Starting Points by Luci Swindoll

Do you travel? I do! A lot! And there are certain things I have to take on every trip. I’ve learned first to work on the knowns—cosmetics, underwear, medications, pajamas, and night-light (I never travel without a night-light). Then I move to clothes, shoes, and accessories, depending on the season, engagement, and destination. It finally comes down to a science. Starting with what I know (in any dilemma) is helpful and will ultimately get the job done.

Starting points of any endeavor can be debilitating. We don’t want to start something because it seems too hard, too involved, and too much work. Whether it’s writing a term paper, building a house, saving money, losing weight, or packing for a trip, we don’t know where to begin—so we don’t.

Life’s highway is littered with people who had good intentions but never punched the start button. I know a few people like this, and their questions are always the same: “How did you do that?” “How do you always finish projects?” “How did you plan that far-fetched vacation to that out-of-the-way spot?” The answer to each of these is the same—start. Nobody has the key to the outcome, but we all have the key to possibility. Open the door and walk through it.

Excerpted from Life! Celebrate It copyright ©2006 Luci Swindoll. Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved.

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Join Amy Grant, one of Christian music’s most honored artists, as dreams come true for deserving people across American in Three Wishes, an inspiring and heartwarming TV series on Gospel Music Channel. Don’t miss this life-changing reality series, every Wednesday night at 8pm ET/PT on Gospel Music Channel, where you can see great music performances and family friendly movies and shows all summer long. On DIRECTV 338 or check GMC on the TV cable guide.

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It's Not Where You Go, It's How You Do It  by Susan Ellingburg

Several years ago, one of my group of friends, sighed, "I wish I could go to Paris for my birthday." "OK," we responded. "We'll take you to Paris. Paris, Texas, that is." And we did. We packed our passports, chose French names for the day, drove a couple of hours while listening to French language tapes, and had an absolutely marvelous day pretending to be in the "other" Paris.

We took pictures of an electrical "Eiffel" tower, dined at a sidewalk café (OK, it was a Sonic, but that's all we could find), and even stormed the Bastille. That is, we went to the local police station and requested a photo with a local "gendarme." Fortunately, the officer on duty thought this was hilarious and put us in the (empty) holding cell for a photo op.

The point is you don't have to take an expensive vacation to have a great time and create wonderful memories. A little imagination, a sense of adventure, and the right attitude are all you really need. Although . . . it doesn't hurt to pack a good map (but that's a story for another day).

You Pick!

Fruits and vegetables, that is. You don't have to do all that hard work of tilling the soil and nurture plants from seed; there are pick-your-own (sometimes called "UPick") farms and orchards close to . . . almost everywhere. Pack a picnic and make it an outing for the whole family. Spend a few hours in the fresh air and come home with the freshest possible produce at prices way lower than the grocery store. Added bonus: when kids pick their own veggies they may be more likely to eat them. A quick online search will find crop calendars, farm listings, recipes, and more. For example, strawberries are now in season all across the south, blueberries are about ready in Florida and Texas, and fresh oranges are available in some areas (marmalade, anyone?). Our readers in the north may have to wait a bit before they pick. Happy harvesting!

Is Your Next Trip in Your Jewelry Box?

Our partner, Red Swan, can help you find out! Your unused, outdated jewelry can be turned into a vacation getaway, help for an unexpected bill, or a special surprise. Joy, a Women of Faith attendee, told us Red Swan "was a blessing and an answer to my prayers. You provided a safe and trusted way to sell broken necklaces and rings with missing stones. I mailed my jewelry on a Tuesday [and] got an email that my check was sent within a few days." Click here to learn how you can exchange your unwanted jewelry for something unexpected.