Who knew this would lead to our first family book club?

What I've Learned: 5 Love Languages = A Reading Revolution.
Had I only known, Reader, that a little purple book would inspire my books-are-for-sissies Cousin to spend most of the weekend devouring chapter after chapter while sharing what she's learning with the rest of the family, I'd have brought home Dr. Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages ages ago!

My fabulous fun-friend, K, suggested it to me over the summer back in 2009. After hearing what a difference the book made in her relationships (her entire family read it), I always meant to pick it up and garner some new insight into the love-motivations of the people in my own life.

But it wasn't until just a few weeks ago, after again hearing about the power of this book on K-Love, my favorite Christian radio station, that I stopped by my local Family Christian Bookstore to pick up a copy.

Fast forward to this weekend where Cousin is up for a prolonged stay owing to some medical stuff. While out having lunch yesterday, she and I got to talking about relationships and the importance of showing the people you love how much you care in ways they will really appreciate. The 5 Love Languages immediately popped into my mind. I told her I knew just where to go and we zipped right over to the FCB and bought another copy.

Much to my amazement, Cousin (who I've never seen in close proximity to a book) cracked that book open as soon as we got home. Well, if she was that serious, then I was all in too! So I ran upstairs and got my copy. We've been readin' fools ever since. Cousin reads aloud important parts and after each chapter, we discuss Aunt Chef's favorite question: what have we learned? Who knew this little purple book would start an impromptu family book club? And I'm not naming names but there's definitely some color-coded highlighting of important points going on...


This girl is even taking notes...

Funny stuff aside, Dr. Chapman's book is straight-forward, easy to understand & offers wonderful, practical advice for improving all of your relationships. His concepts of the love languages and the importance of having a full 'love tank' are right-on and simple to execute. Love really is a choice we make each and every day. Highly recommend you check out this book, Reader, as well as the accompanying website (linked above), which offers numerous tools and an online assessment to help you determine your own love language and dialect(s). I'm betting it will revolutionize the way you approach the important relationships in your life.

Shoot, just buying the darn book has turned the literary status quo upside down in our house! I'm so enjoying sharing this knowledge-journey with Cousin, Aunt and (hopefully) the rest of our clan. Thank You, Lord, for this opportunity to better love those around us!

Mom & I at the Midnight Premiere of
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 1


Today's Joy: Embracing the Nut Within.
All right, Reader. I try very hard in my lovely little blog not to overwhelm you with in-depth ramblings on my specific hobbies, else my posts begin to bore those of you who don't love orchids, cooking and holiday decorating quite as obsessively as I do. Still, you know the desire to ramble on is there, just as I know you long to acquaint me with the minute particulars of the things you love best. We can't help being passionate about our passions, after all. Don't you find, sometimes, when you meet someone new that it takes all your self-control not to wax poetic for 20 minutes about the activities you love? If not, I salute you.

Still, our pet projects are so much a part of who we are and what brings us joy that they can't be over-looked in a balanced life. So, consider this fair warning. I'm about to talk some Harry Potter.

My mother is about as big a Harry Potter fan as you will find outside the Rowling family. We have both enjoyed the books immensely and always go to the theatre to see the latest film versions when they come out--usually attending the midnight premiere. Last night was no exception.

Brother, Mom & I all attended the premiere of Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 1. The movie was extremely well done and far exceeded our expectations. By splitting it into 2 parts, the film makers were finally able to truly delve into the nuances of the book's storyline. Thus, all of the things that made it such a great book were well-showcased in the movie. This was definitely a book lover's film.

This was also the first premiere that Mom & I dressed up for. (Yes, I am that geeky about this.)Thanks to Aunt Chef's fabulous, costume-quality, handmade hats, we drew stares from the moment we entered the building and received many compliments. Mom was all aglow with excitement. From the moment we took our seats up in the highest row (didn't want anyone to have to sit behind our hats--they were both over 1 ft tall), we became part of this mass of die hard fans. It was like the whole theatre turned into one great, big Harry Potter single celled organism. We all laughed and cried and cheered as one. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time. And we left doubly excited for the last Harry Potter premiere.

So, my suggestion for you today, Reader, is embrace whatever gets your inner geek in a tizzy. Life goes by so fast and that nutty thing you put off doing or don't allow yourself to enjoy now, may soon become out of reach or out of vogue or forgotten when life suddenly puts a curve in your path. When I am ready to move on from this existence, I won't remember the exact date of each movie premiere or the theatre we were at. But I will remember how much joy it brought to share them with my mother and how fabulous we looked in our hats.

Today's Joy: Watching God at Work.
I saw God working in the lives of the women in my church community group tonight, Reader. As we got to know one another better, the walls of formality began to drop and we started to to talk about the things we struggle with in our personal faith journeys as well as the specific obstacles we face each day. It was illuminating and redeeming to share and listen and offer encouragement. I love to watch God's plans blossom in the joy of shared relationship. What a blessing these women are already in my life! I hope that I can do the same for them.

Aunt's sundial.

"The kiss of the sun for pardon,

The song of the birds for mirth,

One is nearer to God's heart in a garden

Than anywhere else on Earth." ~ Dorothy Frances Gurney

Today's Joy: A List of Good Things.

It was an ordinary Saturday, Reader. But as the hours passed, I made a mental list of all the good things I found on this 12th day of June in the year of our Lord, 2010. I present it to you in hopes that it will inspire you to make your own mental list of the good stuff in your life. Cheers!

Today's Good Stuff:

• Dark Chocolate cappuccino


• a brand new issue of Victoria Magazine


• sherbet-colored pj's


• sleepy-eyed orange tiger cats


• wearing my galoshes to work


• lush country commutes


• cornfields that are already almost knee-high


• being of use & making a customer's day


• receiving a genuine smile & a handshake


• singing along with K-Love on the way home


• spending some quality time with God


• fussing over new plants in the garden


• getting the DVD player to work for the first time


• watching the BBC version of The Chronicles of Narnia


• taking a nap


• sitting down to blog and have my daily conversation with you, Reader!