Just some stuff going on this week in my life, in my head, and around the universe.

–Nina’s kindergarten teacher was just awarded a $900 grant for Kindergarten Web 2.0: Blogging in the Kindergarten Classroom. Oh my word. I could die at the cuteness. Sooooooo excited about this!

–Also excited that the incomparable and hilarious Jen Hatmaker’s new book, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, has already made it to a 2nd printing before it even released (the almighty Wal-Mart placed an order–wazowee!). I don’t know that I’ve EVER been more excited about a book. EVER. I’ve read a chunk of it, and it’s been one of those, “Dang it. THIS is the book I wish I would’ve written, but reading it is a lot more relaxing than writing it, so you go, Jen Hatmaker!”

–Speaking of books I wish I would’ve written, I just finished one called Love in a Time of Homeschooling: A Mother and Daughter’s Uncommon Year. I really enjoyed it and could relate to so much of it (she also has 3 daughters and only homeschooled one). And heck, maybe I’ll write my own (e-)book about this uncommon year of homeschooling.

–After a tiny fiasco with our insurance company (not being thrilled about giving Gabe extra meds to last all the way through Cambodia), I arrived at the pharmacy today to INCREDIBLE news. $892.82 worth of prescriptions meds = $0.00. God bless insurance companies!! Praise you, Jesus!!

–We met our goal of $500 for the Asia’s Hope Super-Duper Special Christmas and Fried Chicken on a Boat Fund! Thank you soooooo much!! Can’t wait to share stories, pictures, and videos of your money in action!

– So I signed up to send a special Christmas package to a 19yo Ukrainian girl who’s living in a refugee community in Atlanta. She’s 5′ tall and loves “ear-rings. BIG ear-rings, make-up (wants to be a make-up artist), t-shirts, bijouterie, socks, nice blouse. White, red, black…” (5 points if you know what bijouterie means and 5 more points if you realize that this is going to be an IMPOSSIBLE task for Ms. No-Fashion-Sense). Enter my darling friend Mandie who is 5′ tall, loves BIG earrings, and used to work at a make-up store. She HOOKED ME UP. Black/red blouse, red feather earrings, black/silver bracelet, a funky black top, and a bunch of make-up samples. I picked up some red, black, and white nail polish and a tube of blackest black mascara, and we’re SET. God is so good to give me fashionable, generous friends.

–Livi goes from being 10 to being 11 tomorrow (Friday), and our Cambodia Countdown goes from 11 days to 10 days today. They’re passing like ships in the night. (???)

–Holy stinkin’ COW! It’s DECEMBER!! We go to CAMBODIA in DECEMBER!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! (Deep breath.)

–That’s all for now. Any tidbits of your own to share?

I’m splitting brain time right now between (I suppose “among” would be the correct word, but who uses that??) my e-book manuscript, four talks on sex for a men’s retreat next weekend, and homeschooling (a.k.a. Convincing Ava She Will Not DIE If She Has To Write A Whole Entire PARAGRAPH).

All that to say this: my thinker is sore, so I’m going to link to some really cool stuff that some really amazing people have written this week.

Like Jen Hatmaker’s post about her Fake Family. (I think she should start a Fake Family bumper sticker line and/or Fake Family stick figure window clings. I’d buy them in a heartbeat.) Also, Jen’s new book comes out while we’re in Cambodia, and I don’t know that I’ve ever been more excited for a book to release.

Except maybe Melanie’s not-yet-written memoir, Sparkly Green Earrings. If you like funny and you don’t read The Big Mama Blog, I feel like you are missing out in the worst way. Mel announced the news about her new book this week, and her post was beautiful.

Tara’s post from Heartline in Haiti had me holding back tears and pumping my fists in praise to Jesus. He answered our desperate prayers in a huge way yesterday, and two beautiful new babies joined the world. So, so, so thankful for the amazing folks at Heartline and Harbor House!

I read this post three times. And I’ll leave out my commentary because I’d be here all night. (You can look for my comments on her post if you’re curious.)

Last thing: a favor. I’m doing one more revision of my e-book before I send it to my three beautiful critique partners. My original title isn’t resonating with me anymore. My next idea got axed by my agent (with good reason). And I’ve been brainstorming titles ALL DAY LONG and I’ve got nothing.

If you were writing a book about how God used the internet to enrich your life by allowing you to meet people online and then meet those same people in real life and stay in their homes and share meals with them and visit zoos and live by faith and realize you’re not as self-sufficient as you thought and that you were really, truly made for relationships and community, what would you call it?

The title needs to “meet a felt need.” Like, someone needs to take one look at it and say, “I’ve been thinking/asking/feeling/wondering about that! I should buy this book!”

If I end up using your title, I’ll give you a free copy of every book I’ve ever written (and any e-books I write for the rest of my life) OR a $25 Amazon gift card.

Disclaimer: If I would happen to use “your” title, but it’s one I already have written down in my notebook at 10:33pm Thursday, it doesn’t count. You can still have free copies of all my e-books though. (Aren’t I nice?)

p.s. Tomorrow (October 1) starts a 31-day series of posts I’m doing with a bunch of other people (you’re welcome to join us!). I’m doing 31 Days of Loving the Poor. So excited!

p.p.s. How is it that I always say I’m tired and/or out of things to write and still manage to pound out 500+ words? I don’t get me.

But I’ll be back with some good ones on Monday. Next week is gonna ROCK. Have a great weekend!

After two whole days of writing my brains out, I’m about to keel over. A blog post tonight would be the death of me. If you have any brilliant thoughts concerning yesterday’s post, I’m all ears!

See you tomorrow!