ThAt WaS ChUrCh.

Today is my Birthday and I went to church. I was excited to see my friends Matt and Christie there and sitting with them made it even better.

The first song started (Blessed Be Your Name)...and I shut my eyes and began to sing. I felt someone slide in beside me and opened my eyes and was surprised to see my sister, her hubby, and baby Emily beside me.

Then I got to hold Emily.

Then we got to the chorus of the song, and my sweet tattooed, Jr. High Pastor friend Matt, lifted his hands in the air, singing at the top of his lungs, "Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be Your name." This is a man that has become a part of my family...he and Christie come to our house, we laugh, we hang, we vacation together, we do life together. But to sit next to him and watch him worship. It moved me.

That moment, coupled with me holding my niece Emily, sitting in between my precious friends and family, was the sweetest Birthday gift I could have received. I felt so complete. I felt so much love. And I was moved to tears.

The night went on, and we heard the testimonies (stories) of 4 different people in our church that moved me in such a powerful way. The message was on "Community," and then my community (my circle of friends)...ate dinner with me downstairs. We talked, we laughed, we ate, we shared.

To me, that was church. And it was good.