Peace. Love. Jesus.

As I have mentioned earlier in the blog, I had the incredible opportunity of leading a bible study with some Senior girls this year while I was in Bham.  These young women are wonderful.  The simple thought of them makes my heart happy.  From our first night where I had a three girls in tears, christmas lunch at my house, birthday parties in the NC mountains, individual dates, and our last meeting at my house I have grown to love each and every one of them!

I already miss them dearly and while in my first night in Columbus on Sunday I wished I was sitting at O'Henry's or Yolo (our usual meeting locations) with them!  However, they probably wouldn't have made it seeing as their senior prom was the night before.  Anywho, they looked beautiful, and YES I have stalked facebook to see pics.  Well, actually, they tagged me in some.  They left a spot in the middle of a group shot just for me and made sad faces because they missed me.  (they sure make me feel important haha)  But they are just so gorgeous I can't add that pic but rather one where they are smiling and simply beautiful!

Now for the real reason I'm writing this blog, too brag a little about my art skills (or lack there of) you can decide.  With graduation coming up I had to think of a good gift for the girls.  Their visit to my house for Christmas helped with this little mission.  While visiting they toured the Casa de Margarita (aka Maggie's house) and loved an artwork Maggie's cousin had made her for her high school graduation.  This piece was a tree with many hands of the important people in her life.  It is just fabulous with a cute quote, leaves and all!  While they ooohed and ahhhed over it, I was officially on a mission.  I had to make each of them one for graduation.  I knew it would mean the world to them!

This mission began with a trip to the local Hobby Lobby and Walmart with my awesome graphic designer roomate, Mamie (don't worry more to come on the roomies in a later blog).  So thankful for other people's ideas and creative expertise because Lord knows I don't have a creative bone in my boyd! After some painting, gluing, lots of cutting, a little deception (to get their hand prints of course) and some of Mamie's wonderful handwriting (thanks again Mam) the project was done! 

 Voila! The finished products

And since this is almost the end, I must take time to explain the title of this blog.  Dearest Lelia, the second beauty from the right in the above pic named a facebook album Peace. Love. Tori.  haha.  This is quite flattering I must say, however, I don't exactly want them to glorify me so I decided to call it Peace. Love. Jesus. Because I mean HE after all the Peace Maker and Lover.  I just hope and pray that I have passed on a little bit of the Good News of Jesus to these precious daughters of His and that His Spirit will increase in their lives abundantly. 

I just had to add one more because I love them that much

The Chesters

Thinking over the past 6 years in Birmingham there is one thing that has been constant, and that is the Chester family.  They have 3 children Margaret, Claire, and Crawford.  Many of you might not recognize the last name but I bet you recognize the name, Margaret.  Many of you have heard stories and precious Margaret, but have never had the chance to meet her.  Thanks to the world wide web, you are not being introduced.  Over the past six years I have babysat Margaret and often times the others once a week.  Margaret has become one of my best friends.  She is truly such a special young girl, well almost a lady now seeing as she is almost my height and entering Mountain Brook Junior High next year. WOW! Makes me feel old to think about her as a 5 year old and now a middle schooler.  Margaret is the most fun-loving, and cheerful person I know.  A simple sneeze can bring laughter for Margaret.  Before I left Bham I wanted to spend an afternoon with just her treating her to her 2 all time favorites in Bham, McDonald's and the Birmingham Zoo.  It was such a fun afternoon so I had to share a few pics. 

Margaret can eat a McDonald's cheeseburger like no one else.  The girl LOVES McDonald's and constantly asks to be taken. This trip to McDee's I learned something about Margaret, she is picky with her french fries.  She only likes them when they are soft!

This trip to the zoo Margaret spent a lot of time climbing through the rock park. In this pic she was headed to the slide!

Visiting with the ducks.

When I went to babysit the following week, everybody wanted to go again.  So now everyone got a treat. Crawford couldn't stop talking  to his mommy about wanting to "ride the choo choo mommy."  So to the zoo I went two times in a week.  This visit was particularly special because very few times so I get to play with all of the kids.  Sweet Claire usually has dance or softball. 

Our first stop was the reptiles.  These animals give me the heebeegeebees (no clue how to spell that and I'm pretty sure that guess was unsuccessful), but that was the first place Claire wanted to go.  Crawford kept saying "Look Miss Toei, look Miss Toei". 

All 3 kiddo on the beloved Choo, Choo.  It was not quite Thomas the train aka "Ta Ta" but little man was just as happy to be aboard! 

This pic might just be my favorite.  I can hear him saying "Weeeee". Isn't he the cutest?!?  To think that I saw this little man a few hours after he was born and to see how big he is now amazes me. 

They love the carousel. The sweet man even let us go around twice.

After many attempts this was the best pic we could get of me and the kids.  I think it's pretty cute though and speaks to each of their personalities!

Great pic of Claire on the backyard swing set!

and last but certainly not least, a sweet pic of Margaret and I talking.

In case you can't tell, I LOVE this family and will miss them dearly.  Tomorrow is my last day with them in Bham which makes me sad, but I'm expecting to see them in Columbus sometime this summer...hint hint Mrs. Chester :)

Lordship

Since graduating from college, the Lord has taken me on a fun and exciting journey.  He has blessed me with deeper fellowship, greater understanding of His love, and has revealed himself to me in new ways!  This has truly been the best season of my life.  I've known this whole time he is teaching me more and more and have finally put this season into one word. LORDSHIP.  I've know Jesus as my Savior since the age of 11, but just in the past two years have I began to understand what it means for Him to be my Lord.  When I allow Jesus to be my Lord, that means He leads my life.  I no longer live, but Christ lives in me!  This has and will be a process.  A process of submitting my will, mind, emotions, and plans to Him and yielding to His plan for my life.  The idea of Jesus as Lord of my life has lead me to cling to His Sovereignty.  To trust in His sovereignty rather than my on plans.  I had loved the following verse since I was a freshman in high school, but it now has a new meaning to me.  "The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Praise You Lord that I can yield my wandering heart to You and trust that Your ways are perfect!