It has been a truly affirming week, proving once again that when we step forward in faith and action, God multiplies the joy and the community around us!

The biggest project this week was hosting the baby shower for my sister this past Saturday. It was an event I had been planning since September, and it turned out to be such a beautiful and heartfelt celebration. Thank you so much to the lovely people who stepped in to help me—your support made all the difference! We are officially in the final countdown; my sister is due in just 16 days, and we can’t wait to welcome this new little blessing into the family!

In addition to celebrating family, I made a wonderful commitment to my spiritual community this week. This past Thursday, I decided to pre-register for the Women of Joy conference in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, next April.

As I’ve been focusing on building new connections, I asked a dear new friend from church if she’d like to go with me. I’m thrilled to report that after speaking with her husband, she immediately pre-registered, too! We tossed a quick post up on Facebook to see if anyone else might be interested, and within days, we have five people already pre-registered to attend. That immediate wave of enthusiasm and fellowship is a powerful reminder that when you seek support, you find it. It's a small investment right now—just $25 to secure a spot—but it's a huge step toward fellowship and spiritual growth next year.

This past week has beautifully demonstrated that progress isn't just about fixing problems (though we continue to work through those!), but also about intentionally creating opportunities for joy, connection, and growth. Seeing the beautiful turnout at the shower and the immediate excitement for the conference shows that investing in family and faith always pays the richest dividends.

I am immensely grateful for these milestones and for the joy of looking forward. Please keep my sister and the soon-to-arrive, Jaida Brooke in your prayers!

*Question for You:
What is a joyful, future-focused goal (big or small) that you have recently committed to, and how is it helping to lift your spirits?

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