my day off

This was a true day off - SAMS Club, Walmart - high-class living!

Spending time with my hubby and family and camping out with my grandson - INSIDE - well, it just doesn't get any better.

As I walked through thoroughly stocked shelves of merchandise and groceries I wondered how my brothers and sisters in the Lord were doing today around the world.  I have no idea why I get to live in such provision and they don't.

One crazy thing after another kept coming on the radio and across my news feeds concerning everything from young children suing parents for equality,  the mess that Greece is in financially -  to a massive man-hunt in Ashland County right now... our world is upside-down it seems.

I spent my day thanking the Lord for His grace, but understanding that the He NEVER promises we'll be comfortable, or safe, or protected from what we see others around the earth experiencing.

As I enjoyed a day full of freedom, I thanked Him for His provision, I rested more fully in Him and kept singing the phrases I can't get out of my head from one of the songs this weekend -

Letting go of my pride 
Giving up all my rights
Take this life and let it shine

Letting Go of my pride - Giving up all my rights...this is exactly where the God of the Universe needs me to be, on my day off.

my day off

Yesterday afternoon included my second bike trail ride in so many days and surprisingly I don't feel too badly!  It's not called a ladies cruiser bike for nothing - we chatted happily with no pressure at all to finish at a certain time!  (meanwhile our husbands kept lapping us trying to hit some ridiculous target amount of miles for the day!)

Kimberly Fleeson and me on our Townie's

Later yesterday, we got our grandson to keep a couple of nights while his parents are vacationing.  So we have been outside as much as possible enjoying the magnificent weather.

I came across these seed pods and I was completely blown away by the exquisite detail God the creator took the time to use with this small plant branch.  They were almost spider-web-ish.

 Every time I'm with my grandson I love him more and tonight I let him lay on my bed a few minutes before transferring him to his own bed just to settle him down.

He came to bed with a little - very old matchbox truck in his hand, and I watched in wonder as he held that little truck  I thought I was watching his father.  This car had been our son Eric's, and it was as if it was 25 years ago.

This was the perfect ending to my day off!  precious fleeting time...God is so good.

my birthday

Many times my birthday falls during the week of Easter and even several times on Easter itself.  This makes it difficult to even think about since the ministry is all about Easter and what goes into it!  And honestly at my age - I really don't care about celebrating at all!

This year was different.

It started on a rainy Monday earlier this week,  when we went to Easton to shop and spend time relaxing- knowing it might be our only celebration time.  It was one of my favorite days in a very long time!  I came home with a few things, but mainly just very relaxed, especially unusual on Easter week!

But, today, a work day surpassed all my expectations!  I got to be with my friends and they gave me many warm happy birthday greetings and funny cards and very meaningful cards and gifts. I am a very, very blessed woman!

Jesse and Eric - horse heads for the Country Western series

This was one of the first things I received - a Happy Birthday text from my grandson!









There were things that made me laugh - like the crazy Student Ministry Pastors - and very thoughtful  treats - my favorite flavor lemon - which caused me to immediately gain weight!

Claire could be a professional baker!

A few of the notes I received were extremely kind, meaningful and quite surprising.  Some of the beautiful young women I work with, are girls that God has given me the privilege of loving in my home and in groups at Crossroads.  I now am surrounded by them at work and I will NEVER take this for granted!  I beg all of you reading this, to take time out of your schedule to build into other people's lives - it will come back to reward you in the most shocking ways and at unexpected times.  Everything we do with the limited years of our lives matter!

My older girlfriends at work blessed me with more of my favorite things as we laughed over the funny cards and talked about the next time we will be able to get away together and our hopes and plans for the future at Crossroads!  I love them!

Crossroads staff

At lunch I snapped a picture of all my friends at Crossroads, (missing a couple of staff that had appointments), I praised the Lord that He has allowed me to be part of this amazing group for so many years.  And I understand in a new way the only thing that makes birthdays matter to me is being surrounded by the people I adore and the job I love so much!

The only sad thing of the whole day was our very last programming meeting with Pastor Tim!  He will be missed more than I can EVER explain!

Final programming meeting with Pastor Tim

And finally a quiet dinner out with the love of my life, my hubby!  I figured out it was my 38th birthday with him - again, I'm a very blessed woman!

Thank you all for a really, really great day!