I love writing for (in)courage and filling our home (and our friends’ homes) with DaySpring products. I really, really, really love the fact that (in)courage was “built” with a beach house theme, and that for the second year in a row the city of Hilton Head will open her arms and welcome the authors to put up our sandy, dirty feet in real beach houses, spending time together and cooking up ways to better serve and bless the (in)courage community.

“When we asked ourselves what kind of place we were building, we finally came to see it as a bit like a beach house. You can put your sandy, dirty feet on the coffee table, laugh late into the night with friends, and also hear God’s voice clearer than perhaps anywhere else. Life just feels more vibrant and real, as if you’ve stumbled upon a glimpse of heaven and it’s nothing like you ever imagined but everything you’d always hoped.” {Read the full (in)courage story here.}

Unbelievably, 24 of us will be there next week. With some I’ve been real-life friends for years and others I’ll meet face-to-face for the first time. It makes me giddy just thinking about it; what a sweet homecoming it will be.

I want to thank the sponsors of our trip in advance:

• Resort Rentals of Hilton Head Island is putting us up in style in two side-by-side beach houses. If you’re looking for a safe, relaxing getaway for you or your family, I encourage you to seriously consider Hilton Head. Last year was my first visit there and I was so impressed by the beauty and charm of the island.
• DaySpring continues to amaze me with their generosity and investment in the (in)courage authors and community. The (in)courage site may give a “face” to DaySpring, but I’ve seen the real face of DaySpring at conferences and in day-to-day email conversations with the people who work there. Believe me when I say that this company is the real deal.

[If you’ve been reading the website lately, you’ll know that we’re working on something big that will be revealed to the (in)courage community next week on September 9, while we’re in Hilton Head. I’ll blog the announcement here, too.]