Villa Voice Jan/Feb/March 2012

Editor: Diane Anderson - villavoicenewsletter@yahoo.com Jan/Feb/March 2012 Love the Villa?-make a comment in our guest book on the web @ www.villadesiderata.com Prayer Corner Please pray for our friends, Ron Franks, Joan Nordgren, Ken Rago, Rich Budzynski, Loretta Rossini, Dottie Becker, John Halloran, John Lynk, Betty Cichon and Tom Florek.

Thank you for all of your continued prayers.

The Marble Pillar A special big Thank You to Nina Edmier, one of our long time retreatants for her donation of the marble pillar that now stands in the Chapel to hold the Gifts of Bread and Wine. Nina donated the pillar to us before her move to Colorado Springs to live near her daughter.

We will miss Nina at the retreats for her quick wit and the love that she so willingly shared with those on retreat and for my long time friendship with her. Best of health and love to you Nina.

Chris Houtsinger

Update for the Villa Directory We have a new cell phone number 815651-1588. The 847 number will no longer work.

Ron and Judy Franks

Retreat Schedule January 6-8 not available 13-15 AA Men call Bill K 708-503-0259 20-22 ACOA mixed Audry 815-245-0914 27-29 Villa Retreat call Judy Franks 815-385-1588 February 3-5 AA Men call Eric 847-899-3844 10-12 Women’s Spiritual call Tricia 847-838-0188 17-19 Main House Available For Rent 24-26 Available for rent March 2-4 Available for rent 9-11 AA Men call Jerry 630-859-1940 16-18 Lutz Haus Available for rent 23-25 12 Step Men & Women call Sue T. 847-866-8858 30-4/1 AA Women call Colleen 708-386-1973

Food Drive Please continue to bring non-perishables to the Villa for our on-going food drive for the local pantry, who provide for the many who go hungry each day. Thanks in advance.

From Shari Shaver

Shari contd.

Dear Friends; At my new position with Christian Outreach of Lutherans, a not for profit offering hope and housing to homeless families. I am finding a great deal of needs similar to Rebekah's House.

We do offer a pick up service, but know that due to minimal help, it might take a few days to organize a pick up. We also accept drop offs on Fridays between the hours of 7am-3pm at our storage in Zion by appointment.

We do also accept monetary donations and any donation is fully tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Please visit our web site at www.coolministries.org if you would like more information. Thanks again for all your support and prayers. If you have any questions and cannot reach me at the office, please feel free to contact me on my cell.

Clothes..please call for a list of our needs as they change with the seasons and the families...

The following is a list I have compiled of the most needed items...thank you in advance for anything you are able to do.

We are always looking for volunteers, we have 4 properties, with 8 units and there is always something to do..from collecting donations to weeding our gardens to helping ready a unit for occupancy....if you would like to help please call me...thanks for anything you are able to do!

Beds-Twin and Full Dressers Linens-Sheets and blankets, comforters Kitchen Table & Chairs Couch Living Room Chairs Coffee and End Tables Silverware Pots and Pans Leftover and Mixing Bowls Utensils Cups/ Glasses Plates/ bowls Small Appliances-Toaster, Coffee Pot, Mixer, Microwave Large Appliances-Washer, Dryer, Refrigerators, Stove (please- in good/working condition) Gift Cards, Wal-Mart, K-mart, Dollar General, Menards, Home Depot, Bus or train passes

Immediate Need For: Female Jeans- sz. 11 Shirts-Large Winter Coat-Large Shoes (mens gym shoe)- sz 5 Boots (women’s)- 7 I also have created "COOL Chat" which is a once a month mini workshops for the guest families to attend to help them learn life skills such as budgeting, shopping, credit repair, etc...if you are interested in presenting a workshop, or if you would like to donate to the event, we provide child care for the families while the parents are in the workshop and need projects for the kids.

In His Service, Shari Shaver Case Manager/COOL Transitional Housing 127 W Water St-Waukegan, IL 60085 847-662-1340 (office) 847-858-2508 (cell) The Miracle of Friendship There is a miracle called friendship that dwells within the heart, you don't know how it happens or when it got it's start but the happiness it brings you always gives a special lift, and you realize that friendship is God's most precious gift.

Art Houtsinger

Hope Outreach Golf Outing This October 15th started with a rather cool morning, and a bit windy but that didn't stop the 29 golfers that came out to Cinder Ridge Golf Coarse in Wilmington, Illinois in order to help Hope Outreach with there first annual Golf Outing.

The Cinder Ridge staff made sure that this late in the season outing went as well planned from the 1st tee to the 18th hole with a small lunch provided before starting the back nine.

Just after the final group finished up the 18th hole, trying their luck at the one handed drive contest, in which Dan Rogers took first place winning a beautiful #3 wood for, we all sat down to a nice steak dinner.

It was during dinner that Jim Murphy provided the entertainment with the drawing for the 46 inch Sony Television with Blue ray player, along with many other prizes that Jim kept drawing numbers for until they were all given out. From all the laughing and all the golf stories it appeared that everyone had a very good day of fun and golf, and it is our wish that everyone will join us in the spring when Hope Outreach plans its 2nd annual Golf Outing. We will make an announcement when we have all the planning worked out.

Jim and I along with the whole Hope Outreach board can not tell you how overwhelmed we all were with everyone's generosity and enthusiasm in helping us get the men from both houses to this years fall retreat, and with all who attended made our first golf outing not only fun, but helped increase the number of men we can provide scholarships for.

From all of us at Hope Outreach, it's knowing there's people such as all of you who help support Hope Outreach that put the HOPE in helping others.

Ladies Autumn Gathering We had 38 ladies attend the fall ladies get together and they helped us raise $322 for the Villa. Thank you to everyone who came in costume, bought raffle tickets, and donated items for our silent auctions. We even had fun playing games that Chris Graff and Marie Kusmerz organized. Maybe you can come to the next ladies tea which will be around Mother’s Day. Details in the next Voice.

Alyssa pops up allot!

Thank you ever so much!

From all of us at Hope Outreach

Who’s the hot dog?

Open Mic Night Dominick has his on-going fundraiser for the Villa on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm for a donation of $5 per person. The next open mic night dates are: Jan 18th, Feb 15th, and March 21st. If you can play an instrument and would like to play allong, or if you just enjoy a comfortable atmosphere of friendship and music, join Dominick and his music pals to experience our open mic night.

Christmas Concert

Dom plays backwards.

Good trick.

Colleen Connealy gave the Villa a Christmas concert with her mother, Christine Graff, our Dominick Adduci on the guitar and Eric on the piano and guitar. Eric Thompson is the music director at Holy Apostles. The chapel was full with standing room only as we all stopped to reflect and focus on the reason for the season, Christ’s birth. Brother Pat recorded the session on CD. If you’d like a copy, please see him.

Roman Calendar 2012 Feb. 22 Ash Wednesday April 1 Palm Sunday April 6 Good Friday April 8 Easter Sunday

Villa Voice Submissions Any submissions, prayer requests, info regarding retreats or our community should be sent to villavoicenewsletter@yahoo.com by March 15th. Thanks, Diane Anderson Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.