Spring Time!

I love Spring time in Kansas City!! It's so beautiful! I love a good snowy winter but there is just something about when everything comes back to life!! Things get green and flowers start blooming!

This beautiful flowering tree is in our backyard!

Up close! So beautiful!
I love the redbud trees this time of year!
So pretty!!

These pictures were taken a couple weeks ago, everything is starting to get super GREEN now and it's even more gorgeous!! :) I love God's creations!

St Patty's Day Parade

So, I'm just a "tad" bit late.....

......but.......

Happy St. Patty's Day!!! LOL

Did you wear green?!

If you didn't, I bet you got pinched!! :) It's okay to admit it. lol

My friend Mel and I joined up with our friends Angela and Danny and their son Daniel! We had a great time! It was Kansas City's 40th Anniversary for the St. Pat's Day Parade! We had a great time...and let me tell you. We saw just about everything! Lord help!

This is Mel and I hanging out at the parade. It was so bright outside! And yes, we got sun-burnt on ONE side of our face! bahaha Ok, maybe not that much of an exaggeration but it was most definitely a lop-sided burn! LOL!

Angela and I!
And the parade begins!! Love seeing those men in uniform! Thankful for the men that serve our country!
Loved seeing all the old cars! I would love to take a ride in one of these one day!

ha!! Daniel and I with the crazy ole clown. And that was just it.....crazy!
Me with Mel and Angela! :) Love these gals!

Ah!! Dancing horses!!! That was the coolest thing ever!! Never seen that before!

There you have it friends! A taste of what the Kansas City St. Patrick's Day parade is all about it! :)

S.A.M.

I am so thankful for S.A.M. (Single Adult Ministry)! Through the last several years I have been on some amazing trips and met some of the most amazing people that I know we will be friends for a lifetime. We had a mini S.A.M. reunion a couple weeks ago! It was sooo good for us all to hang out together again, even if it was only for a short time!

Parisi Cafe

So, Union Station has this a.m.a.z.i.n.g coffee shop!!! This Parisi Coffee Shop is fabuloso!! Such a cool atmosphere right in the middle of Union Station! It's become another favorite spot of mine in Kansas City! :)
This is inside the coffee shop! :)
And it's full of big black and white pictures....which is even more amazing!
And their coffee art....
...is amazing! How do they do that?!

Totally love the sitting area!!

Kansas City

Have I ever mentioned just how much I LOVE this beautiful city?! A couple weeks ago, my sweet friend Melodie came for a visit! We had a wonderful time! And while I was waiting for her to get into town, I just had to hang out in the city for awhile...





This beautiful city...full of each season, the BEST BBQ, fountains, and Jazz! What's not to love?! :)

Harvey House + Union Station + Titantic

Mel and I started out the day with meeting for lunch at the Harvey House at Union Station.


This is a fabulous restaurant in such a cool atmosphere! We both were trying to be good so we got a yummo salad! But I just couldn't pass up these AMAZING sweet potato fries with cinnamon/marshmellow dipping sauce! What's not to love?!


I absolutely love the grand hallway at Union Station. Ok, I don't know that its actually called that...but that's what I call it. :) It's fabulous! I love to come here and just sit and take in the atmosphere. :)


I can never get enough of this amazing ceiling! So much detail!


We then saw that Union Station had an exhibit for the Titanic! And...it was the 100th Anniversary of it!!



How cool is that?! We've been through it before but just had to go and see if it was any different than the last one we went too. They give you 'passports' so that you can be one of those people while you explore. Glad to say that both Mel and I survived the Titanic! :)

Heart to Heart

Dont you just love heart to heart talks? There is just something about them...especially with a great friend! There's just something about talking about life, and things that are going on where you can just really open up, share, get advice, share heart aches or victories!

I loved getting to spend time with my sweet and beautiful friend Reegan the other night, while we enjoyed some Orange Leaf!


Can you guess which one is mine? :)


I'm so thankful that God has placed some amazing people in my life that I can call friend!

Love you Reegan! Can't wait to see how this year unfolds for you!

Night of Bowling

I kinda forgot how much I enjoy bowling! A couple weeks ago, I went bowling with our Career group at church. We had a lot of fun together. Funny moment when a song came on and the ENTIRE bowling ally burst into song! Haha

We even decided to do our second game with our opposite hand. Now that was a challenge...but it was fun. :)

Community Health Fair

Our church, The Life Church, had our 1st Annual Community Health Fair yesterday!! It was amazing!! We had so many vendors come, varying from dental exams, spinal checks, hearing checks, Hope House, against violence, music for kids, healing oils, self defense classes.....the list goes on and on.

Here is a little recap video of the success! (Don't forget to stop the music first, at the bottom of the page.)


Thanks, Bro Danny, for putting this video together!

I'm so thankful to be apart of an amazing church who loves to be involved in the Community!!

Live, Laugh, Love

This pretty much sums it up. :)

Life Kidz Worship

We had a wonderful kids revival at church this weekend! Here is a little taste of Kidz Worship-Live!

Holiday Corner: St. Patrick's Day

It's that time again! I can't believe we are already into another month! Finally got the new art put up and before we know it, it'll be time for Easter!

I can't wait until I get a place of my own and I'll have more room to decorate! But until then, I'll enjoy this little corner! :) Happy March!

Letter to 'Big Mom'

My sister's Mother-in-law wrote this precious letter to our sweet Grandma the day after her funeral. I came across this letter today....I'll keep it forever. It makes me cry every time I read it. This past January marks 4 years that she passed away. I miss her so much.

January 13, 2008

Dear Sister Shaw,

I knew you as an acquaintance...until yesterday.

I knew you as a fellow laborer...until yesterday.

I knew you as our daughter-in-law's "Big Mom"...until yesterday.

Yesterday, I learned to know you as a saint of God who has fought the fight and gone on to claim her reward.

Yesterday, I learned to know you as a loving wife who put her husband's needs above everyone else's...except the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yesterday, I learned to know you as a mother and grandmother who successfully passed on a heritage that is rich beyond anything this world has to offer.

Yesterday, I learned to know you as a lover of people...a lover of souls...who prayed diligently for those she loved.

Yesterday, I learned to know you as a servant of God who is now blessed to hear those words we all long to hear some day..."Well Done Thou Good and Faithful Servant!"

Era Belle Shaw (I mean no disrespect by using your name instead of the more respectful, Sister), I am writing this to you with no knowledge of your awareness. I like to believe that after we leave this life, God allows us to see some of the impact our lives have made on others.

Era Belle Shaw, I am writing this to you because you are changing my life.

Era Belle Shaw, I am writing this to you because you will never be forgotten.

Era Belle Shaw, I am writing this to you because you have motivated me to make some fresh commitments in my life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus, I commit to loving souls more than I love myself.

Jesus, I commit to loving my soul mate more than ever and letting him know he comes first.

Jesus, I commit to making more memories with my children and grandchildren.

Jesus, I commit to loving the ministry more...and letting them know that I do.

Jesus, I commit to praying more diligently for those I love.

Jesus, I commit to rearranging my priorities so my time is yours to use.

Jesus, I commit to learn how to smile unceasingly.

Jesus, I commit to living a life that will live on after my life is over.

Era Belle Shaw, this is written as yet another testimony to a life well lived...that will continue to live on in those of us you have touched...even after your life on earth has ended.

Thank You, Era Belle Shaw.

Kathie H.

I read this letter with tears in my eyes. I miss this godly lady so much. Someone who put others before herself. Who loved people and someone who LIT UP when you walked in the room. Who loved giving you hugs and making sure you had everything you needed and more when you were in their home. Someone who always gave God the glory. She's been in Heaven now for 4 years. I only hope that I can be half the person she was, one day. I love you, Big Mom!

Coffee Chat

Good Morning! Such a lovely Saturday! My only day to sleep in and I was awake before 8:00! What in the hay?! I have to admit, I was kinda frustrated. I tried making myself go back to sleep for an hour, but my mind wouldn't stop "rolling". Ever have times like that? I finally got up and made some coffee. :) That seems to "fix" everything, doesn't it?

So, as I sit here and drink out of my favorite mug....It's big, it's red, it's Starbucks....what's not to love? :) I can't help but think about life. Thinking about how much God has blessed me. To think about all the adventures of this thing called life.

Thinking about my family. I'm blessed. All my family lives so far apart from each other-which makes me so thankful for Skype. So blessed to be given such a wonderful Christian heritage, that I wouldn't trade for anything in this world.

Thinking about my friends. Seriously...they are amazing! There is nothing like having TRUE friends in your life and so glad that God knows who to place in our lives!

Thinking about the sweet man that I'm dating right now. He has such a kind, tender heart, who makes me feel like a queen. I've never met someone that is more of a gentleman than he is. #blessed

It's the little things in life. The things we often take for granted. Life has granted its ups and downs, but I wouldn't trade those moments for anything. God has truly blessed me.

So, as I sit here about to finish my coffee, the "to-do" list keeps staring me in the face! Ha! It's going to be a busy day running errands, cleaning, and catching up on things at home. Oh, and you can't forget shoe shopping! What's not to love about that?! :)

What about you? What is on your agenda for this lovely day?

Dream Big!!

For some reason, I started thinking about this today. You know that's dangerous, right?! Ha! I will admit, this is a topic that I seem to get off on my soapbox. :) So...bear with me.

I don't know about you, but I LOVE quotes. There are way too many good ones out there! But one that I've seen before, but saw again today was this...

"Make your life a story worth telling!"

That should really make us think! What is our life all about? One thing is for sure, I LOVE living life to its fullest!! Now, I realize that there are so many different types of personalities and we all handle things different in life; but there are so many people that don't have any goals.

"You've got to have a dream, if you want to have a dream come true!"

That quote pretty much sums it up! Get out there!! Think BIG, Dream BIG!!! Live those dreams! There is nothing wrong with pursuing goals and dreams! And its NEVER too late to accomplish them!

Don't live your life with regrets! We all have things that happen in life, but you just have to push through....smile and make it a lesson learned. Yes, it's not always that easy. But, it's WORTH it!

You know, I sit here and think about all the crazy adventures that I've been on. Through the ups and downs of life. Through all my travels and through all the moments that Life has offered me. I can honestly say, I don't regret any of it. It's the valleys and the mountain tops that have help make me be the person I am today. God won't give you anything that He doesn't think you can handle! I'm not sure why I got off on this, but maybe its for a reason. We all have our moments when "life happens", but keep your chin up! Everything is gonna be okay!

My short 31 years has given me so many adventures and I'm loving every single minute. Yes, it's not all been a bed of roses, but live life to its fullest. Get out there and live those dreams! I hope that one day I can look back and say that my life story really was worth telling!!