Bless you, my friend!
I can’t believe it’s been more than a month since I added a note here.
It’s good to be back. I’ve missed you.
I can’t believe next Wednesday, February 13th, is Ash Wednesday.
This day, on the traditional liturgical calendar begins the forty-day count down to Easter.
The purpose of this season is to reflect on the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness before He began His public ministry.
I’ve always viewed it as a time of reflection and preparation as I give my time to others.
A season of examining one’s heart and spending time with the Lord in confession and repentance.
I love this season.
Not only for the focus on Jesus preparation for the cross, but also because it is spring time.
The gray of the winter gives way to bluer skies and greener grass.
The birds come home to build their nests.
The leaves sprout and the early flowers bloom.
This year, I’m especially looking forward to spring, Easter and new beginnings.
It’s been a long hard winter of my soul. How about you? Are you ready for spring too?
I write encouragement to others as a way to lift my spirits when I feel down in the dumps. I hope you’ll try it!
This week I’m asking God to help me create my Lenten Love Letter List. 
This is a list of people God puts on my heart during the days leading up to Easter. I simply pray and ask God, “Who needs a kind word of encouragement today?”
It has been amazing to see how it all works out.
Will you join me this year in a focused period of writing encouragement to people who cross your path?
Let’s do this together as we prepare our hearts for Easter.
I can see the ripple of encouragement that will send waves across the world.
Are you in?
Leave me a note in the comments and together we will celebrate the power of a kind word.
God bless your heart with encouragement.
Gigi
PS – I’m praying that God will let me know if its YOU who needs the encouragement. 
Happy Saturday my friend.
I hope you are happy today. Even though I am fighting a cold, I’m happy.
I mentioned in my last post that I enjoy taking time to bless and encourage people during the forty days leading up to my favorite day of the year – Easter Sunday.
I wrote this post on Ash Wednesday, the first day of my Lenten Love Letter journey. I realized today that I had not released the post. I guess my head cold got the best of me that night. But here it is!
Photo from the Lancaster Historical Organization - Love Letters
My list of people to bless is growing.
Do you know someone who needs an encouragement? Let me know and I’ll add them to my list.
Today, I bless YOU, my blog friends. Thank you for taking time to read my random thoughts posted here in cyber space. It means a lot to me that you click on that link and take the time to read. I’d love it if you posted a comment to share your own story.
Every Wednesday I spend the evening at Starbucks watching hundreds of people coming and going as they pop in for some java or hang out to write papers, study for tests or chat with friends. This University Village Starbucks is full of college students so I feel like the old gray mare here.
I see a young couple staring into each other’s eyes in between study sessions. I wonder what they are talking about? It makes me remember study nights when I was a young college student.
I see an older, gray haired gentlemen nestled in amongst the twenty-something students, reading and taking notes. Is he a professor? A student? A grandpa?
I love this time every week because I get to pray for all these people. I bless them and ask God to touch their lives in a unique way tonight.
Can I challenge you to start your own Lenten Love Letter List?
Is there someone in your life who needs a phone call, an email or a hand written card – just because?
Remind them they are precious in God’s sight and chosen for such a time as this.
Tell them how much you care about their day.
Show them you care enough to take just a few minutes to write that note.
Come back to my blog and tell me the stories.
I have so many stories of people who have contacted me weeks, months or years after receiving one of my notes. They let me know that the encouragement I sent came at the perfect time.
It’s just so much fun. I want to share the process with you too.
Who will be your first recipient of a love letter? Tell me please!
God bless your heart.
Gigi
Hello again my friend.
It’s been awhile.
Not that I haven’t been thinking of you.
I realized tonight that I haven’t blogged in three weeks.
My time has been spent working on the marketing plan for Gabe’s new book coming very soon. Exciting times!
In addition, I have been exercising (a good use of my writing time) and eating healthy too!
The little Mii on my Wii Fit system told me I was a couch potato the other day, but I’m getting better every day.
Even though my blog time has shrunk back, I am pleased to share that I’ve shrunk back my waist line too!
When my Chiropractor reminded me that every pound I gain adds FOUR pounds of pressure to my knee, I hit the START button on my Wii Fit to get the move on.
Yes! I love results! Call me the incredible shrinking woman.
And guess what! My neck and my knee are healing too.
ON ANOTHER NOTE:
Colossians 2:2-3
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (NIV)
I took extra time this morning during my Bible reading and journal time.
I’m putting together my plan for my “Lenten Love Letters.”
During the forty days prior to Easter, I ask God every day who might need an encouraging word.
I love it!
Every day two or three people come to mind and I set about touching their life somehow. Maybe it’s an email or a phone call. But my favorite is a hand written note sent US Mail.
Are you in need of a lift? Let me know and I’ll put you on my Lenten Love Letter List!
I’ve got a few more blogs planned in the coming days and weeks.
Be sure to come back and visit.
Leave a comment if you know someone who could use some encouragement and I’ll add them to my Lenten Love Letter List.
God Bless your heart,
Gigi