The Giving Challenge - Stephanie L. Jones

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MY MISSION

Empowering women to give their best life through giving to themselves and others, practicing gratitude, and pursuing one good goal, with a foundation of faith.

© 2023 Stephanie L. Jones, Giving Gal

I love the idea that after (or before) we get dres

I love the idea that after (or before) we get dressed each morning we add putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

I don’t know about you, but I have a feeling some days, for me, would look a little different.

Today wraps up National Police Week. A week wher

Today wraps up National Police Week.

A week where we honor those serving, and remember the ones that made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities.

When I became a police wife, I didn’t know such week existed. But less than a year later, I’d travel with my husband and thousands of other police officers and families to attend the memorial services honoring officers killed in 2003.

Just before that year’s end, on the early morning of December 21, 2003, Trooper Scott Patrick stopped to help a motorist with a disable vehicle. That thought always gets me. Scott was there to help, but the coward he tried to help was a felon and didn’t want to go back to jail. That felon shot and killed a husband, son, brother, friend and soon to be father.

A few months later, we entered the police memorial in Washington D.C. and searched for our friend’s name etched in the stone.

The picture below, with my husband at the wall, is one that crushes my soul. I’m overwhelmed with wondering what it must be like to lose someone that you worked so closely with, doing the same job you do.

Years later, we’d return to DC to honor two more friends killed in the line of duty, Lt. Gary Dudley and Deputy Bruce Sutton.

If you are ever in DC, take time to visit the police memorial and pay your respects to those that serve and protect the communities you live.

For as the wall reads, “It is not how these officer’s died that made them heroes, it is how they lived.”

Today and every day, keep police officers and their families in your prayers and thank them for their sevice.

Two years ago, as a graduation gift, to my best fr

Two years ago, as a graduation gift, to my best friend’s son, I wrote (then typed out) a list of lessons I’d learned over my life and wish I could have learned earlier.

This year, I turned that gift into a book, Uncommon Growth.

I’m excited to share, it’s available just in time for graduation and it makes the perfect graduation gift.

I would love your support in getting these lessons out to young adults.

As always, thank you for helping me along this journey. I couldn’t do it without you!

Do you have a morning routine? My day starts with

Do you have a morning routine?

My day starts with a big mug of black coffee and reading two or three chapters in the Bible. I enjoy listening to Through the Word, as they explain each chapter. I learn so much!

I then dive into my Thank-You Notes to God journal, writing down what I want to remember about the day before, five things I’m grateful for, and my prayers.

I read a story from 100 Bible Verses That Made America, to be reminded that the Word of God and prayer laid the foundation for the USA.

If I have time, I read a book. My current read is Born to Shine. I’m not far enough along to give a review.

What’s your morning routine look like?

Today is Peace Officers Memorial Day. It's a day t

Today is Peace Officers Memorial Day. It's a day to remember law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens they served.

Along my giving journey, I often write letters to wives and families of the fallen. As a police wife, I wanted them to know I'm here and I'm thinking and praying for your family.

Unfortunately when you live a life in law enforcement, tragedy often strikes close to home.

Today I remember three friends killed in the line of duty.

E.O.W. 12-22-2003-Scott Patrick a friend and fellow police academy classmate.

E.O.W. 08-22-2006-Gary Dudley was my academy instructor, coworker, and friend.

E.O.W. 12-11-2009-Bruce Sutton was a high school friend.

As the police memorial in D.C. says, “It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived.” -Survivor Vivian Eney

Please pray for our officers and their families. This year, 42 officers have been killed in the line of duty.

May God protect and bring all our officers home safely to their loved ones.

“When a police officer is killed, it’s not an agency that loses an officer, it’s an entire nation.” -Chris Cosgriff

Twisted Sugar Valparaiso and Crown Point have star

Twisted Sugar Valparaiso and Crown Point have started an amazing literary program for schools and their students.

I’m so excited to partner with them and have my Giving Gal books shared with the children!

Both books have cookie themes and Twisted Sugar has yummy and delicious cookies! It’s a sweet partnership.

If you are in the area, stop by one of their shops, you won’t be disappointed!

Being and author is hard. There’s a reason why 8

Being and author is hard. There’s a reason why 80%+ people want to write a book, but less than 5% do.

But the joy that comes from engaging with readers makes all the hard work worth it.

I received this thank you note from a young reader, who loves the Giving Gal series.

She totally made my day!

Over the years, I’ve entered my books in contests. I’ve won some and lost some.

I’ll take a letter from a reader, any day, over an award.

Parents: Teach children the power of gratitude. It’s a life lesson/skill they can always use.

Arona and I met at a conference in Nashville and h

Arona and I met at a conference in Nashville and have become great friends!

She drove in from Chicago to help me at the 3 Little Birds Market at the Porter County Expo in Valparaiso.

Giving Gal’s Bookshop will be here from 9-3. Come see us!

The bells were ringing and I was either late or ju

The bells were ringing and I was either late or just in time to slip into church as the worship band started to play.

As I sang the songs, I became annoyed with the women behind me who, instead of singing, were chatting loudly.

I wanted to turn around and give them a good stare. And yet I heard God whisper, “Focus on me. Mind your own business.”

And so, I sang and tuned out their chatter and my mind fluttered back to an encounter earlier in the week with a hair stylist.

She yammered on about roommates, cats, and a stinky living situation. Her negativity poured over me. When I wanted to be terse, I heard God whisper, just listen, be kind, and love on her. And so that is what I did.

Between services I served at the coffee bar and when a man spilled his coffee, I hopped into action to help clean up the mess.

A lady had coffee splashed on her shoes and asked me for a towel. Instead of giving it to her, I just knelt down and wiped her shoes. She was taken back that I’d stooped to cleaning the shoes of a stranger. But isn’t this how we love one another? How we serve them?

As I sat squatting, I was reminded of how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. A true servant leader.

In life we have choices of how we treat people. How we respond. It seems easier to react in judgment and hate. But over and over again, I’ve found, if we take a moment to pause, and respond in love, our heart softens a bit, and we get to be a person who is making a positive difference in our part of the world.

Follow @realmikebellini for a weekly prayer. #love

Follow @realmikebellini for a weekly prayer. #love #prayer #pray

Take a couple of minutes to write down, each day,

Take a couple of minutes to write down, each day, five things you are grateful.

The more you take time to focus on the good in your life, the less time you have to focus on the negative.

Practicing gratitude has changed my life and it can change yours also.

In just one week, my friend’s book: “Love Conn

In just one week, my friend’s book: “Love Connects Us All” officially releases.

This sweet picture book celebrates family—all kinds of families—and it drives home the point that we are all a part of God’s family.

These are a couple of stanzas from “Love Connects Us All”:

“I’m thankful for my family—
This one that God designed.
My family might be different,
But it’s my favorite kind.

And there is more to praise Him for—
I’m in God’s family, too!
I am a precious child of God.
And guess what? So are you!”

Pre-order your copy today. 🤍 Love Connects Us All https://amzn.to/3GBjBSd

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