Thursday, October 31, 2019

So for a fun little hobby, I write reviews on Yelp for places because I love exploring restaurants, festivals and anything new!!! Soooooo I'm super excited because I got nominated by Yelp for something special...
I made it to yelp elite status...

 without actually trying I'm in!!! 
Sooooooooo normally people nominate themselves to become YELP ELITE, buuuuut I had noticed that the reviewers that were YELP ELITE had like 100's, some even 1000's of reviews written and I only had like 35ish written so I was like, oh there's no way I have enough written yet!!! Buuuuut I was contacted and notified by the yelp community manager about being nominated and if I would accept!!! 
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They said I was chosen because they noticed in my reviews all of my descriptive words, my humor,  my tip-giving advice, my details, that I was informative,  and gave constructive honesty, also my enthusiasm and succulent pictures!!! I wasn't even trying to become YELP ELITE, I was just being ME and having fun while going on food adventures and exploring my city!!! 
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WHAT DOES THIS MEAN???
This means I get a special badge in my profile and invites to free events to test new restaurants, see exhibits, festivals, museums and stuff!!!  Annnnnnnd for some events, which are complimentary, I'll be able to RSVP with one guest!!! I'm sooooo stoked!!!
You can read my reviews HERE 
♥Mary Frances :)

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Absolutey NO SHOPPING!!!

Soooooo after the wedding, while we were vaycayin in the bay, I happened upon of a very disturbing moment in the middle of down town San Fran!!!
 I saw this sign below that stopped me DEAD IN MY TRACKS
I read it as, NO SHOPPING AT ANY TIME!!!
I read it and I think I literally gasped out loud!!!
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT???
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Like, OMW, did Stultz put that sign up special for me??? And how did he know I'd be walking by at this very moment??? This is sooooooo weird and honestly...kinda CREEPY!!! And they're gonna tow me away if I go shopping too??? Where do they take shoppers to? Is there like some kinda shoppers prison??? How could this sign be real???  I stepped back, blinked my eyes and re-read the sign...
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOH...that was a T, NOT an H...NO STOPPING...at any time...like in your car...OOOOOOH that makes sooooo much sense!!! NOT that I was planning to do any shopping or anything cRaZy like that!!! Hee, hee!!! ;)
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Nope, no crazy shopping for me on this vaycay!!!
And that wasn't me that took over two hours trying to fit everything back into their suitcase when it was time to go home and ask their sister and niece to pack some of their stuff for them OR go shopping for a second suitcase BUUUUUUUT didn't because after all, that would be a completely unplanned shopping spree and INTENTIONAL SHOPPING ONLY FOR THIS SISTA!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!
 
♥Mary Frances :)
P.S. Please don't judge WHOEVER'S suitcase that was...remember, he who's NEVER SHOPPED can cast the first stone!!! :P

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

You learned that from someone...

So when I was in the bay this past summer, I brought a few little trinkets to give away. I gave Mesgana a AIO fidget spinner which he literally thought was THEBOMB.com and gave some of her little nieces my fidget spinner...it was metallic-multi-colored-shiny-super-cute-super-Maryish buuuuut I needed a little gift for the kids and I honestly didn't think much of it...just buy myself another one on AMAZON!
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So later on in the week, Hanna's aunt, the little girls that I had given the fidget spinner to, their grandma, Hanna's aunt was talking to me, and she's like, you always have gifts when you go somewhere. I forgotten that I had given out gifts every time I've seen her over the years. I was like oh yeah...
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She then said, Did someone you know do that? I was like huh?  She said, you learned that from someone! Who did you learn it from? I thought about it for moment...Giving little trinkets...giving gifts...why do I do this??? Then it clicked...a mom thing!!! I was like, OH YOUR RIGHT!!! I learned it from my mom!!!
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I thought that was sooooo cool!!! I don't remember once my mom ever telling me to do this, it was something I just naturally learned from her actions. Sometimes the greatest lessons taught aren't the ones we teach with our mouths, buuuuuut the ones we live through our actions!
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Thank you mommy poo for all the things you taught me through your actions!!!
 
(Of course, there were plenty of things she taught me with her mouth too...and the wooden spoon...bahahahahaaa!)
♥Mary Frances :)

Monday, October 28, 2019

Happy Monday!!!

Rise ANNNND Shine everyone!!!! Its MONDAY, buuuuuut who's got time to complain??? God's been TOOOOO GOOOOOOD to me!!! He saved my soul from hell...He gave me a purpose, a reason to live annnnnnd joy down in my soul, I've  We've got SOMETHING to shout about!!!!  
Happy Monday EVERYONE!!!
Rise and PRAISE THE LORD!!!

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)
♥Mary Frances :)

Friday, October 25, 2019

After-After Party!!!

More from my trip to the bay for Hanna's wedding and then vacay this summer!!! 

MONDAY!!!
The flowers AGAIN!!!



I think this was a peach from the farmers market...
Not sure what was going on in this pic...I think I was just bored and started taking selfies...I probably thought I was a cool mirror!!!
Funny post concerning this sign that will be posted next week...AHAHAHAHAAA!!!


Alcatraz Island!!!
Sooooo I thought this was superrrrr cool!!! TBH, I thought it was going to be incredibly BORING....buuuuuuuuut I was WRONG!!!

Isn't this the coolest picture ever of ODIN???

Thursday, October 24, 2019

A very annointed blog...or what?!

So one of my friends from the Chicago area, HEEEEY Keri! Just recently gave me the link for a friend of hers blog, Then God Said: "Let there be light"  Monse, the creator of this blog lives in Mexico...like THE COUNTRY, not our lovely lil state that's crazy about aliens and chilies...hee,hee,!!! Her blog seems like a great new little blog on the block and I thought I would share her blog with you all, since I don't believe I have shared any fresh bloggers with you all in a while! She's 27, has an amazing testimony, a professor at a university, single, in case anyone is wondering...Jus sayin! ;) Hee, hee!!!
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Monse & Keri
(Stolen pic from Monse's blog)
Anyways, Keri, she's an AMA friend, (Pause for a moment for a quick Shout out to THE BEST CAMP EVERRRR!!!!) sent me Monse's blog link to check out. So I explained to her through text that I couldn't check it out at the moment on my phone, I would have to wait till I had access to a desk-top. I explained to her that I keep the internet access on my phone locked up so that I don't just have free-range whenever to get on the internet, (I don't do this because I'm soooo "SPIRITUAL" I do it cuz I'm NOT! Not that I'm super un-spiritual either but I am human...I know, I know, it's hard to see that past my halo...hee, hee;) but I have apps on my phone that use the internet but I can't just get on links. (the internet is a tool that we  use WHEN WE NEED it, buuuuuut, we don't need to have access to it 24/7...like you don't wear your tool belt when your not working...buuuuut honestly, I NEVER wear a tool belt! LOL) So she is like, oh ok, that makes sense, buuuuuuut, curiosity got a hold of me and I was like, well I'll just TRY to get on, and then see that the password comes up blah, blah, blah, so I clicked the link and VOILA...it went right to Monse's blog!!!
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I started reading all her posts and was just like, WOW, this girl is so cool! I sent her link out to a few more friends etc...THEN when I got to church that night I asked one of the peeps I had sent the link to if he had checked out the blog yet, he said, No, my phone is locked up, it won't let me go on it! I was like, Oh well it's really weird buuuuuuut my phone let me! I guess its cuz her blog is sooooo anointed and my phone just reckonizes that, 
he's like, hmmmm...
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I'm like, YEAH, it also let me go on MY BLOG too!!! I guess when your anointed your just anointed and my phone reckonizes that and apparently, Monse and I are just anointed bloggers! When your anointed, your just anointed!!! When you got it, you just got it, HEEEEEEYYY!!!
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He's like, Hmmmmm...interesting...can I see your phone? I'm like, SURE!!! I hand it on over and he's fiddling around on it for a minute or so, then he says, yeah, it's ACTUALLY because your phone is no longer locked up. I was like, WHAAAAAAAAAT??? He's like, yeah...
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I was like, WOOOOOOOOWWW...paused to contemplate a good comment...THEN...soooooo that's how spiritual I AM...I haven't even tried to get on the internet from my phone...he's like, probably since Wednesday night when you were having Grace, (My sis-in-law) Update your fitbit, she probably accidentally unlocked it...I'm like YES, since Wednesday night...annnnnd it's currently Saturday, that's HOW SPIRITUAL I AM!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!
Anyways, with that being said, check out this lil sista's not-so-anointed-BUT-still-anointed blog!!! Make sure you take time to read her three part testimony as well. 
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Monse's Testimony
Part 1  
Part 2 
Part 3 
Isn't that just awesome??? God is doing a work in Mexico!!! 
♥Mary Frances :)
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P.S. If we could get her amazing lil friend Dacia to update her blog, wouldn't that just be awesome??? Although, I really am intrigued with the idea of hiking a volcano...I still think an update from 2015 would be AWESOME!!! Buuuuut hiking a volcano, literally, it's luring me to Mexico...if I hike a volcano, you all KNOW, I'll NEVERRRR shut up about that!!! Especially if it explodes!!! Weeeeeelllll… actually, IF it exploded I probably would shut up about it, cuz I'd be dead!!! Buuuuuuuuuut FIRST THING IN HEAVEN, I'd be like to all the angels, did you all see that??? Tell me that wasn't the coolest, HOTTEST way to enter into heaven??? AHAHAHAAA!!! Maybe I should just hope for a enough volcanic activity  to talk about it with YOU all buuuuuut not quite the angels yet!!! Hee, hee!! 

P.P.S If you all have any other great blogs for me to check out please email me links! I just may do a post for them as well in the future! Emphasis on MAY...hee, hee!!! But either way I do enjoy reading some stuff besides my own writing, as entertained as I am...yes...I really do keep myself entertained...I wouldn't mind a lil outside entertainment as well!! So send em my way!!!! Maryfranceswriting@gmail.com 

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Looking all good!!!

You know when you think your looking all good???
The other day I was wearing my birthday dress...and when I had worn it to church, Denae had told me that I looked ADORABLE... like the whole outfit, right now to my multi-colored-pom-pom bow I bought from the little girls section at Target, hee, hee, she said the whole thing was adorable, HER WORDS, NOT MINE, not that I was about to argue with her on the matter!!! ;)
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So after I got dressed this day, I didn't even bother to look in the mirror, same outfit, same girl, I LOOKED ADORABLE, don't need to mirror to tell me otherwise! (Pastor said the other day in his preaching that we don't need to be looking in the mirror and saying we're ugly, BUUUUUT we shouldn't be looking and saying we're so cute either! Then he went on to joke about his son singing about being so good looking! After church I told Judah I understood EXACTLEY where he was coming from!!! I was like, you know what bro, the struggle IS REAL!!! Buuuuut we can be overcomers, DESPITE our good looks! AHAHAHAAHAAAA!!!) Anywayz, I didn't even look in the mirror and think I looked good, I just PLAIN AND SIMPLE,
THOUGHT I LOOKED GOOD!!!
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THEEEEEEEEEEEENNN...
When I got to the church to drop the kids off for school and early morning prayer, on the way out I did actually happen to take glance at my adorable appearance...
I LOOKED IN THE MIRROR!!!
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???
All over my ADORABLE shirt was my cold brew coffee mixed with my chocolate protein shake (Breakfast of adorable champions!;) I was liiiiiiike WOW!!! That's what happens when YOU DON'T look in the mirror!!! (And when you fill your cup up too much! Hee, hee!;) I was like maaaaaaan, here I've been thinking I was looking all adorable, and I got my breakfast all over my shirt!!! That's Mary for you!!! (An ADORABLE mess) AHAHAHAHAAAA!!!
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At that moment, looking in the mirror, I couldn't help but think of the scripture in Isaiah, "But we are all an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." (Isaiah 64:6) So the condensed definition of righteousness means purity of heart and conformity of your heart and life to the laws of God. What this scripture is saying, is that all of our goodness, no matter what we do, or how close we follow God's laws, are as filthy rags in comparison to God's own purity.
 
We could never measure up or even come close, not matter how hard we try, to God's own goodness. We could never be holy enough, or pure enough or good enough to be equal to God's own holiness. When we think we are so holy, it's like walking around thinking you look all good but you actually have coffee spill stains all over your shirt. Our own righteousness is as an unclean thing, like a filthy rag, like a stained shirt! But because of God's own goodness and His purity, when applied to our lives, then we can be made righteous.
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"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be mae the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)
 
♥Mary Frances :)

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Falling in love!!!

I want to FALL IN LOVE!!!
Okaaaaaaaaaaaay isn't that in the heart of just about every typical female???
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This summer, I discovered something specific that I want to be totally and completely in love with!!! One day, as I was running around with my friends, Brandon and Hanna, the bride and groom, well, we're running around together doing all the typical wedding errands. We stopped for a break and while Hanna and I did whatever, Brandon sat there and read his Bible.
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When it was time to leave Hanna said come on lets go! Brandon looked up from his Bible and was like, wait, just let me read one more chapter in my Bible! She kinda hesitated, since we were in a rush and had a MILLION AND ONE things to do, and he says, please?! Like a little boy begging to play with his favorite toy for five more minutes. She was like, well, how can I say NO to that??? I was like, yeah, WOW, your marrying a GOOD MAN HANNA!!! (Anywayz, back to our gossip session...JUUUUUUUUUUUST KIDDING!!! Seriously, that was a joke people!!! LOL) Annnnnnnnd just like that I thought, I WANT THAT!!!
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Your probably thinking that I mean I want a man like that, buuuuuuuuut NO!!! I want that in myself!!! I want to be that same way with reading my Bible!!!
I WANT TO FALL IN LOVE
WITH GOD'S WORD!!!
 
Of course I LOVE God's word!!! I read it! I listen to it, but so often it's out of a dutiful love to God and not out of a consuming desire. Of course love, even in a marriage has both a love out of duty and out of a consuming passion and desire, there are times when our dutiful love and devotion to God carries us through, but still, I want to experience that all consuming passion and desire to God as well. If you all could have just heard it in his voice, it wasn't to show off to us, TRUST ME, we're all life family, he really just wanted ONE MORE CHAPTER, before he went on his day...just a little bit more!
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I want that for myself!!! I want to fall fully and completely IN LOVE with God's word! I want it to consume my life, my thoughts, my dreams. I want more than just a dutiful love, renew that passion within me. Draw me closer to you, teach me your ways, saturate my heart, my life...
I LOVE GOD ALREADY
BUUUUUUUUUUUT...
I WANT TO LOVE HIM MORE!!!

♥Mary Frances :)

Friday, October 18, 2019

Hanna's Wedding (After Party!!!)


Saturday night...
Soooooooooo of course, like everyone always does, we had an AFTER party, about 5 hours after the wedding...
AFTER THE PARTY!!!
We went with Jen and the Velez's to Chevy's off of the water...

And we celebrated my birthday AGAIN!!! 

Thursday, October 17, 2019

My Super-power!!!

Have you ever been asked, "If you could choose a super-power, what would it be?' Well aside from THE HOLY GHOST, (that THE SUPER-POWER LIVING IN SIDE OF ME!) I've always said, to be able to fly! You know, your running and your running and your running sooooooooo fast the next thing you know, your soaring through the air...FLYING!!! I mean, think about how amazing that would be!!! Growing up, I would always have dreams of flying...well ok, occasionally, I STILL DO!!! ;)
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Buuuuuut alas, my super-power is NOT flying!!! Wanna know what my super-power is??? My super-power is SCREAMING!!! No joke people, there ain't NO SCREAM, like a Mary scream!!!
I don't need a megaphone, God made me with a BUILT IN MEGA PHONE!!! My motto: "I can't be quiet, I'm Pentecostal
 ANNNNND ITALIAN!!!"
(Okaaaaay half Italian, but let's not talk about THAT!;)
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My scream got me the part of playing THE CROWD, yes, THE WHOLE entire crowd in a Calvary scene for a Christmas drama at our church years ago! (Well, ok, there were two other people in the crowd with me, buuuuuuut they were two incredibly quiet people and  literally just there for LOOKS!!!) Buuuuuut YES, my voice got me the part of THE CROWD....and let me tell you all something, I WAS GOOD!!! Hee, hee!!!
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Are you wondering how a Mary-scream-super-power would come in handy??? Thank you for asking and allow me to tell you HOW the MARY SCREAM can save lives. This is a true story...
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Once upon a time, this morning in fact, I was driving my niece and nephew to our church school. We were at a stop light not to far from the church, when I heard honking. Usually it's ME people are honking at, NO IDEA WHY, but it is so! Well, I hear the honking and realize that they can't be honking at me because we are at a RED STOP LIGHT, that means, STOP and that's what I'm doing.
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So I glance around and notice the car next to me is slowly rolling backwards and it is starting to go faster back! I realize the lady in the car is sleeping and she has a baby in the car seat with her. She doesn't seem to be hearing the honking from the car behind her sooooooooo without thinking about it, my SUPER POWER TOOK A HOLD OF ME, I waved my arms out the window annnnnnnnnnd I SCREAMED a good one!!!
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That lady just jolted right up and immediately got her car going in the right direction!!! Phew!!! She couldn't hear the honking horn, BUUUUUUUUUT she could hear A MARY SCREAM!!! Thank God for that!!!
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Then the light turned green and we all began to drive away. This was the moment where you would think you get thanked and perhaps a million bucks and maybe even a good looking husband for saving her life, her babies life and the life of the person in the car behind her, buuuuuuuuuuut alas, this super hero is still poor and single...buuuuuut it's all part of the disguise...
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So she just straightens her invisible cape and halo...
 
and goes on her day...
wondering who will need her scream next????
Hee, hee!!!
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Soooooo that's my super-power, WHAT'S YOURS????

♥Mary Frances :)

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Where's my shades????

Sooooo as you all know, if you've been a faithful reader of Classic Mary Moments, my sister got me my beloved sunglasses that you see me wearing in a lot of my pictures, and I adore them!!!
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So the other morning I was out hiking, when I got back to my car I was putting all my hiking stuff away, I got back in the car, put my seat belt on, drank some water, then reached for my sunglasses on the seat next to me to put on but....THEY WERE NOT THERE!!!
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I searched all over the car for them, the floor, the console...I was like...awwww man, I've had them for almost two years without breaking or losing them, I should have known that was to good to be true. Then I was like, WAIT, maybe I left them in the back of my car where I put all my hiking stuff!
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I'm about to get out and look in the back of the car, buuuuuuuut I glanced in the rearview mirror first before I got out and GASPED...I found them...they were RIGHT THERE...
ON MY FACE!!!
AHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!
I guess sometimes, the answer to what we are looking for is SO CLOSE we can't even see it!!! And if so in life or spiritually speaking, God open my eyes, help me to see!!!
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"And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." (2 Kings 6:17)
 
♥Mary Frances :)

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Pet Peeves!!!

THINGS THAT MAKE ME ROLL MY EYES!!!
 (Hee, Hee!!!;)
 
1. Bathrooms that don't have deodorizer
2. Bathrooms that DO have deodorizer but people don't use!
3. When stores or businesses don't have trash cans before you walk inside
4. When people say good luck!!! Ummmm...Did you mean God bless you???
5. When people say, "It must be Nice!" Like when you say what your doing or if you got something new, and they say, "It must be NICE!" Look I don't have everything in life that I want, but I don't tell my friends EVERY TIME they get married or have a baby or something that I really want, "It must be nice!" I'll rejoice with you when you get your spouse and baby, can you please be happy for me that I got ANOTHER new dress instead???? AHAHAHAHAAHAAA!!!
6. When people use manipulation to try and get me to do something. "We don't have a lot of money, so we were wondering if you could bring the steak tonight!" Look, I RARELY say no to people when they ask me to bring something, if you want me to JUST ASK...I don't need a free guilt trip with it! Or when people try to use my emotions to manipulate me into something even after I said NO! I rarely say no, SOOOOOO...IF I said no, IT's NO! Or I love the, "Do you want to be a blessing and________________________????" Actually, I KINDA wanted a blessing tonight...AHAHAHAHA!!!
7. When people don't eat my cooking
8. When people are wasteful with my cooking
9. When people don't use blinkers
10. When girls use guys to pay for their meal or flirt to get a discount or free drink! Seriously, that is soooooo ghetto and cheap and I'm the QUEEN OF FREE buuuuuuut that's one thing I will NOT do!!! My mom would reach outta heaven with her cane and bop me a good one for that!!! (Still remember her making me give back that hot-pink-razor-phone a guy I didn't like gave me for my birthday...You don't like him Mary! BUUUUUUUT I like the phone MOM!!! Remember how cool razor phone were guys???? And this was a HOT PINK one...sigh...buuuuut I learned! LOL)
11. When People don't want their picture taken!!! Seriously, your not too ugly, Your not too pretty, your not too spiritual, your not to fat, your not too cool, your not too popular, your not a celebrity, JUST SHUT UP AND SMILE FOR THE PICTURE!!! I'm just over here having fun, making memories...
AND BEING A STALKERRRR!!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!! If it's NOT for me...it's probably for SOMEONE!!! Heh, heh!!!
12. Negativity
13. Boring Clothes
♥Mary Frances :)

Monday, October 14, 2019

Happy Monday!!!

God's delay is not God's denial
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
♥Mary Frances :)

Friday, October 11, 2019

Arise Conference and ABQ Vaycay 2019!!!!

ARISE 2019
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." (Isaiah 60:1)


Sooooooooo we went to the Arise Conference and one year anniversary service with the Fosters in  Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was such a fun trip!!! In case you all didn't already know this, I'm super into Yelp!!! Researching places to go, things to do and food to try! I love adventure with a capital L! HAHAHAAA!!! So I could pretty much, probably give the Fosters a tour of their own city at this point!!!!
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 Two things I learned on this trip: 1. New Mexicans don't really YELP, which pretty much rocked my world upside down...they use Trip Advisor OR Google reviews...come on guys GET ON YELP...its waaaaaay better!!! 2. CHILI EVERYTHING!!! I just realized, and I've been to New Mexico many times before, buuuuuuuuuut I just now realized how much they are into chilies!!! The famous question: do you want green or red chili? And of course ME, I say, I want it CHRISTMAS STYLE!!! 
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Thursday Noon/Night
When we started the trip, I noticed a beautiful rainbow in our destination ahead of us...
It made me think of something that one of the preachers said at Heritage a few years ago, he said, "If you want God's will for your life, it's easy, JUST STAY IN HIS WILL!!!" It's one of the simplest, but most profound statements I've heard, it's stuck with me! All we gotta do you guys, is STAY IN HIS WILL!!! 
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Weeeeeeeeeeeeellll that was for free...stay in his will my friends!!!
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First break!!!
Our whole crew in front of Auto Zone in Payson AZ...what is it about trips, it seems like we're always stopping to get new wind shield wipers!!! I gotta say that Auto Zone had THE CLEANEST bathrooms everrrrrrr!!!! LOL  
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