Many of you know that my grandfather, John Rabold, passed away yesterday morning.  You have seen the Facebook posts eulogizing him.   I have seen my aunts, cousins, and sister state his generosity, kindness, humor, strong work ethic, love of family and above all that he was a man of faith.  
      My grandfather was born during the Great Depression.  He was 11 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  He was 15 when World War 2 ended.   At nearly 21,  he married the love of his life Jean.  They were married for 66 years taking their vows very seriously-until death parted them.  Shortly after their wedding he was sent to Korea to fight in the Korean War.  He came back in 1953 and they began their family.  They had 3 daughters who they raised to be hard working and generous.  Grandpa spoiled six grandchildren rotten with trips to Hoagland's Potato Farm, Dairy Queen, Ericksons, Conneaut Lake Park, and Erie. 
​      He invested in all of us, pouring himself into us because he loved us and believed in us. Not satisfied with just spoiling grandchildren, he continued to spoil great grandchildren too.   Again, pouring himself unselfishly into each of us.  
      I am blessed to have been John Rabold's granddaughter.  Not everyone gets to be blessed to have someone as awesome as my grandpa in their lives.   
        To honor my grandfather's legacy, the family asks that donations be made to Sarah's Butterflies Foundation.

     I was driving to work one day this week when Mandisa's song, "We all Bleed the Same" came on the radio.  The message struck me hard.  So many times, I hear condemnation of the parents we minister to through Sarah's Butterflies.  The reality is that life is hard for everyone.  Rather than condemn them for the struggles they have faced through discrimination, drugs, alcohol, prostitution, hopelessness, and discouragement, I choose to remember that WE ALL BLEED THE SAME!  
     I am choosing to not think us/them but WE.  We struggle.  
 Here are the lyrics:
“We All Bleed the Same”  Mandisa featuring tobyMac and Kirk Frankln
We all bleed the same/We’re more beautiful when we come together/We all bleed the same/So tell me why, tell me why/We’re divided
Woke up today/Another headline/Another life is taken/In the name of hatred/So hard to take (hey!)/And if we think that it’s all good/Then we’re mistaken/Cause my heart is breaking
Are you left? Are you right?  Pointing fingers, taking sides/ We are we gonna realize?
We all bleed the same/We’re more beautiful when we come together/We all bleed the same/So tell me why, tell me why/We’re divided
If we’re gonna fight/Let’s fight for each other/If we’re gonna shout/Let love be the cry/We all bleed the same/So tell me why, tell me why/We’re divided
Tell me, who are we/To judge someone/By the kind of clothes they’re wearing/ Or the color of their skin?/Are you black?/Are you white?/Aren’t we all the same inside?/Father, open our eyes to see!
We all bleed the same/We’re more beautiful when we come together/We all bleed the same/So tell me why, tell me why/We’re divided/ If we’re gonna fight/Let’s fight for each other/If we’re gonna shout/Let love be the cry/We all bleed the same/So tell me why, tell me why/We’re divided
Only love can drive out all the darkness/What are we fighting for?/We were made to carry one another/We were made for more, said…
Only love can drive out all the darkness/What are we fighting for?/We were made to carry one another/We were made for more!
We all bleed the same/We’re more beautiful when we come together/We all bleed the same/So tell me why, tell me why/We’re divided/ If we’re gonna fight/Let’s fight for each other/If we’re gonna shout/Let love be the cry/We all bleed the same/ Bleed the same/Let’s stand united/ Let’s stand united!
So Father God, I pray/ That our families will come together right now/ And seek your face/You will forgive our sins/And You will heal our incredible land/In the name of the only Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen

WHO IS READY TO FIGHT FOR THOSE WE MINISTER TO?  WHO IS READY TO SPREAD LOVE, HOPE, TO SHARE  THE NEVER GIVING UP LOVE OF GOD? GET READY, THE RIDE IS JUST BEGINNING!

          We are launching on November 12th.  The date is when the boxes will be arriving at Lebanon, Center and IHS Gospel Ministries.  November 12th is when we will start filling boxes. 
         We need a lot of supplies.  We need 3,000 to 6,000 cookies for the cookie bags.  We need people willing to help bake cookies (chocolate chip, oatmeal, cookie press, and sugar).  Other things we need donated are things apple sauce, pudding, fruit cups, fruit snacks, pop tarts, crackers, and animal crackers.  For school supplies we need pencils, notebooks, crayons, colored pencils, and books for children of all ages.  These books can be new or gently used.
          We need volunteers to help us sort, pack and distribute.  We will be meeting at 411 Hamilton Avenue, Farrell on the morning of December 26th.  If you have any questions, please contact me at 724-748-4115 or 724-992-4900.   You can also email me at ladybugchic1112@yahoo.com.