Everyone said we were much too young

But we did it anyway

We bought our rings for forty each

From a pawn shop down the road

We made our vows and took the leap

Now fifteen years ago

We went dancing in the minefields

We went sailing in the storm

And it was harder than we dreamed

But I believe that's what the promise is for

"I do" are the two most famous last words

The beginning of the end

But to lose your life for another I've heard

Is a good place to begin

'Cause the only way to find your life

Is to lay your own life down

And I believe it's an easy price

For the life that we have found

And we're dancing in the minefields

We're sailing in the storm

This is harder than we dreamed

But I believe that's what the promise is for

So when I lose my way, find me

When I loose love's chains, bind me

At the end of all my faith, till the end of all my days

When I forget my name, remind me

photocredit: E.Oliverio

'Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man

So there's nothing left to fear

So I'll walk with you in the shadowlands

Till the shadows disappear

photocredit: E.Oliverio

photocredit: E. Oliverio

'Cause he promised not to leave us

And his promises are true

So in the face of all this chaos, baby, 

I can dance with you

So another day of feasting and laughter has come and gone. It was an incredible time of enjoying and being together. As always, an abundance of food was to be had and we have no shortage of leftovers :)

We went today to brave the crowds of Black Friday.  And I decided to celebrate the day in my own 'black' way :)

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." 

—G.K. Chesterton

Well, tomorrow is a day that I am looking forward to!!! Thanksgiving at the Zellons-well, maybe you will get a glimpse into it later :)

Just sitting here thinking about tomorrow gets me so excited. Excited to be with my family, back in Indiana, and to open up our home to some of the staff here from Head Quarters. We are having about ten folks coming from HQ to celebrate at our home. Fun times for sure :)

Well, enjoy the goodness of our Abundant Provider...which includes pumpkin pie of course.

((My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Ps 63:5))

be blessed

..ez..

So yes, we are still 6 weeks out from Christmas but I am so excited. To some it may be a cardinal sin to listen to Christmas music before the 'official' season begins but I will confess-I've been at it since October :)

Being up in the Northwoods last week made me even more want it to be that time. It was the perfect first snow-a white blanket gently laying across the trees and landscape.

So as I was up there He told me some amazing things-some I am still sorting through, trying to grasp them. Here are just a few that were so incredible-because they were given on the day the snow began to fall.

   he does great things beyond our understanding. 

   and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.' 

I love the thought that at the sound of His voice so many things happen-thinking about what His voice must sound like is an incredible thought. What it must sound like in order to calm the seas and cause the world to come to life. How at the sound of His voice light was formed and snow is commanded to fall. How sweet and yet commanding-how majestic and amazing. 

He is all too good to me. For He CALLED me by name to come out of darkness and into His Light. How amazing.

be blessed

..ez..

The question was raised
As my conscience fell
A silly, little lie
It didn’t mean much
But it lingers still
In the corners of my mind
Still you call me to walk
On the edge of this world
To spread my dreams and fly
But the future’s so far
My heart is so frail
I think I’d rather stay inside


It took more than my strength
To simply be still
To seek but never find
All the reasons we change
The reasons I doubt
And why do loved ones have to die?

But You love me anyway
It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known
Yes You love me anyway
Oh Lord, how You love me

I am the thorn in Your crown
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway

My words seem so inadequate, so small compared to what I want to tell you. Trying to capture what took place this last week is hard but I will try the best I can.

I was able to go on a Journey to the Heart with 40 other girls. I really didn't know that to expect but I had been asking God to talk with me and blow me away. Well, just know that when you ask for God to be Himself and show us His greatness - He will do above and beyond.

At the beginning of the week I was challenged with something being pointed out in my life. It was a thing that I didn't want to bring up, didn't want to deal with at the moment. So I pushed it aside, I took those nagging thoughts about it and dumped cold water on it. Throughout the next couple days I went about the days knowing that this would come up later but again and again shoving it back down inside.

Don't you love the thought that even when we try to ignore Him and push Him away that he doesn't give up and still fights for the victory in your life? That's what kept happening-He kept calling out and telling me that this was not my battle-I didn't have to keep fighting it alone. But He was relentless and gently broke me-through my guards and walls. I was tired and even the times I told myself that I could handle it, keep living the way I had been was a lie. The love of God and the name of Jesus is overwhelming and is powerful to overcome anything. It encompasses round about us and nothing can change that.

What happened after that breaking and surrendering was amazing. After calling and talking to my parents and a few others I felt liberated and there was a stillness, a quite joy that filled.  And oh how that change begins- I have known this feeling before-this is not the first time that we have been in contact before. I knew that this was His presence coming and confirming what all had just happened was good.

Why do I write this? Because I need to not hold back - to share only our happiness and lightness will only get to reach so far. But the reality of surrender coupled with openness and brokenness is what goes beyond. Where to go from here to silence the lies and starting being in a new life-well, I am not for sure how it all looks. But, I know that He is trustworthy.

You’re close and yet full of mystery

Ever since the day that I saw Your face

Try as I may, I cannot look away, I cannot look away…

Captivated by You

I am captivated by You

May my life be one unbroken gaze

Fixed upon the beauty of Your face

Beholding is becoming, so as You fill my gaze

I become more like You and my heart is changed

Beholding is becoming, so as You fill my view

Transform me into the likeness of You

This is what I ask, for all my days

That I may, never look away, never look away…

No other could ever be as beautiful

No other could ever steal my heart away

I just can’t look away…