Happy Monday! This past weekend was a memorable one.

Friday night started with dinner at J’s parent’s house, where I enjoyed that marvel of an ice cream slice you see. Chocolate, strawberry, and mint chocolate chip, how can you say no?

Ran [with my best friend] my first organized 5k since high school. It was in support of a friend, and the Augusta FCA, and it felt good! Praise Him.

After the race, J and I hit the road for Statesboro, to celebrate with my Connection Church family the first Sunday in their [first] permanent facility. We decided to be adventurous (not surprising) and stay in a local inn, and spent a little time relaxing in the beautiful day, making me long for springtime.

Dinner Saturday night was with friends who are family to me now, and throughout the entire night I found myself thanking the Lord for the gift of friendships like these. Friendships that withstand distance and change.

Then there’s the church. A church six years old. A church imprinted on my life’s story. A church that loves Jesus. A church to which I write the below thoughts….

Dear Connection Church,

You were my church home during my college years. You were a place I worshipped Jesus, a place I served, a place I invested a good deal of time. You were a place where I got to flex my creative muscles, where I was given the opportunity to contribute. You were a season in which I grew and learned and changed — into the person I am today. Within your walls, on Sunday mornings and during the week designing, I struggled, I spoke up, I was challenged, I rejoiced, I matured, I laughed, I cried.

With you came amazing relationships, friendships I will treasure always. With you came moments of trial, moments of joy, moments of honesty, and wisdom, moments of leadership, moments of humility, plenty of imperfection, and always — God gave grace.

You will always hold a special place in my heart, and I know I’ll be back often. The people who make up your body are very dear to me, special in a variety of ways. Watching them grow and mature as people, walking with them through scripture and stressful days, confiding in them vulnerable places of my own.

Whenever I tell my story, Connection Church will be mentioned. God is faithful, and good and my being so involved with this Church is a gift. I continually pray for you — for the people who come through your doors, for your leadership, for the decisions you will make, for the situations you will walk through.

The best is yet to come; to God be the glory.