Kansas City Royals Fan!

Growing up, my grandma and grandpa Butterfield lived in Kansas City, MO...home of the Royals! As it turns out, Julie and Joe's son, Jackson's team, is the Kansas City Royals!!! Fun to get to see that, and watch Max work the crowd... ;)

Shopping!

Here's photos from our shopping trip for the tornado relief effort...

Shoes!

Max, Julie and Joe's youngest, LOVED my shoes!!! HAHA!

Girl's Weekend Becomes More...

I've never been to Alabama before, and my chosen sister Julie has been there now for almost 4 years. She's been a lot better about visiting than me! ;) So several months ago we planned a girl's weekend trip full of shopping, spa-ing, relaxing and of course eating!!! Little did we know that the timing would bring way more than we expected.

130 confirmed tornados touched down in Alabama alone the day before I flew in. I was on the phone with Julie, talking out our itinerary when the the afternoon sirens began (the first wave had been that morning). "I have to get off the phone, Anj...I may lose you in this storm." Thinking back, those are rather cryptic words considering I could have lost her, like so many others lost their homes and loved ones. Her area where she lives literally looked like the hand of God had cupped over them...not two streets down, trees were shredded and metal power lines bent in half like straws...an open field showed what looked like "crop signs" showing where a tornado had skipped up and down taking everything with it.

When my plane landed, I entered Huntsville airport in the dark...run only on generators because the enitre area was without power...on our way to her house we saw homes leveled and scattered metal debris for miles in fields. It was surreal...almost unreal, like something out of a movie.

Our original plans were to start our weekend off by shopping at the beautiful Huntsville Mall. With no power that was out, and Julie suggested we still go shopping, but not for ourselves. That night we put together bags of hygiene products for women, bags of crayons and coloring books for children, bouncy balls, work gloves for men and women as well as face masks ,diapers and wipes to bring in to the relief effort drives, which were immediately set up everywhere in the area. I think we both agree that that shopping trip was one of the best we've ever made.

What was most impressive to me was that everywhere you turned, someone was buying for someone else, meeting needs, paying it forward with gladness. We also witnessed mayors and the governor as well as people affected all praising the Lord through it. Openly proclaiming that their Faith in God was strong and that they will continue to rely on Him...it was really touching.

I'll have several posts of our weekend...trust me, it was not all doom and gloom. I had a terrific time having a spa day, shopping, seeing the sights, relaxing and walking all over. I miss my Julie. It was along with a very good time spent with my sis, a humbling experience of seeing the fragility of life, the uncertainty of it, the precious reminder of how important it is to be grateful for what you have, not what you don't....I would ask though that anyone reading this would take a moment to pray for those that have suffered so much, and that if God lays it on your heart to give, I thank you, and God Bless you.

First photos are of the lines for gas, downed power lines and damage.

Happy Easter

We pray that you had a wonderful Easter, filled with Family, Friends and most of all...Faith!

Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...

TMC Meal

A special thank you to Kathy, Kristin, Amanda and Jenny for all coming together for our service project through small group for the Teen Mother Choices Meal. I was in charge of the potato casseroles! I appreciate the hearts and spirits of these ladies...their selflessness, kindness and love for the Lord...they have such open eyes to opportunities and I am glad to be a part of their group.

If you would like to know more, be a part of, or help with TMC, you can go to:

http://www.vcgurnee.org/

Blessings!

Matthew 25:35 "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me."

Duckies!

Ohhhh...it's that time again when we get lots of our critter friends in for a visit!