Life is Good

Hello- I am just feeling so good and living to the fullest. I have had some great experiences this weekend and want to share them with you. The weekend isn't over yet though, so I probably have more to come. Yesterday, (my cousin, Leanne's Birthday, Happy Birthday to You!) we went to a birthday party of a friend's daughter. It was a roller skating party, it was a blast! I haven't been roller skating in years. It was so much harder than I imagined. I ice skated for 20 some years and this was definitely a challenge. I couldn't believe it. It was so much fun though, you should all make plans to go roller skating, it brings out the kid in you! Thank you Jen, Larry and Katherine for the great time.
We went out with one of my good friends, Dustin, who is moving back from Chicago soon. We had a fantastic time with her, her date and their friends. We don't get out much, so it was really nice to get out and "party" a bit. Thank you Dustin and Kevin for hanging out with us, the old married couple with a kid who doesn't get out anymore, hehe. Last night, Doug and I hung out around here. It was really nice to just get to curl up in my chaise lounge chair (which I have only sat in a few times, it mostly acts as a place for all my clothes) and I read. Oh, another great moment this weekend. My friend Dustin, (she is a girl, by the way, for those of you who don't know, even though she has a boy name, sorry Dustin) took me to meet a Priest that she speaks very highly of and has wanted me to meet. We got to sit and talk with him for quite awhile, it was a pleasure meeting him! He gave me some literature to help increase my knowledge of the Catholic faith. It is basic information, which I need. As Dustin and I said, we need the book, Catholics for dummies! Apparently this book exists too, wow! So last night,I sat and read these books, a bit more of "90 Minutes in Heaven" and then finished with my "trash magazines", "People".
This morning, my friends and neighbors, Brandi, Kelly and I went to a new church. It has a great story behind it which I can't relay to you, it would take too long. But essentially Brandi came across this wonderful man, who happens to be a Pastor of a very small congregation off Shawnee Mission Parkway. She was so impressed by him and her encounter with him, she told Kelly and I about it and we immediately told her we wanted to meet this man and go experience this church. So, the three of us went this morning, not knowing at all what to expect. We were so pleasantly surprised with this congregation. There were about 15-20 people there today at this service. They were so warm, kind, caring and embraced the three of us with open arms. The most important aspect was their love and appreciation for God. I felt so connected and that there was no other agenda than to love and thank God! We unfortunately had to bow out early. Doug graceously took Ella and Brandi's girls while we went.The service ran late so we had to get home to relieve Doug. But we are hoping to go back and experience this wonderful place again. Thank you Canaan for your warm welcome and open arms. Thank you Pastor Smith for making this experience possible by as simple a gesture as handing Brandi a card saying, "Don't forget, Jesus loves you".
What a weekend. And there's more to come! I want to thank my husband who is being so kind so that I can do all these things and allowing me to live life to the fullest and watching Ella during these times when I can't have her with me. As I have attested to before...I am blessed with so many wonderful people in my life and so many great opportunities I have had. I have had and continue to have a great life and thank God every day for this life. I am sitting next to a picture, my Uncle Malcolm gave me of a pair of hands, one hand of a very young infant, holding onto the finger of an old hand. This is a picture he took. In the corner he put the quote "The Gift of Life knows no age." I had to think about that for a long while, but I think I am starting to understand it. Life is truly a gift we are given. I am thankful for this wonderful gift! Happy Sunday everyone! shawndra