It’s the middle of the day on Friday, and I’m just sitting down to write you for the first time this week. Wow! It has been an unusual week for us around here, as normally our lives are pretty quiet and predictable, but this week we had the blessing of joy come into our home through my dear friend, Emily.

Emily and I met through (in)Courage when we served together as community group leaders for the single women’s group. We Skyped, we chatted, we prayed, and we became friends. So when she was coming to North Carolina for the Make It Happen Conference in Chapel Hill, it was only natural for her to extend her trip and us meet in person. She spend most of the week with us, and I cannot tell you how much joy she brought into our lives.

Let me tell you a little about Emily.

She’s who I wish I had been at 28 years old.

She is nine years younger than me. She is a single woman. She loves Jesus. She works with a non-profit organization for children with special needs. She leads a small group. She co-leads the (in)Courage single women’s group. She is passionate about creating community and a master at hospitality. She loves children. She desires marriage and children. She is a dreamer, leader, and encourager. God is revealing more and more of His purpose for her life a little each day. She is living a faithful and purposeful life, making her single years count for something bigger than herself.

I just love Emily.

A Lot of Prayer

This past week God revealed to me, through my time with Emily, something my life is lacking.

JOY.

Let me preface this by giving you the back-story. First of all, we have lived in North Carolina for six years now, but we still do not consider North Carolina our home nor do we really ever hope to. Our home is Georgia. That’s where are family and friends are, and that’s where our hearts are. In these six years of being here we were newly married, moved to a new state for the first time in either of our lives, got new jobs, dealt with chronic illness, underwent a heart transplant, recovered from a heart transplant, had a baby, learned to live with a baby, and now we’re here. Our lives have been real and deep and work. A lot of work. Not to mention my husband and I are quite introverted. We like being in our home, together, with the world at arm’s length. So even though we realize community is necessary, it is hard.

Then Emily comes to visit. 

This past week with Emily I have:

• traveled to Chapel Hill for the first time. It is absolutely beautiful, by the way. I love, love, love college towns.
• sat outside in the sunshine and talked and talked.
• been to the Farmer’s Market to buy ferns for the front porch and geraniums for the big pots.
• watched my baby girl eat ice cream outside and run in her Squeaker shoes.
• kneaded bread for the first time in my life. Yes, Emily made us homemade bread.
• visited a used bookstore in town I didn’t even know was there.
• eaten at a clay oven pizza restaurant in town that, again, I didn’t even know was there.
• played at the park and taken pictures.

And for the first time in a long time, I have felt so much joy in my life.

Even though my circumstances have been true and real over the past six years, I have learned that more than anything they’ve been excuses. Excuses to not find joy in the life I’ve been given right now. Not to make my world home and embrace the people and places God has put in my life.

I imagine for some of you, as you navigate through your season of singleness, you, too, are missing out on joy in your life. Joy that is right next to you, but you don’t see it.

So this weekend my prayer for you, and for me, is for God to develop in us joy. Joy is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. Joy reveals God’s goodness and transformation and love in our lives. Joy is not an option. Excuses do not justify lack of it. It must be developed.

So here’s to a weekend of joy.

And a Little Encouragement

Here are some interesting reads I read this week.

4 Questions Everyone Should Ask with Jon Acuff – This is a short video on the Relevant Magazine website.

Boys, Please Don’t Leave My Daughter Waiting – from Boundless.

5 Ways to Defend Truth – by Courtney at Women Living Well. This is a new series that I’m really excited about.

Single Desire: How Can I Be Protected by Strong Man – by Dannah Gresh at Pure Freedom.

Bono: Who Is Jesus? – a YouTube video that I think is really well worth the watch.

And Even Some Fun

This week’s Cents of Style Fashion Friday Deal: Mint and peach accessories for 50% off and FREE SHIPPING with the coupon code PEACHY.

Everything in the Fashion Friday collection is half off today, 4/4/14, for Fashion Friday. There are lots of fabulous accessories on sale, but here are a few you should make sure to highlight:

Easter Infinity Scarf (pictured below)- Reg. Price- $19.95, Sale Price- $11.95, Fashion Friday Price- $5.95 SHIPPED.

Flower Stud Earrings – Reg. Price- $12.95, Fashion Friday Price- $6.47 SHIPPED.

Peach & Mint Ballet Flats– Reg. Price- $32.95, Fashion Friday Price- $16.47 SHIPPING.

(This is my affiliate link!)

Praying for you this weekend! Leave your requests below!