This is a good morning. A good, good morning. And last night was a good night, and yesterday was a good day. It’s amazing how tough times make you really appreciate the good ones.

So I stopped nagging and started trusting, and holy cow. SUCH A DIFFERENCE.

Can I share a silly example of God’s amazing provision? See, there’s something really, really cool about not having regular paychecks and having to trust God for financial provision pretty much every second. You get to see and experience things that would never happen if you were financially set. I’m not kidding. We experienced it at camp when we made $15,000 and had 2 kids. We experienced it on our Zoo Trip and every time Gabe has been self-employed. Like now.

So Saturday. Livi and I went on a little date. Thrift store, library, Target. For $36 at the thrift store, we got 5 bathing suits, 5 pairs of pants/capris, 3 pairs of shorts, and 5 t-shirts. But no (training) bras (and Livi needed some). Off to Target where she tries on a million. No luck. Until I “happened” to reach back to the back of a rack and pulled out 2 two-packs of a different kind. Instead of $7.99 for 2, they were marked down to $2.38 for 2. She tried them on. They fit. 4 bras for $4.72. Cheaper than the thrift store. And not even previously worn. All God.

Before that, I had told her I’d treat her to a (shared) frappuccino from Starbucks, because I had a $5 gift card from my sis. I ordered the biggest one, and she told me my total was $2.59. What?? Turns out that May 4-13 from 3-5pm is 1/2 off frappuccinos. We get Starbucks about 3 times a year. What are the odds that I’d save my gift card for 4 months and go on May 5 at 3:30pm and ask for a frappuccino? We got 2 gigantic ones. And our new total was $5.09. And I didn’t have 9 cents. So she took the tax off. And I still have 59 cents on the gift card. All God.

So last night. Remember Wes, the awesome guy who designs my e-book covers? A few weeks ago, he asked me if I’d come down to his church and speak to the womenfolk about s-e-x. Their pastor is doing a series on the topic, and they wanted to give the girls a chance to meet separately from the guys (the guys are meeting Thursday to talk about p-o-r-n).

So yesterday afternoon I drove 90 minutes south and spent a few hours with 30 awesome women, giving my little sex talk. They were INCREDIBLE. They made me feel right at home, laughed at all the right places, and were super encouraging. We met at someone’s house out on their beautiful deck (I think it was my first time to do a talk outside). At one point, I was sharing something kind of emotional. A couple of women had tears in their eyes, but several appeared to be laughing. (??) To each her own, I thought. I found out afterward that a cat had snuck up behind me and lapped up water from my cup while I wasn’t looking. Yum.

So, I made new friends (not the cat) and had a blast. And Kristyn and Sara (well, Sara “nudged” Kristyn to tell me) shared a vision they have of bringing JEN HATMAKER to Circleville, Ohio (google it) for this really awesome women’s event next spring or fall and asked me if I’d come speak at it too.

UM, YES.

Except EEK. Who in their right mind wants to speak at the same event as Jen Hatmaker?? NOT ME. But I’m dying to meet her in real life and will do everything in my power to get her here.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU’D COME HEAR JEN HATMAKER TALK IN CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO. Woohoo!!

While I was traipsing around in the southern Ohio countryside, Gabe was being an awesome dad, taking the girls to Taco Bell for Dorito tacos, playing soccer with them in the backyard, and then letting them stay up until I got home (10:15) while he worked on a website with our friend Kary (they hung out in the living room).

The girls did “Homeschool Interviews” while I was gone, asking each other questions like:

Why do you want to be homeschooled?
Do you like science experiments or math?
What subjects make you feel comfortable?
What are you excited for the most?
How do you like to end your school day?

They are so cute. I love my little family.

And I have about 5 minutes to get to Reading Buddies and haven’t even showered. Thankfully, our sweet little buddy doesn’t really get the concept of time (or days) and is thrilled whenever we show up.

So, tell me:

1. What are you happy about today?

2. Wanna come hear Jen Hatmaker (and ahem, me) speak in Ohio sometime in the next year or so?