influence link up!

 

so.. the conference is two weeks away from today!

two.weeks.!!

 

2 things i will have packed and 2 things i am looking forward to.

 

2 things i will have packed:

- a notebook and pen. even though i will have my computer.. i would much rather take notes and doodle and dream on paper with a pen.

- dry shampoo and a bright lip color. both are mandatory!

 

2 things i am looking forward to:

- friendships. real friendships. i love this community and am passionate about relationships. so i am looking forward to connecting with old and new friends.

- worship. i am so excited to worship. and.. what better way to end a conference?

 

 

will you be joining us?

 

 

 

hello, 2013.

i'm so glad you're here. not only because the holidays are so hectic, or that 2012 felt like a 'complacent' year. but i have got a really good feeling this year is going to be much more god glorifying and fruitful than the year previous.
there is just something in me this year.. it's a new year, new beginnings. i want to take full advantage of that.
i've got some ideas in mind of things i want to see happen and actions i want to take to make them happen.
here are my 5 prayers for 2013.
1. i pray that i walk with, grow with, and bring more glory to god in all things this year. so often i find myself going through seasons, struggles, trials, exciting moments and much more without focusing on the lord first. i pray this year i am able to be more spirit led and christ focused in every season and step. i want to be so indulged in scripture and prayer that i am completely in-tune with the will of my sweet sweet savior. 2. i pray that i am more dedicated to blogging and the influence network community. going to the influence conference last year was one of the best choices i made! i made amazing friends, learned so much about this incredible blogging world, and what it means to have influence! i pray that the lord would use this blog and network to strengthen and use me for his glory. 3. i pray that i love well and love more. i will be the first to admit that last year i tried to fill my plate way too full and didn't put enough effort into the things that meant most to me. i long to be a better wife, daughter, sister and friend this year. i pray that i would be a better listener, encourager and take more time to invest in those that have invested in me. 4. i pray that i be intentional with my free time. i complain a lot about not having much free time but then when i get free time i typically waste it on things that don't matter. this year i pray that the lord would show me those moments and that i would make the most of them with. whether that is digging more into the word, spending a little more time in prayer, meeting a friend for coffee, or visiting with my husband - i don't want to waste the precious time i've been given. 5. i pray that i live with less. there are so many things i spend money on that i don't need or use. i think about ways that i can be a better saver and steward of what i've been given. i think of how much more debt we could potentially pay off, or the freedom of being able to give when the spirit prompts me. i pray this year i would live below my means and be a better steward of the things the lord has blessed us with and use it more for him and his kingdom.
so there they are. my 5 prayers for this year - the 5 things i'm trusting in the lord to help me with.
what are you praying for and trusting in the lord for in 2013?

influence is real.

i have been staring at this blank page for days now not knowing how to write my influence conference recap. there are not enough words to explain or describe my experience. the Lord was present. very present and near during the entire thing.

friendships were built and grown. Jesus was glorified. my heart is full.

upon entering into the gorgeous sheraton hotel, my legs were shaking. part of it being from the horrible accident we witnessed on our way down [praise God both people involved were okay]. but the biggest reason was because i was about to enter into a room of 200 other women not knowing a. single. one. this was a big step for me. a really big step. i always considered myself an extrovert until that moment. but the Lord walked with me every step of the way [along with my amazing roommates after i almost had a melt down.. okay - so i did have a mini meltdown]. i am so incredibly thankful for the roommates i had. i was able to be open and honest with them about my insecurities from the beginning and let them  know i needed them otherwise i would be calling up my husband to come pick me up. [and i am so very thankful i didn't end up driving alone. i probably wouldn't have made it ya'll..]
see? the Lord was with me. he knew exactly what i needed - and he provided!

i will be honest, i didn't reach out to many people that first night. it was hard for me. i tried to get the courage, but i froze. most people had to come up to me; which i am also very grateful for. once the first night was over, the next morning got easier. i started recognizing more faces and it was easier to say hi. if i didn't say hi to you, or if i ignored you - i am so incredibly sorry. i was so insecure myself that i chickened out of saying 'hello' to many people i thought i would meet. it's nothing against you, i promise. the sessions and lunches allowed me to meet a couple new more faces and exchange business cards as well. each one got easier with time, but i still left feeling like there were so many faces and people i wish i would have had the opportunity to connect with.

God did amazing things in my heart that weekend. he showed me my influence - he opened my eyes to a lot of hurt, desires, dreams, baggage i have that i need to explore. he showed me where my heart is and where it isn't.

jami was one of the speakers and oh my word did the Lord use her. she struck a cord so deep in me i cried. and i cried hard. it was amazing. the Lord broke me - Jesus revealed himself to me. God is being glorified through her, through her marriage, through their story. she spoke straight gospel, she stressed that we need it every day, and she's so right. her session left me reflecting on where my heart is. 'we are an active pursuit of what our hearts worship.' - jami nato.
jessi was another speaker. friends, she is wonderful. so wonderful. her heart is so precious. you can see the Spirit in her. i am so thankful that she listened to me saturday evening. i am more than appreciative that she took that time to talk to me and even invited me to email her and visit[!!]. it meant the world to me - especially from my first night of fears thinking no one wanted to talk with me, like - really talk with me. jessi posed the question that has been imprinted in my mind since... 'who is louder... _____ or Jesus?' in everything i do.. does it scream me, or him?

i have influence. you have influence. we all have influence.
my prayer is that i don't lose sight of that. i pray that i will never stop being influenced by God so i can continue to influence others to the gospel. to a relationship with God. a God that is real. a God that is near and dear. a God that loves his children immensely. to the One who laid down his life so that we may live. the One who bled so we don't have to.
i came to the conference knowing and expecting that it was going to be rewarding but i had no idea how much bigger and better it was really going to be. so much i already bought my ticket for next year and i am so thrilled to see how the Lord is going to bless it!

these women are real. their hearts are real. the internet is real. influence is real. Jesus is real!

back home.

i am back home from the influence conference! oh my, friends. i can't wait to update you on the amazing things the Lord did to our lives, hearts, friendships and much much more! i'm going to have a really hard time putting it all into words..

but i'm still trying to unpack, do laundry and get back into the swing of things here while spending some much needed time with this handsome hunk of mine!

[i missed him oh so much!!!]

an update will be coming soon!

until then.. have a fabulous tuesday!

 

influence meet and greet.

two posts in one day! i couldn't put our [love series] aside.. but i also am excited for this fabulous meet and greet, therefore - i'm double timing! :)

[influence] is right around the corner!!! i am so excited!

so excited i have a countdown on my phone and tablet!

woohoo! i am pumped!

so along with that... today is the meet and greet so others get a chance to get to know me more :)

if you haven't bought your ticket yet.. you totally should! it will be so amazing and i would love to meet you too!

so here we go!

three getting to know me stats:

one - i am super shy when i am out of my comfort zone and don't know anyone else [hint, hint. be prepared for the first couple hours.. i know i'll be shy...] but don't worry - once i get more comfortable i am the complete opposite! i will eventually open up and enjoy being the crazy goof ball i am! lucky you ;)

two - i am obsessed and need my coffee. i love coffee so much, i could drink it all day long and surprisingly still fall asleep at night. maybe this says something about my addiction? so addicted it doesn't have an affect. well...unless i don't have it.. then i go through major withdrawals and major headaches!
three - i am a big dreamer. sometimes i feel like i dream a little too big. but i know my God is big enough, i just need to pray and make sure that my dreams are in accordance to his will :)

two looking forward to the conference stats:

one - i am so so so excited to meet all you fabulous women! i can't wait to sit down and talk with some of you over a cup of coffee. [i will admit i'm still nervous no one will want to connect with me, but i'm trusting that those are lies from the enemy :)]

two - i can't wait to check out the amazing workshops! it will definitely be hard choosing which ones to attend, but i'm definitely looking forward to how God is going to use each speaker and how he is going to encourage, stretch and grow me throughout the weekend!

one can't leave home without stat:

other than my outfit for the stripes party ;) i don't know what i would do without my notebook and pen. i am a total note taker and doodler! i love being able to jot down notes, ideas, dreams, envisions, thoughts, encouragement... all while practicing my fonts and designs!

if you want to know more about me you can check out some more stats [here] and [here]

now i'm off to go and get to 'meet' you! :)

influence conference.

it's true! i am officially going to the conference! you can see part of my decision process [here]. wow. lots of hots then colds, yes then nos, ins then outs, ups then downs...
i'll leave the rest to katy perry..

i have been praying for the Lord to show me whether or not i should attend.
i wanted to really bad but didn't know if it was a smart financial choice for us right now.

here's how it went..
i mentioned the conference to mr. b. i told him it was a blog conference. i shared about all the awesome bloggie friends i would meet. then i told him it was Christ-centered. from there we prayed. we prayed that the Lord would reveal if i should attend. [the price was still early bird pricing at this point]. it wasn't black and white.. i felt it would be beneficial and a great opportunity.
but then my insecurities stepped in... would anyone like me? would i fit it? would anyone talk to me? how would i find my roommates? would we have anything in common..? i don't have kids... nor am i pregnant. i don't own a store.. or sell anything else for that matter. i even emailed all my worries and insecurities to one of the community leaders and she encouraged me to attend and not to worry. she even gave me some names of women attending who are not mommas or business ladies either.
after this i still was wishy washy about going. isn't it horrible how people can encourage us and we STILL believe lies? my poor husband...
one day i went and looked and the price had gone up. no more early bird. i thought hmm it's $30 more now.. [which would really tug on our financial strings - but still thought it would be worth it]
i said i would make my decision by august 1st [when the price would then increase another $50].
wrong.
that didn't happen either.
so then i thought we can't afford that.. it's just not fesible right now. i can't go. [although deep down i really still wanted to]
well.. then yesterday i was catching up on some fabulous blogs and i saw a post with influence in there. i clicked on it to see what she had to say - and to my surprise it was the news that she was no longer able to go and selling her ticket. for the early bird price she was proactive about and purchased it at!
i thought alright Lord... i'm going to email her. and you will answer.
she emailed me back. someone else beat me to the punch - but wasn't sure if it would work out.
i prayed for the Lord's will to be done.
if it's available - i'm going.
if it's taken - i'm not.
she emailed me back a couple hours later.
the ticket is mine :)
and what a blessing it will be!

i love the desires and intensions behind what this conference is. if you wanna know more check it out [here]
if you are going, let me know! i would LOVE to meet you!!

there is going to be an awesome kick off party
filled with lots and lots of
stripes!

so now.. i get to decide what outfit i want to wear to the party :)
i was looking online last night and saw these choices

dress?
 

//[1]//[2]//

tunic?

//[3]//[4]//

i will let tell you, i didn't end up selecting any of the above - you'll have to attend to see what stripes i'm wearing ;)
or wait for photos after cause we all know i'm going to do a recap that will probably last the whole month.

but more than just what outfit i'm going to choose for the stripes party and all the fun we're going to have... i'm even more excited about the gospel being spread.
this is something i am SO
excited
and
passionate
about.
excited to meet other bloggers/social networkers/friends with the same heart and passion for Jesus!

i am thrilled to see how God is going to move in each one of us and how we will come back changed and more like Christ from this conference.
can't wait for october! i already started packing