God winks

Sometime during my time in Winston-Salem, my friend (Cindy) and I picked up the term God winks.  I did a quick search and actually found a definition that fits what Cindy and I are referring to when we say the term God winks.  It is defined as an event or personal experience, often identified as coincidence, so astonishing that it is seen as a sign of divine intervention, especially when perceived as an answer to prayer.  

To me, a lot of God winks come through music.  I would say that 98% of the time my radio is tuned to KLove- whether I'm in the car or in my office, it's what I'm listening to.  I am by no means musically inclined, but I do love to sing along with contemporary worship songs.

Tonight was one of those late nights at church.  As I was heading home (a little before 10), I leaned forward and turned up my radio (I guess I had it previously turned it down for a conversation with my mom).  As I turned it up, I heard these lyrics:

These were the exact words I needed to hear tonight.  I feel like I needed the reminder that my God goes before me and stands behind me.  Something I know yet something I sometimes forget.

Thankful for the God wink that came in at just the right time.  What a mighty God we serve!

God is in the details

(this post is a day late and a dollar short- that's just how it goes for me sometimes)

In February of 2012, at the Distinguished Young Women of NC program, I met this crazy, plane flying child, named Corey Washburn.  At the time, she was a senior in high school and was deciding between attending Wake Forest and Kansas- 2 completely different schools.  I was serving as the DCE at New Hope UMC in Winston-Salem.  Being a Wake grad (and because I lived in WS), I wanted her to pick Wake.  When I spoke with her that March, she was leaning heavily towards Kansas and then in late March she came to her senses and knew WFU was for her.

One of my favorite pics (not hers)- applying the beloved Breath Right Strips...

I will never forget the phone call I received from her the day she got in WFU!  She was so excited; she was gushing with excitement (and so was I).  

The church I now serve is .3 miles from Wake's campus.  It's the church that I attended (some) during my time at Wake.  And it is now the church that Corey attends.  

A few months ago, Joe Hout and I were reflecting on how blessed Maple Springs is to have Corey.  I shared with him the journey of her coming to Maple Springs, and we both were in awe of how our God is in the details.  For you see, Corey fits in very well with our congregation and is well loved by our staff.  I'm not the only one on our staff that is a Wake graduate.  Corey shares that bond with Pastor Bev and myself.  It is funny to see all the connections- Bev and I both majored in English during our time at Wake and Corey is now pursuing the same degree.  Crazy.  And the sorority that Corey is now a part of was originally the society that Bev was a member of during her time at Wake.

3 Wake girls with a couple football players....

Corey serves here at church when we need her.  She's spent several mornings leading the high school Sunday school class.  She's worked in our pumpkin patch.  She's helped me with the most random tasks.  She has such a heart for the Lord and I love to see her in action.  When I see her serve I know she's doing it for the glory of the Lord and that inspires me.

Drew and I love hosting her at our home.  She'll come over for dinner and a game of Phase 10.  She'll even go over when we're not around to do homework at the kitchen table with the company of her favorite cat, Miles.

Miles loves his Corey!

Just this past weekend, as Drew and I watched the NCAA tournament, we spoke of how different it would be if Corey had chosen Kansas.  I'm thankful that God is in the details and that we are a part of Corey's journey while she's here in Winston.  We love you Corey Jo!

Happy birthday sweet one! Love you lots

friends

Friday evening, Drew and I got to spend some time with our friends, Brad and Cindy.  We got to make the drive out to Yadkin County and enjoy a delicious meal (they're always delicious when Brad cooks).

I met Cindy before I began working at New Hope (in the summer of 2009).  You'll be shocked to know that I met her at Carolina Cross Connection- a place I've met so many friends.  When I moved to Winston-Salem later that fall to work at New Hope, Cindy and Brad welcomed me with open arms.  Cindy supported me 100% during my time there.  She went on retreats, helped on Sunday evenings and taught Sunday school on Sunday mornings.

Cindy is one of my closest friends.  She's one I can call when I need to cry, laugh or just need to share about my day.  One of the special things (I think) about our friendship, is our age difference.  For you see, we are 20+ years apart.  Cindy shares so much wisdom with me.  She encourages me and I listen to her because I know she has experience.

Dancing the night at away at HOME at the Drum Circle.
My friend LOVES to dance!

One of my favorite things about Cindy is her heart.  She has such a big heart- she would do anything for anybody.  She loves to love people.  And I love that about her.  I love to watch her share her heart with those around.

Cindy doing what she does best during one of our service days in Winston.

I'm thankful for the gift God gave me through my friend Cindy.  I love you sweet friend.

#tbt

I cannot believe today is the first day of Spring!  I feel like we just started 2014.  Somehow we have entered a new season and are about to enter the fourth month of the year.  This year truly is flying by.

Today was a beautiful day- perfect way to begin this new season.  This afternoon Bev texted me a little before 4pm and encouraged me to go for a walk.  A few minutes later she texted and said 'let's go walk'.  We loaded up and headed over to Wake Forest.

We parked in the small parking lot next to the Kappa Delta lounge and made our way onto the Quad.  As soon as we stepped out of the car, I was at peace.  Despite the fact that I work less than a mile from Wake and often pick up/drop off Corey, I never really get time on campus.

As we made our way around the campus, I was flooded with memories.  My whole attitude changed.  I am sure I was grinning from ear to ear.

I am so thankful for that place.  For the people that God placed in my life during my time there.  For the way God molded me during my four years.  Thankful for the lessons I learned that I will carry for years to come.  But today especially, I'm thankful for a chance to be back on campus and enjoy all the beauty that the campus has to offer.

another life lesson

During my college years, I thought I wanted to be a teacher.  When I told my Mom my freshman year that I wanted to teach, she told me I could change schools if I wanted to be a teacher.  I quickly changed my mind and told her I was not leaving Wake Forest.

In the final months of my senior year, I was still at a loss as to what I was going to do when I left Wake Forest.  I called my Mom in April and said I had finally figured it out.  I told her I wanted to go into ministry.  Her response was short, "well I cannot argue with that".  

I spent my first two years in ministry at Dilworth United Methodist Church, serving as the Director of Youth and Adult Ministries.  In the fall of 2009, I moved back to Winston-Salem and served as the Director of Christian Education at New Hope UMC.  I followed a call to Maple Springs in the late fall of 2012.

I have learned so many lessons over the past 7 years.  The way I did ministry in 2007 is definitely not the way that I do ministry in 2014.  

Young me (2008) on left, this past October on right....
the lessons that girl has learned.

When I first started ministry, I was 22 years old!  I had so much energy- I had energy and I didn't ever drink coffee in the morning.  Crazy talk!  Those first years in ministry, I thought my job was 'to do it all'.  I felt bad when I called on others to help with ministry.  I thought my worth was defined by how many hours I spent at the church and by how 'busy' I was.

Over the past year at Maple Springs, my mindset has completely changed.  It has been a humbling experience but a lesson that I've needed to learn.  I've realized (through many discussions with mentors) that my position as Coordinator of Children & Family Ministries is not necessarily to do it all. Rather, my role is equip others to do the work of ministry.  This role is far more rewarding than doing it on my own.  I love to see children's volunteers succeed.  I love the smiles on their faces and the excitement that they feel.  

You see, I've learned (and been reminded in the past 24 hours), that if I try do it all on my own that I am robbing the folks at Maple Springs of doing Kingdom work.   My role is to help equip them to do Kingdom work.  What a blessing it is to serve with volunteers who are in to grow the Kingdom.  To God be the glory!

rest....

For Lent, Pastor Bev and Pastor Jeff are preaching a series on the 10 commandments.  The past two weeks, we have focused on commandments one through 4.  During children's worship, we are also focusing on the commandments.

This past week in Children's worship we focused our discussion on 3 and 4- I found myself focusing on the importance of keeping the Sabbath Day holy.  I spoke with the kids about the importance of having a Sabbath.  Sabbath is defined as:

For those of you in ministry, you know it is hard to take your Sabbath on Sundays.  My Sabbath tends to be on Fridays but for the past few weeks that has gone to the wayside.  

Here's to admitting that I am only human and that all I am able to do comes from His power- not from my own.  My unplugging from the world allows me to plug into Him.  Friday morning Sabbath- here I come!

#mawmawMonday

Let's travel back a few years to the summer of 2006. I was a rising senior in college and was serving as a lead program coordinator for Carolina Cross Connection at Camp McCall.  Despite being only a rising senior, I was the oldest  person on my staff. Due to my age and my nurturing nature, I picked up the nickname "Mawmaw Mary" among my staff. To be honest, it was the first time in my life that I let anyone just call me Mary.

Throughout the past few years the only person to continue to call me Mawmaw has been my sister. She'll call to check on me during the week and when I answer she'll say hey Mawmaw. 

Until recent weeks, Annie has been the only one to use this loving name for me. She slipped up our week in Greensboro and called me Mawmaw in front of our contestants- and they haven't forgotten.

Mondays are now referred to as #mawmawmonday and I just never know what picture or comment is going to show up.  I even have a emoticon that gets frequently used 👵

Thankful for the nurturing gift God has blessed me with- even if it ages me beyond my years 👵

On the road again....

Coming to you live from the party bus: I, Mary Taylor, am on the road yet again with my loving sister, crazy Lindsey, and 3 of the best girls from the distinguished class of 2014. We are on the way to Rutherford county to support Courtney Arms in her giving-away-of-her-title thing. WE IS DISTONGUISHED. 

Peace out homies✌️

(⬆️contributed from Jessica Neville)

Traveling a shorter distance this week with a car load of folks. Nice to be riding instead of driving. Thankful it is not time change weekend- I don't think I could do that again. Last week was exhausting.

Looking forward to spending the evening in good ol' Rutherford County.

the best Christmas gift

The Christmas of 1988, Santa brought me a letter and told me I would get a baby brother or sister in July of 1989.  I really thought I had messed up- having a baby brother or sister was most definitely not on the top of my list.  But as I have learned over the past (almost) 25 years, sometimes the best gifts are things you don't ask for....

Annie Hughes and I are almost 5 years a part and 4 years a part in school.  Growing up, we were never in the same school.  I finished elementary school and she started. I finished high school and she started. And thankfully (for my Mom's bank account), I finished college and she started.

Our SENIOR year (senior in high school, senior in college)

As young kids, she annoyed the fire out of me.  She wanted to be around me and my friends, when I definitely did not want her to be.  Thankfully for me, my Mom was not one of those parents that made me include her when I had friends over- the age difference sometimes made that difficult.  

One of our biggest differences growing up, and even to this day, is that she is a morning person and I am a night owl.  When I was in high school, mornings were not my best part of the day. I wanted to wake up, get ready and leave for school without saying a word.  Not Annie.  I would get to the kitchen to eat breakfast and she would run in to join me.  She would sit down, so excited for the day, and start telling me everything.  Our morning conversations always started with her telling me about her dreams the night before and would end with me putting the cereal box in front of my face to block her out.  Something we still laugh about to this day.

One of the holidays spent at my Aunt Ann's house.

Growing up, we had different interests.  I was a dancer and a cheerleader.  Annie was an athlete- she played a different sport every season.  She always made me so proud.  I loved coming home from college to watch her play soccer.  It was her passion and she excelled at it.  I spent so many weekends when she was young watching her play in soccer tournaments.  

One of Annie's last years as a dancer. 

One of the many soccer tournament weekends.

As we've aged, we've become more and more similar.  Not only do we look more alike, but we also share common interests.  In high school, we both spent many summers at Carolina Cross Connection and in college continued by serving on staff.  Those summers that she was on staff were some of the summers that God bound our hearts together even more.  We began to have a deeper understanding of each other.

In high school, we both participated in the Rockingham County Junior Miss program.  Even though neither one of us won, it was something that meant a lot to us.  We both serve on the State Executive Committee and enjoy spending time together encouraging high school girls to be their best selves.  

It is amazing to me how far we have come in 25 years.  My Mom always told me as a child how important my sister would be to me, but I don't think I ever really believed her.  Now as an adult (approaching 30), I am thankful for my sister- for the life we have shared together and for what is to come.

I love you my baby sister, more than you''ll ever know.  You make me proud, even though I don't always say it.  I will always, always be here for you.  You, my sister, are the best Christmas gift I ever received.  I love you the most Annie Hughes.

Tournament Time

From the time I was a small child, I have loved Wake Forest.  One of my babysitters went to Wake Forest and from then on I was sold.  Wake was my team.  

I love college basketball and I love the ACC Tournament.  Starting in the 4th grade, one of my friend's moms would pick us up from school at noon on the first day of the ACC Tournament.  I would go home and watch the games.  I was glued to the TV from Thursday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. Those were the Wake Forest glory days- the years of Randolph Childress and Tim Duncan.  In the 1996 season, one of my other babysitters introduced some of my friends and I to Tim Duncan.  We were over the moon.

We love the Deacon!

My love for basketball has grown over the years.  Drew and I have been to the ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament over the past few years.  Yesterday, when Wake Forest won the play in game, I just knew I had to go to see them play today.  Drew found tickets last night online and I quickly recruited family to attend the game (sadly, Drew purchased tickets but wasn't able to come- next year).

A little sad at the way the game went.

Despite the outcome of today's game, I'm just grateful for the time to go and be a part of this year's Tournament action.

I love my Mama!

Mom bought us lots of snacks.  Misha and Annie enjoying some
delicious cotton candy.

I love my sister.  I love that we enjoy a lot of the same things.
I love that we love being silly. 

Sweet friend

I started at Maple Springs almost 16 months ago.  During that time, I have gained many friends that I consider to be family.  People that I know would be there for me in the blink of any eye, without any questions asked.

One of those friends I'm blessed to have is also on staff with me.  I started at Maple Springs in November of 2012 and Jennifer officially started in June of 2013.  Jennifer had been associated with MSUMC a while before because her other half leads our contemporary worship service.

MSUMC Thing 3's at Pumpkin Patch Palooza 2013
MT, Jeff, Jennifer, Joe, Bev

Jennifer is a go getter.  She pushes our staff to do the best and be the best.  Jenn coordinates our marketing and communications- which is so important.  As church staff people, sometimes we are not so into those details but Jennifer is making sure that we are (she pushes me to get better almost on a weekly basis- I get email reminders and texts). Her persistence and direction is helping take our church to a new place.   Under her direction, we've launched a new (up to date) website, we have an active Facebook page and we send professional weekly emails.  Jennifer is helping us build the kingdom in new ways and it's amazing to witness and be a part of.

Celebrating after Palooza!

I'm also blessed to call her one of my friends.  She's one of those people that I feel like I've known my whole life.  Sometimes we are able to see each other every week, sometimes there are a couple weeks in between.  But when we do get together, we get real, fast.  We don't hold back, we share what is on our hearts.  I value that about our friendship. I'm thankful for the gift God gave me through Jennifer.  His timing of our friendship was perfect.

Love you friend and so blessed by you.
Excited for the wedding adventure this year!

If you are a Maple Springs person, make sure to thank Jenn for all she does.  In the words of Jeff Coppley give her an 'atta girl' because she's helping take us where the Spirit leads.

Transformation Tuesday: Take 2

Continuing with Transformation Tuesday blog post from February 26...


In the Spring of 2008, Drew and I reconnected (again) because of Carolina Cross Connection.  He was preparing to return to staff and I was prepping to help with staff training.

I remember when we arrived at Camp Loy White that May.  We spent most of our free times together and I don't think either one of us thought anything about it.  That continued throughout the summer.  Drew would work for 10 days straight (Wednesday through the following Sunday) and he had a 3 day break every 10 days.  Those breaks were spent in Charlotte with me.  We would hang out and just have a good time.

I remember one night of his pre camp I took his staff dinner.  As I left, I called my mom.  Something I said to her on the way home triggered her to say "so I think you're falling for Drew".  I denied it but then started to think maybe I was.

A couple weeks later I went to visit his camp during a camp week.  One of our adult campers from the previous year was his camper again.  I spent some time with her during my visit and within a few minutes she said "how long have you and Drew been dating?"  I just smiled and walked away.

Before the final camp week, my roommate (Catherine) and I hosted a gathering for a lot of staff people in the Charlotte area.  I made these fancy chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese in the center that my friend Stephanie makes.  To say they didn't turn out is being nice.  I don't know what I did wrong.  But my sweet Drew picked up a cupcake and ate an entire one!  That's when I knew I knew the feeling was mutual.

Our first date was the first Wednesday in August of 2008.  It was simple and interesting- but that's another blog post.  Our second date was two days later.  We ate Chinese food with his Mom and brother, Noah.  We left the following morning for a beach trip with our friends from our 2007 JYC staff. Half way through our week at the beach, Drew returned to school as junior and so began our long distance relationship.

We spent so many hours on that phone that year.  I wish I had a rough estimate.  But I would say on average we were on the phone at least an hour a day everyday.  We spent many of our weekends in Reidsville and Hickory with our families.

The following summer (2009), I felt called to move from Charlotte to Winston-Salem.  With Drew's support, I made the move.  We visited Winston-Salem that August and one of the first places we visited was Pilot Mountain....

A picture I took on our first visit to Pilot Mountain.

On November 10, 2009 Drew proposed to me on the top of Pilot Mountain in the middle of a hurricane.  My Mom and sweet friend Stephanie were in on the surprise.  My sweet Drew waited for me over an hour on the top of the mountain in the pouring rain.

Taken seconds after he proposed- that mascara didn't hold up well

Engagement celebratory dinner

The December after we were engaged, we spent a long weekend in Hickory.  That is one of my favorite Setliff memories.  Drew was in his senior year at Liberty and had come home for winter break.  I went to visit and we got snowed in!  I mean snowed in!  We spent the entire weekend in the house.  It is such a sweet memory to me.  The weekend was filled with lots of laughter, sledding, snow man building, and of course delicious food.

4 of the 5 Setliff brothers as well as Drew's childhood best friend,
Ross and some of his sisters

Standing on top of a bush- don't know why we thought that was a good idea.
Bush never recovered...

To be continued...

Spring Forward

For those who know me well, you know that I LOVE my sleep.  Sleep is a core value for me.  I need between 8 and 9 hours of sleep for me to function.  So when the time comes for us to 'spring forward' I am not so much a fan.

When I saw this in the church email this week, I was not a happy camper...

Yesterday morning at church (spring forward morning), I had the chance to teach our preschool group.  I must say that I was a little concerned about trying to keep their attention for 30 minutes because of how much energy they usually have and also knowing I wasn't going to have my full amount of sleep.  

There were seven of them in the class (ages 3 through 5 years old).  Typically they have a hard time sitting still but not yesterday.  As they walked into the room, I could tell their energy level was slightly lower than normal.  I asked them to sit and color a picture of what prayer looked like to them.  I had hoped this was last for 5 minutes. For almost 12 minutes, they sat and colored- quietly!  I was stunned. As I asked to wrap it up so we could do something else, they actually asked for more time.

As I was encouraging them to hurry, one of the rising kindergarten boys looked at me and said "Mrs. Mary Taylor, did you know that we lost an hour of sleep?"  I told him yes I did know that and he said "that's why we're having a hard time".    I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who doesn't like spring forward morning- even one of our 5 year olds admits to having a hard time.

This afternoon as I came home from work I was thankful for the time change.  I came in the door, grabbed my computer and went to the back deck.  It is so nice to come home and have some sunshine left to enjoy.  

First time in his life, that he actually sat for a picture.
Proud of Charlie.

Thankful for the time change and for the extra time it allows to spend in the sunshine.  Despite the fact I'm tired, I'm thankful for the sun!

He's thankful for more sunshine and time for his parents to play
in the yard with him.