Since it's Saturday ...it must be "Then Sings My Soul Saturdays".

I'm joining with Amy of Signs, Miracles and Wonders and you can link there to join us or find other participating blogs. Listen and enjoy and sing right along.

My choice of songs for this week was easy. If you follow Heart Choices, you know that I've been participating in Ladies on a Mission with my good friend Lisa Shaw. We're in the midst of 7 days of laying it ALL down.

How often we women are so burdened with things that we need to lay down at the feet of Jesus and ...not pick them up again?

I'm not usually a very emotional person but I have to say this has been a bit tough for me. However, I do believe this process is going to be so good for me.

I'm ready to lay it ...ALL down!

How about you? It's not too late to join us.

My song for TSMSS is: I SURRENDER ALL. The words to this song say it all.

This week I chose to join with my friend Lisa Shaw on her Living a Fit Life. I posted a bit about it earlier this week here.

Lisa is passionate about living a life of freedom in Christ. Too many women still hang on to the garbage in their lives. And so she has set aside 7 days for us women to encourage one another and pray for one another. She's been posting videos and frankly ...I'm excited about this.

I want you to know that during this week I continue to walk on my treadmill and drink lots of water.

But I'm also spending more time in prayer and opening up my heart to uncover the cover up. You know the way we try to look good on the outside but ...so much is going on inside.

• Past hurts
• Fear
• Betrayal
• People pleasing
• Procrastination
• Laziness
• Pride
• Selfishness
• Unforgiveness

I don't want to allow anything to keep me down and prevent me from living a life of freedom in Him.

Hebrews 12:1 says "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Today is Thankful Thursday and Iris of Grace Alone is hosting. Be sure to visit Iris and add your links to join in or to visit other participating blogs.

I'm so thankful for the blessing of friendship.

I can finally say that I REALLY do know Iris. And she is a great friend and fun and nice and ...easy to talk to. She lives in Arizona and so I know I'll be seeing her again and I love that.

OH and by the way, did you know that Iris has such a talent for photography? YES, she does.

And my second blessing was to actually meet Lori of Lori's Reflections. Lori was my very first blogging friend. I've already met her mom, sister and niece several months ago but this was our first face to face meeting.

And I have to say ...I wasn't disappointed at all. Lori is wonderful, fun, kind and I know we'll be friends forever. And she has such a geeky side to her. I know I can learn lots from her.

The three of us had such fun together on Monday. You'd never know it was our first face to face. We had so much to talk about.

Friendship is truly a gift from God. I'm so thankful for my friends. And even those who aren't at all into my "blogging thing". I still love you even if ...you don't leave comments. :(

So on this Thankful Thursday, I want to thank the Lord for my friends. And I can't wait to meet more bloggy friends in the future.

There's nothing like joining together with other women so we can pray and encourage one another.

Lisa Shaw is a sweet sister who shares from her heart and she's a mighty prayer warrior. And talk about an encourager ...I think that's her middle name.

If you wish to find out more about Ladies on a Mission, here are a few links to check out:

• Introduction
• Lay It All Down Guidelines
• A few participants (it's not too late to join in)

So, I hope that you will choose to join in with us for a 7 day adventure and lay it all down ...for good.

I was so excited! Lori was visiting family in the Phoenix area and so she arranged this meet up with Iris. It was the first time I met either one of them ...in person.

But let me tell you. I love these women. We've been following each other's blogs and so we already knew each other. But there's always a little bit of anxiety before meeting someone you know online. Some of you know what I'm talking about, don't you?

But check out these pictures we took:

And get this. Lori picked me up at my house and when I opened the door ...we were dressed alike!

Can you believe it? We started laughing because we both had black tops and white capris along with black flip flops. And no, it wasn't planned.

And then when we arrived at Sauce (the name of the restaurant), Iris was wearing white and black too. Only she had a white top and black slacks. Only bloggers, right?

Besides blogging we have a common love for our Lord and that makes all the difference. I'm so thankful for both Lori and Iris. And meeting them in person only caused me to love them more.

Have you had an opportunity to meet other bloggers yet?