One of the things I don’t like is that let-down feeling you get after being lifted-up. I was so lifted at the Women of Faith conference a few weeks ago, but getting back to everyday life makes it seem like it was eons ago.

First, I’ll share pictures of my friends and I who were there.

This is my friend Melissa. Yep, she’s that much taller than I am We were attending the same church eons ago, and attended our first Women of Faith conference together in 2003 in Charlotte. She could only come to the conference Saturday, but she got to sit on the front row with me!

This is my buddy Lisa 1 — only because she came first She used to be one of my instructors in college. I wanted to be like her when I grow up. I still want to be like her when I grow up. She went to Women of Faith a couple of years ago with Melissa and me — and then she and Melissa went another year without me. This year she volunteered to help at the conference, and ended up being the Head Wrangler of about 10 volunteers. She looked quite at home walking around with that headset all weekend. I wish we could have visited longer, but we’ll get together for lunch soon. Oh yeah, ignore that Corona picture in the background. There wasn’t any liquor at the coliseum — just some agitated security dudes who informed me that Natalie Grant wasn’t doing photos right now, when I was waiting for Mary Graham — thankyouverymuch.

Anyway, it was absolutely surreal sitting down front with those bright lights shining straight on me. At least that’s how I felt. It was amazing to see all these women up close, but what was even more amazing is what Patsy did when we came back from the lunch break.

First she brought over Natalie Grant to meet me and Melissa. Ya’ll, I got to hug Natalie Grant’s neck. I seriously thought she was like a teenie-booper because she does those Revolve Tours. Ok, so I figured she was in her early twenties — she did, afterall, just have twin girls who were absolutely adorable! I looked her up online and found out she’s like closer to my age. She was just as sweet as she could be, and I told her I follow her on Twitter — knowing she’d been Twittering from the porch (the area to the side of the stage where the speakers/performers sit).

Then, Patsy went back to the porch. A little while later, she came back with Nicole C. Mullen! I got to hug Nicole’s neck too I loved her music before I ever saw her, but to see her perform it truly awesome! The movements, the dance, the heart she puts into her performances is amazing! She’s got great muscles too Of course I noticed because I’m trying to stay in shape for the off-season. Other people started to come up to Nicole but Patsy got her back on the porch.

Lisa Whelchel made the comment from the stage, “I think God looks a lot like Patsy.” I’d have to agree. Patsy was so sweet and blessed me much more than anyone will ever know. Louise DuArt is a great impressionist who also has a great message. She said that there’s no such thing as coincidences — those things are usually God-winks. When God winks at you to let you know he sees you. Patsy did that. She winked at me — a couple of times through the weekend, but the best one was at the end. She was leaving the coliseum and couldn’t come over to say good-bye. She stopped, got my attention, winked, then waved good-bye.

The whole weekend I was struggling with “why me?” “What makes me so special?” What I realized is that God’s given me a story (actually a few of them) and I need to be telling these stories. Whether it’s written or spoken, I need to share what God’s done for me in my life. That’s what makes me special. God makes me special — and He used a very special lady to love on me and share a few winks.