Friend Of The Week

This week's "Friend Of The Week" honor

goes to


My "Bestest Little Friend"



d Holly Flener d





Holly is 11 years old and goes to my church with her dad and older sister. One Sunday morning back in February, Holly came home with me after church and she has been visiting with me nearly every Sunday since. We always hit up McDonald's before coming home. Holly always gets everything plain-plain hamburger, nuggets with no sauce (yuck!). She says "I'm just a plain little girl". Sometimes we just hang out and watch tv, play on the computer or swim in the pool. Sometimes she and Jordan play video games or pick on each other just like they are brother/sister. Holly loves to play with the dogs and puppies and is usually found packing one around the whole afternoon.








Holly brightens up my day with her sweet little smile. I'm so thankful that Holly is a part of my life. Love ya, Little Girl!!





"Friends are angels following you through life."

"Friend Of The Week"

This week's honor of "My Friend Of The Week"

goes to

~SHARON MARTIN~

I have known Sharon for many, many years but we had lost contact with each other. About the time my close friend/mentor Donna Maley (See first "Friend Of The Week") was getting ready to move to Ohio, Sharon mysteriously popped back into my life. Coincidence? Nah. God's plan? Yes! God knew that I was needing a "teacher" in my life and with Donna leaving, He pretty well dropped Sharon right back into my life. Why am I always in awe of His amazing timing?

Sharon is such a woman of God, such an intercessor and prayer warrior. She has taught me so much in what little time we have spent together, she amazes me. Sharon is currently teaching our Group Book Study on "The Shack" and she is bringing out so many things that she has found while researching the book as well as reaching "The Book". I've not found anything that I can ask her about that she cannot tell me what the scripture says about it.

I'm not saying all these things about Sharon to put her on a pedestal, only to say that God has blessed her in the most wonderful ways of allowing her to be a disciple to Him. She is one of the most humble people I know as well as one of the wisest people I know.

I love you, Sharon!!!

Spotlight on My "Friend Of The Week"

My next "Friend of the Week" Honor goes to

.....my friend.....

!! Donna Wylie !!

I've known Donna Wylie for about 6 years. We got to be really good friends after someone told me a lie saying that Donna didn't want us to be friends. After that, our friendship became stronger than ever.

(So....P~, that's what you get for lying! You know who you are!)

Donna helped me through one of the roughest times of my life, always telling me that I'd be fine and that I'd come out on top. Man, was she ever right!! I remember the day when my "crappy life" was FINALLY over. I was looking at a calender, an empty calender at that and I asked Donna, "What am I going to do now?" She said, "God will fill that empty calendar if you will let Him." And man, did He. Donna always has words of encouragement for me, when I'm down, she helps lift me up, when I'm excited about something, she's always there to rejoice with me. Donna and her husband Terry have been wonderful friends to me and have been like parents to Jordan.

I love you Donna!!

Friendship Comments

"Remember, no man is a failure who has friends."
~from "It's A Wonderful Life"

My First "Friend Of The Week"

I'm going to start a new "Spotlight Blog" on my friends. I'm going to chose a new friend each week to honor and share what they mean to me.

***********************************

So.......

d

(Drumroll please)

d

.........my "First Friend Of The Week" ..........

d

is

DONNA MALEY!

( Me & Donna at the Casting Crowns conert)

I miss my friend Donna so much. As you know, she and her family moved back to Ohio to answer God's calling for Lonnie to become the youth pastor at Rolling Plains United Methodist Church. http://www.rollingplainsumc.com/

Donna tucked me under her "Momma-Wing" when I was in transition from "Crappy Life" back to my Christian walk. She never judged me, she never pointed her finger at me, she never cut me down. She loved me and accepted me, flaws and all. She showed me that I was worthy of God's love, even when I didn't feel worthy. She helped to laugh again. She helped me to trust again. She showed me that no matter what I had done, I was only one step away from getting back to God. And when I made that step back and asked for forgiveness for all my crap, God said, "What crap? I don't know what you are talking about." How amazing is that? Donna took my hand and helped me climb the ladder back to God's Grace.

When they were getting ready to move, I asked Donna who was going to take my hand now? Who was going to help me continue my journey? She told me that she wouldn't be here to physically take my hand but she would always be there for me. And she also said that I was ready to help someone else climb their ladder for a closer relationship with God.

Donna and I had a lot of serious talks but we also had a lot of fun times. I called her "Willie Nelson" because she was always "on the road again". One time, we lost a bowl of caramel and couldn't find it anywhere. We just knew there was a "Caramel Thief" amongst us! But I found it. In my 'fridgerator. Who'd a-thunk?

d Love ya Donna! d

Friendship with oneself is all important because without it one cannot be friends with anybody else in the world. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Friendship Comments

"The Shack"

After two friends recommended that I read this book, I just had to go get it. It has forever changed the way I think about God, my relationship with Him and about forgiveness.Many times throughout the book, I had those "Ah-ha" moments, you know, those moments when the light bulb comes on? It showed me a different way of seeing things-not just through my own eyes, but through God's eyes.

There were some parts of the book that I had to read and re-read several times. I finally gave up and pulled out a notebook and started taking notes. There were times when I just had to close the book because I couldn't comprehend it. It is very deep at times, but as I continued on, I would begin to understand those parts that were so deep.

Now that I'm done with this book, I'm going to share it with my friend Regina. I would recommend that others get a copy of this book and read it. Trust me, it won't take you long to finish it. It's incredible!

*NOTE* We will be having a book discussion on "The Shack". Sharon Martin has graciously agreed to lead the group. We will meet on Thursday evenings from 6pm - ?, beginning on July 24 at the GRC Fellowship Hall. Plan to join us for 5-6 weeks of deep conversations. So, get the book, experience it and sign up for the group discussion!!!

Camp Cedarmore Pics

Destanee

Lining up for "The Blob".

Jordan flying off "The Blob".

Cody on "The Blob".

Madison on "The Blob".

Justin on "The Blob".

The Look On Their Faces?.......PRICELESS!!

Regina Nannie and I made a "road trip" yesterday to Bagdad, Ky. We wanted to surprise the youth group and especially our sons, Justin and Jordan. Unfortunately, neither were very surprised to see Mom show up at church camp, as the looks on their faces made that very plain. But they soon warmed up to the idea, especially after we gave them money to buy extra t-shirts! But there were a few kids there that made us feel so welcome, even some that wanted us to stay over night.

We took sandels to keep our feet cool and tennis shoes for all that walking. We drove the car all over the place, so tennis shoes not needed. (Why is it that most camps and colleges are built on hills?) We forgot the sunscreen, but there was plenty there. Obviously the kids weren't using it based on all the lobster-colored skin they had. I took the new digital camera, took hundreds of pics, too bad I don't know how to edit them yet! I forgot my "Minnie-Pearl-floppy hat" but ended up not needing it, especially when those darks clouds hung around most of the day and eventually brought a cooling rain.

We felt like we came into the middle of something wonderful and when it was time for us to leave, we knew that we were leaving an awesome experience that we were able to just get a small glimpse of. Our youth group is a very close knit group of kids and it seems like after every camp, they are even closer. We can see them getting closer to each other and closer in their walk with God.

We didn't want to leave, but due to the time, we had to. We left at a time when the Holy Spirit was moving very strongly in the Checkpoint room. We arrived safely back home at 2:00am. Now, I'm going to greet the day. On 3 hours of sleep. And of heart full of love for the GRC Youth. And a walk that is a bit closer to God.

Going To Bagdad For Jesus!!

The GRC Youth left yesterday for a week-long church camp at Camp Cedarmore in Bagdad, Ky. They left in camo t-shirts that said "Going To Bagdad For Jesus!" Everyone was so excited, especially those that went last year because they know what is in store for the week. I wish I could have went with them, but someone has to take care of the dogs. Maybe next year!

You can check in on the camp to see what is going on. Go to http://www.crossingscamps.org/, click on Parent Point, enter your email (or just use mine to get in), go to Camp Cedarmore-week of June 23-27. You should be able to see pics and videos that are updated daily.