Really? Yes.

This past weekend I had the privilege of speaking with my mother at a women’s “camping” retreat.  It was the first time for both of us; we really had no idea what to expect.  As I told a friend later, “It was the most exhausting, energizing thing I have ever done.”  I was filled with an unnatural love for these women and was shocked at how loved I felt in return.  Because of that, I wanted to say, “Thank you.”

The Lord has grown my heart with a love for women in a way that I didn’t think possible. I have actually had to pray for this kind of love because it hasn’t always come naturally.  Like many of you, I have been hurt by women in the past (and I probably will be in the future).  The idea of a whole group of you women was a tad overwhelming.  I didn’t know if I was the right person to “love” you all.

I’m not, but God is.

I had doubts going into it as to whether or not the message of respect and honor towards men would be heard and accepted.  As far as I could tell it was. We seriously felt like mini-celebrities. (Watch out Miss Lohan.) All of the you showered us with attention, questions, hugs, gratitude and very humble hearts…which were often very broken.

Thank you to Solid Rock Church for hosting us and for the hotel so we could prepare and rest.  High-class camping if you ask me!  The rest of you roughed it in tents with coyotes howling…but I think that was the least of your concerns.

One of the concerns among you 300 women, was making a change…  To not let the behavior of other people affect how you are going to live your life. Many of you made a choice to believe that the obedience to scripture gives us freedom and an easier way to live, even if it’s contrary to our nature.

Thank you for going there with me. Everything I said was very much what I am dealing with and will continue to deal with in my own life.  Let’s arise together, as obedient truth seekers who are empowered women that have the ability to change our generation and generations to come.

Love and lots of respect to all of you strong women,

Joy

p.s. And a special thanks to Nada, the Yugoslavian woman who put her cane down in order to put her miracle hands to work.  She cured my pounding headache after I gave my self whip lash by “aggressive somersaulting.”  Nada, you are everything but the Spanish definition of your name!

Our transportation…

The Ask Joy question for this week was: Do you think gender stereotypes are a bad thing?  My guess is that it was on the heels of me posting these hilarious videos: HERE and HERE

Oh, and Walter make another cameo. I know that’s why you watch these videos.

Question: What do you think about my answer? Do you think men and women are different? Do you think it’s ok to point out stereotypical differences even if they don’t apply to everyone?

Why someone would name their child an action word, I have no idea. I’m still waiting to hear back from Tripp’s parents. However, naming your child an emotion and fruit of the spirit? Totally normal.

Aside from his parent’s judgement…I have found a blog that is truly worth your time, if laughing is an activity in which you like to partake. Well, in the “blogger community” it looks like many of you have already found him. I am last to join the game. (But we don’t need to address my childhood issues.) Thanks to my new Forum and two people posting articles by this Tripp character, I decided to check out his site.

You should too…

www.trippcrosby.com

I love the way his mind writes and there are some video’s that will keep you from working the job you are avoiding even as you read this.

Under his “Dating” section he has this video. He says it’s embarrassing. I think it’s fantastic. Not sure who he was performing for, but I might hire him for my next video when we discuss “dating people with multiple personalities.”

Check out his post on “Being Set Up” HERE

Check out his post on “Can Guys and Girls be Friends” HERE

I savor sitting with you at a coffee shop or on my couch talking about your love life.

I look forward to contemplating our questions together in blog posts.

I love making YouTube videos to answer your “Ask Joy’s”…even if they are weird.

Whatever form we have met in I have enjoyed.  So…I came up with a new place for us to meet.

The Love and Respect NOW Forum.

Personally, when I hear “forum,” I think seriousness, dark suits and little Dixie cups of water.  But don’t worry. I only wear my suits on Monday.

The Forum is an opportunity for you to post things you want to talk to others about RIGHT now.  I haven’t been able to do a video response for all the questions I get from “Ask Joy,” so I thought this could be a perfect solution.

How it works:

1) Create a user name. Example: “Boboskiwatendat2000” or “Larry.”

2) Post a thread: i.e. question, article, rant, rave, video, photo, etc. regarding relationships and let people know why you posted.

3) I will “tweet” that a new thread has begun.

4) People can join the discussion. You can give your two cents on other people’s threads.

5) I will send you 3,000 dollars cash.

Now doesn’t that sound great?  I am super pumped. And I mean, like, 1980’s double arm-pump pumped. The only way this won’t work is if someone screws it up by posting inappropriate things or I find out that “Boboskiwatendat2000” and “Larry” made plans to meet in the alley way behind the sketchy McDonalds on the east side of town.

Bobo and Larry. Don’t mess this up for the rest of us.

For…um….crying out loud. Start discussing!  I look forward to hearing what’s on your mind.

ENTER THE FORUM

(It’s also on your left side of the screen, over <——- that way. Feel free to stop by the Unicorn poll first. Priorities, people.)