Fun, Fun, Fun Weekend!

This past weekend was one I have been looking forward to for 9 months!  Last December, my friend, Katie, went to a Deeper Still conference in Birmingham.  While she was there, they promoted the .MOM (dot mom) conference that Lifeway would be putting on in September 2011.  Katie called me and asked me if I wanted to go, and I said SURE!  We recruited a few more friends to go.  There ended up being six of us, and we had such a GREAT time!  I don’t think we stopped talking and laughing (except for when we were in the sessions) the WHOLE time we were gone.  I felt so blessed to be surrounded with other Godly women who the Lord has used to greatly encourage my heart!

Katie and Jill – Jill left her two little ones at home with her husband.  Her husband, Joey, has such a testimony of the Lord’s protection and provision.  Last year he was hunting by himself and suffered an aortic dissection.  I think that’s what it’s called.  Nonetheless, he really shouldn’t have survived, but God miraculously provided a way out of those woods where he went on to have open heart surgery.  He is doing great now!

Katie, Jill, Hilarie and Emily

Jill, Hilarie, Emily and me

We were so blessed to hear wonderful speakers at the conference…Angela Thomas, Angie Smith, Vicky Courtney and Priscilla Shirer.  The worship was let by Melissa Greene and it was incredible!  On Friday night, we were surprised to hear that the Duggars were there!  They had just returned from Israel.  The smallest baby, Josie, got sick while they were there and had to remain behind with her mom, Michelle, and sister, Jill, until she got better.  I know some people think this family is crazy, but I am in awe of them!  I can’t imagine having that many children.  They are so well behaved, and I admire how Jim Bob and Michelle live out a Christ centered life and include their children in Kingdom work all of the time!

I was so excited to have my picture made with Priscilla Shirer!  She is such an incredible woman of God! She brought an amazing message that just encouraged us to keep on being faithful in what we are doing, and God will meet us where we are.

I was also thrilled to hear Angie Smith!  Her husband, Todd, is the lead singer for the Christian band, Selah.  And, I guess it’s obvious by my daughter’s name that I really like that band.  (That is not the only reason we named her that, but the band was the first time I had ever heard the name).  Angie has been given an incredible ministry that was birthed out of the death of her fourth daughter, Audrey.  She has written two books, but the first one, I Will Carry You, is the story about Audrey….her life and death.  It is a great book!

After the conference was over, we went to The Summit and had a nice and healthy YUMMY dinner at The Cheesecake Factory!  The menu there is quite overwhelming, but everything is so good!

As I said earlier, I felt so blessed to be a part of this weekend.  The Lord spoke some amazing things to me, and I am so grateful for that.  I would encourage you to attend some type of conference like this every once in awhile!