We’re finding plenty to do!  Enjoy a few pictures from our trip so far…

Rest is not…

… going to a country that you’ve never been to before, particularly when that country’s first language is not your first or second language.

Rest is not…

… making your way to the taxi line with luggage in tow constantly reliving scenes from the movie “Taken”.

Rest is not…

… flying through the night, arriving at 9am local time and touring the city streets until 9pm.

But rest today was…

• finishing a good book on the plane
• my luggage arriving without a problem
• meandering walks through city streets
• stopping wherever we pleased because there was no agenda
• casual, easy conversation with my sister
• a helpful waitress who read and translated every word of the menu to us
• a quick conversation with my husband before drifting off for a very good night’s rest

I’ll have some pictures soon.  I’m just too tired to figure out how to download them from my camera.

Rest well today, friends!

Just a few days ago my husband and I celebrated our 12th Anniversary.  It seems crazy that 12 years have passed… in many ways it feels like just yesterday that I walked down that aisle and in other ways it feels like we’ve always been together.

12 years of marriage have brought their shares of highs and lows but I’m blessed with a great husband… more importantly a friend that I’m more grateful for today than the day I said “I do”.

I want everyone to feel the way I do.  That’s why I’m excited about the new series that we’re starting at Cross Point:

5 Things That Will Destroy Your Marriage

The essential guide for anyone who is married.

A cheat sheet for anyone who isn’t.

I wish we had had a resource like this in the early days of our marriage.

Here’s a quick video from Pete sharing more about this series that begins this Sunday, March 6th.

5 Things from Pete Wilson from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

I LOVE to travel.

I HATE to travel.

Yes.  I really do… both.

My travel loves:

• Exploring new cities - I love going to places I’ve never been before.  I love finding my way around a new city and I especially love putting on my running shoes and exploring on foot.
• Hotel rooms all to myself – My introvert thrives in a quiet hotel room with just me, my computer, a journal and some good books.
• A break from the ordinary - I love that traveling breaks up the monotony of the usual routine.  I’m a creature of habit who ordinarily loves my routine, but even my predictable self likes the change of pace that comes with travel.

My travel hates:

• Packing – You would think I would have this figured out by now.  I’ve been packing a suitcase since I was five years old and shuffling between divorced parents on the weekends.  I always over-pack and yet somehow still manage to forget the one item that I really need.
• Airport smells – Have you ever noticed that the airport has a very distinct smell?  It gives me a headache and makes me tired.
• Things that are out of my control - there is so much that can’t be controlled… long lines at the airport, traffic delays if you’re driving, the screaming child in the seat in front of me on a 4-hour flight, etc.  Sometimes you just can’t control it all.

So tell me…

Travel – do you love it or hate it?

What do you love?

What do you hate?

Today’s Fabulous Friday is all about “focus”.  I’ve got a string of travel coming up with several conference stops over the next couple of weeks, so I’m focused on praying and preparing.

I would welcome your prayers for wisdom in preparation, confidence in communicating and humility in sharing.

If you are going to be at any of this events, I would truly love to meet you in person!

Church Planters Velocity Conference – Feb 21&22 - I’ll be doing a breakout session about developing the women leaders in your church.  ** This is not for women only… I would love to see a mix of men and women. Btw, it’s not too late to register!

Radicalis – I’ll be at Saddleback cheering on Pete Wilson as he speaks and Brandi Wilson as she participates in a Pastor’s Wives Roundtable discussion.

Catalyst West – I’m so excited to be participating in the labs day at CatWest.  I’ll be joining Bianca Juarez and Lori Wilhite Wednesday for a lab entitled “Leading Confidently”.   I promise, this one’s gonna be fun .

Also at Catalyst West, I’m helping to host a FREE lunch on Thursday sponsored by Mercy Ministries.  We’ll be talking about the issue of sex trafficking and how we can help put an end to this crisis.  I would love for you to be our guest!  You can register HERE!

Synergy Conference – I’ll round out this little tour at a women’s conference in Orlando.  Can’t wait to meet this group of ladies.  Nicole Unice and I will be leading a workshop on Media & Ministry.

Have a great weekend everyone!

And don’t forget to let me know if you’re going be at one of these conferences… seriously!

It’s been a great week.  Lots of things swirling in my head today…

• Continuing to pray for our India team.  Excited to see how God uses them!
• Loved seeing some of my re:create11 friends.  Wish I could have crashed a few events… I’ve heard so many great things!
• Fellowship Technologies announced that they are joining Active Network.  I’m anxious to learn more about this partnership.
• If you are heading to Catalyst West, you should join us for lunch on Thursday.  My friends at Mercy Ministries are hosting a lunch and it’s FREE!  Register HERE.
• Today I’m working on my breakout session for Velocity.  Are you gonna be there?
• The great Kyle Reed and I are working on some more changes to the blog.  What would you like to see?
• I continue to be challenged by my OneWord choice – humility.  I read this verse just the other day:

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2

And I’ll leave you with this…

Many of you joined my Gifts of Water team at Christmas.  Our goal was to provide clean water to a village in need.  I’m excited to share this video showcasing what we accomplished in Jaffna College, Sri Lanka.  Thank you for making a difference!

Gifts of Water – Jaffna College Safe Water Celebration from Water Missions on Vimeo.

Have a Fabulous Friday!

This past weekend I got to spend a few hours with one of my best friends.

She’s 7.  Bright.  Cheerful.  Sweet. And so much fun!

We spent the day together because I missed her birthday party a few weeks ago.  It killed me to miss.  I was one of only two adults invited who weren’t accompanying another child, so the invite was a high honor.

I’ve known this sweet friend since she was just a little bump in her momma’s belly.  Her mom and I go back many years, many small groups, many jobs and many memories.

My husband and I have chosen to not have children and so sneaking some time to spoil my friends’ children is one of my favorite things to do.

I don’t get to do it often enough, but when I do I always learn something from my younger friends.  Here is what I was reminded of this time:

The simple things make others feel loved and valued. When I arrived at the restaurant to join my friend and her mom for lunch,  my sweet little friend had saved a place for me next to her.  She wanted me to sit beside her and she wasn’t shy about letting me know it mattered to her.  That simple act of inclusion made me feel so loved and wanted.

Slow down. As the two of us wandered through the mall window shopping, I had to deliberately slow my pace because her little 7 year old legs couldn’t keep up with my normal stride.  I discovered that when I physically slowed down, I observed so much more.

Explore new things. She introduced me to Claire’s and Gap Kids.  I introduced her to Sephora and Coach.

Reach out. At one point during our day, this little hand reached over and grabbed my hand.  Just a little gesture to say, we’re friends.  We belong together.  Sometimes I don’t let others know this enough.

It’s okay to indulge sometimes. Our grand finale of the day was to get a special treat – the treat of her choice since we were belatedly celebrating her birthday.  She chose the cookie place.  As we perused the display case she quickly made up her mind – the big chocolate cookie sandwich with creme filling bulging out the sides.  Heavenly! And while she chose the largest cookie in the case, I with great self-control chose the smallest cookie.  As I watched this 40 lb petite little peanut devour her mammoth cookie, I envied her enjoyment and abandon.

I’m always amazed at the ways that God will speak to me.  This time through my sweet little 7 year old friend.

What are some of the unusual ways God has spoken to you?

Ok so we’re a month into the New Year and I’m curious…

How many of you are still being faithful to your New Year Diet?

I read some statistics that were interesting…

• 1 in 4 people are on a diet at any given time
• 98% of diets fail

Those aren’t very promising statistics.

I’ll be honest.  I don’t diet.  Not because I don’t need to but because I know I won’t sustain it and I end up feeling depressed and frustrated.  I’m a moderation girl.  I don’t do extremes well and so there has never been anything very appealing to me about trying to radically control my intake.

In lieu of dieting, I try to operate from these core beliefs:

• Regular exercise.  I’m obsessive about this.  Remember, “I run for treats” .
• Balance and moderation.  I give myself daily goals for vegetable intake, limited carbs and sweets.

So I’m curious…

Do you diet regularly and what makes it successful for you?

If you don’t diet, what do you do to stay fit and healthy?

I H A T E folding laundry.

The monotony of folding shirt after shirt… matching sock after sock annoys me.  How do socks just disappear by the way?

I dread it.  I avoid it.  I wish it away.

But inevitably I find myself with a pile of laundry that I have to face.

And once I begin, I start to get lost in the busywork.  My mind wonders.  I dream of things I want to do.  I think through ideas that I need to develop.

The monotony of the simple task allows my mind room to breathe.

Sometimes I think I over-stuff my life with tasks and projects that constantly challenge and stimulate rather than allow me time to think.

Do you ever feel that way?

I’m beginning to think that the ordinary tasks of life exist to create a more balanced rhythm in our lives.  Rather than see them as annoyances, I’d like to engage them as a natural breather in my otherwise chaotic world.

What ordinary activities do you dread?

Confession: sometimes many times I eat chocolate for breakfast.

And if my love of chocolate wasn’t enough I found this place that makes chocolate shoes!  Are you kidding me??  My two great loves in one!

It’s all random today so hang on for the whiplash…

• I booked my flights this week for Catalyst West.  Are you joining us??
• Prepping for tonight’s Volunteer Appreciation Bash.  I might have had to do a little video bit yesterday for the opening video.  I might have… you’ll just have to join us to see.
• Here’s a great article from Ben Stroup “Five Reasons Why Churches Limit the Length of Capital Campaigns”
• If you followed my iPad vs. Kindle conundrum at Christmas time.  I ended up getting the iPad from my fabulous husband and I love it!  I’ve already read several books this year… keeping me right on track with my read a book per week goal.
• Cultivate Her re-launched Monday night with over 110 women!  We had an amazing night and I’m looking forward to our semester.  I’m building a curriculum called “Uniquely You” from Galatians 6:4-5 and these ladies are willing to beta test it with me.  Can’t wait to see what happens as we continue to discover/uncover all that God has made us to be!
• The laundry pile is very large today.  Not sure if I’m gonna win that battle this weekend.
• I’m reading Wayne Elsey’s new book “Almost Isn’t Good Enough”.  Will blog this one soon!

What’s on your mind and heart this weekend?