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My birthday: Destin beach, a surprise visit, Japanese hibachi grill, Starbucks gift cards, songs, and more

Yesterday was my birthday. My husband Ray’s gift to me was my recent week-long trip to Destin beach, Florida for a week alone (August 15-22, 2022). I’ve been praying for over 3 years to travel there. One day I found a reduced plane fare online and Ray said, “Book it!” so I did immediately!

Destin beach is gorgeous with soft, white sand and clear, blue-green water. I desperately needed this time of relaxation on the beach and to work on my speaking and writing biz. You can see my recent vlog, My Happy Place, here at YouTube. It is my 11th vlog about the trip.

Destin beach, Florida

Destin beach, Florida

 

Beth Jones, Destin beach

Beth Jones, Destin beach

Ray also gave me a pretty card with a Starbucks gift card and took me out for supper to a Japanese restaurant in Lee’s Summit, MO, called Siki.

We got dressed up to go out, a rare occasion. I found a pretty teal, inexpensive dress on Amazon and an elegant but cheap necklace and earrings from Paparazzi. I already had my bracelet and black shoes with a slight heel. The dress had high reviews on Amazon and was soft and comfortable. Ray wore a charcoal-grey, button-up shirt and beige slacks.

My teal birthday dress and Paparazzi jewelry

My teal birthday dress and Paparazzi jewelry

 

Ray in charcoal-grey shirt and beige slacks

Ray in charcoal-grey shirt and beige slacks

We had a nice, funny chef who cooked us delicious food.

Chef at Siki restaurant

Chef at Siki restaurant

He couldn’t put on the usual great show of fire, because there was a toddler girl there at the hibachi table, who screamed and cried when he first made the flames appear. I’m sure this was a disappointment to the chef. Everyone else at the table was related to her, so they understood. Ray and I are parents so we got it, too. We remember those days! They grow up so fast!

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Blog, Books, Ebooks, Faith, Family, Holidays, Marriage, Parenting, Podcast, prayer, Speaking, Speaking Events, Travel, Writing

An update of what I’ve been doing

I haven’t been blogging lately. Just doing life stuff. So…I thought I’d give you an update of what’s been going on this year. First, about writing. 

Kingdom Writers book

Part of my story is in a chapter of my writing coaches CJ Hitz and Shelley Hitz’s book, Kingdom Writers. I helped to promote it. You can find the book here, available on Amazon. It is a great book!

I’m one of the featured alumni panelist speakers for Shelley’s upcoming Kingdom Writers conference on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 11 a.m. eastern time, so stay tuned for more news about that!

Each alumni speaker will only speak for a few minutes, but this is such an honor that Shelley asked me to do this!  This edition of the conference is dedicated to helping authors build their platform and sell more books through collaborations

If you need a speaker for your women’s conference, retreat, online event, or podcast, or know an event planner who does, please contact me here. I love encouraging women and giving them the hope of Jesus Christ!

I’ve also been writing a Vella fiction short story called She Won. It’s about a recent widow and mom of 4 grown children, Norah Wellington, who goes to the convenience store every day to buy a coffee, a chocolate doughnut with colored sprinkles, and a lottery ticket. One day she wins the jackpot.

She winds up moving to Destin beach, Florida, the place of her dreams. She has heard that winning the lottery can be a curse instead of a blessing. It also changes people–for the worst! What will Norah do with the money? 

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Blog, Business, Coaching, Ebooks, Faith, Family, Fitness, Friendship, Homemaking, Marriage, Parenting, Podcast, prayer, Speaking, Spiritual Gifts, Time Management, Travel, Writing

Do you have a “one word” yet for 2021? Here is mine.

2021

Do you have a “one word” yet for 2021? I started doing this a few years ago, to set a “theme” and a focus for the whole year, instead of making New Year’s resolutions (which were usually broken before January was over!). 

It seems the “one word” comes as I’m just going about my day, doing routine things or praying. I ask God for the word that HE desires for me. I’m always tested on the word by God!

Photo Source: Arisa Cattusa.
Unsplash

At the end of December 2019, I received the word, “hope,” for 2020. At the time I didn’t understand why God gave me that specific word. Now I get it, looking back over the crazy, chaotic, fearful year of 2020. Every day, I needed to have hope in Jesus!

As I’ve been praying the last few days to prepare for 2021, I’ve received an impression or what I call “a nudge from God” of the word “steward.” It is a serious word. 

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