This was Influence. Incase You Were Wondering...

I am back from a break from this little place of mine on the internet. The Influence Conference was this past weekend & it was such a lovely time. Yes lovely (bc I love this word.) I left last Wednesday & flew home yesterday. 

Wed-Sun were packed full of so much goodness. Goodness that I had been expecting, goodness that I didn't think of, and goodness that God had planned just for me. There is so much to say about everything I am taking with me from the weekend, so much that I didn't know where to start this morning. I thought it would be fitting to share how I have found myself in this place. 

Many people in my everyday real life don't completely understand where I disappeared to for several days in a row. They especially think it sounds odd that I jumped on a plane to Indianapolis to stay with friends I've met online & to attend a christian women's blogging/business conference with 200 plus women who I had never met in real life. Yes. This does sound flat out odd. At first. But let me just say that through this precious world of blogging I have made some true solid friendships. This past week I was able to hug these sweet friends I'd already made before the conference as well as become real life friends with several women the Lord placed in my path. So let me try to explain in the most simple way that I can a little about my choice to blog & this community which lead me to the Influence Conference.

Know that I started blogging (publicly) as a way for me to share my heart & to share what the Lord speaks in my life. This place is where the Lord 1st encouraged me to be transparent about my story in the hopes of encouraging others. Now I share my story here & in real life. Often.

Know that I didn't even realize blogging was a "thing" until about 8 months ago. Seriously.

dinner with sweet friends.

Jac & me. Seriously, I've never met anyone with
 such a giving heart. She is wonderfully sweet!

Know that I was very apprehensive at first when other bloggers started to become my "friends". Ha. Friends that I talk to, skype with, call, pray, & text through the week. Apprehensive because I wasn't for sure if these relationships were real? And to be honest, if they were worth the time. Sounds bad, but I wasn't certain if this community was real.

I met Brooke the 2nd night & I'm so thankful I did.

Blessed to call L a friend in real life! So thankful we got to spend time together during the conference. L & Erin were sweet enough to get up at 6:45 am to say goodbye Sun. before my shuttle left. 

Know that the Lord has blessed me with this precious world of the blogging community. These friends I have made are in fact, real friends. Friends that I can talk with over coffee, have dinner with, pray for, and we can share our hearts & grow spiritually together. 

Sashes Market. Pretty much Etsy in Real Life! 

Know that I love community. I love this sweet world of blogging because I love growing, learning, and pursuing the heart of God with others. Also I value learning about business & the art of entrepreneurship from women who love the Lord and keep him at their center.

One of my best friends, Kayla, picked me up from DFW. Doesn't she look like Kari Jobe? Crazy!

I love real life everyday on my back porch drinking coffee while our kids play community even more. I love where God has placed us in life & I love how he is so creative to use this world of blogging, give vision to a group of women to host an Influence Conference to empower other women just like them to live out real life community with others. 

Know that everything I've explained today is what the Influence Conference was about. I love that there were those who blog & those that dont, some of us have shops & businesses that are just starting & some are flourishing, some have written books & e-books. More than anything I loved that the good news is the common thread between every single woman at the conference. I appreciate that although there were so many wonderfully inspring women that spoke, each speaker shared Christ far more than sharing themselves while becoming who God has called each of us to be.

Hope this helps both my in real life community & this new community understand a little more about what I've been up to this last week. Much more to share about the week, just not today. Happy Monday friends! Ready for another great week!

~Brit