Today, I’m not here because I’m in Greenville, SC for my very first blogging/writing conference.

I felt the move to go about 5 1/2 months ago and we prayed about it and both felt it was a “go!”

And I’m amazed now at God’s timing.

After the last month, it’s an amazing blessing to get to have a little (paid for!!) getaway. So here we go!!!

Now for the somewhat scary part. I really don’t KNOW a single person. Except for my beloved fellow newbies, (who I will try to recognize by their facebook picture and try not to call them by their full facebook name.) I always think that’s so funny. Sometimes I think of people in terms of their facebook “name” because that’s what is on my contact list.

But regardless of the fact that I’m a total newbie, I know that God has provided and prepared this before me, and I am excited to see how He shows up there! Basically, the entire conference is made up of bunch of bloggers & writers who desire to see God glorified in their work and wish to learn and grow in the area of writing.

I could not be more excited. Until someone (who got there early) posted a picture of our SWAG bag on Instagram. HELLO, FREE BOOKS!!!!!

But, can I humbly ask for your prayers? In a room of 400 people I do not know, I tend to be the girl who sticks to herself.

I know, shocking. But really, I do! I would covet your prayers in the following areas:

** Peace.

** Safety in Traveling and Safety for those I leave behind.

** A spirit of calmness.

** the ability to see outside of my own inadequacies and look for someone who needs a friend.

** and most of all, that God would be glorified in every aspect of both the conference and in my heart while there.

Well, that’s all!

I’m off to drop the last few things in my suitcase and head out! I’m armed with my favorite cardigans, my trusty Target boots (which consequently may not make it through this fall, sad!) and a miniature bottle of SCOPE Mouthwash, mainly because I dreamed I got into an elevator and it was just me and Ann Voskamp. Apparently I had just eaten a lot of onions, because she handed me a mint. Ouch. (I know she is totally more gracious than that– In don’t know why I dreamed that!!)

 When you read this tomorrow, I will already be partially through the second day.

Thank you for your support and thank you for your prayers– I appreciate you SO!

Because of the recent turn of crazy events this week, I’m postponing drawing the winner for the book giveaway until Monday– so if you haven’t yet entered, go here and do so:  https://happygostuckey.com/2013/10/02/dotmom-part-two-and-a-book-giveaway/

So last Thursday, we packed up the family truckster (aka Suzy the Equinox) and headed to Florida to visit our family down there. It was initially planned just as a way to get out of town for a few days and relax with family, but my entire family ended up being in town so were able to visit with everyone.  Lance hasn’t been able to get a lot of time off from work to travel– and suddenly that was no longer an issue. (LEMONADE!!) So we made the trip down there and spent a wonderful few days catching up with family. And by “catching up” I mean, laughing hysterically and eating every kind of grilled meat my Dad produced from his grill. I love my family. Whenever we are all together things are loud, crazy and wonderful. The time together was just what we all needed.

HOWEVER. The morning we were planning to leave, at about 4am, I heard a sound that no mother ever wants to hear. A sound that chills one to the bone and brings with it the fresh horror of waiting for the next time the sound occurs. It is the sound, of vomit. Poor Abby became sick and proceeded to throw up SEVERAL more times. Once it seemed the worst was over, we loaded up the car, said our goodbyes and drove away. Well, we got as far as the gas station before IT happened again. Heading back to my parents house to get her cleaned up revealed that what seemed a brief hiatus in the illness was just that and she was NOT better. Certainly not better enough to travel five hours. Unfortunately, Lance had a few appointments he couldn’t miss back home so he had to leave us here and go on back. So, here I sit in my parents home, praying both that she is over the worst and that Lucy will not succumb to the wiles of the dreaded stomach bug. Wait, do I sound dramatic? Just a tad? Oh. Everyone hates for their little ones to be sick. But I’m not sure there is much worse than stomach bugs. Except maybe head lice. Yep. that mite be lousy. Ha! Sorry, my sleep has been a bit limited, therefore the puns are more plentiful and less funny.

I noticed something about being “home” this weekend. You’re never too old to be a kid in your parent’s house. I realized that as I observed each one of my brothers enter the house and immediately check the cookie jar. Luckily, my girls had not yet cleaned out all the Oreos but Abby sure was working on it, especially once she learned to say, “Oreo?” and no one could resist her charms. Seriously though. At one point, most of the grand kids were sitting around watching the cartoon Robin Hood and most of my siblings were walking around whistling or humming the songs from the movie which we must have watched a million times as kids. There is something so cyclical and cathartic about that. It seems for just a moment, nothing has really changed and we are all just kids around the dinner table, except now there are more of us, and we are all parents ourselves. But our whole family, whether joined by birth, marriage or choice– we love each other.

And I’m thankful that you CAN always go home.

Especially when you need to stay a little longer to allow the maelstrom of puking to pass. Ha!  

Happy Wednesday!!!!