May
18
Euphoric Weekend
Filed Under Life
I am going to attempt to blog about this past weekend, but there were many moments that words just cannot describe!
The whole reason I came home was for my friend Stacey T’s wedding. We ran track together at SCSU and I was honored when she asked me to be a reader for her wedding. I decided to come home a day early so I could spend some time with my nephew. Of course before I headed out to River Falls, I needed to make a pit stop at my neighbor’s to play with Ella…their dog. She’s adorable and I love her!
Seeing my nephew was so much fun! He is such a doll and cracks me up. His facial expressions are hilarious and I just adore him.
After spending a day with my nephew, brother and sister-in-law, I headed to the other side of the cities for the Groom’s Dinner. It was so good to see Stacey and her soon hubby.
I spent the night with her and a couple of her friends. The wedding day was great…a wee bit windy, though which had me worried about my dress 
I was grateful I was able to be behind the scenes as she got ready and was preparing for the day. The wedding itself was beautiful and Stace looked gorgeous! [and my reading went well...no slip ups!]
The dinner was a lot of fun because I was reunited with some old teammates. A couple I hadn’t seen in years, so it was good to see them and catch up. The dancing was too much fun! The candy bar they had set up was sweet, and the smores at the end of the night. Jake and I made a little documentary video about making smores
Then Sunday…Sunday was just indescribable and nothing like I imagined it would have been like. I started the day as I usually did when I was back home…I went to Park Cafe for breakfast to see Lynn…love her! Then headed to church. I walked into the sanctuary (a wee bit late) and up front was my pastor for our Sanctuary service and a team of people who are taking Sanctuary into St. Paul. [yesterday just happened to be the last Sanctuary service and I got to be home for it!!!] Amongst them was my dear friend Melissa. I started crying…I was so happy and proud of all of them for saying yes to the calling God has put on their lives.
Main service, itself was so good as Pastor Phil talked about addictions. The worship was indescribable! I got to see my neighbors (and inform them I played with their dog the other day!) and catch up with them. Children’s ministry had an appreciation BBQ for all the volunteers, so I got to see so many people who I’ve missed so dearly. I am liking my new church in Ohio, but I have missed Crossroads SOOOOOO much!
I got to spend some quality time with my dear friend Lisa…and her little Nick. I love my time with Lisa, because she always challenges me and makes me thinks of things from a different angle. I miss our chats.
Then Sanctuary. I have only been a part of this service for about a year, but last night I realized how much that community means to me and how much of an impact those people have had on me and my life. Sanctuary was a bitter sweet service, because we were saying goodbye to Sanctuary and hello to The Gallery, which will be the church plant moving to St. Paul. I am excited to see how God uses this body of people to reach out and be wedding invitations to the greatest wedding of all time.
I got to see more friends and more of my church family then got to spend some quality time with two dear friends…and my parents! There were lots of people I saw, yet lots that I did not. Being home this weekend has forced me to dip back into the memories of the past. I realized how different I am from the person I used to be. She is not completely gone because she is still inside me somewhere, but God has done an amazing transformation on me and it has been through many of the people I saw this weekend. I am humbled when I think of all He has given me and all He has allowed me to do…and all the responsibilities He has given me. I pray I make my Daddy proud of me!