About Me

Hi, I'm Mary. I blog from our home in Virginia, where I live with my hubby, two teens, and one Golden Retriever.

About me: In my 20s I was a career woman. At age 28, a friend loaned me a book by Marion Bond West (Learning to Lean). Through reading about her personal experiences in prayer, I surrendered my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything about me changed - my desires, my interests, my career goals.

So in my 30s I prayed for a husband and children. Mr. Redo arrived when I was 38 (note: 8 years of prayer).

In my 40s I endured infertility, miscarriage, and the adoption of our two children from Romania (note: 13 years of prayer). At the same time we cared for my aging parents in our home.

In my 40s and 50s, I struggled with and prayed about my clinical depression and the painful effects my children had from beginning their lives in a Romanian orphanage.  

Broken and exhausted, seeing no answer in sight, I virtually gave up. I had worked so hard caring for my parents and our emotionally scarred children. I had prayed so hard for marriage, for children, and for help. My parents were gone, and a huge part of my heart went with them. I was worn out from it all.

 (with Mr. Redo and our son, Matthew)

I still went to church. Occasionally cried out to God. Sometimes read the Word. But on many days, I was too spent to even do these things. Completely broken.

 (with Elizabeth, 17)

Finally, after (note) 12 years of prayer, the answers started flooding in. Correct medication. The help my children needed. Their growing independence and maturity. Returning to our home church (after attending a smaller one for years on behalf of our children) and finding new and old friends but most of all: worship!

As I began to worship, my broken heart started to heal. The pieces came together as I saw God's "big picture" - I am not the same person I was before I suffered. Gone was the "I can do it," gone was the "I must strive to be as good as ...," gone was the longing for more and more things to fill the void. 

This past year I started a prayer journal. As I wrote daily in each section -

Blessing God
Forgiveness
Thanksgiving
My husband
Our children
Our church staff
Our government members
Others' Needs

- the Lord began to reveal the sin in my heart. Lack of faith. Lack of gratitude. Lack of love. Impatience.

I am, above all, a sinner, saved by grace, drawn to the love of the Savior, Jesus my Lord. 

(my beloved husband!)

This blog started as Ms. Redo when I documented my decor, thrifty finds (and more and more thrifty finds) ... but has now changed to

Redo 101, because I am a work in progress, being constantly changed into His likeness.  I am unable to change myself, but He is able to change me as I open my heart to Him.

(our 11-year-old Golden/Lab, Casper)

I hope you enjoy my blog posts.I hope you find my desperate need for a Savior, I hope you find me following Him in obedience, and I hope most especially you find me praising Him.

The Lord is good, His love endures forever. Even in the darkness, even in despair ... He is working, working all things for His purpose.

You may contact me via email at: mclark333(at)verizon(dot)com