Oh my heart! Last weekend was amazing! This is seriously the craziest story but I know you’re dying to hear it so here goes:

Several months ago I received an email about a Christian writers conference I’d not heard of before. Because I was curious and I enjoy writing, I clicked on the link for more details. My eyes skimmed through the information until they reached the price at the bottom. I sighed. This wasn’t a conference I would be attending in my lifetime unless a money tree magically began growing in our backyard!

I didn’t even pray about it. Just moved on. 

  Another email showed up reminding me about the conference about a month later. This time I said, “ok Lord, something’s up here. If this is Your will for me to attend this conference, you will have to open some doors because there is no way we can afford this.” 

  Over the course of the next week, about a dozen people mentioned they thought I should write a book and inwardly I just laughed. A book. Right. In my spare time when all six of my children are in bed, farm chores have been completed, homeschooling is finished, and the house is clean. Of course! Why not write a book in all 49.2 seconds of my spare time?

  At the end of that week, I got a phone call from someone wanting to pay my way to this conference which I had spoken to NO ONE, not even my husband, about. This person felt God was calling me to write and this conference was a tool I needed in my toolbox. I thanked them and promised to pray about it. 

  Immediately, I called my husband and told him about it and he supported me, encouraging me to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My next call was to a precious woman whose advice I sought. She also encouraged me to do it! 

  We had made vacation reservations with my dad not long after Christmas and planned to spend some time relaxing in North Carolina in July. After all the encouragement to attend the conference, I finally looked into the conference details. 

  And get ready for this. It was scheduled in July IN North Carolina the SAME weekend we would already be up there for vacation! Maybe that’s not crazy to you, but it’s crazy to me!

  God is ALWAYS in the details and I LOVE that I was able to attend this conference by a generous supporter WHILE I was in the mountains with my family. 

  The time flew by quickly and I was scheduled appointments with potential publishers to write a book (neither of which went through but I loved every minute of meeting with my favorite author’s editor and being able to pick her brain!). 

  The conference was so much more than a conference. All my fears were swept away the minute I stepped through the hotel entrance. Hundreds of women who love Jesus and love to write and speak were there to welcome me. Not a minute went by when I felt unwelcome or uncomfortable. The main speakers were incredible, opening my eyes to messages I’ve studied my entire life. The worship time was amazing and the Holy Spirit filled the atmosphere with His presence. 

  It was such a sweet time of fellowship and encouraging one another in our similar callings from God. There was no competitive spirit lingering, only love, acceptance and encouragement.

My favorite part???? Hands down–the worship music and the main session speakers. Second favorite part??? Being able to meet and chat with my favorite authors (and just see them in the halls hanging out. Seriously…how cool is that?!?!?).

 Many of you have been praying about this trip for me and I just want to thank you. Your prayers and encouragement spoke volumes to me and I was able to go to this conference alone, without knowing a soul and come away encouraged, inspired, and with a toolbox full of tools to keep on writing!

Thanks friends!

God bless you.

Until next time,

The Farm Wyfe