pursuing LOVE...and JOY...and WHOLEHEARTEDNESS!

September 20: #411: Singing patriotic songs at Rotary club #412: Enjoying a nice finish to a much more relaxed work week #413: Dinner with the Pearcy ladies and brainstorming future fun things that we can do to continue connecting with one another #414: Being able to use Google maps on my phone when I'm lost #415: Hanging out with Laura even though I was so tired that I almost fell asleep while talking September 21: #416: A nice continental breakfast #417: Attending a professional seminar #418: Learning helpful and practical tools #419: Realizing that the Holy Spirit really does lead me into effective counseling strategies #420: Driving into Chicago with tons of traffic and not feeling frustrated because I was in no hurry #421: Revisiting some Chicago favorites like Sweet Mandy B's, Julius Meinl and Mythos Restaurant #422: Dinner, deep conversation and lots of laughter with Miss Lilita September 22: #423: Running with Karyn and Lily #424: Laughing with Karyn as we struggl...

Dear Me at 16, First, take a deep breath and try to relax. You're not receiving this letter because you are bad or in trouble. To the contrary, I'm writing to you because I care about you and I know that it's hard for you to let others be caring toward you. You feel exposed and vulnerable, wondering if the person will stumble across all those imperfections that you work so hard to hide. You feel afraid of how they might judge you if they knew how needy, fragile and broken you actually are behind your put-together facade. I want to let you know that it's not your fault that you are this way. At least, it's not entirely your fault. Your desire to encourage and help other people is a wonderful, God-given part of your personality that influences you to put yourself in the position of helper. And this is an important part of how God has made you because it relates to the high calling that He has placed on your life to partner with Him in restoring people. Being t...

I'm struggling with the September joy dare because her gift topics are hard to find. Instead of feeling challenged to look even harder, I keep procrastinating writing out my gifts. I want to do the joy dare perfectly, but I can't. Instead of waiting for that magic moment when I will have a perfect answer for each 3 gifts each day, I have decided to just write out 3 gifts from each day and skip the categories. September 6: #351: Another crazy-busy day that I pray to make it through #352: My quiet, reflective celebration as I replay the events of the day on my ride home from work #353: Excited anticipation of a weekend away with mom, dad and extended family September 7: #354: Sharing ourselves through hours of conversation in the car #355: Gathering with extended family to celebrate a marriage #356: Excited hugs and smiles at our reunion #357: Getting inside right before the rain starts pouring down #358: Funny and engaging conversation about Meyers-Briggs and everyone's pers...

September 1: 3 gifts summer #309: Breakfast out in downtown Chicago with a dear friend #310: Encouraging people to pursue the dreams that God has given them #311: Humid weather curling my hair #312: Cold Dr. Pepper and hot pizza at the end of a move #313: A beautifully crafted desk that suddenly became mine when it didn't fit where it was supposed to go #314: Quiet reflection in the car #315: Falling into bed at the end of a long day September 2: 3 gifts cut #316: Fresh mown grass #317: Pineapple: yellow, fragrant sweetness and delicious #318: Homemade pizza with mozzarella, parmesean, tomato and basil #319: Organizing the store room with mom and Karyn #320: Helping my dad bottle beer #321: A night out with my parents #322: Learning what a blue moon actually is September 3: 3 gifts yellow #323: Crepes full of melted butter and sugar #324: Farm cucumbers #325: Cornbread muffins #326: Installing my new desk in my office #327: Feeling my smile stretch across ...