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