{Weekend Wrap-up // A Grateful Heart}

Happy Monday!! Hope you all had a great weekend. We sure did! It was one of those weekends that leave you wanting (and needing) one more Sunday...because it was just that good!! The kind that leaves you with a big ol grateful heart and your love tank filled to the brim. I didn't take a lot of pictures, but there was definitely many Snapshot of the Soul {as Emily calls them} type of moments all weekend long.

Friday night we went to a surprise birthday party for a good family friend. It was at his church in the town where Mason goes to school. It was a wonderful time of food, family, friends and fellowship. 

Saturday morning we decided on a whim to go to Canton First Monday. Nate already had plans that morning so we planned Canton for the afternoon. Nate went to the gun show with his dad and brother while Mason and I had a slow and easy going Saturday morning. We headed to Canton around 12:00-ish and it was great. The weather was perfect and we just had the best little family day. I found the one thing I wanted from Canton and was pleased as punch. (Materials for a DIY sign I've been wanting to make) That evening we worked out in the shop for a bit before getting lazy on the couch. 

Sunday. Oh Sunday. This is where it gets really good. We visited a new (to us) Church. The same one we were at on Friday for the birthday party. We have so many friends that go there and have been wanting to try it out for a while now. God always lays this church on my heart for some reason and I think about it often. And Friday while at the birthday party we spent some time talking to the pastor of this church and he invited us to come on Sunday. We committed and were pretty excited about it. Sunday morning I woke up to a message from the pastor asking if we would like to have lunch with his family after service. Of course we said yes. 




So, we went to church. And it was beautiful. It was like the "church" I grew up in and I loved every second of it. It was so good for my soul. We normally attend the Cowboy Church in our town and while we love it dearly, it's just different. There are two services and usually 800+ people in attendance. It's easy to feel lost in such a big audience. And to be honest, in the 10+ years I have attended the Cowboy Church I don't recall ever speaking to the preacher directly, let alone have lunch with him. That's how big our church is. Now, I don't want that to come off in any type of negative way because it really is a wonderful church that is near and dear to my heart. I've never not felt welcomed or not at home, I just have never felt the community I didn't know my heart so desired. And here we are having lunch with the pastor and his family on our first day there. Amazing.

Lunch was wonderful and the company was even better. The pastors wife and I got to talk for a while and I feel like we instantly connected. Like I had just made a new friend. It made my heart happy. They are such a sweet family and have the most precious kids. We are also pretty close in age. Mason shared his Legos with the pastor's kids and they played so well together. A good time was had by all.

Mason loved Children's Church and asked if we could go there every Sunday!! Praise Jesus! I feel like God is calling us there and will be praying incessantly for his guidance, direction and clarity. 

After lunch we came home and went straight to the shop to work on some projects. The weather was just gorgeous and calling us to come play. Oh...before I forget to mention, Mason got to go on a pretty sweet ride after church!!




For new beginnings, new friends {and old}, family, faith and fellowship...I am so very grateful.