Three Word Wednesday: Sweet B mug

My three words could easily be the same as last week for God has done so much more than I could have ever imagined and I am filled with JOY.

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." ~ Psalm 126:3

My now IN REAL LIFE friend Lauren of It's a Wilderness Out There...And in Here Too gave me a Sweet B mug. I'm not sure if the mug is really called a Sweet B mug or if that is only what she calls it. Does it really matter though? She gave one to me and I'm in love with my new mug.

She was super sweet as she handed me my gift all wrapped up in red tissue paper and then explained why it had been chosen for me.

"The world would look at my collection and see it as incomplete, but I know it's not. It's more complete than it was before, because it's being shared a state away. My adorable mug resides in a cupboard far away, holding a reminder of the love of Christ that binds together sisters from two different mothers."

Lauren writes more about it here.

My Sweet B mug is just about the nicest gift I've ever received.

Lauren handed me the gift as our time together came to an end. We had spent the afternoon driving from South Sioux City to Omaha. She had driven from the real Sioux City (I'm still not getting the whole real Sioux City thing) to South Sioux City to pick me up from the Compel Conference. From there she drove me to Omaha where I would catch a flight home the following morning. Oh, and she still had to drive back home to the real Sioux City. Did I mention she had three of her adorable children along for the ride?

Don't bother looking up the route on MapQuest. Let me assure you it equates to many hours of driving. Who does that for someone they have never met? Well, my friend Lauren does!

She recently read the book Love Does by Bob Goff. I discovered, through my friend Lauren, love does wonderful things like picking up an online friend you have not previously met to drive her to Omaha and then giving her one of your Sweet B mugs. Wow! Do I come even close to loving like that?

I can't lie; my time with Lauren was the highlight of my time in Nebraska (and a small portion of Iowa). She is rather remarkable and I can't wait for the day when I see her again.

The day and a half spent at Compel was also a delight. The lovely Deidra Riggs captured my heart as she spoke to a room full of women on daring to dream with words like,

"God empowers us to speak life and light into the chaos. That's what your dream is about."

"You are the only person that God sent to this world to live your life."

"It's not your dream; it's God's dream for your life."

God also spoke through six beautiful ladies on a Friday night as we gathered in a hotel room. Deidra tells of the evening far better than I ever could in her post God speaks Through The Real People In Your Life. My favorite moment at Compel was on that Friday night. There was also a late night trip to Walmart with two crazy sisters (they aren't really crazy) who had me giggling over their sisterly love.

And I once again come to this place of how there is truly so much more to this writing and sharing of my heart. The best way to share my JOY — keep counting my blessings:

#50 ~ Two amazing sisters (those two crazy sisters) who picked me up from the airport to bring me with them to Compel even though we've never met; a wonderful drive getting to know my two new friends.

#51 ~ Daring to dream... such inspiring words from the lovely Deidra Riggs.

#52 ~ God speaking through each women who gathered in a hotel room on a Friday night.

#53 ~ Even more inspiration on daring to dream.

#54 ~ Hugging IN REAL LIFE friends one last time before saying good-bye.

#55 ~ A special friend who spends hours in her car just to be with me because that is what love does.

#56 ~ My Sweet B mug from that special friend...she said giving to me makes her set more complete.

#57 ~ The sweet sound of my husband's voice; the best way to end my night.

#58 ~ An enjoyable fight home with the kind man who sat next to me as we shared our Christian faith.

#59 ~ The comfort and warmth of being in your own bed again.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." 
~ Psalm 37:4