The Grace Card

Last Saturday we had the pleasure of spending the evening out... going out to dinner at Olive Garden and then to the movies.  This was our first date night to the movies since we've been married.  The reason for dinner and a movie?  First of all, it was needed... and wanted.  Secondly, we have some great friends and family who had given us gift cards.

The movie we watched is called The Grace Card.  I'm not going to spoil the movie, but I do want to share a few things.  It takes place in Memphis... which is pretty cool since that's such a familiar city for us.

I want to share with you the challenge that was given throughout the movie...
When someone hurts you or offends you, respond with grace... the grace card...
"I promise to pray for you everyday, ask your forgiveness, grant you the same, and be your friend always."

It's a great movie... realistic and down to earth!  I encourage you to watch it!

Encouragement

I love encouragement!  

I love to give encouragement and I love to receive encouragement.  Encouragement is something we need and also something that I think we desire.

This past week I had the honor and joy of being encouraged in a very large city many miles away.  It's a city that many people love... I even love this city but not for the same reasons as many others.  We went on a mission trip to Las Vegas.  We were able to spend the week with some old friends who have recently moved and some new friends from the same southern state.  :)  These people were a great encouragement throughout the week... through their faith and their optimism.  People we met along the way through surveying neighborhoods, serving at a rescue mission, and sharing at a homeless ministry were also encouraging throughout the week.  It was a great week!  I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to go... to learn... to share... to live...

This week I have even been encouraged by those around me here at home... the Word, my friends, my coworkers, my family, and even others in the community whom I didn't know until this week.  It is so refreshing and revitalizing to be encouraged.  

I hope that I can be an encouragement to those around me.  May my words and my actions be positive and productive/beneficial to those around me!

Spring Break!

Spring break is here!  And I can honestly say that I need it.

Lately I have been in an odd mood... more stressed, more uptight, more easily upset, more easily bothered/frustrated... It has not been good.  Honestly I'm not sure where this odd mood has come from.  But I am ready for it to go!  Hopefully spring break will be the cure... or at least the beginning of the cure.

I am looking forward to next week.  I will be on an adventure... outside of my comfort zone a little... but in a place that I love... if that makes any sense.  It will definitely be a change from the "regular" life which has kept me so busy and stressed that even when I have the chance to blog I feel that I have nothing good to add for y'all to read.  I'm sorry.  I will be working on my blogging skills throughout the year.

Spring is exciting to me.  Warmer weather.  Fresh grass and leaves.  Bright flowers.  Birds chirping.  March madness.  New sports - baseball, softball, etc.  Longer days.  More light.  Occasionally some rain and storms.

Hopefully it won't take me two weeks before I drop in again.
I hope y'all have a wonderful week!!