Whole New Facebook Feed

Part of being on the launch team for Jen's upcoming book is being a part of a private Facebook Group.  The group is only for other women (and a few men- looks like there are 3) that are members of the For The Love launch team.   The Facebook page is a way for Jen as well as the publisher to communicate to the group.  Yep Jen actually "talks" to us.  It is also a way for the group to communicate with each other.

One neat thing about the group is that people are making connections (I found a women that worked at Camp Oak Hill in the early 90's).  People are sharing prayer requests.  Sharing their blogs.  Sharing their stories.   Sharing Life.  Being Honest.  Yes we are talking about our favorite quotes or lessons learned --- but most importantly, the Gospel is coming to life  -- right there on Facebook.

The look and feel of my Facebook news feed is totally different now.  Now, don't get me wrong, I have no problem with my Facebook peeps.  I love each one of you dearly and I love seeing your posts.  But now my feed is full of so much more.

Now granted, it can be a little over whelming and I can't keep up with all of the posts.   It is crazy.  I don't know how some of these women are doing it.  Reading, taking care of multiple kids, running a house, being wives, posting on Facebook.   I have had a hard enough time just starting the book and I don't have all of those other things.

Well, I did have a test to study for and there was this thing called the ACC Tournament.  My Tarheels are important to me, especially during this time of the year.  There is no doubt about that.   But still.   How do the others find the time?

But there are moments when I want to check my "new" Facebook feed.  I want to see what others think about certain chapters.  I want to laugh with them.  I want to cry with them.  I want to pray for them.  I want advice. I want to support.   I want to love.  I want to share God's Grace.

I am really thankful to be a part of this group and a new and different Facebook feed.  If only Facebook knew what was really happening.  For The Love.

Exciting Week

So this has been exciting week.

Not only do I get to be a part of book launch... first time ever being a part of something so cool.

This was delivered on Wednesday.   First delivery from the Produce Box.  If you have never looked into it, you totally should.  Local Produce delivered right to your door. Talk about farm to fork.  Gonna happen here now.

Yes I am excited about eating veggies

And this happened:

Five down, one more class to go. 

And to top it all off.  THE TARHEELS ARE PLAYING FOR THE ACC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP.   B got to see a whole different side of me last night.  He has watched games with me before, but last night it got REAL.  For REAL.

Yep.  Kind of a cool week.  But another exciting part of this week is that I have resurrected the blog.  I got out of the habit of writing and I am not sure why.  Maybe it was all of the other distractions.  Maybe it was my busyness. Maybe it was writers block.  I just don't know.  Looking back on my post list, I started several posts in 2014, but never finished them or posted them.   I may go back and finish a couple of them and post them, but right now, I will leave them as drafts.

I always enjoy curling up with the laptop, and at least one of the cats.   Plus I normally have some sort of beverage, whether it is coffee (no coffee during Lent though- gave it up), tea (yep, I have been getting addicted to hot teas), wine or beer.  So on this cold and raining Saturday, I will get the blog back on track.  No beverage this morning--- no coffee and I am not in the mood for tea.

Whatever the reason, I am glad to be back to writing.  It really is something that I enjoy doing.  Plus this will be the place where I talk all things FOR THE LOVE.

So for all of those Jen Hatmaker fans out there.  Stay tuned.  Digital copy of book has been downloaded and paper version is on its way.

#forthelove @jenhatmaker #teamFTL OMG

So earlier this week, I was the recipient of a very awesome email:

Knock, knock. Who's there? YOU, because YOU are on my Launch Team for 'For the Love'!! Yeah baby!! We only had room for 10% of all applicants (what the??), and we think you got the stuff. THANK YOU for your amazing enthusiasm; I couldn't possibly love you more if I tried with all my might. You are leading well and using your influence like a boss. We all think you are amazing. We are going to get this thing off the ground together! Let me tell you, launching a book is really fun. And some of you are going to end up on the inside cover, so THAT. I said on January 1st this year that one goal was to spend less time pleasing "Not My People" ... well let's be clear: YOU ARE MY PEOPLE. I love you so. I really do. I am loyally yours forever. Let's do this thing.
My marketing team will now tell you all the fun details.
- Jen

I immediately got very excited and turned around in the kitchen to tell Brandon. He tried to get excited for me (BLESS. HIS. HEART), but he had no idea why I was so excited.  But he did acknowledge that if I was excited that he would be happy for me.  

I am sure that some of you are saying the same thing.  What’s the big deal?  Who is Jen Hatmaker?  Does she make hats or something?.  But then I also know that there are a few of you that are excited for me and don’t lie, maybe a little jealous. 

For those of you who have never heard of Jen Hatmaker, I highly recommend that you check out her blog, follow her on Twitter or Facebook and/or grab one of her books that she has already published.   She is a Godly woman, full of grace and joy but most importantly... Complete Honesty.  No sugar coating things for her. 

I get to part of the inner circle of Jen Hatmaker’s peeps.  It’s okay, we have been told that it’s okay to brag about this fact.     It all started a few weeks ago when I read one of Jen’s (yep, we are on a first name basis now) blog posts inviting her people to be a part of the launch of her new book.  I thought that it would be neat to apply, so I did.  I never thought that I would get picked.   There are a few perks to this “job”.  I get an early copy of her new book entitled For The Love.  Get to be a part of a secret Facebook group.  And I get to write an endorsement for the book. The marketing team and Jen will pick the endorsements from the group and some of them will actually be published in the book.  No celebrity endorsements, just us peeps.  Jen’s peeps.   How cool would that be! 

The book officially releases on August 18, 2015 and you can pre-order it on Amazon.com and through Barnes and Noble. 

As I am allowed, I will share more information about the book and about being a part of the launch team.  Until then, please pray for the group of women (and a few men) that have been selected to be a part of this group.   I am already seeing some pretty amazing works of God's grace in just a few days.  

Throw Back Thursday - 4 Years Ago

So it was four years ago that I started this journey of learning how to live, love and laugh again.

It was four years ago that I took that leap of faith. It was four years ago, that I put all of my trust in God and came to the understanding that I was doing the right thing.

It was four years ago that I packed up the house, my bags, loaded up the car and headed north with two cats.  It was four years ago that I left the life that I had known for almost 8 years -well 12 if you count the prior years.  It was four years ago that I started a new job.  Well new old job.

It was four years ago that I had to find a new place to live.   A place that would be just mine.  My first place by myself.   It was four years ago when my mom talked me into looking at just one more place.

It was fours years ago that this tall and handsome guy first smiled at me before he showed me an apartment and then talked me into signing a lease.  So as you have all probably figured out by now, that it was four years ago that B came into my life. 

Little did we both know at that time that our paths would one day lead us to where we are now.

Yes, we dated for a while and then went in two different directions for a couple of years, but fate (well I think it is more then fate) has brought us back together.

And for that I am enterally grateful.

I knew four years ago that there was something different about B. There was just something about him and us that I don't think either one of us understood at that time.  But we both know now that it was love.   It took us longer then it should have for us to completely grasp what we both meant to each other.  But we get it now.

We know that we are meant to be together.  We know that we want to spend the rest of our lives together.  We know that we are great friends- best friends actually.  We know what we want.  We know that the journey has been rough and the journey of life will always have challenges.  But we know that with each other we can conquer anything.

I can't wait to see where the next 4 years take us.  Well make that 4 times 40 years.  Yep, we are going to live a long life together.

But until then, we are going to celebrate the love that we have and toast the future that we are going to have living, loving and laughing together.

Happy Birthday

Nope, it's not my birthday.  You guys know that.  My birthday is next month.  But yesterday was someone's else's birthday.  Yep, it was B's birthday.

This year he asked me to keep it low key so I tried my best.  I don't think I went over board.  I just decorated the house, bought him a couple of presents and took him out to eat.

Plus we spent the weekend in the mountains of NC --- enjoyed the lake and drank lots of good beer.

We ate shredded pork, brisket, mac and cheese, slaw, fried okra and hushpuppies for his birthday dinner.  

Afterwards we watched the Detroit Lions win on Monday Night football while enjoying cupcakes and beer.

I think he had a good day because I'm not sure what could top BBQ and two of your favorite sports team winning (the Tigers won too).

This is the beginning of his last year in his 30's.  I can't wait until next year.  I promise it won't be low key.   But until then, I am going to enjoy celebrating with my love. My Sweets.

Happy Birthday B.  I love you.