Five on Friday {Thankful November}, Part Three

Happy, Happy Friday! I can’t believe it’s already Friday again but this chick ain’t complaining. I had originally started this post for last Friday but last week was crazy busy and Cory and I left to go out of town right after work so this post never made it out of draft…until today! Forgive me for missing last week? 

We’ve got a busy weekend full of Clemson football {last home game of the season}, our community group meets on Sunday, and sometime I’ve got to finish decorating my tree and five wreath orders. 

I’m just exhausted thinking about it but onto what I’m thankful for this week!

linkedwithdarci 

{One}
Our Church.

This past February, Cory and I were feeling really discouraged on our journey to find a new church. See, a few months prior we had made the heart wrenching decision to leave our home church. It was a heart-wrenching decision because it was our church. I grew up there, Cory and I were both baptized there and we were married there however, we felt like we were following God’s direction for our lives. Heart-wrenching then turned into heart breaking. This was the church that I had spent the majority of my life at and had always gone to church with my parents. When we decided to leave, my parents followed suite and I knew that we would ultimately end up at different churches. After we left, we had people, who were like family to us, un-friend us {on Facebook and in real life} and we were told that “it just wasn’t the right time for us to be friends.” We were hurt and we questioned if we had the made the right decision by leaving.

Ha! Will we ever learn not to question God?  On February 16th, on the recommendation of a friend, we decided to try ONE. Honestly, I agreed thinking “What the heck? We don’t have anywhere else to go.” Little did I know the impact that first Sunday would have on my life. 

One of the first things that Cory and I noticed was the love we felt from a church family we barely knew. It wasn’t fake or forced, it was a genuine emotion that I hadn’t experienced before. Could people you just met really care that much? 

Since getting plugged in at ONE, Cory and I have both grown so much in our spiritual walk with Christ. The changes I see in our lives over the past nine months constantly amazes me. We have met so many wonderful people that we get to do life with and I know, without a doubt, that the hurt we experienced was all a part of our journey to find ONE. ONE was put on our paths to mend our broken hearts and teach us how to love and grow with a church family once again. For that, I am forever grateful.  

{Two}
Joel and Sandra

Bouncing off number one, two people who have been a huge blessing in our lives are Pastor Joel and his wife, Pastor Sandra. First, I’ve never met a couple who stay as busy as these two. They do it all but somehow still make the time to let Cory and I know that we are appreciated and loved. In a short time, they have become so much more than our pastors, they’ve become family. Cory and I are so blessed {and very thankful} that we have Joel and Sandra as our spiritual leaders. 

{Three}
Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University

A few months ago, I blogged about mine and Cory’s journey to financial freedom. Living a debt free life style is very important to me and Cory and something that we strive for each and every day. I won’t lie and say that it’s easy because there have been days when I’m ready to throw in the towel but I look at our financial snapshot compared to two years ago and I’m so glad that we stuck with the Financial Peace University. The benefits of being financially sound is such a blessing and I am so thankful for that one stupid decision that started our journey to financial freedom. 

{Four}
Weekends away with Cory.