Easter Weekend Recap

I’ve been slacking lately.  Sorry about that.  Anyhow, I wanted to recap my Easter weekend.  As I mentioned in my previous entry, last Easter was my first time attending Fellowship Church and even though the anniversary date had passed, I truly felt this was my anniversary.  Having this year milestone arrive,  made me reflect on the year that had just passed.  I hate to sound narcissistic or self centered, but this past year was one of my very best.  I know that Fellowship Church had a major impact in my life and as most of you can see, that is why I am so passionate about this church and the life change it brought forth for me and my family. Like Kris Robinson says, think of something you really love, something you believe so strongly in.  Now, take that, whatever it may be – music, food, a good restaurant, a killer recipe, an amazing work out plan, your dog – that’s what Fellowship means to me, but times ten!  I am so passionate about this church for what it has done for me and for the life change I see that it brings to other people.  I want to tell everyone about it! 

Volunteering at the Good Friday event this year was amazing.  If I would have told myself at this time last year that I would be volunteering at the same event, I wouldn’t have believed it.  But here I was, with my family, friends and church family celebrating Jesus.

(Post from our Dallas Campus Pastor on his IG)

Fellowship outdid themselves once again and the night was stunning.  I love how they are so creative and make church so much fun and interesting. 

Earlier this month, Fellowship had a blank canvas up in the lobby of the church.  People were asked to paint for people they wanted to invite.  I painted for friends and it was pretty amazing to see that realization come to be.  Some of my closest friends were able to experience Fellowship at the Park and Fellowship on Easter Sunday.   

Fellowship church and their volunteers also created history by completing the world’s largest chalk drawing of Jesus.  I am happy to say that I was able to partake in this great moment and accomplishment with my husband, daughter, nephew and sister.

If you didn’t get a chance to stop by FC, or if you live in an area that doesn’t have a location, I have included the Easter message down below.  

Hope you had a great Easter weekend. 

Oh, and I couldn't forget my big bro.  We left him some Easter eggs on Sunday.  I broke down for a minute, telling my husband a story of how he would put the Easter eggs under my chair and say I laid them.  I was sad one Easter because I didn't find the egg with money in it.  He came over and said, look under your chair, I think you laid one.  Sure enough, there was an egg with money in it.  I miss his silly self. 

Easter Sunday

A little over a year ago, my husband and I began church shopping. We were at a point in our lives where we felt that watching Joel Osteen on TV no longer fulfilled our hearts.  We wanted more. Fellowship happened to be third on our list, and as soon as we walked through the doors on Easter Sunday we knew the quest was over.  Some of you remember I had Lasik in May of last year, well if you read my blog post “20/20 Experience”, you would know that a month prior to getting Lasik I actually had an ulcer on my eye, which is what kick started the whole thing. Luckily, I had a prescheduled day off, which was on Good Friday.  Chris and I had requested the day off to enjoy some time with the kids who were off from school and also to spend some time with family that had come in town for the Easter weekend.   Well, that day that I had my appointment in the morning and then we ended up meeting Chris’ family for lunch.  They had not visited Klyde Warren Park so we decided to walk over so they could see it.  To our surprise, the park was jam packed!  We didn’t know what was going on -  there were so many kids and families and a large amount of people in purple shirts.  Turns out it was a church event presented by Fellowship.  There were so many activities for the kids, face painting, balloons, arts and crafts, etc.  It was so cool.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay long, but we were already impressed by the church we had planned to visit that weekend.  Sunday came and it ended up being the first day to the rest of our lives.  As soon as we got there, the parking lot was packed, but we found a parking volunteer and as soon as we told him we were first time guests he directed us to front row parking.  We were then immediately greeted by friendly faces and even familiar faces.  I can’t believe our one year anniversary of going to Fellowship was just completed on March 31, 2014. 

In this one year of going to church, my life has been changed.  What is even more breathtaking is that my family and friend’s lives have been changed due to the decision we made on March 31^st, which was to get up and go to church.  (You can catch my full church going history here.)  I have become a part of something so much bigger than I could ever imagine and it has filled my heart with great joy.  What I want is for everyone I know to experience what Fellowship has given me, my family and my friends. The great news is, you can!  All you have to do is make the first step – get up and go!  If you could just experience this and know what it’s like,  I know for certain you would be there.  Trust me.  Everyone that I have invited has ALWAYS come back. 

This year, I’m hoping Easter will mark a new beginning for you.  If you live in the DFW area, I would like to personally invite you to visit Fellowship Church.  And maybe if you are still skeptical and you don’t necessarily want to visit the church, but you’re curious, you can join on Friday, April 18^th for a city wide Easter celebration with a special Easter message from Ed Young, live music, communion, kid’s activities and more all in the heart of Downtown Dallas. 

Making that step last year changed my life.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity of life change Fellowship has waiting for you!  If there is any doubt, just scroll down to see what everyone is saying about their experience at Fellowship. 

Click on the photos below to take you to the direct sites that will have more information.

Easter Experience Times

Dallas

• 2809 Ross Ave | Dallas, TX 75201
• Friday, April 187:00pm*
• Sunday, April 2010:00am & 11:30am

*The 7:00pm experience will be held in Downtown Dallas at Klyde Warren Park.

Pearl Gonzalez (Friend) – Fellowship church brought meaning and guidance when I needed it the most.  It made me feel like the impossible was very possible at a time in which I had a road block on my path to clarity.  Fellowship Church showed my children that even if life brings negative experiences, there is always a place close to Jesus that brings you back to the positive.  It has been a great experience for me and my children in many ways.

Alex Ramirez (Friend) – Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”  It feels very comforting to know there are genuine people to join in prayer with you for someone or something dear to you, even if you have just met.  It feels good to know there are still good people out there.

Chris Mireles (Spouse) – Since I first stepped foot in Fellowship, I’ve felt welcomed, but the feeling goes beyond that -   I feel like I belong there.  It’s my home away from home.  There is an indescribable joy I now experience that comes from having a strong relationship with both Christ and our Heavenly Father.  I understand now (more than ever) how much God truly loves me. It’s an overwhelming feeling.  I love it.  God has truly blessed me and God deserves all the glory.  I love Fellowship Church for helping me discover that. 

Alec Mireles (Son) – Fellowship Church has shown me the importance of being a Christ follower.  It has helped me get to the right path in life.  Fellowship has also helped me gain knowledge to find my purpose as an individual and to succeed as a Christ follower.  I have learned how to overcome obstacles that the Lord has placed in my life to become a stronger person.

Mia Mireles (Daughter) - FC Kids is really fun.  You get to play and watch movies about Jesus and God.  The teachers are really good, they show us about our main point.  They help us with activities and they are really nice.  This week my main point was, "I will pray." It means talking to God whenever you need His help. 

Rita Mireles (Sister-in-Law) - My experience with Fellowship has been very rewarding and I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of my tenure there. I’ve tried different churches and religions in the past looking for that bond I thought I’d experience immediately upon entering the doors of a “new” church, and each time I was disappointed. None of them filled that hole I felt nor did they make me want to come back to even try. They just didn’t feel like home to me.

When I went to Fellowship the first time it was a bit overwhelming as my first time there was at the Grapevine Campus years ago. It was HUGE and SO DIFFERENT…too different, and I was going through an emotional roller coaster at the time which could have had something to do with it.  When I came back the second time with my family, the experience was entirely different. It wasn’t HUGE and LOUD, it was warm and welcoming, the people were so friendly and for some reason, I had this yearning feeling that I had to come back the following week. I’ve been hooked ever since and that’s exactly what it felt like.  A hook around my waist telling me “we’re not done yet so don’t stray too far away.”

It was actually almost exactly like I thought it would be. I went to a warm welcoming house with family and friends and the feeling was almost immediate. I found my forever home! Soon after, I went to Flavour and made relationships there as well. My experience this past few months are hard to describe. I don’t have that hole in my heart anymore, I understand so much more of the bible and how it applies to my daily life, My relationship with God is stronger and I see how GREAT HE is ALL THE TIME especially recently! I’m changing and I see and feel it…in fact I was baptized not too long ago and it felt very rewarding.  I still want to serve so that’s next for me but so far, I feel happy and as complete as I’ve felt in a very long time.

Robin Walker (Friend) - It's a center of peace. A place where the whole family can go and experience closeness with strangers that are feeling the same pressures of life, love and struggles with faith.

Yolanda Garcia (Mother-in-Law) - I was raised Catholic, however, I have never been so fulfilled or more touched by the Lord’s spirit than I have by attending Fellowship Church. At Fellowship Church I feel I can have a clean heart.

Monica Gonzalez (Friend) - Fellowship Church is culturally diverse and mainstream. God’s message is being delivered in such an inspiring/meaningful way for the younger and older generations. Members go out of their way to make newcomers feel welcome. You can be as involved as you choose to be as they offer several different outlets to meet people and get connected. Fellowship provides excellent children’s programming, and it’s free! Not to mention great live music and positive thoughts!

Fellowship has been that extra push I needed to make myself more available to God, not only in my life but in my children’s life as well.  It has been the start of a new beginning for us. I believe we found ourselves where we truly belong.

Maribel Alvarez (Friend) – Fellowship has not only been a wakeup call for me, but for my kids as well.  We have experienced peace and love that we didn’t know was there.  We learned how to pray together and realized that we are never alone.  It has gotten us through breakthroughs with prayer and taught us who our Father is.  In every aspect of my life, Fellowship has shown me how to seek the only one who knows my heart.  I am thankful and proud to say we look forward to the days of the week when we know it’s time to be there again.

Angela Henriquez (Sister) - From the moment I stepped into Fellowship one year ago, I remember immediately feeling welcomed.  I remember seeing smile after smile and even getting a couple hugs.  I felt like I belonged, which to be honest is a rare feeling to have from just one visit.  I will never forget from that day forward, I was sucked in, I wanted more.  I have faithfully been attending Fellowship every week since my first visit.  The people that go to Fellowship are some of the friendliest people I have ever met.  I want others to experience the same peace and joy that I have found. I am constantly extending out invites to Fellowship.  I want others to feel Jesus’ unconditional love.  I want others to be able to get a glimpse of what a slice of heaven is like by going to Fellowship.  Because that’s truly how I view my wonderful church.

It seems quite cliché now, but Fellowship truly is the beginning of amazing life change.  I have seen this life change happen before my very own eyes with people of all ages & backgrounds.  Fellowship is my second home; it is a place of love, support, understanding and encouragement.  I look forward to Sundays because I know God has something wonderful in store for everyone that attends.

Dolores Moreno (Mother) – When my son passed away, I needed God more than ever.  I had visited a lot of churches, but never felt what I feel at Fellowship. Going to Fellowship has really changed our family and I am so thankful! I have learned so much in the 11 months that I have been attending.  Not only did I find healing at Fellowship, but God has also blessed my marriage and my finances. My happiest moment at Fellowship is when my family got baptized.  I enjoy going to Fellowship because I learn about the bible, everyone is so friendly and I feel like it’s my second family.  I wish everyone would experience going to Fellowship.  It’s amazing. 

Aubrey Frank (Friend) – Fellowship Church opened my heart, mind and soul to God.  Fellowship Church means I can be proud to be called a daughter of God.

Jessica Yanez-Perez (Friend) - I have been a part of Fellowship Church for about 8 years now, and I can honestly say that I never had a desire to attend another church other than Fellowship since I moved to Dallas almost 10 years ago. I believe that what you put into the church by building relationships with others can determine what you get out of it and your individual experience. I have found a home and family at the Dallas campus. When I have hit hard times emotionally or financially, my Dallas FC family was the first to jump forward and want to help.

Within a three week period of time last year, I had a family crisis, I lost my job and my car completely broke down. Without asking, my FC family offered me their cars to drive while they were out of town, drove me to the grocery store, helped with my utilities and even drove me all the way to Denton to ensure I didn't miss class. My life has definitely been changed, and by the grace of God- my life has been filled with loving and generous people.

Melissa Crone (Friend) - The first time I went to Fellowship was on Easter Sunday six years ago.  The upbeat music and powerful message drew me in and kept me there.  I love Ed Young's sermons and the awesome band that we have. I love being able to praise God under that roof every week.  Fellowship Church means life change to me. 

Irma Turrubiartes (Friend) - Fellowship Church has provided us with a new way of understanding of what God's purpose is for our lives.  It is a place for life change and has become our home.

Yolanda Perez (Friend) - Fellowship Church has been a life changing experience.  I feel more alive than ever.  I still have my struggles, but I have faith now, something I didn't have before.

Jennifer Vidal (Friend) - When I think of Fellowship, I think "welcoming" and "happiness".  When I'm at church and I'm listening to the music, it never fails.  I get this overwhelming feeling of love.... love for HIM and I cry.  I cry because I'm so overwhelmed by the thought of knowing how much He loves me.

Tania Cuadra (Friend) - Two years ago, I went to Fellowship during a difficult time in my life.  I had searched for answers in all the wrong places; placing God last. A friend invited me and I said yes to make her happy.  See, I had visited plenty of churches in my lifetime and none of them made an impact.  I was sure Fellowship would just be another church.  Service was at 11:30 AM and I was running late. As soon as I stepped in, I felt a burst of positive energy.  Everyone was smiling and was so warm and welcoming.  I cried during that service.  I went to newcomers and never left.  I love Fellowship and what it has done for my little family.  I love Flavour Sisterhood and the new friends I made.  I was baptized months after my first service.  Fellowship took me as I am and accepted me as family.

Maricia Perez (Family) - Fellowship is known for this statement: No perfect people allowed!  I love this because it sends a message to people who think they have to fix what is not perfect in their lives before coming to church, but that is not the case.  I love Fellowship.  It is so welcoming to everyone no matter the situation.  The goal of the church is to reach.  Fellowship has opened my eyes to God’s love.  They taught me that I am not perfect, nor will I ever be, but God’s love for me is.  I started sharing with friends and family and was afraid that they were not going to experience what I had experienced but 8 years later they are still coming.  Fellowship has not only changed my life, but also my family’s lives. 

Andrea Gutierrez (Family) - Fellowship Church means “Home” to me. I feel the love and support from everyone that attends Fellowship. I love the people and the Pastors that help us get to know the Lord better. I can’t tell you where I would be if Fellowship Church didn’t cross my path,  but I can tell you that I’m so happy that I did. I can’t leave out Flavour Sisterhood, which takes place every Wednesday night. Flavour is the cup of coffee that wakes us up in the morning and make our day brighter. The group of women that makes up Flavour are amazing! Fellowship to me is Family and that’s why it feels like Home.

Vanessa Santana (Friend) - Thank Fellowship for its awesome FC Kids program!  My children actually attended Fellowship Church for the first time with their aunt.  When they came home they couldn't stop talking about how much they learned in that little time and most of all how much they enjoyed being there. So, the following Sunday my family and I attended Fellowship all together for the first time and to be honest it was a bit overwhelming because the only other church I'd ever been to before was a Catholic church.  BIG difference... but a GOOD one! From the friendly people greeting you at the door, to the lively energy inside, I was instantly drawn in and the service hadn't even started yet!
Listening to God's translation through Pastor Young for the first time was AMAZING!!! I had never heard a sermon given this way before, a sermon that I could actually understand and made sense to me.  It was as if God was speaking directly to me and coincidentally I needed it at that time more than ever!  My experience at Fellowship Church has taught me the true meaning of putting God before myself, and how to lean on God as life comes & goes on.

Kristen Ramirez (Friend’s Daughter) - The messages have made a big impact on me.  They’ve helped me to realize the mistakes that I have made in the past.  I’m not perfect, but I have a God that loves me unconditionally and will never turn his back on me.  Fellowship Church has the nicest people who are always willing to help me.

Home Achievement

As I mentioned in my post the other day (You can find it here) I do feel like I’m finally coming of age. To acknowledge this recent awakening, I wanted to let you guys in on a personal goal that my husband and I achieved over the weekend.  Drum roll please…….  We made our first big investment to our home!  I’m so excited! Subsequently, the feeling was a sense of accomplishment, joy, gratitude and a burst of maturity.  When we first moved into our home, almost two years ago, there was a long list of items we had to fix or update to make our home more to our liking.  Our first home was built in the 70s and the previous owner hardly made any modifications during her time, however, Chris and I looked at the challenge in a positive light, knowing that while we couldn’t prepare all the renovations right away, we would tackle each item one by one, ultimately making the home fit the ideal picture of what we wanted.

Here is what our home looked like at first.  (These are photos I found online)  

When we first found our home, it was  not furnished, but yes, those baby blue walls were there and all the outdated fixtures were in place.   This was one of the last homes that we saw and by then we had already made up our minds on another house, however, our realtor insisted we see this home.  We were hesitant, but finally agreed – a decision we will never regret.   This house was further than where we wanted, nor did it contain any of the elements we had envisioned (large/open kitchen, wood floors, semi updated, ect) but somehow this home won us over.  Slowly over the last two years we have updated all light fixtures, updated the stove top, painted the entire home, updated the landscape and have experienced unexpected expenditures on household items that have needed repair.  One of the things we had to learn right away is that it would take time.  I grew impatient at times, but that’s when priorities come into place.  Do you want those $100 pair of shoes, or do you want to invest in your home? So here we are two years later and one of the main things we wanted in a home was hard wood floors (in this case it’s laminate) but it works and looks just like wood. We have put a lot of work and love into making our home into the home we were dreaming of. 

We’ve marked the flooring off our list – now  it’s time to tackle the next thing!

Moral of the story: Don’t be afraid of a fixer upper. Sometimes a house just needs a little TLC.  As long as your patient, you can make almost any home your dream home.

Note: Sorry for the low quality pictures.  I should have taken pictures with my better camera, however, my iPhone is quicker.  I'll try and get some updated pictures soon.