The Girlfriend's Guidebook {a giveaway!}

There are ample books for women on dating, career, marriage and motherhood, but few thoughtful writings about the everyday handling of female friendships. Interesting, considering numerous studies show that female friendships are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. In fact, bonding between females has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and even fuel creativity.

How then can something so good for us, be so utterly complicated? While they are healthy female friendships are also deeply complex, often involving issues like control and jealousy.

Inspired by the highs and lows of a backpacking trip across Europe with foul gal pals, Marian Jordan's, The Girlfriend's Guidebook; Navigating Female Friendships charts a winning pathway through, "jealously, competition, control, anger, manipulation, and resentment -- just to name a few less than cuddly aspects of our personalities."

"When it comes to friendships, women often revisit feelings of insecurity and jealousy they haven't felt since the growing pains of high school." says Jordan. "We have thoughts such as 'What am I supposed to do when my friend is giving me the silent treatment and I don't know why' and 'How am I supposed to react when it feels like middle school school, and I'm the girl no picked to sit at the lunch table?'"

Informed by her faith, Jordan encourages deeper friendships built on Christ-like honesty and love, emphasizing the development of such qualities as loyalty, trustworthiness, compassion, and forgiveness. Jordan also makes it clear that The Girlfriend Guidebook should be read first with one's self in mind, recognizing that when we are freed from our own emotional baggage we will really be able to enjoy the journey! - PR by the book, Elaine Krackau

Whoa. Is any of that resonating with you this morning? Friendships can be so hard sometimes, can't they? How do we, as Christian women, deal with the obstacles that can come from female relationships? Can we embrace the hardships they sometimes bring as an opportunity to grow more into the likeness of Christ? I know the answer is yes. In the power of the Holy Spirit, the answer is yes.

The Girlfriends Guidebook: Navigating Female Friendships, complete with small group discussion questions, is a wonderful resource to have on hand. The deeper we grow in our walks with the Lord, the deeper we move into community with the body of Christ. Let us all equip ourselves well in this area. SO TODAY!! Let's have a GIVEAWAY!!

If you would like to enter to win this book here is what we'll do...

Since it is November, the month of giving thanks, let us be thankful for our friendships. Take a second to intentionally thank the Lord for the special friendships in your life. Your comment can be as simple as "I am thankful for Betty, Sue and Ethel. - Becky C."

I look forward to rejoicing with you! This giveaway will end Tuesday night at 9pm! The winner to be announced on Wednesday morning.

Speaking of friends...share this giveaway with one of yours! Also, be sure your name is with your comment. Blogger doesn't always tell me who you are. Thanks!!

I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU!

A Long Run. And a New Couch.

The date was 10-10-10 of last year. The weather was picture perfect Autumn. Crisp, clean air. Ripe leaves ready to touch ground. And this morning my mind was made up. On 10-10-10, I wanted to run 10 miles....By golly.

I remember this run, not because it was 10-10-10. Not because it was a picture perfect Autumn morning. I remember this run because it was one of the few runs in my life that everything felt "right." My joints ran smooth. My lungs felt strong. The road didn't seem as if it would never end. My Ipod was fully charged. I was pleased with my pace. But, best of all, God met me on the course that day. Go ahead, call me a complete flake. But my 10 miles on 10-10-10 was worship.

I felt God's presence with me. And it was quite remarkable. Memorable. Prayerful. I remember praying, Lord, I love this so much. I love to run. And I love being with You. How fun to be a running coach. A Christian running coach! Wow, to run alongside someone but yet encourage them in their faith, as well. (Hold on it gets cheesier) I could even quote Scripture while they ran! Hebrews 12! Throw aside every weight that entangles you! Run with endurance the race before you! Look to Jesus! Be steadfast. Your feet are fitted with the good news of the Gospel! Whoo hoo! Go go! You can do it!"

I once told our friend (and boss), Britain about this little pipe-dream/prayer of mine. Britain warned me that if he ever finds me running up behind him yelling Hebrews 12, he might have to punch me.

So my cheesy, silent dream of becoming a "Christian Running Coach" was never publicized. I never spoke of it to anyone except Brent and jokingly Britain.

The Lord, however, did not sit on this little prayer.

Fast forward a couple of weeks to the YMCA on a Monday morning. Circuit class. 9:30. My friend Tisha, mid-workout, asked me this very question. "Becky, I was wondering, would you consider something? I would like for you to coach me. I want to run another marathon and improve my pace. Maybe you could work me up a plan to help do this. And I could do some sewing for you. I know you've talked of having your couches reupholstered. I could sew and you could train. We could barter."

I about died, I tell you. "Let me think about it...3-2-1...YES YES YES YES YES!!!!"

How neat is that? So we did. We bartered training for sewing.

But as the Lord works, he always has immeasurably more. Come February, she found out she is expecting a baby. Which threw a welcomed wrench in her marathon plans, but we continued working out. And a barter became a couch, and a marathon became a baby, and this little pipe dream of mine on 10-10-10 became one of the sweetest friendships in my life. (I just adore you, Tisha!) I learn so very much from this soon-to-be mommy of six. Godly, grounded, motivated, consistent, enthusiastic - just a few words to describe her. Not to mention she is one adorable and fit pregnant lady.

But listen. The story gets better. After the couches were complete...she continued to have vision for my house (did I mention she is an interior designer, too?) and I continued to have workouts for her little pregnant self. So we continued to train and sew and train and sew...

And I proudly give all Glory and Honor and Praise to the Lord for the beauty he has bestowed on my house and in my heart because of this sweet woman of God.

Wanna see?

This was my house before Tisha. Nothing bad. Just a bit dated. And vision-less.

Hello red plaid couch.


Pictured from the front door. There's Brent. Hello Brent. And lots of red.


Whoa. And more red. The kitchen has by FAR undergone the most transformation. I can't wait to show you.


Funny story about these curtains. I did end up selling them on Craigslist. And the lady that bought them owned a funeral home. She planned to hang them in her funeral home. Why didn't any one tell me that I had funeral home curtains hanging in my dining room?

(I will have you know that I never quoted Hebrews 12 to Tisha during a run. Just thought I'd throw that in. LOL.)

To see the "after" pictures, come back tomorrow...Fun!

The Post I Never Wanted To Write

It was a cool Sunday in May 2010. I drove past the only rental house on my street. In the driveway were three blonde-headed little girls splashing in a kiddie pool. Tucked away in the shade of the garage was their blonde-headed little momma painting kitchen chairs.

I stopped the van, "Welcome to the neighborhood! My name is Becky. I live three doors down. I just wanted to say hello. I have three little boys around the same age as your daughters. We would love to have you over to play sometime."

And a friendship began.

A couple of days later my boys brought cookies and flowers to greet the girls. (You may remember, I wrote a post during our Summertime Sanity series about Serving Others - this was the family!) Playing sometime became most days and most days became almost everyday. Teresa and I were instant kindred.

Statefarm is not kidding - there is nothing "like a good neighbor." We had never shared life with another family like this before. We celebrated every holiday. Every birthday. Every occasion last year. Teresa and I went to the same gym, our kids went to the same preschool, we worshipped at the same church, we read the same books, we car pooled and even grocery shopped some together. We shared life.

Thursday nights, while Brent was at CRU, Teresa would walk down once the boys went to bed. We'd eat KettleKorn and talk about Jesus. How many friends do that? Eat KettleKorn and talk about Jesus? Not many.

Our kids became the best of friends. Each age matched. A day never passed when I wasn't asked, "Are we going to see the neighbors? Can I walk down to the neighbor's? Can the neighbors come over later?"

Princess parties, Trick or Treating, cookie baking, Christmas dinner, our New Years "Just Dance" party - LOL, Women's Retreat, Easter Egg hunts, lazy days at the pool.

Teresa. I just miss you so.

I knew they were moving after one year. I knew it, I knew it. But their being here was not happenstance. Or an afterthought on God's part. Their residence three doors down was Divine.

Even our husbands became good friends - rare.

This special family left last month for Germany. The dreaded end of July. And now I am left to drive by the quiet of her house. And left to write the blog post that I never wanted to write.

Sweet Teresa. We miss you all. I miss your tender heart for Jesus. Your affection for all of His creation. I miss your prayerfulness for your family and mine. I miss your "it will all work out" attitude and your extreme enthusiasm for Zumba :). I miss our "anytime we felt like it" talks over coffee. I miss your encouragement. We miss you too, Geoff! And of those little girls. I miss them. So. Much. {tears}

I am so thankful for the sweet year we had. Thank you for not withholding your friendship from us, knowing you were only here for a short time. Thank you Jesus for the gift of this family. No words will do.

Now that I am a complete mess, I will celebrate the rest in pictures.

So Teresa, go eat some spaetzle for me (what is spaetzle anyway?) and tell Germany "Guten Tag" from the Crenshaws!

I love you, Sweet T.


Praise the Lord, O my soul. Psalm 103:1


Every good and perfect gift...

...is from above. James 1:17

The Lord is your keeper. Psalm 121:5


May the Lord bless you and keep you;


The Lord make his face to shine upon you,


And be gracious to you...


The Lord lift up his countenance upon you...


And give you peace. - Numbers 6:24-26

Ich Liebe Dich, friend.