I know you have been waiting for a full report and girlfriend, I am ready to give it. She Speaks was so much more than I hoped it would be. For those of you who don’t know, She Speaks is a weekend long conference for women that is hosted by Proverbs 31 Ministries. There are different tracks that you can take: women’s ministry leaders, writers, speakers, and bloggers. They give you session after session on the topic and have some of the most amazing teachers there to share their expertise. We even got to meet with publishers and agents. I took the writer’s track. I am a writer after all or so that is what I tell myself. 
I so looked forward to attending and up until the day I left I was printing off one sheets and a book proposal. Gosh, how much ink does one need to do this? I may very well have to claim some of this as expenses come tax season. Yes, I used that much paper and ink. The one problem I had with going was my wardrobe. You know I can’t find good clothes. I mean, you must remember this fiasco. I hate shopping. So what did I do? Not go shopping. I used what I had and pieced stuff together. I hated that too. Maybe I should have taken the “What to Wear” course that the conference offered.
So, me and the family wake up at early thirty on Friday morning (don’t ask how early) and headed to the airport. On the way there everyone was pretty sleepy so there wasn’t much talking going on. However, once we got to the airport things changed. My babies started crying. Oh, can I tell you I almost did not get on that plane? I haven’t left my babies overnight in so long. I mean years. It was all I could do to go through with it. But, I’m glad I did. It turns out as soon as they got to McDonalds to get breakfast they were fine. I guess the good ol’ golden arches saved the day again.
The trip there was fine. We even arrived 15 minutes ahead of schedule so I got to hang out with some of the girls right away. My good friend LauraLee Shaw from Selah was one of the first I got to see. Then we also met Lisa (she doesn’t have a blog) and Shelly Wildman from Life on the Wild Side. I loved these ladies immediately. I’m so glad we got to get to know each other and spend time together at the conference. I also got to meet many more of my “imaginary friends” over the course of the weekend. I love that they aren’t “imaginary” anymore!
Before I even got off the plane Dawn Camp from My Home Sweet Home Online had text me about having lunch. She was already hanging out with our friends Tina from Antique Mommy and Jo-Lynn from Musings of a Housewife and can I just say that Jo-Lynn’s purse totally matches her header? Oh it was so cute! So the three of them, LauraLee, Shelly, Lisa, and myself headed over to lunch where Heather from Especially Heather, Mari from Mari’s Morning Room, and Lisa Boyd from Simply His were waiting for us. Oh was I ever excited to hug Heather! I have been following her amazing story for so long that she is like a sister to me. I love that girl! I have a great story about Lisa Boyd too so I’ll share that with you soon.
While we were munching away in walks Nester from um, hello, you know where to find Nester and Emily from Chatting at the Sky. I must say that they are sweeter and cuter in person than they are on their blogs. I was so excited to finally see them. Later on I got to meet Jen from Beauty and Bedlam and what a sweetheart she is! I was in bloggy friend heaven. Over the course of the weekend I also got to hang out with Hillary from The “Other” Mama, Mary from Giving Up On Perfect, and Allison from Anointed With Grace. Did I mention Sophie from Big Mama sought me out to hug me? Oh she is the greatest! But… on Sunday morning I got to sit down to breakfast and a meeting with two of the most amazing women I’ve ever met: Lysa and Holly. We chatted about some upcoming events that we will be partnering together on and just had a grand ol’ time. A grand time until I flung a pineapple into my bosom and Holly laughed hysterically. I just love when a woman can laugh with a friend. I certainly found it hilarious. It was definitely a weekend of being humble.
I met so many more great women but gosh, I don’t want to forget anyone so I only listed the ones I actually got to hang out with. I also want to tell you all about my publisher and agent meetings (woo hoo!) and the things I learned during the session. I also have so many God moment stories and boy did He ever speak to my heart at this conference. I want to tell you all of it but I will save that for another day since I am currently putting on a homeschool conference – online – and really should be focusing on that.
So tell me this… if you could meet any of your bloggy friends who would it be and why?
I think I would love to meet many of my blogging friends…there are those that I was on a message board first before we all started blogging (Shell) and those I met when I first started blogging on LiveJournal (Melody). But now that I've been blogging on WordPress for this long and have met so many women online at the AWI conferences, I think I would love to meet many of them (You, Amy S, Desperatly Seeking…Heather, Simply His…Lisa, and so many others that I follow!), then there are those random people I've just stumbled upon (the Preacher's Wife…Lisa, Brandi from brandiandboys) Wow, there are so many I want to meet someday! I guess I should start praying about SheSpeaks 2010!
I am sorry that we didn't get to connect at the conference, I was so consumed with meeting Jesus, that everything else kinda took a back seat! That is what I love about that conference, you can find Him everywhere! I did get to meet Laura Lee, she was in my speaker eval group, what a sweetheart!
I'm glad you had such an awesome time at She Speaks. I'll be praying for your book opportunity.
Hugs in Him.
P.S. you can get my HS blog button here: http://lighthouseacademyhomeschool.blogspot.com/
Eeeeee! I am so sad that I don't get to finally meet YOU next week. *sniff* But it will have to be so very soon. I feel like I've known you forever.
I have already been blessed to meet and come to love my favorite blogging buddy(even though she was told she is not a true blogger). Laura Lee Shaw is an answer to prayer for me and quickly becoming a dear treasure in my life.
She said you are amazing & that I would love you too!
I would want to meet YOU, Amy S. Big Mama, Lisa Welchel, and Marsha….How is that for a list. Will you arrange it?
Well, since I already have the pleasure of KNOWing YOU, Tiany and now Darnelle…it would have to be Sprittibee (will happen in Oct!) and Marsha (was hoping for next week, but not working out!)….the rest of the list is a mile long, but those are at the top!
Ok, this was a Lovely post, NOW GIVE US MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
P.S. the conference was great! I heard you and Tiany, everyone else just snippets while PACKING!
Amy! You know my story and how I tried to get to the conference to see you at the meet and greet, so I wont even go there. LOL
But..you are the top of the list
On with the rest of my list…
Judy,Benmakesten
Shawntele,Savedbygrace
Zinnada,Ourhodgesfamily
Ginger,Findjoyinthejourney
Karen,Truthingraceministries
Tiany!!
Jennifer Sikora,Belikeesther
I'm gonna stop now before I get myself into trouble. I've been blessed my so many women through their blogs. Their are more than I could mention in a comment box.
Here is my list:
)
Rae, thepioneerwoman
Marsha, marshamarshamarsha
Heather, especiallyheather
Crystal, monesavingmom
I can't think of her name right now, but she is from Canada and lives on a farm. Her blog is a devotional blog…..
and of course you!!
I recently got to meet six other AZ bloggers and it was so much fun. And later this month I will get to meet Lori of Lori's Reflections and Iris of Grace Alone and originator of Thankful Thursdays. I'm excited.
But there are a few people I would absolutely love to meet in person and they include Lisa Shaw of Sharing Life With Lisa, Jill of Forever N Ever N Always, Debra of Clothed With Scarlet and Edie of Rich Graphics and Blog Designs.
I know I'm forgetting many but that's it for right now. I also will be meeting Sarah Dawn of Splashing Glory soon. And when I go to Norway I want to meet L-Jay of My Little Norway and Felisol of On the Far Side of the Sea.
BTW, I read Laura Lee's blog post about her meltdown and how kind and understanding you were to her. I loved that and I hope one day to meet you too.
A couple of weeks ago, I did meet one of my bloggy friends who was right up at the top of my list – Carrie from Gremlin Wrangler. Not only did I meet her, she brought the entire gang of gremlins and Mr Wrangler and stayed with us for four days! It was a blast!
Beyond that, I don't think I could possibly narrow it down much. SprittiBee would be up there. She was my first blogger friend ever. I started to list a bunch more, but then I feel bad, cause I'm sure I'd leave out someone I really would like to meet! But I wouldn't even have jumped onto the blogging bandwagon were it not for Heather, so now that I've already met Carrie, she has to be the next one.
I also met SoCalVal recently and she moved right here to my very own city! I also met Sallie Anderson (Seaside Tales) over a year ago, as her husband's granny lives here.
Of course, Amy, YOU are in that big old list of bloggers I'd love to meet!
I am so blessed to have met you in person and look forward to becoming better writers for Jesus together. You rock =)