Monday, December 30, 2013

ALL I"M SAYIN...

All i'm saying IS THAT...
IF your gonna leave your purse on the roof of your car, 40th street is a GOOD STREET to turn onto!!! Cuuuuuuuuuuuuz its NOT very busy.....annnnnnnnnd theres NOT a lot of traffic...YA KNOW, in case it happens to fall OFF OF THE ROOF annnnnnnd into the street...sooooo THEN you don't have to worry about getting run over when you have to turn around, find your purse, stop the car, run into the middle of the intersection, grab your purse and run back into your car... Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut THATS ALL I'm saying!!!! :))))))))))
♥Mary Frances :)
P.S. Don't worry, I'm FIIIIIIIIIIIINE!!! ;)))))

Addition to belows post!!!

I'm laughing soooooo HARD!!! One of my friends just emailed me and said, "GIRL I'm soooooooooo with you on your post!!!! Now I'm all like, I wanna be carried over the threshold with my future husband praying!!!!" <----------- that's JUST AWESOMENESS!!! AHAHAHAHA!!!
#WEARESOOOSPIRITUAL!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

ADD it to YOUR LIST!!!

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeey SINGLE LADIES!!!!!
(Don't worry, you can still read this even IF your NOT single annnnnnd EVEN if your NOT a lady!!! [HEEEEEEEEY MEN!!! HAHA!!! JK!!! JK!!!]  REALLY you ALL  CAN read it!!! LOLOLOL) Soooooo ANYWAYZ LADIES, I have ONE MORE thing to add to YOUR LIST!!! Your saying, WHAT LIST??? You KNOW, THE LIST of things you want in your FUTURE HUBBY!!! ;)))) Ooooooo NOW you KNOW what list i'm talking about!!! Uh, huh, uh huh!!!
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Sooooooo theres this lil boy that I take care of...I LOOOOOOOVERRRS him soooo much...buuuuuuuuuuut he started doing something with me that I was like OKAAAAAAY, that IS something that I want my future husband to do!!!
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Okaaaaaaaaaay sooooo this is what happened!!! Soooooo since I started taking my niece to school in the mornings at GCA, I started just praying the church before school starts and then staying for prayer and devotions when the kids come in. Well, one particular day my niece was staying home and so I wasn't able to do this at the school that morning.
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So when I got home with the kids they're playing together. So I just go into the living room to pray. Weeeeeeeelllll AS SOON as I start praying, HERE COMES MY LIL MAN!!!! He starts walking back and forth in the living room praying with me, "Oh God! Oh God!" I was like... AWWWWWWWW!!!! Buuuuuuuuuut I didn't really think anything of it, cuz he ALWAYS starts praying AS SOON as he hears anyone praying!!! *He's soooooo SPIRITUAL!!! ;)
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Weeeeeeeeeeeeeellllll...THE NEXT day that I am watching him, my niece isn't with us and I had already done my praying at the school that morning, Okaaaaaaaaay so I'm not as spiritual as the lil man...bahaha... buuuuuuuuuuut AS SOON as we get into the house, he takes me by the hand, walks me into the living room and starts praying!!!! I was like, AWWWWWW HE WANTS US TO PRAY TOGETHER AGAIN!!!!
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I thought he would forget about it, but FIRST THING he did the next day, we walk through the front door, he takes me by the hand, leads me to the living room, annnnnnnd we start praying together!!! Now that's OUR THING!!! He does it EVERY TIME!!! Its ONLY five minutes MAX, buuuuuuuuuut STILL, how many people are blessed to have their job lead them in prayer?!?!? Like WOMAN, if your gonna be with ME, YOU ARE GOING TO PRAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!
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BUUUUUUUUUUUUUT LADIES!!!! Think about it, don't you want a man, that will take you by the hand and lead you in prayer??? Okaaaaaaaaay maybe NOT EVERY SINGLE TIME you walk through the front door, buuuuuuuuuuut you know what I mean!!! Isn't it a tradition that a man will pick up his wife and carry her over the threshold the FIRST TIME they walk into their house together??? (Okaaaaaaaaay yeah, I've already excepted that my hubby probabley won't be picking me up...AHAHAHA)
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Wouldn't that be AWESOME tho to start a NEW TRADITION???? A tradition where the first time you walk into your home together as husband and wife, he takes you by the hand and leads you in prayer???? I would soooooooooo SWOON if he did that....*Like soooooo ROMANTIC!!!! (If my hubby looks like he's gonna even TRY to pick me up and carry me the first time we get to our home, I'll just look at him and be liiiiiiiiiiiiike....JUUUUUUUUST TAKE ME BY THE HAND BABY!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!)
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A MAN THAT LEADS YOU IN PRAYER!!! That is soooooooooo what I want!!!! Like I said HERE, its really one of the most important things to look for in your future spouse... A MAN OF PRAYER!!!! Don't forget....ADD it to THE LIST ladies!!!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

Sunday, December 29, 2013

How Rumors Get Started!!!

Sooooooooooo a couple of days ago, MJ and I were listening to a radio drama together. The story was about a little girl who's dad is in jail. Well this little girl in the radio drama has the same last name as one of MJ's friends at school...
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So we're sitting there listening and MJ is like, OH MARY!!! That girl has THE SAME last name as my friend!!! THEN as she is listening some MORE and they are saying that the girls dad is in jail, MJ, she pauses, her eyes get really big and she says, referring to her friend's dad, SOOOOO BRO. SO-SO-AND-SO IS IN JAIL????
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I was like, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOm MJ... this is ADVENTERUES IN ODYSSEY!!! Not REAL LIFE!!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Buuuuuuuut YEAH, that's sooooooooo HOW RUMORS GET STARTED!!!! That Mr. Whitikar, I tell ya...he's BEHIND IT ALL!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

Saturday, December 28, 2013

My HUNK!!!

Just got a car!!! Wooooooohooooo!!!! $1750 for a 1998 Toyota Avalon!!! 154 thousand miles....He ain't pretty buuuuuuuuuuut I just hope he is reliable!!! Puleeeeeeeze pray for him!!! I named him HUNK!!! He may be a hunk of junk buuuuuuuuuuuut he's MY HUNK!!!! Annnnnnd that's the ONLY hunk I've got!!! LOLOL!!!
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 Weeeeeeellllll... i'm off to get him registered, an oil change and gas!!! Then over to Paradise Shadows to see whats up with my people then itll probabley be close to church time!! I would post a pic buuuuuuuuuuut the screen on my phone is still broken...that's the NEXT thing I need to get fixed...then my lap top!!!
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Sha-nay-nay IS for sale btw... I REALLY wanted to just get Sha-nay-nay another engine...buuuuuuuut I was advised by several people not to...I feel saddened that her and I will be departing...I grow attached really quickly to my car... IF anyone is interested in her she is $1,500 OR MAKE AN OFFER!!! She IS drive able!!! :)))
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 Weeeeeeeeellll clear the streets...
I'm OUT AGAIN!!! :))))

♥Mary Frances :)

Friday, December 27, 2013

WHY the water wouldn't warm up!!!

Soooooo yesterday, ON Christmas, in the middle of making homemade pasta, my brothers decided that I also NEEDED to make Zeppoli dough! Now, Zeppolis are basically an Italian doughnut...Soooooo I pull out the recipe annnnnnnd I'm making up the dough, it calls for a package of yeast, IN WARM WATER!!! My brother's are like, AND MAKE SURE, you use WARM water!!! NOT cold and NOT hot!!!
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Sooooooooo I got to the sink to get some WARM water and its just COLD!!! Soooooo I'm like okaaaaay it will probabley warm up after a few moments! I wait and wait and its STILL cold!!! I wait LONGER annnnnnnnnnnd its STILL cold!!! I keep WAITING annnnnd its STILL COLD!!! After like five minutes of WAITING for the water to warm up i'm just like, OH GREAT!!!! Don't tell me the hot water heater is broken like at our church!!! There is NOTHING NASTIER than washing dishes in COLD WATER!!!
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Everyones like, MARY your STILL waiting for the water to warm up???? I'm like, YEAH, I don't know what's wrong with it, it WON'T GET WARM!!! Then even as I'm saying that, I SEE WHY the water won't get warm!!! I'm like, OOOOOOOOOOO waaaaaaaaaaaaait I KNOW why it won't get warm...its on the COLD SIDE!!!! Everyones like, WOW MARY!!! WOW!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Annnnnnnd that my friends is...
 WHY the water wouldn't get warm!!!! 
Ooooooooooooops!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

Thursday, December 26, 2013

His presence for Christmas...

Several weeks ago, I walked into the church before the morning devotions for GCA and when I walked I could hear the voices of people praying. I don't know why, I hear it all the time, buuuuut at that moment, I thought, how comforting it felt to HEAR PRAYING!!! For a few moments...Instead of praying myself, I just sat there and listened to people praying...Just something soooooo wonderful about feeling the presence of God!!!
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This past Sunday, Denae and Sheree sang a song called, "I want His Presence for Christmas!!!!!" Presence/Presents...yes it was a play on words...Buuuuuuuuuut think about it, HIS PRESENCE IS the greatest PRESENT we could ever get!!! We have it you guys!!! He came for us...As I quote from AIO...His presence, GIVES us a REASON to LIVE...that's worth DYING for!!!
Thank you JESUS for YOUR PRESENCE!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

My Christmas Card!!!

Soooooooooo I'm really NOT one to send out Christmas Cards!!! Honestly, I don't really see the point!!! Everyone just throws them away anyways!!! RIIIIIGHT??? Don't LIE!!! You know you do!!!! Plus, Christmas cards are to let people that you really don't know, know what is going on in your life...FOR ME...that's called A BLOG!!! LOL Annnnnd the blog is FREE!!! Plus like, stamps COST MONEY!!! Remember last years Christmas Card??? HAHAHA!!! Weeeeeellll I decided to go all out this year...JK... Buuuuuuuuuuuuuut IF I did have a Christmas Card, this is what it would look like...
GET MERRY annnnnnd STAY MERRY!!!
Jesus Isn't JUST the reason for the season, buuuuut the reason for LIVING!!!
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IF anyone DOES ACTUALLY want a copy of this pic, feel free to send me a self-addressed-stamped envelope!!! :)))) Annnnnnnnnnd here is all the highlights of 2013 for me...
It started with an AWESOME Conqueror's Conference!!! Then my dad turned 60!!! Then I had some FUNERAL THOUGHTS!!! Then I discovered THE MIND OF A MAN!!! Theeeeeen I haD Some insurance blessings!!! Annnnnd one of my lovely friends, Jen Connell, made this for me...
Then one day, Something cool happened, I'm pretty sure my niece and her friend saw an angel...the thing is, is that recently, this same thing happened to me when I was all by myself!!! I wrote the devotion, Fixed!!! I got a White Man! I wrote the devotional, High-heeled-Determination!!! My friend Daisy came and stayed with me for a lil bit...Annnnnnnnnnd the month of January ended with a youth rally and really FUNNNN...loooooong riiiiiide...buuuuuuuut really fun snow trip!!!
MORE 2013 Highlights to come!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

Happy Christmas Eve!!!!

We just had THE FUNNNNNEST Christmas Eve everrrr with my fam!!! Sooooooooo its an Italian tradition, every Christmas Eve, we have a HUUUUUUGE fish dinner!!!! YUCK...buuuut still a blast!!! AHHAHAHAHA!!!
 
My mom likes to do all the holiday dinners at our  house...cuz at their house Dad is ALWAYS trying to lure the kids in the living room to watch Christmas movies with him!!!! LOL
Me and my mommy!!!
 I just thought I looked ADORKABLE in my apron!!! LOL

 

 After dinner we all opened our stockings full of goodies...the kids were ESTATIC about this!!! I had put a SPECIAL gift for my sis-in-law Gracie in her stocking...BAHAHHAHAHA!! IF your on my mass email list you'll KNOW what i'm talking about!!! We were like HYSTERICAL!!!!

 

 Oh look at me in my apron again...LOL...
Me and T!!!
 Waaaaaaaaaaait did you all see how CUUUUUTE I look??? ;))))
Then my brother REALLY wanted this picture with me...he said he has always wanted a picture with such a world famous and Biblically historical person...
 
Then after dessert and all the cleaning, dishwashing...I ummmmm broke something and glass shattered EVERYWHERE...buuuuuuut at least this year it wasn't the tray of egg plant parmesian... I mean last Christmas eve I think I was gonna get hung for ruining that!!! LOL
 annnnnnnnnnywayz, after all that we played Wits and Wagers!!! If you've neverrrr played this game its definatly worth purchasing!!!

John was in CHARGE, which he is VERY GOOD at doing!!!
 We were all like whooping annnnd hollering and carrying on...okaaaaaaaaaaay soooooooo ihave like NO CLUE of world or american history, buuuuuuuut somehow I KNEW when the first bikini came out!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
 
One of the questions was, How many men signed the Declaration of Independence??? I was like, 12!!! Ooooooo WAAAAAAAIIIIIT!!! I that's the disciples!!!
The first game Liz won!!!!

  Waaaaaaaaaaaait you guys look at my apron!!!


 Annnnnnnnd the second game we TOTALLY thought Jewel was gonna win buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut as you can see...
John won the last game!!
AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! All in all it was a super funnnnn night!!! We all plan on playing this again tomorrow night!!! By the time everyone was leaving I was EXTREMELY hyperrrrr Annnnnnnnnd the night basically ended with me outside YELLING!!! SANTA IS COMING!!! YOU GUYS SANTA IS COMING TONIGHT!!!!! EVERYONE SANTA IS COMING!!!! WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

Heeeeeey ladies!!!!

Heeeeeey ladies!!! I have the FUNNIEST story everrrr!!! If your not on my ladies mass email list annnnnd would like to be, email me your email annnnnd let me know!!! :))) Maryfranceswriting@gmail.com
♥Mary Frances :)

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Little Debbie???

Soooooooooo this past Sunday, our youth had a bake sale, one last push and fundraiser before Conqueror's Conference!!! I donated several of my Cake rolls annnnnnnnnnd then I stayed up till 2 in the morning on Saturday night making something that I have been DYING to make!!!! Whoopie pies from my Amish baking cook book!!! A treasured Christmas gift that my mom gave me four years ago...I'm telling you all, THIS COOK BOOK, has THE BEST recipies...Everytime I make something from this cook book people RAVE over it!!! I tell ya, THE AMISH may NOT know how to dress...buuuuuut they SHO do know how to cook!!!!
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Sooooo I found this recipe that I have been dying to make for YEARS for these whoopee pies...Which are basically just, Oatmeal cream pies, you know, like the lil Debbie ones??? I mean WHO doesn't loooooooooove those??? Buuuuuuuuut I RENAMED mine...wrapped them in saran wrap and printed off the most adorabelist name tags for them!!!! This is what they said...
Little Debbie
Fluffy Mary's
Oatmeal Cream Pies
I basically made these, PURPOSELY to make everyone laugh!!! Mission accomplished!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I showed them to my pastor and he was all like, FLUFFY Mary???? He's like, I don't get the FLUFFY part!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

It could happen to YOU!!!

(Repost from November 4th 2012)
In recent conversation, I was reminded of this blog post and thought to repost it. However, there is something i'm adding in at the end...
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I remember when my younger brother John was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 16...I'll NEVER forget how i felt...fear and more than anything else, COMPLETE SHOCK!!! I had heard about people getting cancer all my life, buuuuuut I NEVER thought cancer would hit MY FAMILY!!! I NEVER thought that I would have to worry about about my own little brother's survival against this deadly disease...it always happens to OTHER people, buuuuut NOT YOU!!! Buuuuut I learned cancer can happen to anyone!!! It could happen to ME!!! It could happen to YOU!!!
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Recently, I have been seeing and noticing, a lot of people falling away from God. But I'm NOT just talking even about backsliding, buuuut just people IN GENERAL, changing! People of God, falling into deep sin...people that you NEVER thought it would happen to...Changing their standards, losing their convictions! It disturbs me, buuuut more than anything else, it SCARES me. I know that falling away and compromising is NOTHING new, buuuuut for some reason lately, i've just REALLY been noticing it...it just feels like its starting to hit close to my heart...annnnd it SCARES ME!!!
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I've been talking lately to several of my close friends and I said that when I see all these people, CHANGING, turning away from their FIRST teachings and convictions, the thought of marriage to someone honestly JUST SCARES ME!!! And I know I talk about it A LOT, joke around about it, and I know that I WANT to get married, buuuuut HONESTLY, the actual thought of MARRIAGE, at times,  puts some FEAR in my heart!!! Its NOT a flighty decision...no matter the person...How do you know that the person you marry will never compromise? How do you KNOW that they will never backslide? You may think you know, buuuuut i've seen people that I NEVER thought would change, CHANGE! It doesn't matter WHO they are or WHERE they come from...you just don't know what will happen!!! 
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As woman, we know that we are to submit, to follow, our husbands, I don't want to marry someone that will lead me away from God!!! I don't want that! I LOVE GOD!!!  I LOVE this truth!!! I LOVE this gospel message!!! I LOVE holiness!!! I would rather be single for life than to marry a compromiser! You can't say that because a person is this or from here or their last name is this that they will NEVER fall...because i've seen it!!! But as I was talking to my friends, telling them some of my fears, they were advising me and as we were discussing, HOW does it happen??? What allows a person to compromise? WHY would a person turn away from God?
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I came to the conclusion that the TRUTH of the matter is that there is NO guarantee!!! We have to be careful and watchful, buuuuut there is NEVER a guarantee that a person WILL NEVER compromise or fall away from God!!! It could happen to ME! It could happen to YOU!!! It could happen to ANY OF US!!! None of us are PERFECt!!! We are ALL human!!! It is in our very nature to sin!!! It could happen to YOUR FAMILY! TO YOUR LOVED ONES!!!! 
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None of us are sooooo spiritual and sooooo far above everyone else, that we become incapable of SIN!!! It happens when PEOPLE stop praying!!! It happens when STOP relying on God for their strength!!! It happens when people think that their knowlege and education is STRONGER than getting on their knees and seeking the face of God. It happens when people think that there is MORE annointing in their talent and ability then in their tears and a spirit of BROKENESS!!! It happens when PRIDE replaces HUMILITY!!! It happens when we start taking the Glory, instead of giving GOD THE GLORY!!!
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I was crying the other day just thinking about it! I told God I don't ever, ever, EVER want this to happen to me! And as I was thinking about it, and as I was praying,  this song started going through my mind. Near, the Cross, near the cross...may we NEVER stray so far...keep me near the cross!!! i just felt like a gentle and clear way...God was telling me, just STAY NEAR THE CROSS!!!  
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if you want to stay strong...if you want to stay true, if you don't want to fall, if you don't want to stray...just stay near the cross...near Calvary.. near His suffering....right by the brokeness of what God did for us! How can you comromise or backslide, when your on your knees at the foot of the cross!? You can't! Because, as long as your under Him on the cross...at the death of Jesus, there is blood...GOD'S BLOOD..... at the foot of the cross your bound to get His blood on you!!!! This blood will keep flowing down onto you...washing over you...purifying you! At the foot of the cross you'll be living your life continually with a spirit of repentance...
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"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)
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♪♫Keep me near the cross...near the cross...may we never stray soooo far...that I can not see what lies ahead of me♪♫ at the foot of the cross!!!♪♫♫♫
♥Mary Frances :)
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*The day I wrote this blog I was at the gym and I felt this burden sooooo strongly on my heart. I remember I was on the treadmill and I just felt my heart breaking for this...no particular reason...I just felt this so heavy on me. I went into the bathroom at the gym, went into one of the stalls, put the music on my phone up as loud as I could, buried my face in my hands and just cried my eyes out. God I LOVE this message! I LOVE this truth!!! I don't ever want to leave...I don't ever want to change!!! Buuuuuut the burden that I felt wasn't just for ME...it was for others too...The next week at WCC...The WHOLE theme of the conference was, BUY THE TRUTH AND SELL IT NOT!!! I know it was NOT a coincidence!!! That same week I got emails from people, Mary, you have NO idea buuuut...did you know???? OH NO...I said...I had NO IDEA...All I know is that I was in the ladies room of the gym bawling my eyes out!!! It WAS GOD!!!! WCC choir ended the last night with singing NOT FOR SALE!!!  When I heard the choir singing this, I couldn't stop the tears from falling...it summed up EXACTLEY how I was feeling!!!

Not For Sale
Verse 1
What happened to that Preacher, Who used to Preach so strong.
What happened to that singer, Who used to sing our song.
The Preacher's out selling Amway, That singer's now singing country.
They sold out what is right for what is wrong.
Verse 2
What happened to the church, That used to be on fire.
What happened to the voices, That sang in the heavenly chior.
Oh, The Church has now grown dead and cold,
The choir is silent, Cause nobody goes.
They sold out to the world and their own desirers
Chorus
This heart belongs to Jesus, Cause he saved my soul from Hell.
This heart belongs to Jesus, This heart is not for sale.
Not for sale, Not for sale, No way no sir.
Verse 3
Well a man from California, Called a few months ago.
He said boy with your talent , We can make alot of dough.
I said thanks for the offer it all sounds swell.
But I belong to Jesus, And I'm just not for sale.
Not for sale, I'm not for sale, No way no sir.
Verse 4
Well, If you're living for Jesus,Friend, They'll come a day.
That old Devil's gonna try to get you some way.
He'll try you, And temp you, with his lies straight from hell.
Just say I belong to Jesus, And Devil I'm not for sale
Not for sale, Not for sale, No way no sir.
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(You can find this song by Michael Combs on iTunes)

Monday, December 23, 2013

Christmas Trees!!!

(Repost from Dec 2012)
Sooooooo i've been wanting to write a post about Christmas trees for seveRal years now, but NEVER end up having the guts thus faR to write it! Mainly cuz I don't want to be offensive or rude or sound condeming OR holieR tHAN THOU about it...buuuut I was telling a few of my friends a lil testimony God gave me about Christmas trees and they  said I SHOULD share it...soooooo....
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FIRST OF ALL: I want to start off by saying THAT... this post is NOT to condemn anyone that has a Christmas tree!!! I do NOT think having a Christmas tree is a heaven or hell issue! This post is to help give understanding to those that have a pastor that teaches against having a Christmas tree! Its about having respect to others in the convictions they may have and its about preserving the things that we have been taught! Okaaaaaaaaay now, here we go!!! :)))
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Sooooo growing up, my pastor, Bro. ABbotT, now Bishop, has ALWAYS taught us AGAINST having Christmas trees. Now we came from a church in NYC that did allow Christmas trees, so NOT having a Christmas tree was a HUGE deal fOR my parents!!! But, my mom was obedient and we NEVER had a Christmas tree.
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 Weeeeeellll...as the years passed by and my grandpa, my mom's dad, was getting older and he needed more and more help around the holidays so that he could get all his decorating and baking done. So this also meant helping him decorate his Christmas tree! Now the first couple of years it was NO big deal! We just decorated it for him and had fun doing so! I LOVED lookin at all of his ornaments...he had some all the way back from when him and my grandma got married, stuff from the NYC police force, stuff from my mom and uncles when they were kids and so much more!!!
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After decorating my grandpa's tree for several years I really started thinkin, MAN this is FUN! I was thinkin Hmmmm...I sure wouldn't mind having MY OWN tree one day...Maybe...THEN one day I saw it!!! A HOT PINK CHRISTMAS TREE, with feathers, glitter and shiny stuff all over it!!! Is that like soooooo a Mary tree or WHAT?!?!!
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I was like OH thats it, ONE DAY, i'm gonna marry a guy that goes to a church that allows CHRISTMAS TREES!!! Its NOT a big deal!!! Now RIGHT AFTER thinkin this one day, I was in the news room at my college. I was a writer for the college paper and me and this other reporter would always get into these deep theological discussions.
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My friend was a very intelligent guy who was agnostic. He said that UNLESS God himself came down from heaven and told him he was God, he would NOT believe it! Soooo of course this caused me to try and prove to him that God was indeed real and we were ALWAYS debating back and forth about it! I LOVE debate and am pretty good at it...LOL! Buuuuut....
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He was sooooo STUBBORn that honestly, it really didn't matter what I said, he was NOT going to believe me!!! So one day, I was sitting in the news room, working on an article and he turns to me and says, You know whats ONE thing that I just DO NOT understand about Christians?! I'm just kinda like, what? cuz I was TRYIN to write and SOOOOO NOT in the mood to have a debate with him at the moment, since thus far he was adamantly refusing all reason!!!
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He was like, One thing, that I just do NOT understand about you Christians is that you all do soooo many things that go AGAINST absolutely EVERYTHING, you as Christians believe in!!! I was like, Ok, like WHAT?!?!?!
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He goes FOR EXAMPLE, take CHRISTMAS TREES!!! In my mind I was like WHAT??? God, are you settin this guy up or WHAT?!?! He goes on, Christians have CHRISTMAS trees!!! Do you EVEN know the history of Christmas trees?! He says, Christmas trees are PAGAN!!! People would worship them and they are like a god! Doesn't your Bible say something about them? (Jeremiah 10) He's just going on and on about WHAT a Christmas tree represents...NONE of which I had EVER bothered to study about...He was like, I thought Christians don't believe in all that?! He goes, A CHRISTMAS TREE goes AGAINST EVERYTHING a Christian believes! He says, now don't get me wrong, I HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE...BUUUUUT I'm NOT a Christian!!!
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Soooo i was just kinda silent for a moment, really NOT even sure what to say, then I confidently say, yeah, I guess thats why me and MY FAMILY do NOT have a Christmas tree!!!(It WAS A total  AHa mOMENT FoR Me...like Oooo sO THATs WHY hE PREACHES THAT!) He just stopped and stared at me, really surprised and then he says, FOR REALS?! I was like, yeah!!! He didn't say NOTHING, then he just says, WOW!!! YOU are the FIRST CHRISTIAN I have EVER MET, that doesn't have a Christmas tree!!! I could tell, he was just really astounded by it...he wasn't being fake...he REALLY truely was surprised! He said it again, your the ONLY Christian I have ever met...
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Now I had been talking to this guy forEVERRR about the things of God! I would tell him  about church, the Holy Ghost, EVERYTHING, he was NEVERRRR impressed, NEVER blinked an eye about my previous witness, buuuut he found out that I didn't have a Christmas Tree and FINALLY, something stood out to him!!! I WaS tHE only ChRiSTian hE knEW...that didn't have a Christmas tree!!!
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I havn't seen that guy in YEARS, buuuuut I hope that he never forgets my witness...that HE NEVER forgets THE ONLY CHRISTIAN he has ever met, that does NOT have a Christmas tree!!! I told God that day, Okay GOD, I got it!!! I vowed to him that as long as I had control of it, I would NEVERRRR have a Christmas tree in my house!!!
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I know that may seem ridic...buuuuut you can NOT tell me that God didn't use that agnostic guy that day, to give me a CONVICTION!!! It happened RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of my questioning...RIGHT when I was thinking, ya know...Maybe I'll get one...God showed me up!!! 
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I know that sometimes we THINK we know better!!! We THINK its NOT a big deal!!! But really, I had NEVER even bothered to take the time to fine out WHY my pastor was taking a stand for something!!! I didn't realize that he was tryin to PRESERVE something!!! I know i've heard people talk about it before, Oh well you know, we just do it out of respect for our pastor and he is just doing it out of respect for what he was taught...buuuuut...I don't think its a big deal...I think thats how standards get LOST...because it STOPS becoming a CONVICTION for people and instead it just becomes a TRADITION!!! Traditions pass...buuuuut CONVICTIONS LAST!!!
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Someone told me once, well i don't want a Christmas tree to be pagan, I just want one because they are just SOOOO pretty!!! I was like, weeeeellll yeah, buuuut SO IS JEWELERY!!!ya know, "Jus sayin!" 
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I mean, sometimes we look at other Apostolic people that won't do certain things and we think OH they're NO FUN! They're soooo holier than thou! We used to be like, OH we're NEVER gonna marry one of those guys that goes to a church that doesn't believe in Christmas at all!!! AHAHAHA!!! But we don't stop to think or find out WHY someone may refuse to do something!!! Maybe God talked to them about it...I remember hearing someone preach against Nativity Scenes at WCC one year...it was like waaaaaay BACK IN THE DAY...when it was still PSR...we were like...wow...buuuuut idk...sometimes I think about it in my mind...what does GOD really think about it??? What does THE BIBLE say??? I mean, i'm NOT sayin that you should just go and do EVERY single thing that OTHER pastor's preach against...buuuuut if God shows you...
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I have two other close friends and we decided, when it comes to marriage, if the guy is okay with Christmas trees, we're just gonna say, "Look, its ME or THE TREE!" Hee, hee!!! Yes!!! I feel just that strongly about it...cuz GOD showed me...not just outta respect to my elder pastor in my life...BUUUUUUUT.... because GOD HIMSELF opened my eyes and gave me revelation...CONVICTION!!! I mean really, WHAT guy, that is totally smitten and in love with a girl is gonna choose the TREE??? (weirdo!!!)HAHAHA!!!
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 Okaaaaaaay now people that do have Christmas trees, don't be all like worried that your gonna offend ME by posting pics or that you have to take the tree down if I come over to YOUR house...LOL...I could CARE LESS...if YOU have one!!! Its NOT about offending ME...Im NOT offended about your tree...its about GOD!!! I don't want to offend MY GOD!!! Ask HIM if he is offended!!! Cuz he SURE DID let ME KNOW!!! 
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Weeeeeellll Merry Early Christmas everyone...i'm gonna go hang some ornaments from some garland or something...hee, hee!!! ;)
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Hmmmm...I wonder WHAT the history of GARLAND is??? LOL! I'm scared to even look!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

Soooooooooo BUSY!!!

Its soooooooooo BUSY right now at my house!!! Still soooo much cooking and baking and CLEANING going on right now preparing for the next couple of days!!! I hope no one minds that i'm going to post some REposts for the next couple of days during this Christmas Hustle and bustle!!! ONE MORE DAY till Christmas!!! One week till 2014!!! One week till Conqueror's Conference annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd ONE WEEK till my AWESOME blogger/phone bud/email/knower of my crushes friend Jen Lord comes to AZ for CC!!! Can't wait girrrrrrrrrl!!! Hope your ready for some ITALIAN FOOD!!! Classic Mary Moments annnnnnnnnnd PURRRRRING!!! I also just heard last night from Denae that Allana Shreckise  is gonna be at CC!!! YAAAAAAAAY!!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

Saturday, December 21, 2013

FInancial WiseDUMB with Mar Bear!!!!! #2

 
You can read the first post HERE!!!
Sooooooooooo Kitchen aides cost around $200...Weeeeeellll...Yesturday I was making the last of my crème filling for cake rolls annnnnd I was thinkin MAN my arms getting tired!!!! Im like, YA KNOW, it suuuuuuure would be NIIIIIIICE to have one of them kitchen aides to assiste me right now!!! Like, ya KNOW, they just sit there and you don't even have to hold the handle at all!!!
KitchenAid KSM150PSPK 5-qt Artisan Series Mixer w/ 10-Speeds, Komen Pink
THEEEEEEEN I had the MOST BRILLIANTIST idea everrrrr!!!! I could JUUUUUUUUST MAKE MY OWN KITCHEN AIDE!!! I got my lil $8 hand mixer leaned it over the bowl so that it was balanced annnnnnd...
VOILA...dunt-ta-da-DUH...
I HAD ME A KITCHEN AIDE!!!

Soooooooooo WIVES save your hard-working hubby some money!!!! Don't make him waste money on a kitchen aide for YOU!!! There are waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more important things you could be getting him to spend that money on for  you...liiiiiiiike HAIR ACCESSORIES!!! ;)))) Alllllll I'm saying tho peeps, IF you do this, don't go TOO far away...It could ya know, slip or something...THATS ALL I"M SAYING!!! ;))))
♥Mary Frances :)

Friday, December 20, 2013

MY SPECIAL HAIR!!!

Soooooo yesterday at my church I was praise singing...NOW you HAVE to understand that I'm almost ALWAYS laughing at some point during my praise singing!!! Its NOT my fault tho!!! Its cuz people DO THINGS during the service to MAKE ME LAUGH!!!! Like, THEY JUST SMILE at me annnnnd I like LOSE IT!!!
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Weeeeeelllll I guess at like ONE point I was praise singing, worshipping with my eyes shut and a HUGE smile on my face...soooooo my sis said I looked sooooo, weeeeeeelllll I won't use her EXACT words cuz I don't want to be offensive to anyone, buuuuuuuuuuut she said she turned to MJ and was like,WOW!!! Just look at your aunt, She looks soooooooo SPECIAL!!!!
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She says, MJ just looks at her and is like, NO MOM...
MARY doesn't look SPECIAL...
BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT...
HER HAIR DOES!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That made me laugh REALLY hard!!!! I mean, I tried a NEW hair-do in like 20 minutes and I PERSONALLY thing that altho it needs a little work, it still looked totally ADORKABLE!!! This hair do was stolen from Mary Bafford...I saw her do it like 3 years ago at Bible College and have thought about doing it ever since...it did look waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay BETTER when she did it...buuuuuuuuuut I'LL GET THERE!!! :)))
♥Mary Frances :)

Thursday, December 19, 2013

A weed OR a flower???

Usually when you hear the word WEEDS, you think of nasty, ugly looking plants that fill your yard, HOWEVERRRR, I've seen some BEAUTIFUL weeds before!!!I remember growing up that I would see what I considered these beautiful flowers growing in peoples front yards...I always wanted those flowers seeds to blow over into our yard so we could have them as well. However, my mom told me that people were very annoyed by them being in their yard. She said that they didn't plant them there and they didn't want them in their yards.
Perhaps you are wondering...
What's the difference
between a Flower and a Weed?
Flowers are generally those we plant intentionally in our garden.  Weeds, however, are the uninvited plants that steal water, nutrients and sunlight from the flowers. Generally, however, a weed is a plant that grows where it is not wanted.
This got me to thinking about the garden of life. Sometimes there are beautiful weeds that LOOK like flowers. We can easily mistake a weed in our heart for a flower!!! Often times there are things that come into our life that we did not intentionally plant there or that God did not intentionally plant there, buuuuuut it seems sooooo good that you think, THIS MUST BE A FLOWER!!!
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Now i'm NOT a gardner, however I did try my hand at it for a little while... If you've ever planted a seed and waited for it to grow, you KNOW that it takes PATIENCE!!! You can plant a seed and wait and wait and WAIT for it to start to bloom, and then when you FINALLY see something, you want to dance around and shout its HERE, my flower is blossoming buuuuuut then you find out that its JUST A WEED that has sprouted up. What disappointment you feel!!! Then you start to think, buuuuuuuuuuuut it LOOKS like a flower...that MUST be it!!! This must be what I've been waiting for.
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"...And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit." (Mark 4:8)
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Buuuuuuuuuut NO, its JUST A WEED!!! You can't let it stay there in garden of your heart. Don't let that beautiful weed fool you, Its NOT supposed to be there. Its UNINVITED!!! its going to steal from the other flowers in your garden that you've been working so hard and faithfully at cultivating!!! 
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Perhaps your wondering, HOW DO I KNOW, when something in my life is just a WEED and not a flower??? The Bible says, "For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes." (Luke 6:44)
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The Bible says that a plant is KNOWN by its  fruit. The real way to know if something is an intentional flower blossomed in your life, is to look at what it is producing in your life!!! Is it drawing you closer TOO God or is it pulling you FURTHER AWAY from God??? Is it lifting you up or is it dragging you down??? Does it reinforce the things you've been taught or has it caused you to reconsider? Does it strengthen your convictions or does it weaken them?
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If you can stop and look and see what its really doing to you, to your heart, to your soul, that is how you will know if it is a flower or a weed!!! Has it changed you for the good, or is it changing you for the worse? It doesn't matter HOW LONG you have waited, if its a WEED you need to pluck it out of your life COMPLETELY!!!
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"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Colossans 2:8) Don't let people's wisdom deceive you, you MUST look at what THE WORD OF GOD SAYS!!! It doesn't matter WHO says its good, If the Bible says its a weed, its A WEED!!!
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"I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down..." Perhaps your thinking HOW can I possibly get rid of this weed??? I want to, buuuuuut I don't have the strength! Its grown so much! Its no longer just a little thing that I can even handle on my own. Its gotten out of control as if its overtaking your whole entire life.
 "... Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction." (Proverbs 24:30-34)
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Receive INSTRUCTION!!! Stop trying to do it on your own. The best gardener, for the you garden of your life, is the PASTOR that GOD GAVE TO YOU!!! Listen to what the man of God has to say. Heed his advice. Obey his wisdom. Submit yourself and you'll be protected from the weeds.
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 Don't let the weed substitute for the flower that's still waiting to blossom. IF you except the weed it will steal from the seed you planted and you'll never get to know the true beauty of the flower you cultivated in your heart..  Don't be deceived by a weed, its only there to steal from and DESTROY the other flowers growing in your life!
BEWARE OF THE WEEDS THAT LOOK LIKE FLOWERS!!!
Where are my flowers? Does it seem like every time something big you've been waiting for is about to take place it turns out to just be another disappointment? You thought it was your flower, buuuuut its just ANOTHER WEED!!! Don't give up and just except the weed!!! WAIT FOR YOUR FLOWER!!! Its still growing, its still waiting to blossom. It may seem like there is NOTHING going on in your garden, but you have NO IDEA what is going on below the surface. You can't see what all God IS doing, you have NO CLUE what is going on below.
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 Underground its growing, you cant see the roots, the longer you wait, the deeper the roots and the STRONGER your flower will be when it FINALLY breaks the surface and blossoms. God IS doing a work! Its ok to hurt, to cry, if you'll just keep onto what is RIGHT and God will take your tears and use them to water your seed. HOLD ON TIGHT and TRUST IN GOD!!!
"Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way..."
 (Psalm 37:7)
♥Mary Frances :)
 
 

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

New friends!!!

I've been makings some NEW friends...some nice Apostolic girls that have been emailing me and letting me know that they're reading my blog and that they look forward to reading ALL my stories EVERYDAY!!!! Awwwwww  those emails ALWAYS make my day!!! I ALWAYS appreciate hearing that!!!! I will admit to you that I LOOOOOVE writing stories!!!
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OH new friends annnnnnnnd I guess any of my readers in general...One thing you should all know about me is that I am a VERY DRAMATIC person!!! NOW, I don't mean as in with DRAMA, buuuuut very DRAMATIC in they way I act!!! I'm VERY EXPRESSIVE annnnnnd I GUSH!!! When someone is a good friend of mine in which I trust or admire, weather male or female, when I talk about them, If i'm gonna give a compliment, I go all out and mush and gush over them...that's JUSTME!!! I dramatize my words and express myself whole-heartedly!!!
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 Some people are by nature very reserved, I understand that and know that doesn't make them rude or unfriendly...its just THEM,annnnd this is JUST ME!!! Soooooooo don't take my MARYNESS the wrong way!!! :))))
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Actually, when people are quiet or reserved, I rather enjoy it and just take it as a challenge to poke and prod past their barriers and become their friend....RIGHT JOE MOMMA???? NOW becoming JOE's FRIEND...THAT WAS A CHALLENGE!!! Annnnnd I think I succeeded!!! Whoop! Whoop!!!
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One of my new friends that emailed me cracked me up with what she said to me!!! I wrote her back and said...This makes me LAUGH!!! -------> "Oh and praying for that prince of yours to find his way to you quickly so you won't have to stalk him lol." <------ Keep PRAYIN GIRRRRL!!! ;))))
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Annnnnny wayz, any other girls that wanna email me, I would LOOOOOOVE to hear from you!!! I cant promise to keep in touch with a WHOLE lot...I mean I try...I really do...buuuuuut its hard!!! The long distance friends that I keep in touch with almost daily are Hanna, Anali, Jen Connell and Jen Lord...that's just the long distance peeps who have stuck it out with me over the last several years!!! Soooooo I can't promise to keep in touch a TON buuuuut I do PROMISE to write back annnnnd I'll add you to my mass email list!!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

Day 2 of WCC!!!!

Oooooo you all had THOUGHT that I had FORGOTTEN about West Coast Conference...buuuut NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I did NOT!!! I just wanted to keep you all WAITING!!! :)))
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Sooooooo Day 2 of WCC once again started with me leavin early and heading for Starbucks!!! I was once again sitting there sipping my coffee when a group of my lovely friends showed up!!! Stephanie, Nicole, Marvin, Bethany, annnnnnnnd JACOB!!! Bethany was like, MARY, WHY ARE YOU SITTING HERE ALL ALONE!!! Where are all your friends??? I'm like, Oh it doesn't bother me to be alone...I would rather leave then sitting around waiting for everyone else!! LOL!!! I always do this... I'm usually the first one up and instead of making everyone else get up or waiting around for them I'll leave and go exploring...that's just ME!!! I don't mind just, HANGING OUT WITH MYSELF!!! :)))
Once  they got their drinks they all joined ME annnnnnnd this immediately began the questioning, MARY!!! WHO DO YOU LIKE??? Just tell us!!! I'm like, WHATEVERRRR!!! How about you just tell us the FIRST LETTER of his name!!! Soooo they're like, A??? I'm like, YES! They're like, B? I'm like YES!!! They're like, C? I'm, like YES!!! YES! YES! YES! ALL OF THEM!!! LOLOL They're like, MARY!!! Once AGAIN, WHHHHHYYYY is it sooooo INTRIGUING to know WHO I like??????
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Finally Jacob goes, Mary, IS IT ME??? I'm like, ACTUALLY, yes, it IS you Jacob!!! Bethany, his girl friend, is all like PLAYING jealous, she's all, OH that's it MARY!!! And she gives me this pretend glare and is pretending to fight with me!!! Soooooooo then a few minutes later Marvin, Nicole's boyfriend says, Mary, IS IT ME??? I'm like, OH yes! Its sooooo YOU Marvin!!! Sooooo THEN Marvin starts pretending to ACT JEALOUS!!! We're all like, ummm MARVIN, its SUPPOSED to be NICOLE that acts jealous, NOT YOU!!! LOLOLOL!!!! He's like, OOOOH, weeeeelllll... NICOLE, BE JEALOUS!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!


We were then joined by Anali, Cara, Joe, annnnnd Jedidah... annnnnnnnnnnnnnd then Marissa sweetly came out and offered to take a pic of me with the group... 

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd then I had to get a pic with Marissa as well...

Then Jedidah was getting in on a pic and one of the guys tripped her...LOL...Meanie-mo's!!! Annnnny wayZ we all had a great time socializing together...IN WHICH I would have missed out on IF I had stayed WAITING at the hotel!!! See, its better to just leave and SEE what happens!!! HAHA!!!
Then I got another BIBLE picture with Jacob and Bethany!!! We did this last year in lobby of the Radisson...when they were soooooo JUST friends annnnnd NO INTEREST at all in each OTHER whatsoeverrrr...HA!!! The Bible SAW....she KNEW
Marvin annnnnd Nicole!!! Awwwww soooooo cuuuuute!!!

After service a group of us went to go eat at this Japenese place where they cook your food at the table...I got stuck riding over with the guys...I'm pretty sure they were bored to death with my constant chatter...Oh weeeeeeellll...I was at least entertaining MYSELF!!! BAHAHAHA!!!
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Okaaaaaaaaaaay soooo I just realized that I accidentally deleted the rest of the pics for this day...don't worry they're still on my phone, i'll do a separate post for the night cuz it was basically like, THE LOOOOOOONGEST night everrrrr!!!! LOLOLOL
♥Mary Frances :))))
 

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

When your greedy!

This joke REALLY cracked me up!!! ENJOY!!! :))))
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A stingy old lawyer who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness was determined to prove wrong the saying, “You can`t take it with you.”
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After much thought and consideration, he finally figured out how to take at least some of his money with him when he died. He instructed his wife to go to the bank and withdraw enough money to fill two pillowcases. He then directed her to take the bags of money to the attic and leave them directly above his bed.
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His plan: When he passed away, he would reach out and grab the bags on his way to Heaven.
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Several weeks after the funeral, the deceased lawyer`s wife, up in the attic cleaning came upon the two forgotten pillowcases stuffed with cash.
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“Oh, that old fool,” she exclaimed. “I knew he should have had me put the money in the basement.”
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BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
♥Mary Frances :)

Cake Rolls!!!

Today was a very busy and productive day for me...
I MADE 13 cake rolls!!!

After learning how to make pumpkin rolls with my youth group,  I was inspired to make them for our neighbors as well...Now my sis and I have a plan...SHE BUYS the ingredients annnnnnd I make them!!! Then we give it FROM BOTH of us!!! It works out GREAT because  I don't wanna lay out the cash and she says she don't want anything to do with making them!!! LOLOL Soooo that's our team work!!!
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ANYWAYZ, I was like T we should make chocolate mint cake rolls to give out to our neighbors for Christmas!!! Annnnnnd Bro. Sam had the idea of adding crushed mint oreos in the middle with the cream as well. Soooooo I started the process this week... its been quite a process making them buuuuut I have really enjoyed it thus far!!! Sunday I made the cream, today I made the cake rolls and then I will complete assembling them together!!!
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Here is the end result of THE ONE that I did get completely assembled together!!!

 I WISH I could have tried it buuuuuuuuuuuut...I was a good girl today!!! I'm trying REALLY hard!!! I didn't even lick the batter off my fingers...which means my apron is like COVERED in chocolate!!! T said that they taste REALLY good tho!!! YAAAAAY!!
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I'm TAKING orders you guys!!! If anyone would like to buy one from me, they cost $12 for a 14 inch cake roll, $7 for a 7 inch cake roll!!! Locally sold ONLY...LOL!!! If interested EMAIL ME at maryfranceswriting@gmail.com ALL PROCEEDS goes to help fix SHA-NAY-NAY!!!! (My car! Which is used to bring people to church!!!:)
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IF your WONDERING if i'm a good cook, ALLOW ME to tell you THIS...
THEY SAY TO NEVERRRR trust a SKINNY COOK... 
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllll...
YOU CAN TRUST ME!!! ;)

♥Mary Frances :)