Deanna Doss Shrodes

Twenty four years ago today at 12:45 AM, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, in Camden, New Jersey... it happened.  I became the mother of one of the greatest people to ever walk the planet. And, I met my first blood relative. It was my first time to ever look into the face of a relative who resembled me in any way. I will never forget looking into his little face, and seeing something of myself. This was that moment... Looking at my newborn son while the cord is cut... The wonder. The awe. Life with him has been the best experience, ever. With his Daddy after getting all cleaned up. Our new little family, a few days after he was born.   His first Sunday in church, one week after birth. He has always loved pizza. This works out well now that he's a youth pastor. He has always loved to sleep. He rarely gets to these days, he's so busy. He has always been drawn to music, and gifted at it. He figured out how to program the keyboard

Are you totally itching to get speaking invitations? Here's something you might want to think about. Time Out I took the summer off from traveling to speak outside the church. Even before my natural mother got diagnosed with cancer or passed away, I did this because I needed a time out. It wasn't a hard decision to say no to invitations, because home is my favorite place to be. I had no aspirations to go anywhere in 2014, except for my preaching trip to Africa which is already scheduled. I'd be perfectly fine should Jesus just decide to keep me here. It would be nice to not have to flat iron my hair yet again.  But this past week people have started to reach out to me about scheduling for the months ahead.  So I'm open, and praying and saying, "Whatever you want, Lord."

There's nothing like being away with my amazzzzzzing Celebration ladies and teen girls, but there's also nothing like getting in the car and coming home. Coming home means being reunited with the love of my life. Hugs from my boys and kissing their stubbly faces. (Savanna Rose was with me on this trip.) Being greeted by my leaping fur-kids. One day closer to seeing everybody in our church family. Nothing compares to loving now. And I do. I am most blessed among women.

My Celebration Church ladies pray for me.  Fierce 2013 -- our Fall Breakaway for the AG women and teen girls  here in Florida kicks off today!  I'm the rep for the Tampa Bay area and even more than the privilege of serving on this great leadership team, I love being away with our church women and girls.  There is nothing like being a "church mama," and I am one. :)  Have been for 26 years. There is nothing that compares to investing in the lives of people and seeing changes in their hearts. There is nothing I want more than to see our ladies and girls walk in the fullness of God. I'm ready for all that God has for us the next few days. Those of us on the leadership team have been here since 4 pm yesterday, setting up. There's so much amazingness in store for almost 1800 women and girls, they have NO idea!!

Sometimes I desperately want my husband to make a change in some way that I know will benefit me, our family, the church or maybe even the world. It's not always something big. It could be a small thing that I know may not seem significant to him  but is a big deal to me. And for whatever reason, he doesn't want to change it or see the need to change it. The purpose of this post isn't to bash my husband. First, I love him...so much.  Second, there have been things he'd like to change about me. This issue goes both ways. I believe everyone's spouse probably has something they'd like to change if they had a magic wand.  Third, I'm simply being transparent and opening up my inner world to help others with theirs. So here goes...

  I would rather wake up beside you at home, than awaken in the finest hotel anywhere in the world, without you. I would rather eat peanut butter and jelly with you than dine in the most critically acclaimed restaurant in town, without you. I would rather live penniless with you than wealthy without you. I would rather spend a day with you in the most boring or dangerous place in the world, than live out my day in the most beautiful or safe of surroundings. I would rather snuggle up with you on the couch and listen to the rain all day than go on an all-expenses paid luxurious vacation without you. I would rather be your wife, than anyone else's.