize all the good in them, and they would appreciate them more.

Lady Dorothy said...

Congratulations, Linda! You are an amazing woman! I got tired just reading about all you do and all your wonderful talents! God bless you abundantly!

Jane said...

Many congrats to Linda! The world defintely needs more like her!

Jane

George said...

This is a wonderful tribute to your friend Linda. She sounds like a priceless gem.

Hold my hand: a social worker's blog said...

That was very thoughtful of you to post about your friend Linda. What a neat lady!

Also, thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comment.

Karin, I am sure that in your 25 years working in a LTC facility you have a lot of inspiring stories to tell us. You can start writing them... and sharing with us... I'd love to that!! :-))

Doris

Sandra said...

You have such a onderful way with words! Linda is indeed a lovely lady and so good with the residents! Her good friend Karin shares those qualities and should have gotten an award also. You are both very special!

Bernie said...

What an amazing friend you have Karin, and she seems to be able to do so many things.....she is blessed and so are you to have her in your life......:-)Hugs

Anonymous said...

You made a few good points there. I did a search on the subject and barely found any specific details on other sites, but then great to be here, really, thanks.

- Lucas

A New England Life said...

Some people are just so amazing, I don't know how they do it all! Good for you in having such a wonderful friend to bless your life!

Linda said...

Your friend Linda sounds like quite a treasure! Some women are so capable and so AMAZING. And those that give so much to others like she does should be given honor. Thanks for sharing Karin.

And thanks for always leaving me such nice comments. YOU are a blessing to me girl.

Linda @ Truthful Tidbits