THE COMPUTER AND I HAD ISSUES--2 IDENTICAL POSTS! PICK THE ONE YOU WANT!

Wendy Pope and myself after her talk on "Teaching By the Book"--awesome session!

Wendy Blight--a true friend and mentor!! Thank you!

The Nester, Lysa TerKeurst, and moi at the Blogger Drop-In ---they are just darlin'!

Holly and Leah- assistants of Lysa T. and Renee--aren't they precious?

Renee Swope, Tammy, and myself busy visiting and looking at baby pictures!! These ladies are too cute!

Good morning!! I can't believe it's been a week since She Speaks! Yes, I'm still on that mountaintop high!! I wanted to share some pics of the P31 Team members who have said "yes" to God in so many ways. They are wives and moms, just like many of us! Some of their stories were hilarious and others quite serious. They were vulnerable, insightful, and passionate about our Jesus. They have realized that God is calling them to step out and do things for His glory. They have accepted His call and are encouraging us as well! Those adjectives that I used to describe them ring so true!!

Last year, I heard God ask me to begin a Women's Ministry at our church. One year later, it is in place--we are taking baby steps. Growing it with His guidance and love is a joy to me. I have been blessed with a team of 14 ladies who felt the call to follow Him as well!! Oh, He is SO good!!

This year, I had signed up to take a session that sounded really good! But y'all, I changed my mind!! God used these two ladies--Kristen Myers and Chef Dianne--to tell me that I really needed to hear Wendy Pope and her talk on "Teaching by the Book." Well, I took that session last year!! I loved it, but I had been there, done that! They insisted, and Wendy even told me I had time to run to my room (on the 8th floor!) and get a Cherry coke--I needed some caffeine, people!! I grabbed the coke and my bag of white chocolate peanut butter Reeces cups (I heart those things!!) and headed back just in time for Wendy to start! Wendy Blight was her assistant on the computer!! I just love these two Wendys--and my roommate Wendy, too!!! God has used their writing to show me so many of His truths!

Even though I took this session last year, God desired my presence there again this year! Ya'll, I love to facilitate Bible Studies! It's a passion of mine! But, I don't know the WORD as much as I should. Wendy P. had the same experience, and she put aside leading for awhile and began to study. Her session was how to study His Word---just what I needed! Then God began whispering to me in the middle of her talk..."Susan, honey are you listening?? I need to show you more of ME so you can better teach."

Hmm....right before I left for She Speaks, I had talked to my partner in crime, Donita, about leading a study that I had earlier planned on facilitating at church. Just yesterday, she said she would love to lead it! Other folks are stepping up to help out and that is freeing me up! I am almost afraid to type this, but I think my plate for the fall is clean!! A clean plate!! Imagine!! I am planning on taking 2 Bible studies under amazing teachers who have the wisdom I desire. If I want to serve Him, I have to be filled with Him and His WORD.

If we are in tune with Jesus, He will show us His ways. On Saturday night, as I traveled to the foot of the cross to lay down my burdens and receive a fresh word from Him, He was ready! I "randomly" chose a scripture card and took it back to my table to read. "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

Does that speak to me? Yes siree! Was that scripture a random choice? Nope! Plans have to be for His purpose. I can plan a gazillion things, but if they don't line up with His purpose, they will be fruitless, a flop, a failure! I have to go to Him first and see if my plans line up with His will. Always first...not at the last minute! How about you?

Listening for Him!

Word of God Speak

Wendy Pope and myself after her talk on "Teaching By the Book"--awesome session!

Wendy Blight--a true friend and mentor!! Thank you!
The Nester, Lysa TerKeurst, and moi at the Blogger Drop-In

Holly and Leah- assistants of Lysa T. and Renee--aren't they precious?

Renee Swope, Tammy, and myself busy visiting and looking at baby pictures!!

Good morning!! I can't believe it's been a week since She Speaks! Yes, I'm still on that mountaintop high!! I wanted to share some pics of the P31 Team members who have said "yes" to God in so many ways. They are wives and moms, just like many of us! Some of their stories were hilarious and others quite serious. They were vulnerable, insightful, and passionate about our Jesus. They have realized that God is calling them to step out and do things for His glory. They have accepted His call and are encouraging us as well! Those adjectives that I used to describe them ring so true!!

Last year, I heard God ask me to begin a Women's Ministry at our church. One year later, it is in place--we are taking baby steps. Growing it with His guidance and love is a joy to me. I have been blessed with a team of 14 ladies who felt the call to follow Him as well!! Oh, He is SO good!!
On Saturday, I had signed up to take a session that sounded really good! But y'all, God changed my mind!! God used these two ladies--Kristen Myers and Chef Dianne--to tell me that I really needed to hear Wendy Pope and her talk on "Teaching by the Book."

Well, I took that session last year!! I loved it, but I had been there, done that! They insisted, and Wendy even told me I had time to run to my room (on the 8th floor!) and get a Cherry coke--I needed some caffeine, people!! I grabbed the coke and my bag of white chocolate peanut butter Reeces cups (I heart those things!!) and headed back just in time for Wendy to start! Wendy Blight was her assistant on the computer!! I just love these two Wendys--and my roommate Wendy, too!!! God has used their writing to show me so many of His truths!
Even though I took this session last year, God desired my presence there again this year!

Ya'll, I love to facilitate Bible Studies! It's a passion of mine! But, I don't know the WORD as much as I should. Wendy P. had the same experience, and she put aside leading for awhile and began to study. Her session was how to study His Word---just what I needed! Then God began whispering to me in the middle of her talk..."Susan, honey are you listening?? I need to show you more of ME so you can better teach."

Hmm....a week before She Speaks, I had talked to my "partner in crime," Donita, about leading a study that I had earlier planned on facilitating at church. This Wednesday, she said she would love to lead it! Other folks are stepping up to help out and that is freeing me up! I am almost afraid to type this, but I think my plate for the fall is clean!! A clean plate!! Imagine!! I am planning on taking 2 Bible studies under amazing teachers who have the wisdom I desire. If I want to serve Him, I have to be filled with Him and His WORD.

If we are in tune with Jesus, He will show us His ways. On Saturday night, as I traveled to the foot of the cross to lay down my burdens and receive a fresh word from Him, He was ready! I "randomly" chose a scripture card and took it back to my table to read. "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

Does that speak to me? Yes siree! Was that scripture a random choice? Nope! Plans have to be for His purpose. I can plan a gazillion things, but if they don't line up with His purpose, they will be fruitless, a flop, a failure! I have to go to Him first and see if my plans line up with His will. Always first...not at the last minute! How about you?

Listening for Him

She Stays Focused

Stacey, Lisa, Denise, and Debbie--are they not adorable???

Me and Lynn--she was our fearless leader and Proverbs 31 team member

Christy, me, and Lynn--precious girls

Marci, Amy, Lisa, and Sharon--they were just darlin' sweet gals

Here's our group! One of the gals, Suzie, had already left for Virginia Beach to go home. I had the privilege of having breakfast with her and her friends on Sunday morning. They were so kind to let me sit with them--I had just finished a run and was still in wet stinky running clothes and a hat!! Bless their hearts!

When I registered for She Speaks, I thought that I would step out on a limb! Give something new a try! Last year, I focused on Women's Ministries. Most of the sessions I attended related to that. This year, I had a different goal in mind. I wanted to focus on speaking while facilitating Bible Studies at my church. Just making sure that I stay on track and don't deviate too much from the topic! When you enjoy chatting as much as I do, it's easy to move to another topic without realizing it! For example, if we were studying Mary and Martha, this could lead into discussion about Martha's cooking for Jesus and the disciples. In turn, we could ponder what would she prepare for the meal. That could lead to recipes, and the next thing you know, we'd be swappin' banana pudding ideas with each other!! See how easy it is to get off track??

Well, I gave it a try! These darlin' girls in the pics above and myself were in a room where we shared our testimony on Friday and a teaching talk on Saturday. Friday's talk was limited to 3 minutes, and Saturday's talk to 5 minutes. People, talking and being timed and staying focused was exactly what I needed!! Whew!! It's very difficult to share how you came to Christ in 3 minutes or less! You have to think of this as one photograph on a page...not lots of extra pictures that you really want to share. Focus and main idea was what we had to strive for.

These ladies were just so precious! Their smiles and nods of encouragement while speaking made it a little easier!!! We became extremely vulnerable as we let down the walls and shared our stories. No longer were we complete strangers, but sisters in Christ. We each had to critique one another with a wonderful checklist. I treasure the comments that they wrote. The one comment that made me smile--even though it was something that I needed to work on--was my earrings!! Several of the girls mentioned that my earrings were a distraction!! Y'all, I found these humongous, funky earrings last week while I was in Tennessee. We're talking long and dangly, people!! I decided to wear them on Friday, never thinking at all about them being a distraction while speaking!!

It made me think about what are distractions in my life that keep me from Christ? What shiny, pretty things keep me from meeting with Him each day? My to-do list? Phone calls or errands that simply must get done? Laundry? No--definitely not laundry!! That can always wait and just become a mountain!! Sometimes it's church related! But that quiet time with you and the Lord is something that He desires each day. We have to put away our distractions--whether they are pretty and shiny or dull and boring. As Paul said in Hebrews 12:1-3, "1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up."

Each time I now wear those earrings, they will be a great reminder of distractions that keep me from the Lord--sin that easily trips us up. They will also remind me of the great cloud of witnesses--those wonderful ladies in my speaking group who were loving and honest. Oh, how I appreciate that!

I'll post again on Friday about She Speaks and share more pictures (imagine!) and what God has laid upon my heart. I have a prayer request for y'all today if you don't mind!! I just waved good-bye to Hubby and Children #1 and #2 as they took off to go white water rafting on the Chatooga River with the youth from our church! A few knots in me--you Mama's know what I'm talking about! If you you would lift them up during the day, I would so very much appreciate it! I have loads to do which is why I am not going! We have a big Women's Ministry event on Friday at church, and I am focusing on that today! Bless you!! Y'all are just precious yourselves! Have a beautiful Wednesday!

Sweet Blessings!!

She Spoke....She Heard....She Rests

What happens when you put over 600 women, a fabulous worship leader (Cheri Keaggy), the Proverbs 31 Ministry Team, and guest speaker Jennifer Rothschild into a humongous hotel? You get a whole lot of Jesus!! Wow! What a great weekend!! Just got back from She Speaks last night. Y'all, it was amazing....rather, God reminded me how amazing He is and the amazing things He does in the lives of people who tell Him "yes!"

I am still processing all that God revealed to me this weekend. Some things were gentle reminders, and others were surprises! I was truly reminded that His ways are so much higher than my simple, stay in the box ways! As I study His Word, I know that He will share with me His plans...for He already knows what they are. An awesome weekend, y'all!

Over the past 3 days, I had the wonderful opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones! What's funny is that some of the old friends are you from bloggyland that I've chatted with for a year now! I finally got to see you face to face! What fun!! Jen, from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, hosted a get together for bloggers on Friday night after our sessions. We had a ball!! It was like meeting old friends! You know, there are those who use the internet for evil. But, God can use it for good! He blessed sweet times with ladies from all over the country who had only connected through the internet. He is good and faithful!

Heather--my new running buddy and Jen (inpassionatepursuit.blogspot.com---y'all, my computer is not wanting to add this link!! I am so sorry Jen!! I promise it's not you!!) and me (I am feeling a little short here, people!! And, I was wearing heels!)

I want to share some of my pics from this weekend with you. I will share more pictures and stories this week! I promise!! And, I want to introduce you to the girls in my Speaker's Track group as well! I will post on Wednesday and Friday, so be sure to come back and visit! Check out the blogs of these gals when you get a minute...you will be blessed!!

Starring Lee Merrill as herself!! I just heart her!
Tammy and me--she ran with us on Saturday! Awesome lady!
Emily and Nester--two of the funniest sisters around! They are precious! I want one of those little pins they are wearing!!

Me and the Nester--hoping that some of her decorating savvy will rub off on me!!Me and Mari--she is the sweetest little thing! We met last year at SS.

Me, Lee, and Pamela (Pink Shoe Lady) posing for the camera! Pamela even had darlin' little pink shoe earrings on!! Too cute!

Disclaimer!!!OK--I do know that you do not start off a sentence with me!! But, I happened to be on the left-hand side in these pics!! The teacher in me is going bananas!!

Wendy (My roomie and precious friend from last year), Rachel Olsen--darlin' She Speaks friend, and myself at dinner--it was yummy!And this picture is especially for Elaine Olsen!! She had the nerve to tell me not to wear my ugly crocs to the conference!! Can you believe that!? So, I threw them in the car anyway!!! Heehee!!! Love you, Elaine!! These crocs--believe it or not--are adorable!! Jen is wearing these, and I tried them on, and they felt just as wonderful as my ugly crocs do! I am on a mission to find some to wear soon!! I may even buy a pair for Elaine!! :)

Many Blessings!

She Prepares, She Packs, She Speaks!

She Speaks is just around the corner....literally! Come Friday morning, I will be in my mama mini van heading up the road to be filled with a weekend packed full of joy, laughter, hugs, and JESUS!! Oh, I can't wait!


Last year, as a newbie to Proverbs 31 Ministries, I decided to sign up for Women's Ministries presentations. They were fabulous! God has really been doing some amazing things in my heart this year, and I have felt the gentle push to step out of my comfort zone this weekend. I have signed up for the Speaker's Track. Now, I am not feeling the call to speak--especially since I tend to babble! But, I thought this would be a great opportunity to try to learn to stay focused on one topic...and hopefully, it will transfer over to my facilitating Bible Studies! So, I have been preparing.


She Packs is a little more difficult!! Hubby will tell you that it takes me days to decide what to pack for a simple one night trip! He can pack a suitcase for a week in under 5 minutes! No lie! (He does travel some and has more practice than I do!). It's not like I have a million different clothes to chose from...I just can't decide what I want to wear from Friday to Sunday! I want to take only one pair of shoes--in addition to my running shoes, of course! (They go everywhere, people!) Do I take the black ones or the brown ones? Or, can I just wear my ugly but most comfy Crocs? That leads me to what clothes will match with the shoes. And that, of course, leads to what jewelry to take!! I usually just dump it ALL into my handy dandy suitcase and have all options ready and waiting!! But, I am trying really hard this time to make decisions! I have until 8:30 am Friday morning!


"She Speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Proverbs 31: 26


I will be speaking and listening and praying and eating and running! I will be making new friends and hugging the necks of old friends. I cannot wait to hear what God has to say to each of us this weekend. I will be listening for His small quiet voice to give me that wisdom and instruction that comes from spending time with Him and in His Word. During this conference, we have the time and opportunity to be in prayer. It's not just rush, rush, rush like so many other conferences. This is very special, and I am so thankful that the P31 team has incorporated this into the ministry.


I will take a gazillion pictures--promise! I'll post about our time next week. If you think about us over the weekend, we all would so appreciate your prayers! The Proverbs 31 Team has put hours of planning and prayer into the next few days. Please lift them up as they share and encourage others. There are some ladies who are traveling far distances alone. Some have never traveled without their spouses. Others are seeking peace; others answers from God. Still others don't have a clue as to what to expect.


Just remember, when you invite God to a party, He will show up in a mighty big way!!


Ready to Party!

Post # 98--Tres Fru Fru!

Ya'll, my eyes--even with the dollar tree glasses and all--are crossin' on me! I have been on a painting frenzy this week! My sweet friend, Lisa, whom I highlighted months ago (she does the darling monograms), is going on vacation. The location happens to be a wonderful community at the beach where folks set up shop in their front yards and SELL their cute stuff! I don't mind asking people things (!), so I asked Lisa if I could send a few items down with her! Remember, I am a woman on a mission to buy a new camera!! So, hopefully, she'll be able to sell a few goodies for me!

I'm actually waiting on the E600 glue to dry--I will pass out in my car if I load up the stuff now and try to drive to her house and deliver my things! Mercy...it's potent! But, it works!! I wanted to let y'all see one of the cute ideas that I actually thought of on my own! Now, if you're a Susie or a Nestor or a Kimba or a Kjisa or just beautiful you---this stuff comes naturally to you girls! I truly have to focus! With everything else flying around in my life, that's sometimes difficult to do!

This morning, I had to make a detour to Wal-Mart for a laundry bag. The small ones that you use in the washing machine...the kind that never wear out or tear up! Well, after 15 plus years, ours did! Across the aisle from the bags were these darlin' little canvas bins! Too cute!
Hmm...what can I paint on this I pondered!! (Not out loud!!!) Then I came up with this.

I call it the "Tres Simple Canvas Bin." I plan on making more! They were fun!! It still takes me several hours to draw and paint and repaint and do a third repaint on these babies! I want to create a "Tres Fru Fru Canvas Bin" as well! You can store cleaning supplies or towels or crafts or pool stuff or books or snacks.....the list is endless! Lots of my friends will be seeing these for Christmas or birthdays with their initials on them or holiday motifs or scripture(that's the fru fru)!! Can ya tell I'm excited??

I would LOVE to make some for y'all! But I'm clueless as to how to ship them. I don't want it to cost you an arm and a leg!! They are very light weight but odd shaped. Let me know if you have any ideas. The "Tres Simple" ones are $18.00. The "Tres Fru Fru" ones will be $24.00. You pick your colors and ribbons. Holler at me if you would like to get one, and we'll figure out how to do the s/h. I will be at "She Speaks" in July and will be able to bring some with me if you're going to that wonderful weekend.

My dog is inhaling these E600 fumes!!! Bless Scarlette's heart...um, lungs! Need to let her out before she goes bananas!! Y'all have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs!

Guess Who I Met???

Happy Monday morning! Life is GOOOD!!! I have been given the OK to run again! I had my third round of rabies shots this morning...and that precious little doctor gave me a darlin' pink Barbie bandaid!!! I LOVE pink and grew up playing with Barbies! I have just a minute to post before I'm out again! This time to the gym for strength training. I've got a lot of ground to make up before my race in May! Last week sorta put a damper on things...but all is well!

This weekend, the Extraordinary Women's Conference can to town! Woohoo! Just wonderful! I heard Chonda Pierce, Newsong, Angela Thomas, Charles Billingley, Stormie O'Martian, and Michelle McKinney Hammond...and one of my most favorite fiction Christian writers....Karen Kingbury!!! Y'all....she was so sweet! She stood in line for hours signing autographs and taking pictures with crazy people like me! Of course, I had no camera, just the one in my cell phone! Hmm...two weekends in a row with using those cell phone cameras!! Anyway, my friends snapped this to prove that I met her!

(And yes, it was pouring down rain, and my hair was as frizzy as could be!) But, I got to meet the author of the Baxter family! And the gal who wrote the Tuesday Morning series after 9-11. Karen was as down to earth as she could be! Her husband and all 6 kids were with her. She had us laughing one minute and crying the next. It was really cool the way that she encouraged us to love the cast of characters that God places in our lives. There will always be the antagonist--satan--that we must deal with. But God has a plan that will complete our story with a "happily ever after" if only we will give our hearts to Him. Love this girl! Check out her website when you get a chance! It's KarenKingsbury.com.

The theme this weekend was free to be real. (2 Corinthians 3:12-18) Free to show off the real glory of God--free to call on Him at any time. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Until we give our burdens to Christ--whether it's depression, abuse, no job, becoming a single mom, pridefulness, etc., we will not reflect the glory of God. There is a veil over our face--just as it was the face of Moses--that hides God's glory. Moses wouldn't take off his veil. We cannot see God until we remove ours. Our spiritual wisdom is blurry (Angela Thomas)! I don't know about y'all, but I want to see clearly at all times...especially God!! God desires for us to remove that veil so others can see Him in us! We must lay those burdens down, and only then will we be able to lift the veil so that others see Christ in us. Powerful weekend, y'all!

I thought about some you all out in bloggyland as well. Those of you aspiring to become writers in order to fulfill God's calling on your hearts. One day, it might be you up there at one of these conferences signing books and giving hugs! So....that being said, I'm asking in advance,"Would you please sign my book?" And on that note, my roomie from She Speaks last year emailed me last night. She said that her book that she presented there last year is going to be published in April! I am so excited for her! I will be sure to have her website up and running at the end of next month!! Way to go, Mary Singer Wick!! God is SO good!!

Many Blessings,