Grace E. Easley

My favorite poet from the Salesian books. I have quite a few that my grandma gave me in my teens. 

Love that my daughter shares her name. Rest in Peace sweet Grace.

abc's

Alex and Aliyah, Andy and April F., Rachel and Ben, Brandon, Brett, Chelsea and Michaela, Caroline and Sheri, Coren, Cerisa, Doreen, Eve, Ethan, Florence, Grace, Gabe, Garth, Heather, Isabelle and Grace, Jim and Josie, Jon T., Jenna G., Jenna Brianna and Matty, Krissy K., Laura Lu, Leah, Matt and Lori, Mike and Cindy, Melissa and Aaron, Noel, O, Peyton, Philip, Randy, Steve S., Sarah L., Sarah W., Sarah R., Sarah B., Sara S., Tyler.  Lord, today and every day i want to lift up my friends and family in prayer. Please continue to watch over and guide every one of us, I pray that the spirit of your love is felt within their hearts and minds and any anxieties are put to rest. You are the Prince of Peace.

me and my... shadow?

G2K ended a week ago Sunday.  It was my first Commitment to Christ leadership role that i finished to completion!  That's cause for celebration!  I believe through God's Grace and Guidance that a wishy washy girl like me really can blossom into a responsible (yet fun and adventurous) adult who truly wants to Glorify God in all of her daily actions.
Last weekend I was blessed to have Noel and Cerisa slumber party it up with Grace and I, and we also all ventured to Chelsea and Michaela's dance recital.  I loved that it all worked out and two of my favorite memories from the morning are that Noel (not quite 1 yrs old) danced with fervor while standing on my lap!  And when Cerisa heard the Beatles song I Want to Hold Your Hand, she belted out in the middle of the recital "hey, i know this song!"  it was sooo darn cute!
Then I was blessed to have Aaron and Lisa take Grace for the evening and I was able to spend some quality girl time with Brita as we welcomed her into the 30 group, and Leah, Mandi, Sarah and Jess.

Last Monday we had our second Life Together group, I sat next to Judy (who wasn't at the first gathering) and to my surprise she was headed to Mentor for Memorial Day weekend, my Teenie Tiny hometown!  Turns out she was married there 12 years ago at the Inn!  That was pretty cool.

Yesterday I had the privilege and honor to be at the Mentor Community Hall for our annual Memorial Day Service put on by the Mentor Legion Members Post #421. My sister sang Amazing Grace and we had George L. Schulstad as the guest speaker. He was delightful and i LOVE that he told me about his homemade stuffed elephant his mother had made him when he was a boy. God knows I love when people i meet (or have known for years) feel peace enough around me to share things they "never have told a soul" ;)  thanks George.

Lovin and needing to Live in these lyrics!

"I Turn Everything Over"

Monday found me on my knees again
Breathing you in
To blur the lines that mark where I begin
And where you end
No use in trying to pretend
Come take me again
Cause rumor has it I'm not who I've been
Come define me

What can we do
If the rumors are true?

I turn everything over
I turn myself in
I turn everything over
I turn myself in
There's nothing left of me to defend
I turn everything over
I turn myself in

The evidence convicts the hollow man
After looking inside
To my dismay I find I'm just one of them
Cause I'm an already but not yet resurrected fallen man
Come break this limbo
And I know you know just who I've been
Come define me

Rumor has it you love me
Rumor has it the world spins upside down
Rumor has it my only hope is you
And the rumors are true
I turn everything over

Good Will and the Great I Am

Good Morning Lord,
I am pretty sure that is a great title for my someday book.
Through You, The Great I Am, we can all do good will for others. When our will is directly in-tune with yours it is then that we Truly Love one another as you first loved us.  Amen.

Life is Big and Beautiful and full of surprises!

I don't even know where to start.
Thank you Lord for allowing me to arrive just in the nick of time to the Art House North last night.
Such a Joy and Pleasure to witness a young married couple building their relationship from the Love of You.  Such a thing to aspire to.
Lord, help me to know your Will for the return of two women in my life.  I do know they both could use my prayers. Especially Sarah.  Lord, she's an incredibly strong but sort of stubborn woman who i'm not sure yet fully trusts in Your Strength and Wisdom and Perfect Plan for her life. I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but it does break my heart to know she isn't in a relationship that has been built on  your sturdy foundation and Your Word.
Help me to Help her in any way you see fit. I pray I lead by example now, that Waiting for Your Perfect Timing is truly the Best way to live.

Writing

My outlet.
Why do I like to write? Even if they are short paragraphs of events or stories or my thoughts or feelings from the day. I'm pretty sure it's my outlet.  I'm pretty sure it's my release.  I've been a pretty good "bottler" for many years.  Lord, I know your will for us is to share our lives and our lessons with others, even if every single one of us has to learn from our own lessons, I know that sharing our story, if nothing else, leads to closer relationship with you and with each other.  Your Big God Story is made up of ALL of our little God Stories.  And it's pretty phenomenal the way you interweave our stories together.
Thank you for reminding me every day that you Love us All so much and you want our Journey on this Earth to be a great story and legacy left behind.

Mukama Yabazebwe

I will Praise You In This Storm, Oh Lord My God.  You Calm the waters of my soul. You truly Are My Strength and My Salvation!
I will soldier on toward the Prize of Eternal Love, It's on the rise,  in My Heart and In My Soul, May it never leave so I might reach that Goal!!

Love You Lord!
Mary Jo

Giver of Life

Lord, Today is Mother's Day. You created women to be the givers of life. In your design and in your creation we see the splendors of your love. You show us your love in All living things, plants, animals and the crown of your creation, people.  Lord, Thank You for all of the wonderful men and women you have blessed my life with, thank you for All of the amazing Mothers that I have grown with and whom have helped me grow along my journey.

Leadership

It's not easy.  Maybe for some people it comes naturally, but I'm afraid I'm not one of those people.  I took on a leadership roll for my dear friend's wedding and I'm pretty heartbroken about the outcome.  It started out as a creative spark that lead me to volunteer to design and produce her wedding favors and turned into managing the entire decorating process of the wedding reception.  I'm glad I could help and was very grateful for all of her friends that volunteered to help me too, i know i couldn't have done it alone.  But... I was still in charge and I let people down. Specifically her friend who offered to lend out her daughters wedding decorations. At the last minute we decided to use some fabric squares that she provided and her only stipulation was that she would need them back. Well... I am and afraid I will always be a girl who can get overwhelmed by my emotions. It was an emotional day for me. I found so much Hope in that day and witnessing what I believe was God's Love shining down on two people who know that putting God first is of vital importance. All of my emotional release left me pretty exhausted and out of it that by clean-up time I wasn't all there and just wanted to get the job done.  I know I gave away several of the squares to Alyssa and her friend, but i still don't think that accounts for all of them.  It's hard not to feel like the whole thing was a failure... and maybe that sounds a little dramatic, but it's just a prime example of a Good leader versus... well... me. I hope it's a lesson I learn from... make a list, write it down, DO something to help prevent these kind of mistakes.  arg.

Art

Last night was our last Echo art class. I got there earlier than I had been lately and I brought with my large music painting. Honestly, in hopes of getting some insight from the girls about how to finish it off! I've been stuck on this one for months now... it 'looks' done to others, but i know i've got some details to make it what I know it really can be. Ha... kind of sounds like me really, Lord I know from the untrained eye people might see me as a finished product, but I know you are still working on me, working in me to be the best that i can be. I thank you for the ways in which you carefully and thoughtfully mold and shape me. All your ways are good.

there... by the grace.

Lord, I know you always have us just where you want us, even when we don't "feel" like we are doing anything good.
my current cube buddy has only been working with me for maybe 6 months now, but already has revealed to me some pretty heavy things about her family, specifically her teenage daughter.  I've shared with her a few verses and also told her about my love of christian music. She just showed me a few cds she picked up at the library of christian music and said that her daughter really likes them.  She thanked me for telling her about some of the artists.  I pray that this music lifts her daughter up in such magnificent ways like it has uplifted me over the past 5 years.

Life Together

Tonight was my first "Life Together" group experience. Jan and John invited me to join their group of several Central members. Tonight it was at Connie and Harlan's house. Scott and Joni Schramm were there, Katie Vick and her son Jonathan and about 6 other couples that i'm not as familiar with. We read and discussed Mark 1:14-20, Jesus asked Simon and Andrew to leave their fishing boat and follow him, and just like that they left.
Thank you Lord for your ever Loving and guiding hand. I truly know that your Plan for My Life is Far Greater than I could ever know, and that trusting in you every step of the way Is All I have to do, that you truly are The Way, The Truth and The Life.
Thank you for leading me to this group, I pray that I am open to recieving every lesson you have for me to learn through this journey.
Amen.

5 years of Grace

It's been over 5 years that God's Grace rang loud and clear in my then cluttered ears. God revealed His Grace to me in abundance and a depth that only He could give.  Growing up I really didn't understand the power and awesome wonder of our Loving God's magnificent Grace. I was taught all of the rules and just made sure i did my best to follow them. Of course, when I failed I felt guilt which always lingered far longer than I care to admit. As my relationship with God has grown deep and wide these past five years, I've learned such invaluable lessons about putting God first. Trusting in His incredible Word and in His Amazing Love. Last night we celebrated His Grace Ana with many friends and family. I pray that our lives truly live out what it is that God has given us.

Harvey and Mabel

Yesterday was our second to last Echo Art Class.  I was running late as usual and i stopped by the apt. in hopes of changing into nicer flip flops (as it was 80 degrees and gorgeous out).  As I was just leaving a cute older couple stepped out of their car and asked if there was a leasing office inside our building. I said no but that i would be happy to take them in and show them my messy place!  I brought them in the main door and Ron was just heading out of his apt. (not a coincidence there i imagine ;0) )  Anyway, he offered to show them their place and we all went in together. I stayed and chatted for a bit then left them in the able hands of Ron and Delores. I'm excited about this. A couple in their 70's will be moving in to Joni's old place in July... and I just have a hunch that Harvey and Mabel might even beat them to the punch and move in to Scott's old place sooner yet! I'm praying for lots of cribbage tournaments ;)