I’ve only participated in one CWTU last week, but it was amazing the ladies I found to follow — one in a city near me too! The next Tweet Up is Monday, December 8th. To participate Noelle @ Take Root and Write has down a great job of organizing these and providing video tutorials on how you can join in.

In the spirit of cleaning my house of stuff I’ll probably never use or read, I’m giving away a book and spiritual journal that goes with it. I got these books about 5 years ago and they have sat on my shelf unread. I hope that they will bless one of you.

Sheila Walsh’s “Stories from the River of Mercy” and “Stones from the River of Mercy.” Click on each link to see a description and picture of the books.

To enter, just leave me a comment below to say hi and let me know if you’ve ever been to a Women of Faith Conference. Comments will be closed when the CWTU ends so I can pick a winner! Anyone can win — you don’t have to participate in the Tweet Up. Hope to see you there Monday though!

On with the winners …

The winner of the Focus on the Family Group Start Kit: Women’s Series is a dear, sweet blogger — Especially Heather. If you don’t know her story, go visit her blog and find out about it. Congratulations Heather! I know you’ll put the information to good use in your neck of the woods

The winner of the Design Books is Mary from Hours by Design. I don’t know anything about Mary yet other than she’s a virtual assistant. Good luck Mary! I hope these books will provide some inspiration for you Congratulations!

Mom, Dad, I hope you both have a wonderful day and do something special together to celebrate! I’m thankful that God brought you both together and that I was an “accident” to y’all, but not to God I love you both very much!

In the spirit of being thankful, I am thankful that I have too much stuff because it’s going to allow me to bless one of you. Leave a comment below (1 per person please) with a valid email (only I will see). I’ll enter you into a drawing for this Starter Kit. If you are not in a leadership position at your church, perhaps you can gift it to someone who is — or perhaps this is a gentle nudge to you from God that you are the one He’s calling up in your church. Regardless, it needs to leave my house and go to a good home where it will be read and used as intended.

Comments close Monday, December 1 at 10 am EST.

You can go to the Focus on the Family’s website and see what this kit contains.

On to today’s giveaway. I have 3 design books that I’ve briefly flipped through. I’m giving all 3 away in a bundle, so there’s 1 winner and you have to take all 3 books

Leave a comment below — 1 per person please — to be entered. I’ll close comments down Monday, December 1st and draw then. You must leave a valid email address that only I will see. I need a way to contact you if you are the winner!

Before and After: Graphics for Business {click on link to read a description of the book}

Before & After Page Design {click on link to read description of the book}

Looking Good On The Web {click on link to read description of the book}

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.

1. A girl in Doodle’s grade lost her dad Monday afternoon unexpectedly. His body was found less than a mile from the school near a river, in a state park. I have no idea how he died, but I do know the family will need many prayers. I don’t know this girl or her family, and I’m not sure they are Christians. I told Doodle about it last night when I found out. And what makes this a little harder on her brings me to the next item …
2. Duck and I are flying out tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn, to attend my niece’s wedding in Las Vegas. Before you start with any judgments about “sin city” and gambling, my brother served in the Air Force for many, many years and was stationed at the Air Force base there for many of those many, many years There are actually real live houses with fences, pools and dogs away from “the Strip.” Anyway, pray for us — it’s going to be a long flight (at least the first leg out and the first leg back). Pray for Doodle as she’s going to be with Grandma and Grandpa. With the counseling I’m sure they’re going to be receiving at school, I just hope she doesn’t get down thinking we aren’t coming back.
3. Be with my family as we gather for the wedding. I hope all goes as my niece dreams it will. I’m praying for their marriage as well. She’s marrying an Air Force dude, and he’s being stationed overseas in February of 2009. It’s tough enough being married together, much less apart — although that might make it easier in some respects
4. Pray for our country. I am heartbroken over the election for many reasons. I don’t think the electoral votes showed how split we are as a nation. There’s only one time in my life I have seen Americans come together — proud to be an American and supporting each other — and that was 9-11-01. I thought life would never be the same, but some time after that we eventually got back into our comfy routines. I hope we can come together as a country, but I don’t see it happening. That’s why I’m thankful that my God is bigger than all of it.

I was going to post yesterday about the Women of Faith conference but things were crazy with Duck and Doodle both home all day. I seriously cannot think straight when they are home I even forgot with all the hoopla that yesterday was my Dad’s birthday — Happy Birthday Dad! I’ll be seeing you tomorrow It’s sad to me that I forgot — I’m a Daddy’s Girl through and through. I hate how life can be so distracting sometimes. Oh well, pray for me not to be distracted too. I believe God’s not done with me yet. I just need to start listening for Him again.

Here are the pictures I got though

I thought it was humorous when I saw this picture because the sign behind us says “Flash photography is not allowed inside the arena.” But then again, this was during a break. Patsy is absolutely the sweetest person ever!

This is Mary Graham. She was the only one I could go up to and say “Hey, I follow you on Twitter!” It’s funny that she had her Blackberry in hand. I loved looking over and seeing her texting — her thumbs were moving 90MPH. She asked me if it was totally ridiculous that she tweets, and I assured her, it’s not. I love following the few on Women of Faith who Twitter. Especially Shelia Walsh. I didn’t get a picture with her Friday night, and she left out very early Saturday morning to watch her son play football. That’s the only regret I have all weekend is not standing in line to talk to her for a minute. Maybe next year!

A very pleasant surprise on the weekend was that Lisa Whelchel MC’d the main conference. It was surreal seeing her in person and I actually got her to autograph her book “Taking Care of the Me in Mommy.” I didn’t tell her, but when I was growing up watching Facts of Life, I always wanted to be like Jo I think Lisa is nothing like Blair was on the show. It was amazing to watch Lisa worship during the songs. It was like she was the only one in the coliseum — she was just praising God and you could tell it came straight from her heart.

My friend, Lisa 1 who was the master volunteer wrangler this weekend — got pictures of us on her camera. I’m hoping she may have time to email them tomorrow and I can post them. My friend Melissa, drove up and joined me on the front row Saturday and we had a blast. More to come about that tomorrow though. Don’t want to spoil anything

God has helped me realize many things and there’s still half a conference to go. I mentioned in my previous post that we don’t have a church home. I don’t have those kind of girlfriends that talk about everything and pray for each other — the kind that you live your life with. I’ve had them before, and I’m sure I’ll have them again. This is just the season we’re in.

A few weeks ago when I bought my ticket (procrastinate much? Why, yes. Yes, I do.), I was excited about going. I had asked 3 of my friends if they wanted to go too. Lisa 1, who I hadn’t seen in a few years, had already signed up to volunteer, so while I would see her, she was going to be sitting in the special volunteers section. Heather’s son is in the Super Bowl tomorrow, so she wouldn’t make it. Melissa said yes, she wanted to come but due to some health issues, she only wanted to come on Saturday.

I became a little less excited when I thought about the fact today is Halloween, and while for most of Doodle’s years she’s gone to fall festivals at church — dressed up — I wouldn’t be here to dress her up and take her trick or treating. Duck assured me that while he probably wouldn’t enjoy it much, he would take her out somewhere and he would handle taking her to school/picking her up.

So I bought my ticket, put the date on my calendar, and promptly didn’t give it another thought. Do you know that feeling that you’re always running behind? And then something sneaks up on you that you knew was coming, but never stopped to realize that it’s coming the next day? That’s how I felt last night. I was stressed. I hadn’t even thought about what I was going to wear much less pack. Coming to this conference I really wanted to hide out in the upper levels, in the shadows — where no one could see me. I don’t really know what it was that made me feel like that — maybe sin. My heart was not prepared. I was not in the right frame of mind to come to a conference like this.

I had told myself I would be quite content to stand in line, meet Patsy and get a picture (hopefully) so I could post it here with a been-there-done-that kind of attitude. When I heard the announcer call out my name and say Patsy wanted to meet me, I was floored y’all. I froze. I almost didn’t go down there. Remember, I really wanted to just hide out in the rafters? But I figured I would just go, meet her and get my picture — then I could fade back into the shadows. Afterall, who am I really? I mean, I’m no one special.

Patsy gave me that big hug, and moved me right up in the front section. I literally was shaking. I calmed down after I realized that no one was looking at me any more wondering who I was that Patsy had sat me down there with them. I just enjoyed everyone talking. And I got to talk to some of them. Y’all, I had no clue what to say to Jan Silvious. I know. I know. You’re gonna say they are human too. Yeah, I know that but don’t know that. Does that makes sense? Seriously though, following Shelia Walsh on Twitter has totally changed the way I view her. She’s a normal mom who goes to teacher conferences just like me — although I think her’s turns out better than mine are going to I don’t know what I thought before.

I started thinking again. Why would Patsy pull me down there? Why me? Patsy went out of her way to have tickets for me to come sit on the floor again tonight. This would be cool, I was thinking. When I got the tickets, and went to find my seat — y’all, I was on the front freaking row. I could have reached out and touched Shelia Walsh, Nicole Mullins, Natalie Grant, all of them. I was right.there.in.the.front.row.

Lisa Whelchel came in with Mary Graham who usually MCs the conferences. Lisa, I found out, is speaking with them next year on the tour. It was so totally wild seeing her in person. Watching her worship and sing — straight from her heart. Wow, she’s a real person too. She spoke one time about how none of us were there by chance. God knew we were going to be there — it was no mistake. Last night and this morning, I had started to think it was a mistake for me to come. Lisa wasn’t the only one who said that — others shared the same sentiment. Then she was talking about the hearts of the ladies on the porch (the area where the speakers sit during the main event). She said that all of these ladies were truly here just to love on us.

That’s what Patsy was doing. She was just loving on me. At first I wondered if she felt sorry for me because I was by myself, but I don’t think that was it. I honestly think she just wanted to love on me. When she came in for the session tonight, she walked over and gave me a hug. She asked how I was and all I could say was great and thank you. I was really touched by her gesture.

Sitting in the front row opened my eyes to a lot of things. One of them being that the lights are very bright. Then it struck me. I wanted to hide up in the top, in the shadows, but I can’t hide from God. He hasn’t forgotten me. Even though I haven’t acknowledged His presence, He’s always been with me. I came to this conference thinking that I would kinda skate on by without any truth really pricking my heart. And I end up sitting on the front row with what felt like a spotlight shining just on me. I felt like God was shining on me.

One last thing to share about the night before I crash. Shelia Walsh brought a very powerful message tonight. She spoke of her father who died when she was 5 and how she knew Jesus was with him in his last moments. Then she sang “When I Get Where I’m Going.” I fought back tears although I’m not sure why. It just brought back the feelings I’ve had before — things are tough on earth, and I just want to be in heaven with my Jesus.

But, it’s not for me to decide when I go to heaven. That’s for God to know. He’s not finished with me down here yet. He still has some work for me to do. And if I would stop being so doggone hard on myself and just focus on Him, maybe I’d get some of it done.

God bless you if you’ve made it this far through the ramblings, and stay tuned. Who knows what God will share with me tomorrow through these wonderful women? Before I go, let me give you a to do — go love on someone. Love on them for no reason. Love on them expecting nothing in return. Love on them because God loves on you.

After the first session was ending and most everyone was going for lunch, the announcer said “and Lisa P, Patsy Clairmont would like to meet you.” What? I wasn’t sure what I had heard. Did she say Lisa P? Lisa B? Surely it had to have been a different Lisa. I made my way around through the crowd and down to the floor, but Patsy had already gone to eat lunch. The announcer was standing there so I asked her what did she say? A man who was standing there said “are you Lisa?” I said yeah, but I didn’t think I was the right Lisa. He said, “you’re wearing a motorcycle jacket so yeah, you’re the one from Twitter, right?” Y’all, my jaw dropped! He said Patsy wanted to meet me and to come back down in that area right before the next session.

I went and grabbed a healthy lunch of cheese fries, and went back to sit in the floor seating area. The next session was getting ready to start and Patsy hadn’t come out yet, so I figured I’d meet her after that session, at least this time I was sitting on the floor (open seating for the pre-conference).  Patsy came in, saw me in my Harley jacket, came and told me to get my stuff — I was sitting with her down front. Y’all, this stuff never happens to me. Really. I sat down in their reserved seating area for the next sessions, and not only did I get to talk to Patsy a little, I also got to talk to Jan Silvious. That was awesome too They were so nice and just down to earth.

So after the last session, Patsy comes over and tells me she’s going to find a way to get me down there again tonight. She talked to someone with a headset and they are holding tickets for me for the floor. I told her thank you so much, and she just grinned her special grin and said “I have some friends I’d like you to meet.” Y’all, that just blew me away.

I know Patsy has read my Women of Faith on Twitter post. In it I shared how Shelia’s talk at the time really touched me — talking about taking an anti-depressant. Well, the last thing they did was a Q&A session. One of the people there had written about the concern of Christians taking anti-depressants and whether they should or shouldn’t. Patsy had an excellent response in that some people have to take them and we shouldn’t judge them — then she winked at me. I absolutely loved all of their responses. It was so great to hear good, Godly, Biblical teachings coming from these ladies, and oh, the stories! One minute you’d be laughing, the next crying and the next raising your voice praising God for it all.

I have to be completely honest here. Life has been hard lately. It’s been hard not having a church. It’s been hard not having girl friends to talk with — not even about major things so much as just sharing your life with them. I’ve not had that for awhile. When I walked into the coliseum this morning, I was happy for those groups of women who obviously have a tight bond. They do church and they do life together. I miss that, but I know God’s got the church for us out there. We just haven’t figured out which one it is. And I know it’ll take time to develop friendships with other women. But I so needed to feel accepted — a part of something bigger than myself. I figured I’d get strange looks with my Harley jacket on, but they didn’t bother me that much. When Patsy came up and gave me a hug though, I felt accepted, welcomed and like I belonged. It was almost like the tears wanted to flow out carrying out every negative and bad thing that’s ever happened to me. And if it had? I know Patsy would’ve been right there with a box of Kleenex. She’s just that cool.

One of Patsy’s talking points was that God has not forgotten me. I needed to hear that, but even more so, I need to realize that I have forgotten God. I haven’t been going to Him like I should. He hasn’t moved and He’ll forgive me for ignoring Him — but I haven’t been putting any time into the relationship He and I have.

I’m excited to see what the night holds! Oh, I almost forgot. I got to see one of my best friends, Lisa 1 (because she came first!). I got to hug her neck but we haven’t gotten a chance to talk. She’s shadowing Anita Renfroe who is another amazing woman. She is hilarious but she has a serious side to her as well. If you think about it tonight, say a prayer for Duck and Doodle. They are on their own tonight trick-or-treating. It’ll be an adventure, I’m sure!