19 days and counting!

 

Last weekend Marc ordained and installed a fellow classmate as Pastor. 

 

Several of their classmates from VUU showed up to offer their support. Marc had them sign the license as witness to the community that has formed among them over the last three years.

 

Speaking of VUU. Marc is only 19 days away from graduating!!! I'm going to spending the next few weeks trying to document his last few weeks.

I'm especially trying to get pics of him with his classmates. This has been the favorite part of his experience there.

Turning 51!

Last Tuesday I turned 51. Its weird some days I feel my age physically but mentally in my head I'm still in my twenties! I'm working on a blog post with some of my birthday gifts not to brag but just because I love seeing videos and blogs about that kind of stuff. LOL

Filters!!

This Easter Sunday was manic. In a good way but still crazy! Our sanctuary was packed, our children's church was packed and a lot of us spent the morning running around like chickens with our heads cut off! I somehow forgot to check the settings in my camera before heading outside to take pics of the Easter egg hunt and got home to several over exposed photos. I really thought I would have to trash them all it was that bad! Then I started playing with the filters in my editing program and these are the finally results! They have become my favorite photos from yesterday. It puts so much in perspective if you really look at it. We look through a lens and see one thing but God looks through a different filter and despite all of our mess he sees beauty and extends grace, love and forgiveness! That so speaks to Resurrection Sunday as well....because he loved us so much he gave us Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins and then three days later he rose from the grave thereby giving us eternal life!!! 

He put a ring on it!!

Well its official. This wedding planner is about to start the process of helping my youngest plan for her own wedding. This past Saturday her fiancee proposed in front of several of us while we were all in Richmond VA. She keeps saying its serial for her. Imagine being the mother. LOL

My Orlando trip

 

Trip report (with pics) from our mini vacation in Orlando for a friends wedding are now up on my Disney blog! Pre-Travel Day , Downtown Disney Day , Wedding Day , and Disney Boardwalk ! As you can see I managed to get some Disney in anyway. Including some shopping at some of the Disney outlets. Next post will be my Orlando Shopping Haul!!!

Blue Apron Review

My daughter Quisha and I recently tried out Blue Apron meals.

I love how well everything is packaged

And if your not a cook by nature this gives you step by step instructions.

All of the ingredients come freshly packaged.

Pre-prep is a must.

The finished product. I really enjoyed the meal I tried and Quisha and I both agree we would try them again.

March Ipsy Bag

Its been a minute since I did an Ipsy Bag update. I love the March bag (as in the bag itself). Next month when I get Aprils bag I will give a review of my thoughts on this months bag. But in the meantime I thought I would at least share what I got. I'm hoping I like everything but I especially hope I like the NYX lipstick. I tend to have a hard time finding shades I like on my lips and usually end up sticking with lip gloss.

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

In case you didn't know I'm one of those rare species that loves snow!! While everyone else is grumbling and complaining I'm as happy as a pig in mud!! Well in my case happy as a Snow Queen in Ice!!! Although its been cold this winter we hadn't really seen much participation when it came to snow. I was starting to think we would never get any until this past Monday.

This one has a new car and didn't want the ice to build up on it! smh

She at least ventured out into it! The rest of the crew turned into nomads and huddled inside griping! 

I on the other hand...the person you can't get to step out in the yard in the summer heat couldn't wait to dip my feet in the snow! 

This unfortunately was a icy snow and was hard as a rock! It stuck to the road and grass but not to the trees and shrubs. No building a snowman for me!! 

My motto is snow is a gift from God to get everyone to slow down and spend quality time with family. We spend so much of our days running around like chickens with our heads chopped off that we miss the small nuances of life. When it snows you have no choice but to stop and rest! Well if you've got any sense! 

So while everyone else was griping and complaining I was nice and comfy on my bed with a good book. Even cranked out a few blog post, caught up on some vlogs on YouTube and cooked one of my favorite soups in the crockpot. I figure one day the family will get it and slow their roll but in the meantime....

I'll keep singing do you want to build a snowman....and saying....the cold doesn't bother me anyway!! Hey!!! I'm not called the Disney Queen for nothin!! lol 

Weekend Wrap Up

Valentines week is always special around here because this one's birthday is only 4 days before!

 

I treated him to IHop for breakfast (since for some reason he decided to schedule work on his birthday). The surprise was on him when the staff at IHop sang the Happy Birthday song. Of course it helps that they know us at IHop. LOL

That weekend we invited two friends to join us for dinner at the Annual Minister's Wives banquet. We ended up at the table with friends from Marc's home church. We may have been in the back of the room but that did not stop us from having fun. LOL

Football!!!

Never in my life would I have thought I would do a post on sports!! But never ever say never! lol

Since coming to WABC sports have become a part of my life! Not for the reasons you would think though. A large number of our leadership members are diehard Redskin Fans. My husband is not!! lol Somehow he became an Eagles Fan (with no persuasion from this Philly born girl). There is constant ribbing back and forth between him and several of the Redskin fans. During football season the text between all of us are hilarious!! Over the years this has created a bond between what should be rival viewpoints. Instead it's helped us to reinforce the concept of team ministry. And idea that we are all in this together! The game this year between The Seattle Seahawks and the New England Panthers gave us an opportunity to cheer for the same team (well most of us). 

 

I once saw a sign a pastor posted on his wall that truly spoke to me about what a team really looks like. I even screen shot the photo to remember it when working in ministry. It said the best teams are made up of a bunch of nobodies, who love everybody, and serve anybody and don't care about becoming a somebody!

If more of us remembered this motto in ministry imagine how much more we could accomplish? After all we are all nobodies that God created into somebody! 

We had a great time that evening and even though the team lost...our "TEAM" won because we've learned to go all in for the cause together!! 

Of course next season Marc and I will be back to cheering on our Eagles against those "dead skins"! HAHA! And this time we will have our gear on!!! 

Designed by God

 

 

 

Saturday I got to sit in on one of the most inspiring Bridal Showers I have ever had the privilege to be a part of. So many women of every age all under one roof dispensing wisdom to the bride to be (daughter of a longtime friend) ! It felt as if we were at a Oprah Winfrey Legends Luncheon or around the fire in Africa with women from the village. It was so refreshing to hear words of wisdom that were intertwined with faith and a love for our God from not just older women but from the younger generation of women as well. It gave me hope for the future (and the generation that they will raise). That day  proved just how important it is to have the friendship of Godly women who can literally speak into your life. Congratulations DeAnna and her mom Peggy. Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this special day ! I feel truly blessed to have you ladies in my life as a part of my extended family. Its an experience that I will never forget.