A surprise package & an invitation...

Yesterday morning around 10:00, I checked my email and had a “Good Morning” message from my sweetheart (he does that every now and then…it’s like reliving the old days when we were both working and would email during the day…wish these “reenactments” came with the paycheck, too…ha--- Internet conversing goes way back to our beginning. We fell in love over email when we were both working at the bank…well not JUST email--- it wasn’t like Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks in “You’ve got Mail” or anything like that, but we certainly did our fair share of flirty messages---I’d email him “Annie Fun Facts” and random tidbits for laughs…I’d send him a daily birthday countdown the month before my birthday, and later, even messages with big red hearts on them…(I thought I was so smart when I learned the letters in the “Webdings” font that were the birthday cake and the heart).
ANYWAY, in my good morning message, he said that the UPS man had brought my package from Barnes & Noble to the office and he’d see me at lunch.

Hmmmm… UPS man dropping off a package for ME at the office? Completely understandable. Nothing new. But why would he drop off a package that wasn’t mine? Or was it?

I’d never doubt my husband’s ability to read my name because, besides the fact that he’s like, one of the smartest people I know, he’d be able to identify my name even if he couldn’t read one word in English, considering that I am a doodle-freak. (that was SUCH a run-on sentence). (Definition of Doodle-freak: “One who writes his or her name, their love’s name, their children/future children’s names, random words, creates amateur drawings, or takes dictation if there is a pen and notepad around, adores colored ink and markers, and even writes with their finger in the air, on their leg or whatever flat surface is close by.”) I know, I am SUCH a weirdo. It’s true though; I write or scribble anytime there’s a pen close by. Needless to say, with all that doodling and scribbling, the man has seen my name plenty of times that I am quite certain he wouldn’t misread a package thinking that it had my name on it when it didn’t.

Which led to my conclusion: this package WAS indeed FOR ME. Well, since I established that, my next thought was, “what could Barnes & Nobles be sending me for free?” Followed by, “Oh Lord have mercy, have I gotten my name on some book club list?” You know the book clubs I’m talking about--- the ones where they send you new books or CD’s or movies every 6 weeks and you have X amount of days to “preview” them and return them before you’re charged. You always forget and then end up with E.V.E.R.Y. Praise & Worship CD that was ever made. Not that this has happened to me or anything. (I know someone though…and she has the best CD’s!) Anyway, It’s a miracle it didn’t ever happen to me, because growing up I was forever ripping out the magazine inserts for the Columbia House and BMG Music Company clubs to order 10 CD’s for 99 cents and marking my selections.

I thought hard and couldn’t remember signing up for anything. So then, I figured that it must be some kind of “free” something… maybe a children’s book for Annabelle…

I pondered some more and was just beside myself excited to know what it was. I was counting down the minutes for DW to get home for lunch so I could check it out. He came in----WITHOUT the package. It’s an understatement to say I love mail—especially packages… and he FORGOT it? As soon as he realized it though, he ran back to the office and got it for me. I know, he’s sweet.

When he got home, I tore into the brown box to find…
Well, first, let me give you a little background...
DW and I started a new couples devotional on our anniversary that we read together every night before bed. It takes less than 5 minutes and although some of the questions are cheesy, we’re enjoying it. This week the focus has been on Prayer, which is actually something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. Doing, also, but just not enough…

So anyway, in the brown box, I found…

“A Quick Note with Beth Moore: Scriptures & Quotations from ‘Praying God’s Word’”

along with the packing slip that read:
“Hope you enjoy this!”

The packing slip had the shipper’s address and it was from my blogging buddy, “LuLu.” Here’s how we “met” - She and I had both signed up for a “Pink Swap” back in January on another blog and the host of the swap randomly drew names and paired us together. “LuLu” (which isn’t her real name, by the way…not even close) sent me the cutest things for the swap, and today, out of the blue, this sweet surprise! Which happens to be right on target with the theme of our devotional and what’s been on my heart and mind the past week or so… Do you not just LOVE when something like that happens? (I certainly don't think it's a 'coincidence'!)

Let me read you the description on the inside of the book: “For any time you could use a word of reassuring truth or lasting comfort, A Quick Word with Beth Moore meets a world of need with the sure love of God. Dip In. Be Refreshed. And rise up to live again.”

Hello. Someone has my number here... do I EVER need a good “dip”, to be refreshed and to “rise up to live again…” So thoughtful, so sweet, and such perfect timing…

I’ve read Beth’s book, Praying God’s Word, loved it and it's a really special book to me, I wrote a little about it on a old post here.

I am excited to start reading a page, or a "quick word," during my bible reading each day…

Which brings me to the next thing...lately, I’ve been struggling to know what to do during my daily quiet time. I’m not in a bible study right now, and I’ve just been doing my daily bible reading on my own, but I feel like I need some “direction”--- some commentary and some questions and some “mustard & cheese” to go with my “meat”…. You know?

Now, here’s the other way God has blessed me--I’ve been participating in the Siesta Scripture Memory team over on the LPM since January and enjoy reading the blog… Well this past weekend, they announced the “Siesta Summer Bible Study” (you don’t have to be part of the scripture memory group to participate) and after talking to my BFF, Carrie, we’ve decided that we’re going to pair up to do this study together! The study that they have chosen is “Me, Myself, & Lies” by Jennifer Rothschild. I’ve never done any of Jennifer Rothschild’s studies, but have heard her speak at a 'Women of Faith' conference a few years ago. The study is about women and the lies we tell ourselves and believe. Anyway, the deal is that everyone does their “homework” by themselves and every 2 weeks the group comes together to view a short video that Beth will put up on the blog. It sounds like the perfect plan for summer, since schedules are so crazy with vacations and everything… the group only meets 4 times (every 2 weeks), which we’ll do at my house, (I think)… Most of the other groups are meeting on Tuesday nights since the videos will be posted on Tuesdays. I think we are leaning toward Tuesday night, also, but we want to see if anyone wants to join us, first. So this is an open invitation to all my friends and family who read this (and who live close…but, Steph if H would let you fly in from Houston every other week for 4 times, we’d LOVE it!)—if you want to join us, we'd love it… I am really excited about it and I am praying that God will put the right group together for this and that he’d just speak to all of us during this time…
(for those who read this and don’t have blogs and don’t comment, you can call me or email me if you want to join us)… I know the first session with Beth is suppose to be on June 23rd, so we’ll definitely meet that day or soon after… I’m excited to be doing a bible study with Carrie, too…. We’ve never been in a bible study group together, so even if it turns out to be just me and her, I think it’s going to be awesome… (although, I hope we do have more in our group…they want us to name ourselves, too, and send in a picture of the group.. how fun is that going to be? I’m already thinking about what we can do!!!)
Here’s the link that tells all the details on the LPM blog.

What exciting things…

Thank you, “LuLu” & Thank you, Jesus…

~amw~