Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Extraordinary Women: Day Two

Had no idea 6:00 came on Saturday mornings too. Gasp! But that's what time I had to get up to assemble myself for the second day of the conference!

I have amazing friends. I don't take any of them for granted. But I have to brag on Marie for what she did for me...when I got up, she'd already made me coffee! A true friend! (Or one who is rightfully scared of pre-coffee Bekah.)
We stayed at a Hampton Inn, and I have to say - their breakfast ROCKS! Only continental breakfast I've ever been to that serves omelets!

We made it to the semi-front of the line. Conference women crack me up. They are HARD CORE about good seats. (I can say that because I was one of them.)

Can you tell I'm SO not awake yet? But never fear. $2.50 will get you fresh brew at a conference. ($3 will get you a bottle of water.)

We started off with some more worship time with Mr. Michael O'Brien. Seriously wonderful leader. (Why have I not heard of him before??)

First speaker of the day: Donna VanLiere. (I like to think Donna and I are old friends because when I was a guest on Mid-Morning last November about my book...Donna was a guest that same hour for one of HER books! In reality...Donna has no idea who I am. But let me continue down my path of thinking.)



Donna told the best stories...completely drew me in to her world. Loved what she shared!

Right before lunch...Lysa TerKeurst took the stage. (She's with Proverbs 31 Ministries.) At the conclusion of her very moving time of sharing, we were invited to pray, and that was when God got me. Oh man.

I was exhausted after that...and I had a massive headache from crying! But it was lunchtime - and I wanted to try my first ever PRETZEL!! Marie and I waited in line for 45 minutes for this thing.

Marie loves pretzels. I can now see why. Why have I waited this long to have one???

Right after lunch...another concert. This time...Meredith Andrews took the stage.

She sang You're Not Alone, which is my favorite song of hers.

Next speaker...Michelle McKinney Hammond. She told the story of the woman of Shunem - from the vantage point that the woman of Shunem was "a sista girl." I've never thought of her with such sass and confidence before. I think I want Michelle to tell me more Bible stories!

Faith n me during a break....can you tell in my eyes that I still have a crying headache?

And the day wrapped up with Elisa Morgan - former CEO of MOPS. (She had more hairstyles in her intro video than I would have if I had an intro video. LOVED that.) This girl had so much energy and left us with a great challenge to do what we can in our world!


I was exhausted when I got home, but it was a weekend well worth the exhaustion. So very glad I went. God did His thing!!

3 comments:

Jenna said...

First, I noticed in the picture of you waiting to get seats that almost every other woman is bundled up in a sweatshirt and you are wearing short sleeves. As I sit here, bundled up in a sweatshirt... :)

Second, HOW HAVE YOU NEVER EATEN A SOFT PRETZEL BEFORE?? And now all of a sudden, I really want one. I'm glad you understand their goodness.

Unknown said...

Michael O'Brien isn't David Phelps. That's why you've never heard of him before. :)

Bekah said...

Jenna - I have a broken thermostat. What can I say? I wore boots to the conference both days and almost had to take those off. TOO HOT.

I have absolutely no idea how i've never had a soft pretzel before. Maybe because I don't even like regular pretzels - unless coated in chocolate. Anyway. YUM.

Kristin - OHHHHHHHHHH that's right. Good point. Why didn't I think of it??