Blessings.

 Sometimes after a long and exhausting week of work, all you want to do is sit at home on the weekend and do NOTHING. Just relax. Weekends where you don’t worry about getting fancy, or dolled up for anything, because there’s no need. Well, that is NOT at all how my weekend went. After my extremely long and trying work week, I decided to jam-pack my weekend schedule with friends, church, more friends, and more church, and it was quite possibly one of the best weekends I’ve had in a long time, despite fighting off this devil of a cold.

I will start off with Friday night, but Friday was actually pretty uneventful. I knew my weekend, was going to be a busy one, so I stayed in for the evening and relaxed. I sat in bed, watched Batman Begins and I talked Dad into ordering my new favorite pizza for dinner – chicken alfredo pizza with feta cheese, tomatoes, and spinach! Jay even stopped by to work on the computer for a minute, so I got to visit with him. Overall, a nice, relaxing, uneventful evening.

[Best way to pass time on a Friday night]

SATURDAY! Saturday started off with the best possible way I could think of starting it. My wonderful best friend Cori came back in to town for the weekend, and I was privileged enough to dine with her at The Egg and I for breakfast, and then do some thrifting at Plato’s Closet. It was some nice quality best friend time. I am so blessed to have her in my life! 

"Your feet don't anchor you, your friends do"
Love her always! 

After saying “see ya later” to Cori, I trekked on over to the church to get ready for rehearsal for the worship set for the weekend. Let me just say, I always enjoy serving on the worship team. I’m always playing with a different group of people, but every group is amazing. I got to play on an electronic piano instead of the keyboard, so my heart was melted into a puddle all weekend [in a good way]. After church, I got to hang out with Beth and Clare for a good 5 hours. We went down to the park to watch Tim and Joey play sand volleyball. We ventured over to the playground and unleashed our inner-child before heading over to BDubs and unleashing out inner-man for wings and baseball. After that, Beth and I made it back to her place to crash on the couch for a little sleepover before beginning our super busy Sunday.

[Cornerstone Christian Church | Momentum]

Sunday morning started with a drive to Troy to pick up Maggie. Lucky girl got to head to church with me at 7:30 in the morning, and be there for all 3 services. In true Maggie fashion though, she was totally cool with it all, and the even got to sit in the Jr. High Sunday school for the first time. She loved it. I knew she would, and she’s finally making friends. I am so thankful for that girl. It is because of her that I decided to get involved with the youth group in the first place. You are all probably going to get tired of reading this next statement, but I don’t care. I am going to LOVE being a youth coach. I am so excited God is blessing me with the opportunity do get involved with these kids. That brings me to the second part of my Sunday. I got to go out to Middle School Mania (with Maggie) and hang out with the 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th grade students.  We had 9 square in the air, kickball [adults vs. students – adults won!], sand volleyball, and water wars. I participated in all of them. I’m not an athlete. Never really have claimed to be either…but I gave it my all and I didn’t completely suck. The sand volleyball was a challenge though, since the sand felt like lava. Just another reason the water wars were wonderful. Just a disclaimer—the water wars were NOT planned, but they were thoroughly enjoyed considering the 90° weather. This ginger was NOT prepared for the sun, but was smart enough to mooch some sunblock off one of the students [Thanks, Anja!] No sunburn for me. Poor Bethy and Timmy got a little rosy, Ali just got a little freckled [which isn’t new]. My main point is that Middle School Mania was a success.

[Iris in my back yard]

After that was finished, Maggie and I traveled [drenched from the water wars] back towards Troy to take her home. After I dropped her off, I headed back to church to help Beth get dinner ready for 18-24. We all ate, had a good lesson and discussion, greeted new faces, welcomed back old ones. Summer is here y'all. I love having everyone back. It just feels right. After we finished up the lesson, we all migrated to the sanctuary and played a little 9 square in the air...again. It is no wonder my body hates me today. You know how hand sanitizer, or a lemon can make you aware of a little bitty cut that you had know realization of beforehand? Well middle school mania made me fully aware of the muscles that I have [that I haven't been using]...and I am feeling it now. So worth it. Absolutely worth it.

I am blessed. Blessed beyond what I deserve. I am loved by my Savior, by my friends, my family. I have a nephew on the way. Not everything is the way I would have planned for it to be, but life would SUCK if that's how it worked. We wouldn't be able to realize for ourselves the true grace, love, and glory of our Savior.



[Washington County State Lake, Washington County Illinois, photo taken and edited by ACLackey]



“For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison to the surpassing glory” - 2 Corinthians 3:10

That's my next tattoo. It's happening. Soon.

Until next time, readers.

God Bless you all!