My friend Mattie is a true friend. She is a friend to many people. She gives of herself and her talents freely because she knows that serving others is serving the Lord. I am amazed at how much she knows and how much she does. She is 85 years old and has more energy than many young people I know. She is a gardener extraordinaire and has worked tirelessly planting flowers here at Aging With Grace. She has cooked for us over and over. And her Evergreen arrangement presentation before Christmas was out of this world! I wish I had recorded it. She used each type of evergreen as a symbol of a particular scripture and then she wove them all together into a Christmas lesson. It was beautiful. Mattie loves children, young people, middle aged people, old people, happy people, sad people, etc. She loves all people. Mattie tries to make every situation turn out well and she tries to problem solve to make problems turn into win-wins. She has a grateful forgiving heart.

I met Mattie at Immanuel Baptist, when I volunteered at the ROC (recreational outreach center) desk for the first time. She was there and trained me. We took a liking to each other immediately and we began to eat lunch together, etc. Now we are in the same Sunday School class and enjoy learning together.

Mattie has contributed so much to who we are here at Aging With Grace. Did you know she gave us the koi pond? She gave it to me a long time before Aging With Grace became a reality, before my daughter in law died, before we had three little boys living at our house. We moved it from her backyard to our backyard but never dug the hole two years ago when she first gave it to us for one reason or another. But it is perfect here at Aging With Grace! The water is clear and the fish are healthy. I am so looking forward to planting more flowers around the pond.

Mattie bought and painted the two big pots we have out front under the awning. She planted Endless Summer Hydrangeas in them. She has given us many small but important dishes and things. I use them regularly fondly remember Mattie. Mattie markets for us by posting one of our brochures in her car’s back window and by dropping off a brochure or two when she goes to visit a doctor.

I so appreciate the privilege of having Mattie in my life and I am looking forward to many more happy memories with Mattie. May God bless her exceedingly!