For Every Girl Around the World

The first thing I saw on Facebook this morning was an invitation to add this frame to my profile picture today for International Day of the Girl. You know, “to show [my] support for girls everywhere.” Oh the irony. It’s just days after tapes were released of Donald Trump, a presidential candidate, talking about women in the most foul ways possible, and now we’re being encouraged to show our support for girls having their “basic needs” met (like not being sexually assaulted?).

So rather than simply adding a frame to my Facebook profile picture, I feel compelled to share my thoughts on an issue that plagues women around the world but is often dismissed as women being hysterical or overly sensitive, or swept under the rug so that a president can stay in office, or compared to the equally-disgusting behavior of others in an effort to get your candidate elected.

I’m pouring my heart and soul out here, so I encourage you to read the entire (long) post before commenting.

. . .

I have been sexually assaulted.

And it’s happened more times than I can count or even remember.

In elementary school, boys pulled my hair and pushed me on the playground. Teachers said that meant they “liked me,” that they were “flirting.” No, ma’am. These little boys were learning that it’s acceptable to assault little girls.

In middle school, boys popped my bra in PE. I remember clearly the sting of embarrassment. But “boys will be boys.” No, coach. These teenage boys sexually assaulted me.

In 9th grade, a guy I had a crush on told the entire varsity basketball team that we slept together, that he took my virginity, that he “nailed me.” Rumors spread. My dad stepped in. I was embarrassed. The coach stepped in. I was even more embarrassed. The guy was reprimanded for “spreading rumors.” Nope. My crush sexually assaulted me.

In college, I asked a guy to go to a sorority party with me. A bunch of people went back to his apartment to watch a movie after the party was over. We kissed. He groped me. I pushed his hands away. He asked if I wanted to go back to his room. I asked a friend to take me home instead. He called the next day and said, “We can take things slow.” I said, “I don’t think so.” I didn’t want to go slow. I didn’t want to have sex with him at all. My date sexually assaulted me.

When I was 21, I was in a subway car in New York City with 20+ other people. A guy pinned me to my seat, touched himself, and graphically told me all the things he wanted to do to me. I made eye contact with the mother sitting across from me. She did nothing. I screamed for help. Everyone looked away. When we came to the next stop, I kneed the guy in the crotch and ran for the door. This stranger sexually assaulted me.

Guys have slapped my butt, popped the front of my jeans, stared at my breasts, spoken suggestively to me. It’s happened more times than I can count. It’s happened in school hallways, on college campuses, at stadiums filled with people, in shopping malls, on busy city sidewalks, in elevators, at amusement parks. Every one of those guys sexually assaulted me.

And for the most part, I’ve remained silent. I haven’t told anyone.

Perhaps it’s because when I was young, these behaviors were excused by people I trusted. “That’s how boys flirt.” No. Hitting and pushing and pulling hair is not flirting. “Boys will be boys.” If you mean, “boys will be boys” so we have to put up with their wrestling, rough housing, burping, farting, poor table manners, general smelliness, dirty fingernails, forgetting your birthday, and lack of fashion sense, okay. If you mean “boys will be boys” so we have to put up with rude jokes, sexual remarks, grabbing, groping, unwanted touches and sexual advances, absolutely not.

Perhaps it’s because when people I trusted did get involved (my dad is my hero, by the way), the boy involved got a slap on the wrist.

I have amazing parents. They love me, and I have always known that. But somewhere along the way, I believed the lie that what happened to me wasn’t that bad. And that there wasn’t anything anyone could do about it anyway.

So I stopped speaking out. I remained silent. I didn’t tell anyone. And, as a result, I contributed to the notion that “rape culture” is acceptable, that “boys will be boys,” that good girls stay silent, look the other way, and don’t make a fuss.

Not today. Not ever again.

Perhaps you think the things that happened to me aren’t “that big a deal.” Ask your sisters, your daughters, your mothers, your friends. Ask them if this kind of stuff—or worse—has happened to them. Ask them how it made them feel. And then listen.

Do you hear the tremor in their voice? Hear the anger in their words? See the tears in their eyes? See a blush of embarrassment creep up their face? Perhaps they shrug casually as if to say it doesn’t happen *that* often. Or it doesn’t make them feel *too* embarrassed. But dig deeper. Lean in closer. And listen to how sexual assault affects them.

“No means no” isn’t enough. Because that implies that at some point I said “yes.” When do you think that was? At what point when I was getting ready this morning do you think I said, “Yes, men I’m going to encounter today, it’s okay for you to sexually assault me?” Was it when I put on my bra? Was it when I picked out my clothes for the day? Was it when I fixed my hair and applied my makeup? Was it when I sprayed perfume on my wrists so I would smell nice? Which of these things makes it okay for you to assault me? To slap my butt, to stare at my breasts, to ogle me, to make sexual comments to me?

This is not about Donald Trump. Or Bill Clinton. Or any president or candidate past, present, or future. I’m just tired of hearing people—Christian people—say that sexual assault doesn’t matter. I’m tired of listening to people justify behavior and rationalize someone’s actions “in the past.” I’m tired of perpetrators—criminals!!!—excusing their behavior as “locker room talk.”

NO!

Sexual assault is not okay.

Sexual assault is never okay.

It doesn’t matter who you are. It’s not okay for you to assault a woman in the backseat of your car, in a hotel room you’ve rented for just this purpose, in the bed you share every night, under the bleachers of the high school stadium, or in the Oval Office.

It doesn’t matter who you are. It’s not okay for you to assault a woman if you’re a little boy in kindergarten testing the boundaries of a first crush or a grown man on a date with a beautiful woman. It’s not okay to assault a woman if you’re a teenager, a dad, a pastor, a brother, a cousin, an uncle, an 80-year old man, a college student, a police office, an actor, a musician, a celebrity, an author, a journalist, a presidential candidate, or the President of the United States of America.

It doesn’t matter who you are. It’s not okay to assault a woman if you’re rich or famous or think you’re above the law. It’s not okay to assault a woman simply because you have a penis and she has a vagina, and as we all know by now, “boys will be boys” and girls will stay silent.

Sexual assault is not okay.

Sexual assault is never okay.

Moms, Dads, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Cousins, Friends, Teachers, Pastors, All People Everywhere: WE MUST DO BETTER. We must teach our sons what it means to truly respect women—starting when they are young. We must teach our daughters what it looks like and feels like to truly be respected. We must teach them to stand up for themselves when they are assaulted and then take their embarrassed confessions seriously. We must teach our children to speak out and step in for others who are being assaulted and mistreated. And, most importantly, we must lead by example.

I’m fortunate enough to have amazing men (and women, for that matter) in my life who lead by example, day in and day out. My husband, dad, mom, brother, grandparents, other relatives, bosses, co-workers, pastors, and friends from every stage of life ARE teaching their sons to respect women. They ARE teaching their daughters what being respected looks like. They ARE teaching them to stand up for themselves when they’re not being respected. They ARE teaching their children to speak out and step in for others. And, most importantly, they ARE leading by example.

But all little girls and grown women aren’t as fortunate as me. They don’t have good men in their lives to show them what respect looks like and to step in when they’re being mistreated. Many of them don’t even have other women in their lives who will support them and believe them and stand up for them.

Will YOU stand up for them? Will YOU join the men in my life and lead by example? Will YOU join me in speaking out for those who have no voice? Will YOU step in for those who are being mistreated? And will YOU start calling it what it is—sexual assault—instead of hiding behind politically correct phrases like “boys will be boys” and “locker room talk”?

Because sexual assault is not okay.

It never will be.

And I will not remain silent any longer.

When it's been nine months of silence . . .

About nine months ago, I disappeared from this space I'd carved out for myself on the world wide web. I didn't plan it or even notice right away. And then when I did, I found that I just had nothing that I wanted to say.

I stopped reading. I started binge watching Criminal Minds on Netflix. My personal life felt very off limits.

So what was left? Not a lot that I wanted to share.

For the first time since 2005, I didn't have a blog where I was sharing all my thoughts with my friends and anyone else who stumbled upon them.

And it was glorious.

But now I feel like I want to share again. So here I am. Thanks for sticking around.

And if you're an author or a publicist and I totally dropped the ball on reading your book or writing and posting a review that I owe you, I apologize. I certainly didn't intend to let anyone down, but this break has been incredibly healthy and helpful for me.

I'm working on another post to share a little more about the past nine months. Stay tuned!

Let's Talk About How It Takes A Village

I'm sure you've heard it before. Perhaps you've said it yourself.

It takes a village.

Typically people are talking about raising children when they say this. But isn't it true that most things in life "take a village"?

I'm just coming out of an incredibly busy season at work. Our annual conference event was a couple of weeks ago. The weeks prior are typically  . . . well . . . crazy. There's just no other way to put it. I end up working early, working late, not sleeping well, dreaming crazy dreams, grabbing a few minutes to see Hubs whenever I can—even if it's just 30 minutes for dinner at Chick-Fil-A. No matter how much try to plan ahead and anticipate what those weeks will bring, there are always random things that crop up. It just can't be helped. It's life!

Then there's the fact that Hubs is also in an incredibly busy season at work (and has been since the fall!), a couple of intense family situations, some major challenges surrounding said big work event, and there are some pretty significant changes coming for me at my work. What is normally a "busy" time has been a bit overwhelming.

I wrote in an email last week: "At times over the past several weeks, it's felt a bit like we were barely hanging on with some big things popping up in the middle of the general busyness of work. We are SO thankful for family and good friends who encourage us and help us out when we need it."

And it hit me as I typed that . . . and over and over again in the days since . . . that it really does take a village—and much grace from the Lord—to help us through difficult times.

It takes . . .

A small group who prays for you and texts you to let you know. A mom who sends encouraging emails. A husband who helps you clean the house at midnight because it's driving you crazy. An aunt, in from out-of-town, who understands that you only have a few hours to hang out. A cousin who texts you to ask how things are going. A best friend with a new baby who grants understanding and forgiveness for not coming by to meet the new baby yet. A friend who brings your favorite drink by when you're not going to leave work for 15 more hours. Another friend who bakes cupcakes for your whole office as a celebratory treat. A mom who drops a week's worth of lunches by the office and dinner (with vegetables) so you don't have to think about it. A husband who doesn't mind eating out one more time because you didn't make it home in time to get dinner on at a decent time. Family members who volunteer to help with a work project on a Friday night. Friends and family who respond "praying" to an "urgent, please pray" text message.

And all of this in just the last two weeks.

We are not a people meant for a solitary journey. We were made for community. And thankfully, the Lord has blessed us abundantly with a community of people who surround us all the time . . . even those times when it takes a village.

So . . . who's in your village? 

And more importantly, whose village are you in?

Let's Talk About . . . Lent

My mind is absolutely blown that February is halfway gone! I can't seem to wrap my brain around the fact that we are firmly six weeks into the new year. I suppose that means I can stop calling it "the new year" now, huh?

Anyway.

Mid-February doesn't only mean Valentine's Day and President's Day. It also means we are coming up on the beginning of Lent. The churches I grew up in didn't really do much in the way of highlighting or celebrating Lent, so it was probably around college that I really began to understand that this sacred season could have meaning, value, and implications for this Southern-Baptist girl.

Perhaps you're like me and never really thought of Lent as something more than ash crosses on foreheads, choosing the least important to you thing to "give up" (but not really because you didn't really like it anyway) for a period of time. However, the older I've gotten, I've come to realize that there really is something special about setting aside extra time to consider the sacrifice made, the suffering endured, the salvation offered for us. Somehow all of this reflection makes Easter that much more meaningful for me.

If you're looking for a resource to help you as you reflect over these 40 days, I have three that I'd like to suggest. You've still got a few days to grab these before Lent officially starts on Wednesday, but even if you can't get it together by Wednesday, start whenever you can!

Follow: Watching, Waiting, Wonder from Naptime Diaries. This devotional includes six devotions (one per week), along with a daily Scripture and journal space to write out thoughts and prayers for each day of Lent. This is a perfect option for those who like a something a little less structured and more free-flowing writing and journaling. The printed version is sold out, but they've made a printable PDF version available for purchase.

Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross from She Reads Truth. You can register online to receive daily email devotions completely free. They've also put together a nice study pack for purchase, which includes a daily devotional journal, Scripture prints, and Scripture memory cards. I've been hearing about this ministry for a while now and have several friends who follow along with the various studies they offer throughout the year.

Mission Accomplished: A Two-Week Family Easter Devotional by Scott James. Scott James published a family Advent devotional two years ago and it is simply amazing. I was so excited to hear that he has published a similar Easter devotional. I have not personally read this yet but wholeheartedly recommend it based on his other book. This would be a perfect resource for families with children of all ages.

How will you observe Lent this year? 

Do you have any other resources to recommend?

Photo Credit

Let's Talk About . . . 50 Shades of Grey

Ladies (and guys to, for that matter!), we need to talk about 50 Shades of Grey.

It seems like my social media feeds have blown up with comments and articles and other blog posts about what we should think or feel or do about the movie that releases this weekend. I hesitated to say anything because I don't feel that I have anything new or particularly profound to add to the discussion. However, in the event that YOUR social media feeds haven't blown up in the same way that mine have, I felt like I should say something.

Friends, I am begging you, pleading with you . . . PLEASE DO NOT GO SEE THIS MOVIE. I'm not out to wreck your weekend or judge you or make you feel guilty about your curiosities of such a talked-about movie. No. I say this only because I care about you.

If you don't know anything about the books or the movie, great. You can skip this post. But if you do and you're curious or you're thinking about going to see the movie this weekend or wondering if there's really so much wrong with it because it's just for entertainment after all, can I just remind you of a few things?

Love does NOT involve stalking a woman. Love is NOT manipulation. Love is NOT exerting authority and influence to get your own way. Love does NOT pervert God's good gift of sex and twisting it to suit only one person. Love is NOT about domination. Love is NOT even only about sex. Love is NOT violent—ever . . . even if there is a "contract" in place. (And just for the record, women and children sold into the sex trade often have contracts of some sort as well.)

The Bible says this about love:

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

Does that sound like whatever you've read or heard about Christian Grey? No? I didn't think so.

There is nothing good about this movie, and nothing good can or will come from you watching it. Again, I am begging you: PLEASE DO NOT GO SEE THIS MOVIE.

Lest you think I'm just trying to ruin your plans for a romantic night with your guy or a fun weekend with the girls, may I offer a few alternatives?

• Looking for a romantic movie without all the garbage? What about Old Fashioned? It releases this weekend, and looks absolutely adorable! (I love this trailer!)
• Or perhaps you could show your honey how much you love him and offer to go see a movie that HE wants to see! Perhaps American Sniper or Unbroken would appeal.
• Maybe you choose to set the scene for a romantic date night or a fun girls night by staying home and having a movie marathon of some favorites. Order pizza, pop popcorn, and watch one movie right after the other. Or you can catch up on one of your favorite shows . . . Downton Abbey anyone?!
• What if you just turned the TV off altogether? Go grab a hot chocolate and take a drive. Or snuggle on the couch and just catch up on life. I found this list of 20 questions to help you reflect on your year. It's just February, so it's not too late to do a little reflection as a couple or a family.
• Tired of sitting around after a long week at work? Take a hike. Play on a playground. Go roller skating or bowling. Mini golf anyone?

Who says you have to be super romantic on Valentine's Day?! Not me! Isn't the point just to enjoy time together? So grab your valentine and savor the day . . .  and celebrate your love for one another.

---

A lot of people who are way smarter than me have had a lot to say about this movie over the past few weeks. Here are a few of the articles and posts that have been extremely helpful in discerning how to biblically think and express my thoughts on this movie.

"Sin that looks and feels like pleasure is only a poor shadow of something much more intense and satisfying." -- Marshall Segal, Desiring God, "Fifty Shades of Nay: Sin Is a Needle, Not a Toy"

"It is a complete lie that going to see the movie will help your marriage. And an even bigger lie is that it won’t affect you it all. Because it will. The things that you see cannot be unseen. The feelings that you experience from being entertained by those scenes cannot be unfelt. And if marriages aren’t under enough pressure already, going to watch pornography is only throwing gasoline on relationships experiencing fire from all directions." -- Becky Thompson, Scissortail Silk, "Christian Women and Christian Grey"

Christians shouldn’t try to “redeem” 50 Shades of Grey. We should not get cutesy and advertize a new sermon series on “50 Shades of Grace.” We should not give both art and holiness a bad name by thinking that somehow something as dark as 50 Shades is worth viewing or worth reviewing. -- Kevin DeYoung, The Gospel Coalition, "No Grey Area"

" 'Pornography is anything we use for sexual titillation, gratification or escape – whether it was intended for that purpose or not.' . . . Have you considered the fact that when you view pornography you are complicit in sexual trafficking? Yes, whether the individuals depicted are actors or real people, or if they are appearing willingly or by coercion, your presence, attention, and payment all combine to make you a willing consumer and market expander of the ever-growing and always exploitative pornography industry." -- Walt Mueller, Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, "Fifty Shades Today . . . A Plea to Christian Parents and Youth Workers"

"The bottom line: the ideas of Fifty Shades of Grey are dangerous, and can lead to confusion and poor decisions about love. There are vast differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships, but the movie blurs those differences, so you begin to wonder: what’s healthy in a relationship? What’s sick? There are so many shades of grey…I’m not sure. Listen, it’s your safety and future we’re talking about here. There’s no room for doubt: an intimate relationship that includes violence, consensual or not, is completely unacceptable." -- Miriam Grossman, MD, "A Psychiatrist's Letter to Young People about Fifty Shades of Grey"


* Photo Credit

Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is

The Countdown to Christmas Party is going strong, but I would be remiss if I didn't take time to share a little more about what the Lord is teaching me about giving right now, especially here at Christmas. I'd love to hear your thoughts, too!

There’s always a lot of talk about giving around Christmas. It makes sense. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the greatest gift in all of history. So giving is at the very heart of Christmas!

Sometimes, though, I’ve wondered if we wait all year long until it’s “time” to give.  As if because it’s Christmas, we’re suddenly supposed to open our wallets and start doing for others and giving more. But what if we didn’t wait until December 1 to start giving? What if we made it a lifestyle? So that every month, every week even, we gave to somebody, somewhere. Hubs and I have tried to make giving a priority throughout our marriage, but we’ve recently been challenged to dig a little deeper … give ‘til it hurts. I don’t know what that looks like or how that will play out, but it’s something we’re praying through right now.

Today it’s December 5, just weeks away from Christmas. Sometimes it feels like the needs are just … more … right here at Christmas. As I've thought about it, I think there are three "types" of giving ... especially at the holidays. 

• Giving financially to those in need ... directly to people we know or through trustworthy organizations. This can be straight up donations or there are lots of cool ways that you can give in honor of someone.
• Giving gifts that help others ... you know, gifts that people we love can use and enjoy but that help fund something bigger than simple capitalism.
• Giving by doing ... showing our love for others by helping, doing, giving our lives for the sake of others.

Let’s start now. Let’s do this. Let’s give ‘til it hurts. Feel the pinch. Feel the tug on your heartstrings. Feel your heart breaking a little more for those in need. Let the Spirit speak to you and tell you where to give, who to give to, and how much to give. And then obey.

Don’t know where to start? There are lots of ways to do this. Here are a few suggestions of ways to give financially to those in need …

Your Church: This seems so simple, but start here. Give faithfully to your local church. Is your church collecting a special offering this Christmas? Give to it. Is your small group buying gifts for a family in need? Participate!

Ministries or Organizations in Your Community: There are so many needs, and my guess is that your community has lots of organizations that are trying to meet as many of them as possible. Ask them what they need. Here are a few places to start: Department of Human Resources (or other organizations that care for foster children in your community), children’s homes, homeless shelters, hospitals, nursing homes/retirement centers. You get the idea. Love on somebody!

Compassion International: Surely you know by now how special Compassion International is to us. If you can swing it, sponsor a child. It’s $38 per month, and it is life-changing. Let me just tell you. If you already sponsor or can’t commit just yet, check out the Christmas Gift Catalog.

Hope International: Hope International serves people around through microfinance. Basically, individuals can request a loan, start a business, and provide for their families. And the best part is they work through the local church! I have seen them in action. They are the real deal. Check out their catalog for some really unique ways to help families around the world start businesses so their lives can be forever changed. (P.S. Someone in our family will be getting a GOAT for Christmas this year!)

Samaritan’s Purse: Samaritan's Purse provides spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. They are often one of the first organizations to assist in disasters worldwide and help meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. Check out their gift catalog for a huge variety of gifts … and quite a few for $15 or less if you’re on a tight budget.

Operation Christmas Child: Over the past 20 years, Operation Christmas Child has provided Christmas gifts to more than 103 million children around the world. This is a simple, tangible way to show the love of Christ. National Collection Week has passed, but you can now build a shoebox online!

International Mission Board: 100% of the International Mission Board’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goes to support international missionaries as they share the gospel overseas. Your gifts will help start churches and ensure that people hear the gospel … many for the first time.

Door of Hope: Door of Hope is an orphanage in Johannesburg, South Africa. They help rescue and care for abandoned, aborted, abused, and orphaned children in South Africa by providing a temporary home while seeking a forever family for each child. This ministry is so dear to me, as I volunteered here for several months after graduating from college. DOH meets a tremendous need in this community.

International Justice Mission: International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to ensure that public justice systems - police, courts and laws - effectively protect the poor. Be part of this important work through IJM’s Gifts of Freedom Holiday Gift Catalog.

Gospel for Asia: Gospel for Asia is committed to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with lost men, women, and children throughout South Asia. Check out their Christmas catalog to see how you can be part of training, equipping and sending out laborers to share the Good News. Your partnership will impact the spiritual and physical well-being of those in desperate need.

That’s a starting place at least! So let’s get to it!

Put your money where your heart is!

FALLing into Fall Tag

Bethany at Giveaways of Blessings is hosting a fun FALLing into Fall Party. As part of the party, she posted a cute Blog Tag asking questions about fall. If you want to link up or check out the giveaways that are part of this party, you can do that here.

What's your favorite season? (Don't be afraid to answer any season other than fall, if it's truly your favorite season!) Picking favorites is so hard for me! But I think it's spring. Summer is HOT. Winter can be a little drab sometimes. And the time changes during fall, making it get dark around 4:00pm, which I hate! But in spring, flowers start blooming, the grass turns green, it's starts getting warmer but not too hot, animals are out and about everywhere, and it's such a hopeful time.

What's your favorite part of autumn? The cooler weather! If you've ever experienced the humidity of summer in the South, you'll know why I appreciate autumn weather so much! (Although, it's still in the high 70s / low 80s here now. I'm starting to wonder whether or not cooler weather is coming this year!)

What's your favorite memory of autumns past? Well, I suppose this isn't really a memory (since I don't remember it), but my family tells a pretty cute story of a Halloween when I was 3 or 4. I dressed up as a scarecrow and Mom stuffed me with real pine straw … from the flower beds. It was pretty itchy, and I left a little trail of straw all over the neighborhood when we went Trick-or-Treating.

What are some of your favorite autumn foods? I'm a huge fan of cranberries and I love apples. All the treats with those two fruits are delicious! I'm also thinking roasting marshmallows and making S'mores is a lot of fun (and yummy!).

What are some of your favorite things to do in the autumn days? Tailgating and going to a college football game (or just watching college football on TV) rank pretty near the top of my list. Reading in the hammock on the back porch. Grilling out (or more accurately, eating whatever Hubs grills out). Drinking caramel apple cider. Going outside without sweating. (Can you tell I really don't like to be hot?)

What are your favorite autumn wardrobe additions? (Scarfs, gloves, socks, jackets, leggings, etc.) Boots!!! And scarves. And leggings (which are NOT pants!!!) are a great addition to any dress. And those awesome Tissue tees from Target that go under your short sleeve shirts, making them last a few more months while the seasons change.

Does your family have any autumn traditions? (Pumpkin patch picking, Thanksgiving, etc.) Our lack of tradition for Thanksgiving has turned out to be our tradition. Growing up, we had pretty precise plans for Christmas every year, but Thanksgiving was totally flexible. We've hosted Thanksgiving at our house, been to grandparents' on both sides, taken vacations to Disney World and New York City. For me, part of the fun is that it's always something different. Christmas shopping on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) is a pretty steady tradition wherever we are.

Oh. And Hubs and I have an annual tradition of buying a pumpkin, forgetting to carve it, and letting it rot on the porch. One of our grosser traditions. :)

Hot cocoa or apple cider? Do you like to add anything to it such as marshmallows or ice cream? Both! But not at the same time. I'm a pretty plain cocoa and cider drinker, but I may have try adding ice cream.

Pecan pie or pumpkin pie? Why? Don't hate me, but neither. I'm not a huge fan of pecans or pumpkin.

Which is your favorite month, September, October or November? Why? October. It always feels more relaxed to me than September (still busy getting back into the swing of things after summer) and Thanksgiving (crazy busy gearing up for Thanksgiving and Christmas). It's nice to have a "break" of sorts where we can really just enjoy life!

Compassion Month | A Message to My Childhood Self

Remember several weeks ago when I told you that September is Compassion Blog Month?! Well, I haven't forgotten and it's past time for me to share a few posts with you. :)

The first assignment is to write a blog post to your childhood self. What words of encouragement do you need to hear?

I was fortunate. I had great parents, grandparents, teachers, and other adults in my life. (And still do for that matter.) They were a huge encouragement to me and constantly spoke truth into my life.

After thinking about the assignment for the past two weeks, tons of things have crossed my mind. But after considering each of those things again, I think I've boiled it down to three things. It's not that I didn't hear these things as a kid. I did. But I wish I would have paid closer attention and believed my parents (and others) when they told me these things.

---

To my childhood self ...

1. Work hard, but don't try to be perfect. I know it's hard since you come by those perfectionist tendencies honestly. But believe me when I say that perfectionism is not going to do you any favors. All it's going to give you is a knot of tension in the pit of your stomach, lots of headaches, and feelings of insecurity.

Don't misunderstand me. It's important to work hard. Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." So work hard and do your best. Turning in a good effort on homework assignments and school projects, studying for tests, and obeying adults are a witness for Christ. Just don't try to be perfect. Only God is perfect! Plus, if you can figure out how to relax and deal with stress as a kid, life will be a lot more fun later. :)

2. Don't believe such mean things about yourself. I know what's running through your head. You've somehow convinced yourself that you're not pretty enough, that you're not smart enough, that you're not good enough, that you wish you were more like so-and-so, that you wish your hair was curly, that you wish you were more athletic, and on and on.

If I could just tell you one thing about this, I would say, "Don't believe the lies!" God has made you exactly as He wanted you to be! Thank Him for that! Satan wants to convince you that you are unworthy, not good enough, and less than. Do you want to know why? It's the best way he knows to get you to focus on yourself instead of on Jesus. So believe Psalm 139:13-14 and do what it says! Praise God for how He made you. "For you formed my inward parts;you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

Oh, and one day when you're about 12 or 13, your hair is going to start curling up like crazy and you're going to spend a lot of time over the next 18 years straightening it and working the frizz out. So enjoy the straight hair while you can!

3. Don't let fear hold you back. Risk it all. As a little kid, you were fearless. At some point, you started becoming "the cautious child." I can't tell you why or when it happened, but fight the fear. Of course, don't be foolish. Trust the adults in your life to give you wise counsel. Seek God's will when making decisions. But then don't be afraid to take risks.

When you can get over the fear that threatens to hold you back, you are going to do some really cool things! You're going to live in one of the largest cities in the world and spend time overseas. You're going to make friends and serve the Lord. You're going to say "yes" to dates, have lots of bizarre bad first date stories, and eventually find and marry the man of your dreams. You are going to go places and do things you thought you could only dream of. The Lord is going to give you strength for it all. 

So take risks. They might not all pan out, but it will be worth it! And if you need to repeat Joshua 1:9 over and over and over just to get you through, that's okay. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

---

So that's what I would tell my childhood self if I could. What would you tell your childhood self? What do you wish someone had told you? While it isn't possible to change things for 10-year-old you, it IS entirely possible to change things for another child.

Will you consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International and speaking truth into his or her life? Our goal this month is to find sponsors for 3,160 children. Will you join me in releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name?

A Giveaway to Celebrate LOVE!

{Pardon me for a moment while I hijack my blog.}

Today is Hubs' and my FOURTH wedding anniversary!!! 

{If you're married, this probably won't be a surprise to you.}
{If you're single, let me give you a heads up.}

This marriage thing is tough. We have had to work (HARD) at every single aspect of our relationship. Every. Single. One. Without a doubt, this is the hardest thing I have ever done. Ever. But it has been SO WORTH IT! 

There have been many days where it felt like we survived only by the grace and mercy of God. (And we probably did!) But I wouldn't trade those days for anything. Because those days have taught me so much about myself, about our relationship, and about my Savior.

I am confident that we love each other more today than we did four years ago.

Happy Anniversary! I love you!!!

---

And for you, lovely readers, I have a giveaway! To celebrate love and romance, I'm giving away two amazing love stories: A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund and A Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter. And two books means two winners! Enter using the Rafflecopter below.

* Giveaway ends on August 21 (EDT). US addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Celebrating 25 Years of Christy Miller

I can still remember my excitement when I opened a present from my grandparents one Christmas only to discover the Christy Miller BOXED SET! I believe I was in the 7th grade that year, and this was the one gift on my wish list that I wanted more than anything. The books had been featured in Brio magazine several months prior, and it sounded like something I would enjoy. I circled the set on the order form that month and gave it to my mom ... and did the same thing for the next several months until Christmas. (Very subtle, huh?)

I immediately set out to read the entire series. I remember reading them on the school bus to and from school, reading them in the gym before school each morning (I even lost the seventh book in the series in the bleachers in the gym ... I'm still a little devastated about that one.), and every night before bed. I loved them. (Y'all ... I was the biggest nerd bookworm!)

Christy was a girl I could relate to. She was a "good girl"—though not perfect—who was learning what it meant to follow Jesus. In many ways, our journeys through those angst-filled teenage years was similar. She wanted boys to like her, struggled in her friendships with girls, argued with her parents, picked on her brother. She had friends who got into some major trouble and worried about how to help them. She was tempted to sin and made bad choices. But overall, her love for the Lord and her desire to follow Jesus shone through the entire series. 

My friends and I passed the books back and forth (except for #7, which had to be borrowed from the library) and talked about Christy as though she was a close friend. We shared "God things" that were happening in our lives and all around us. In a lot of ways, sharing the books cemented our friendship, which could have easily gone by the wayside as we were scattered across four different middle schools. Even as we got older, made it through high school, and parted ways for college, Christy Miller would come up from time to time.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the first Christy Miller book being published! While it makes me feel a little old to realize how long ago middle school was (not quite 25 years ago!), I've been thinking back on some fond memories centered around these books. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Robin Jones Gunn for writing this series that meant so much to me and my friends during such a crazy time in life!!! While Christy was a fictitious character, this series assured us that other girls were going through the same things that we were going through and gave us hope that things would eventually turn around.

Robin is hosting a celebration giveaway on her website to celebrate this momentous occasion. Download an mp3 of the first book in the series. Plus, TEN $25 gift cards are up for grabs so be sure to check out the details here!

Have any of you read the Christy Miller series? Did you love them as much as I did? What do you remember most about Christy and/or the series?

Captivate Us

link to song

your face is beautiful

and your eyes are like the stars

your gentle hands have healing

there inside the scars

your loving arms they draw me near

and your smile it brings me peace

draw me closer oh my Lord

draw me closer Lord to thee

captivate us Lord Jesus

set our eyes on you

devastate us with your presence

falling down

rushing river draw us nearer

holy fountain consume us with you

captivate us Lord Jesus with you

your voice is powerful

and your words are radiant bright

in your breath and shadow

i will come close and abide

you whisper love and life divine

and your fellowship is free

draw me closer oh my Lord

draw me closer Lord to thee

captivate us Lord Jesus

set our eyes on you

devastate us with your presence

falling down

and rushing river, draw us nearer

holy fountain consume us with you

captivate us Lord Jesus with you

and let everything be lost in the shadows

of the light of your face

let every chain be broken from me

as i'm bound in your grace

for your yoke is easy

your burden is light

you're full of wisdom, power, and might

and every eye will see you

captivate us Lord Jesus

set our eyes on you

devastate us with your presence

falling down

and rushing river, draw us nearer

holy fountain consume us with you

captivate us Lord Jesus with you

Lyrics by Meghan Baird, Jonathan Baird, Stephen Altrogge
© 2011 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

Happy Mother's Day!

One of the funniest Mother's Day tributes I've seen!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Spring!

It seems that spring has finally (maybe hopefully is a more accurate word) sprung. Our weather over the past month has been all over the place. We've had lots of storms and rain (one of which knocked our fence down!), our grass turned green overnight, and our flowers are starting to pop out. To be honest, I'm never quite sure what I'm supposed to wear to work each day ... or if I can get away with sandals. Layers seem to be key right now. :) And my feet will just have to be cold until it warms up. Once I convert over to flip flops and sandals, there's no going back until about November. Ha!

Things have been a wee bit busy for the past few weeks—work, a little re-decorating around the house, spring cleaning, small group, more work, planning a mission trip for this summer, hanging out with family and friends, and even more work. But such is life! I'm not sure I'd really want it any other way, though ... and I don't see things changing any time soon.

I've been a little MIA on the blog off and on this year. Still trying to get into a rhythm for blogging and posting reviews and whatever else comes up. Maybe I should just embrace it and have a more "go with the flow" attitude ... a schedule doesn't seem like it's going to happen this year!

Anyway ... just wanted to say that I'm still here! Still reading tons, still planning to post reviews of lots more great books!

What have you been busy with so far this spring? Is it feeling like spring where you live ... or are you still stuck in winter?

Reflection & Goals for 2013

While this is typically the time of year we spend a lot of brain power reflecting on the past and setting goals for the future, I've actually been evaluating a few bloggy things since this fall when I joined the Fall Into Reading Challenge (which was a ton of fun, by the way!). The whole challenge was supposed to be laid-back and to encourage reading during the 13 weeks of Fall. Well, I of course blew that right out of the water by setting a goal to read 45 books (of the 60 on my list). Not very laid-back, huh?

The first problem was the sheer number of awesome books that were coming out during the fall. (I blame authors and the publishing industry entirely! Grin!) I committed to review FOURTEEN books that required posting reviews during the month of October. Yes, FOURTEEN! Ridiculous. I knew it when I was accepting books for review right and left, but I kept accepting more. The outcome was that I read a ton of great books during October but I didn't enjoy them as much as I could have. I really pushed myself to finish them because I had made commitments, but at times it felt more like reading for school. Yuck!

This led me to evaluate all aspects of my blog: goals, reviews, challenges, online community, etc. Some of it I'm really happy with, some of it not so much.

All of this is a really long (long!) way of saying that I'm making some changes around here and I'm starting by making a few blogging goals for 2013.

GOALS

Overall, the goal for this year is to have a ton of fun. Reading and blogging are hobbies for me. I absolutely love both and hope to continue for a long time. However, at times it has felt more like a job than a hobby. Since I don't make money from this blog, it can't feel like a job. :) I'm working hard to balance things (time management, the books I choose to read, etc.) so I can hopefully ensure that it's more on the fun side.

THE BLOG:

• Limit the number of date-specific reviewing commitments each month (i.e. blog tours).
• Post all reviews in a timely fashion. (This will be the real challenge for me! I've got a backlog!!!)
• Give myself some "time off" — vacation from blogging, if you will.
• Have fun with challenges ... and give myself total permission to fail. :)
• Ensure that reading and blogging does not take away time from my family, my job, my relationship with God, and other in real life commitments.
• Have fun. If it's not fun, stop doing it!

THE BOOKS:

• Read 100+ books
• Read 5 "classics"
• Read 25 books on my TBR list (as of 12/31/2012). This includes books from my physical bookshelves and ebooks on my Nook.
• Read 5 non-fiction books - completely! (I’m great at starting non-fiction books, not so great at finishing them most of the time.)
• Finish 5 series (either previously started or completely read during the year)
• Read 10 books that are outside of my reading comfort zone

What changes / goals / resolutions are you making this year? 

A Quick Hello

To all my bloggy friends out there, I'm still here! I told you I was taking it easy on the blog and I really have!

I just wanted to say a quick hello to everyone. Today has been completely heart-breaking, gut-wrenching. As we were running errands, taking care of all the Christmas things that we needed to do before starting family celebrations tomorrow (or later today!), we learned of the tragic shooting in Connecticut. I can't even begin to wrap my mind around how, why this sort of thing happens or how families—an entire community—will move forward, pushing through their grief, embracing a new normal.

It's been on my mind all day. I finally had to turn the TV off, stop watching the news, and put on something light-hearted. Part of me felt bad for saying anything, but I know myself and I needed a break from the non-stop coverage, conversation, FB newsfeed, Twitter updates, etc. So Hubs and I watched Fred Claus, laughed, while I wrapped gifts, decorated wrapping paper (yes, you read that correctly), and finished a photo book from our last vacation. It was good, a needed break. But now I'm supposed to be going to bed and my mind is drifting back to the families in Connecticut who are surely grieving tonight.

As I'm praying for everyone affected even now, I'm so grateful for a God who is not surprised by this tragedy. My small mind can't figure out the hows and whys, but my big God knows every detail. Thankful He is worthy of my trust in Him—especially when life is unfair.

Well, it's late and I'm up early to head off to the first of seven Christmas celebrations with various family. Tomorrow, we're celebrating with Hubs' parents. Looking forward to a good day with even better people. Thanks for letting me ramble tonight. I'll be back soon!

Merry Christmas!

I'm sure you're just as busy as I am but I wanted to take a minute to say Merry Christmas! We spent this weekend hanging out with friends, pulling the Christmas tree out of the attic (no ornaments yet!), moving furniture around, and doing a little more Christmas shopping. We are so close to being finished! I think we'll knock the rest of it out this week. Yay! I also spent a few hours doing a little crafty activity to help us create some new memories and traditions. I hope to post about that before Christmas but in all likelihood, it will be after. :)

My posting will probably be a little spotty this month. I'm giving myself "permission" to post less so that I can make time for more important things. Sorry, but that's just how it is!

Hope you all are having a wonderful beginning to your Christmas season!!! I'd love to hear from you if/when you have the time!

The Main Thing

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Or so the song says anyway.

It's not even December yet and I can already feel that pull toward becoming frustrated, overwhelmed, and uptight and away from the excitement, wonder, and meaning of the Christmas season.

I don't even mean for it to happen. But things have been busy—with a huge event at work, quick vacation tagged on at the end of a work trip, traveling for Thanksgiving, trying to get back in the swing of things, getting home at 10 every night this week. When I try to sit down and make plans for celebrating Christmas with all of our families (six Christmases total!), pick out a Christmas card, buy gifts, design a new wrapping paper scheme, locate recipes for favorite treats, etc. ... well ... it can quickly move from fun to exhausting.

Do you feel it too? Somebody please say you do!

While there are things that we obviously have to do in the next few weeks and there are tons of things that we want to do, I want—no, I need!— to make sure that I am intentionally making time each day to reflect, study, and remember the reason for this joyous season in the first place.

Christmas has nothing to do with shopping, cookies, spending lots of money, Santa, decorations, or Pinterest-inspired crafts and everything to do with the birth of a Savior, grace, salvation, redemption.

I found a few incredible (and free!) resources earlier this week to help our family spend time each day in December making the main thing the main thing. I pray these resources will help us to rest in the miraculous work of Christ instead of getting caught up in the frenzy.

How do you stay focused on Christ during the Christmas season?

---

The Expected One
The Church at Brook Hills
download here

“He’s coming!” This shout of anticipation is the heart of Advent, a time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. These weeks leading up to Christmas day are a special time of reflection on God’s gift to us: the child Jesus. Rejoicing in Jesus’ birth certainly brings glory to God, but sometimes during this season we can forget that God didn’t just send a child into the world; he sent a mighty Rescuer! During Advent, as we celebrate the first coming of The Expected One, let’s also look forward in hopeful anticipation of his second coming. Let’s keep in mind the whole picture of who Jesus is, worshiping him as the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to us.

This Guide is primarily designed for families, but we truly think that anyone wanting to meditate deeply on Christ will find it helpful. Each day has a passage accompanied by a brief explanation, as well as some “Review & Reflect” questions to help foster thought and conversation. However you use it, it is our prayer that this Advent season will be a time of rich, gospel-centered reflection for you and your family as you make much of Christ.

Good News of Great Joy
by John Piper
download here

Good News of Great Joy: Daily Readings for Advent is designed especially for Advent 2012. With readings beginning Sunday, December 2, and going through Christmas Day, this book of Advent devotionals aims to put Jesus at the center of your holiday season. These short meditations are excerpted from the ministry of John Piper and correspond to the daily readings in Desiring God's free devotional app called Solid Joys (available in the iTunes store).

A Jesus Advent Celebration: Jesse Tree Journey
by Ann Voskamp
download here

Each of the 27 days of the Jesse Tree Family Devotional journey includes: (There are 27 days of devotionals — so begin the last week of November — so that you finish up by December 25th!)

• The full Bible text of the day’s reading. Readings are selected to begin in Genesis and cover significant events throughout the Old Testament — each story pointing to the coming Messiah. It’s like an overview of the whole span of His Story — leading right up to the climax of the coming Christ!
• A devotional read-aloud for the whole family – engaging enough (we pray!) for young children and yet meaty enough for teens and adults. Each reflection endeavors to not only highlight an important scene from God’s epic in time, but to always unwrap more of Jesus, the gift hidden in every story.
• A short, simple action point for the day– “Unwrapping more of His love in the World” — a way to do something together as a family that not only invites the coming Kingdom of God and Jesus’ love into your home and community, but is an opportunity to apply and live out the day’s devotional. It’s like an Advent Calendar that gives back – becoming more like the gift Himself!
• A free full color ornament, illustrated by Nancy Rodden and used with permission, to hang on your own Jesse Tree. The very last pages of the book include all of the ornaments in over several pages so you can easily cut each ornament out and creatively mount to your own preferences.
• Black & white Coloring ornaments, if your children choose to color ornaments, while you read the devotional.

Spending Time in the Word

 A friend emailed a few weeks ago and shared that she was writing in hopes that one or some of the women she emailed could offer practical wisdom about spending time in the Word and having a "quiet time."

As much as I wanted to have a great nugget of wisdom or practical thoughts of how to have a quiet time, I really wasn't sure what to say. I know it's important to spend time in the Word. In fact, I want to. But so often, when my schedule starts to get crazy or my life gets a little more overwhelming, the things that are the most important tend to get pushed to the back burner so I can take care of the things that are the most urgent. But, really, what's more urgent than my need for my Savior? That day in particular, I was struggling too and didn't really know what advice to offer.

Thankfully, many of the other women in the email list had some wonderful suggestions. And as the emails flew back and forth, I was thankful for community. And grateful to barge in on my friend's community because they encouraged me too! [Grin!]

As I read the responses, I felt the Lord's nudging to share my struggle with several in my own circle, which has been encouraging in and of itself, and to share with others what I'm doing now. Hopefully, this can be an encouragement to you.

Start with the Bible. 
Seems simple, right? It was a great reminder to me when someone emailed my friend the same advice. God has already given us everything we need with these 66 books. Personally, I like the New International Version (1984) and the English Standard Version.

Ask a few simple questions.
A pastor at our church shared this with me when I served on our church staff a few years ago. This is one of the easiest, simplest ways I've been taught to read, evaluate, and apply a passage.

- What does this passage say about God?
- What does this passage say about man / the world?
- What does this passage say I need to avoid or stop doing?
- What does this passage say I need to continue or start doing?

Ask a few more questions (if you want to).
Sometimes, I like to look for the answer to a certain question or questions as I'm reading the Bible over several weeks. During a recent staff devotion, a co-worker commented on some of the verses that talk about things Paul prayed for and how different Paul's prayer list looks from ours (oftentimes). As I've been reading through some of Paul's letters recently, I'm noting how Paul prayed for others and for himself and trying to pray in similar ways.

Pray.
Before I start, I always ask the Lord to help me understand the passage that I'm reading and to help me remember truths from His Word throughout the day/week. Often my prayer time can be a running thread of conversation through the day—while getting ready, driving, at lunch, in bed at night, etc. Sometimes, it's more formal than others.

Use other resources.
There are tons of great resources out there for one-on-one devotions or group Bible studies, and I use them from time to time depending on the situation. But I'm really trying to go back to the basics and depend on the Word and use other resources to supplement, rather than the other way around (which can be the easy tendency!).

I'd love to know how you structure your time with the Lord each day. What are you reading? What other resources have you found helpful? Any encouragement for me or others who struggle from time to time?

---

I'm probably one of the last people in the Christian world to "discover" Ann Voskamp. This month (in)courage sent me the One Thousand Gifts photo gift book and day brightener, and I am absolutely loving them! I've been challenged to develop a habit of thankfulness and just this week committed to stop at the end of each day and give thanks for the moments that I can see God's grace and mercy in my life. I am confident that the Lord is going to teach me quite a bit through this process!

And here's the good news for you: Dayspring is allowing me to give away a set for one of you!

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on October 31. All entrants must be 18 years old or older. Enter through the Rafflecopter below. Incomplete entries will be deleted. Once a winner is selected, I will contact them via email. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, I will select another winner.







a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dayspring sent me the products mentioned in this post in exchange for sharing my thoughts. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Banned Books Week

So, it's Banned Books Week. Before I started book blogging, I didn't know that a whole week was devoted to talking about and reading banned books and encouraging people to speak out against censorship.

I've read some really interesting statistics this week about why books are challenged in the US. And the reasons why some books are challenged are just downright ridiculous. (The Vernon Verona Sherill School District in New York challenged To Kill a Mockingbird in 1980 because they thought it was a "filthy, trashy novel." Seriously? Have they even read the book?!) While some of the reasons for challenging or banning books seem good—like being sexually explicit, using offensive language or being excessive violence—I still don't think books should be banned. (I do however believe wholeheartedly in good parenting & making wise decisions for yourself where these things are concerned!)

Why don't I think books should be banned? Because the First Amendment guarantees us freedom of speech and freedom of religion, among other things. If we begin impeding on freedom of speech, how long will it be until we are no longer allowed the freedom of religion?

And if people start banning books for any reason, how long will it be before the Bible is banned or restricted in the United States as it is in many parts of the world?

As many are celebrating the freedom to read this week, I'm celebrating the freedom to read AND to worship by reading the Bible, one of the most challenged books in the world.

What about you? Thoughts on banning books? Favorite banned or challenged book? Ways you're celebrating the freedom to read?

FREE Webcast w/ David Platt & Francis Chan

I'm excited to let you know about a new initiative led by David Platt and Francis Chan called MULTIPLY.

The purpose of Multiply is "to awaken churches and all followers of Christ to the priority of disciple-making in the church’s mission. We seek to make disciples, who make disciples, who make disciples…" Multiply was created to come alongside local churches by emphasizing the glorious and much-neglected call given to all followers of Christ to make disciples.

Multiply from Multiply on Vimeo.

This November 9 & 10, there will be two Multiply Gatherings to kick off this new initiative. David and Francis will be sharing their heart for disciple-making and challenging individuals, small groups, and churches to take the command to make disciples to heart. The content will be the same each night but may have a different "feel" due to the different location. Because this is a FREE webcast, you can participate from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection!

Friday, November 9, 2012 | 7-10pm CST
David Platt & Francis Chan
Webcast from Birmingham, AL at The Church at Brook Hills

Saturday, November 10, 2012 | 6-9pm PST
David Platt & Francis Chan
Webcast from San Francisco, CA at the SF City Impact Mission 

Hubs and I will be watching on Friday and Saturday night. We'd love for you to tune in from your home, office, school, church, or wherever! You can register online at MultiplyMovement.com/Gathering.

For more information about Multiply, visit the website or the blog.