Major changes can be difficult to make and to maintain, just ask anyone who’s tried to lose weight, stop smoking, or quit a bad habit. We’ve all heard the stories; however, there are successes, too, and that’s what I’m interested in examining.

What does it take to make a radical change stick?

Please join me and read the rest today at (in)courage!

Is Radical Change Possible? is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

It’s finally here! The (in)courage un-conference, (in)RL, starts today with four separate broadcasts of web content and then get-togethers held in hundreds of living rooms, churches, and coffee shops all over the world tomorrow. Will you be a part of it? It’s not too late!

Here’s a little history and background on that strange looking name, (in)RL: bloggers developed the abbreviation IRL for “in real life” as in my blog buddy Heather and I finally met IRL!  We used to take a bit of ribbing about the imaginary friends in our computers before blog conferences and local meetups became more prevalent. Now I’ve met lots of my blog buddies IRL.

However, all of us need day-to-day real life community right where we live. We’re wired that way.

So, who’s my community?

My church. These are the cannot-live-without people in my life. I’ve always told my kids that of all the friendships they’ll make, there’s nothing like those precious ones of like precious faith. These are the ones who know me best of all, my move-a-body girlfriends.

My homeschool friends. We didn’t know most of the families in our Classical Conversations community when it started, but now they’re some of our dearest friends. Although naturally the moms are friends with the moms and kids with the kids, by the very nature of the program and the tutor-student relationship, I now have lots of teen friends, too.

I get to talk art and philosophy with these kids one day a week and dissect things like cows’ eyes (that’s the inside of one there on the right). We’ve had a wonderful school year and I’ll be sad to graduate these kids from my class next week.

Neighbors. I’m the world’s worst neighbor. Seriously. I’ve always got so much going on in the house or away from home that I’m not an out-and-about in the neighborhood kind of girl. And then there’s what my husband and I call my “5 degree comfort zone.” Let’s just say I’m thankful to live in the days of heating and air conditioning.

I’m hoping to connect more with my neighbors at my (in)RL gathering tomorrow.

What about you? Who’s your community?

(And what did your camera phone capture this week? Link it below!)

Camera Phone Friday: Thinking about Community (in)RL Edition is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Months ago when (in)RL was announced, it seemed so far in the future. Plenty of time to plan. Plenty of time to clean. Plenty of time to morph into the hostess with the mostess.

So I bravely signed up. Of course I would host! No problem!

But guess what? Now it’s April and I haven’t done much planning, I haven’t done much cleaning, and I can promise you that I will not be the (in)RL hostess with the mostest. I feel queasy just thinking about it.

Does hostessing freak you out a bit or are you a natural? Join me today to discuss it at (in)courage!

Confessions of a Hesitant Host Today at (in)courage is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Today at (in)courage I’ve written about something that’s very close to my heart: exploring creativity and asking God to bless it.

I’ve also used this post to officially announce the opening of my new shop. I’m going to expand the selection, but for now it offers three prints in different sizes or with and without verses, and two series of cafe mounted graphics available individually or as sets. One focuses on inspiration and creativity and the other is a hymn collection.

Please take a look—I’d love to hear your feedback, suggestions, and any particular items or photographs that you’d like to see made available.

Give God Your Art Today at (in)courage is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Today I’m taking the torch from Jessica in the (in)RL blog hop and telling you a little bit about what real life means to me.

Real life is girlfriends of like, precious faith who dream big with me, but are willing to grapple with the small stuff.

Real life is taking the time to relax and connect and breathe with friends I see often as we spin along in the frantic daily dance.

Real life is getting to meet local readers of (in)courage and my blog, finding out who you are and what makes you tick.

(Can you find me twice in this video? Where’s Waldo?!)

What is (in)RL?

(in)RL is a 2-day global event on April 27-28 kicking off with a webcast on Friday to watch in your own home and then meetups in homes, coffee shops, churches—wherever!—on Saturday. There are more webcasts available on Saturday. Your group might watch one or more, or just do your own thing. Connect. Make new friendships. Have fun!

To search locations and find out how you can be a part of (in)RL and build local community, click here. Register here, and remember—if there isn’t currently a meetup in your area, host your own!

Are you registered for an (in)RL meetup? What does real life mean to you?

Join Nester for tomorrow’s post!

What Real Life Means to Me is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Do you struggle with issues that you can’t handle, that are simply bigger than yourself? Stop by (in)courage today and I hope my post will remind and encourage you to trust the power that lives within you: Christ Jesus.

The Power that Lives Within Us Today at (in)courage is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

A new year arrives and an old pattern repeats as we walk a worn path, yearly trodden: emerging from the Christmas season with spirits lifted and hope renewed, expectant… ready.

Ready for change. Ready to make a difference.

Please click the link and read the rest of this post today at (in)courage!

Compassion in a New Year Today at (in)courage is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
~Psalm 51:10

Hop on over to (in)courage to download January’s desktop calendar!

January’s Desktop Wallpaper Today at (in)courage is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Confession: sometimes I withhold blessings from others. Maybe I don’t pay a compliment that’s deserved because part of me is jealous. Maybe I don’t bestow an encouraging word to a child whose behavior angers me. Maybe I disagree with my husband and then don’t extend an olive branch out of pride.

Everyone loses, even if I’m the only one aware that it’s happened.

Read the rest of this post today at (in)courage, and while you’re there you can download December’s desktop wallpaper!

You actually have two wallpaper choices for the month because I made one for readers at The Post, too!

Do You Hoard Blessings? today at (in)courage is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Behavior driven by conformity is the exact opposite of conviction-driven behavior. Conformity says, “I’m acting this way because of external pressure. This is what you expect or demand of me, but I don’t necessarily believe in it or give it freely.”

Conviction-driven behavior springs from within: “I’m modeling my life on principles that I believe are true. I live this way because I’m convinced that it’s right.”

Explore with me the difference between behavior driven by conformity or conviction today at (in)courage (and don’t forget to download your October desktop wallpaper)!

***

All 31 Days of Real Life posts can be found here. Other 31 Dayers can be found here.

31 Days of Real Life: Conformity Versus Conviction Today at (in)courage is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved