Grace and Faith want a play date

While this title is literal, that two little girls named, Grace and Faith want to have a play date together, I can't help but dig deeper into it as my growing in Love and Trust for our Lord continues.
Grace and Faith want a play date.
I've recognized, been humbled by, marveled at, and rejoiced over the Grace of God in the past 5 years, and it truly has been growing my Faith... but, I still fall back on my human shortcomings of the ugly "d" words, doubt or distrust more often than I should.  I want my Faith to be daily evident in everything I do. I want to Love the Lord more each and every day. I want that Love to be so inspiring, so encouraging that others won't be able to resist His Love either. I want my Faith to be solid.
I want to be as Faithful to Him as He is to me.
My God, You Are My Everything, My Love, My Life, My Everything!
Amena

ABCs

Aurora, CO, April and Andy, Alex and Aliyah (Ben and Rachel), Brandon, Brett, Chelsea and Michaela, Corin, Doreen, Eve, Ethan and Peyton, Florence, Grace, Gabe, Heath Lanctot and all of the soldiers who experience extreme burdens from their military service, Jim and Josie, Jill H. and Family,  Kjerste and Rachel, Krissy K., Laura Lu, Matt, Melissa, Mike and Lori, Aaron and Cindy, Noreens, O, Philip M., Russell, Scott and Joni, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

If it WERE a competition...

Which it is not.  But if it were a competition for cramming the most goodness into your life (and specifically one weekend) i think i had a good shot at finishing front of the pack this past couple of days.

We left my place at 6:30 a.m. to head to Bemidji to support my b.f.f.'s first year as a captain of a Relay for Life team.  We were Team B Awesome and she had the brilliant idea of a Dr. Seuss theme! It was wonderful to experience the day and share it with her and her mom and her moms friend Doreen! We were recognized for our creativity in booth decorations and fun costumes... pictures to follow.

Spent the night at my brothers and a brief period of time with him before heading to my parents about an hour away.  Went to church with them and the sermon was about "GO"ing  which of course warmed my heart... as the best advice I was ever given was recently by Bill Verebly when he told me that the first 2 letters of GOd are GO for a reason!!! ;)  Thanks Bill and Thank you Lord for your perfect timing and placement of Anne and Bill in my life. :)  All your ways are good.

My parents, Grace and I got home from church and picked some fresh raspberries and had an amazing home grown meal of fresh green beans, fresh cucumbers and fresh peas, of course the raspberries too!

From there we soldiered on to the Polk County Fair where I was able to ride on and represent our 1999 float in the parade :)  It was quite the ordeal really with flying and falling building boxes, one of which we ran over and dragged for a portion of the trail.  After the parade I found Grace having a BALL with Gramma and Grandpa spoiling her and putting her on every ride that met her height!
We were gifted a unlimited band and gramma proceeded to take Grace around AGAIN, while Grandpa and I went to get an oof-da taco.... soooo good.  AND, by the Grace of God Deb Mjelde sat down right beside me and we talked and smiled and hugged and it was good.

Thank you Lord for a family and friends filled weekend and for our safe travels.  Thank you for blessing Grace with an abundance of family who showers her with Love. Thank you for returning her safely from her 3 week adventure with her dad.  All of your ways are good, Oh Lord My God.

Gifts

No material gift has ever meant more to me than the gift of someones time. Of their presence and their conversation. Of their laughter and their grace.

Redemption in all it's glory

What a gift. Redemption. Not just from yesterday's sins but every. Single. Day. Lord, all your ways are good and surely it is All for Your Glory ANC Honor. Thank you for guiding me to life everlasting with you. Thank you using my most recent misstep to turn around and share your good news with someone who seems a bit lost.Your mercies truly are new each morning and I am humbled and in Awe of your abundant incredible Love.

Death through Adam, life through Christ

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Romans 5:12-17 NIV)

Romans 12:12

Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction and Faithful in Prayer.