Unexpected Friendship and a Girls Journal

Unexpected Friendship and a Girls Journal

Want to hear a funny story?

Well, really a God led funny story which led to an unexpected friendship?

I love social media.  Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Stumble Upon are my faves.  Ooh and not let us forget PINTEREST! (Where all my DIY plans come true! ha!)

I love meeting new people.   AND learning about people’s lives.  I love hearing how others do things, even just basic day to day activities.  (I am a reporter at heart.  I ask tons of questions because I am just naturally curious.)

Social media and meeting new people totally intertwine.

Well…now to my sweet story.

Before making a major move across Texas, I contacted a friend of mine who I had went to school and knew since we were we in elementary.  I knew him and his sweet wife (who also have known our family for years) had moved to the area we were interested in moving to and started a church.  He welcomed us and told us he would love for us to consider his church when visiting churches.

Well, we never visited any other churches.

Their very small church felt like home to us from the beginning, which was a huge plus for us, knowing in this area there seemed to be more churches than people.

So naturally I asked “Are there any homeschoolers in the church?”  (He had been a public school teacher so I really doubted there would be any.)

He laughed.

He said the majority of the church are homeschooled.  Which is funny because there are less than 100 people in the church and that included children.

He said one family had over 9 kids or so.  I said oh good, we would probably fit right in then.  I love big families!

Then he said their name.

I was like “Wha?!”  I know that mom!  I met her on Twitter a couple of years ago.  She even sent me her book on marriage.  How funny is that?!

What are the chances we would meet at this little bitty church among all the churches in this- not so little city?!

I just love how God knows the timing of it all!

Well, this past Sunday, she gave all the girls in the church this sweet devotional.

Moment by Moment a devotional journal for girls by Jennifer Flanders

From the author:

This book is designed to get you thinking. There’s no right or wrong way to complete it. You may use these pages to record thoughts, compose poetry, set goals, write prayers, paste photographs, paint pictures, draw sketches, make lists, tape mementos—or a combination of any or all of the above. My goal in creating this little journal is to inspire you to think deeply about some of life’s biggest questions, such as: Who are you? Why are you here? How can you live with meaning and purpose? And as you think through your answers to these questions, I hope you’ll enjoy using the space provided to write down your thoughts.

My daughters have just LOVED it.  I love that it fits both of their different personalities.

They can write it, map it, color it, or just doodle if they would like.  This devotional journal has room for them to expound on scripture and what the Lord might be saying them to them personally.  I love that their answers will NOT be the same.  I love that they can talk about what they think the scriptures are saying as they fill out the pages in their bedroom and they are learning together.  Sometimes laughing is involved.  I love that they can laugh as they learn about our Majestic Creator.  He as our Heavenly Father probably has joy from it too.  What parent doesn’t love to see their children have joy?

This devotional journal is not set up for a weekly or daily focus.  It can be an anytime journal.  My girls are zooming through them because they are liking them so much.  My youngest told me she is skipping some but will be going back through them later.  As a teacher, I am thrilled that they are having fun mediating on His Word and practicing other skills i.e. reading, writing, and study skills.

This book is also a memory book.  This is one where she would put her memories, her hopes, her prayers, her wish lists, her desires, her goals for her and the Lord, what scriptures mean to her, what her past failures may be, how she can change her future and so on.  It has a place for all of it and starts with a writing prompt for the girls to finish so they never have to wonder what to write.  It really is an amazing little gem.

Not to mention, the cover is so pretty – like a light tealish blue that matches their rooms.  Color matching matters for this Mom.  I hide the Chuck Norris book my hubby just bought on a whim.  It is red and yellow – ya’ I know, no words.

Overall, I would totally recommend this devotional journal.  It is fun, family friendly, and is exactly what I want for my kids to ponder on – His Ways and the Truth.

In all honesty, I would to have an adult version.  Ahem.

I love how sweet the Lord can be – even providing the unexpected friendships.

Blessings to you!  You are loved!