In case you don't know what I am talking about, check out this post. I was chosen some time ago, and I was in total shock. I invited my sister-in-law, and she was able to go. I got a hotel right next to downtown Seattle's Key Arena. We were actually walking distance, if you can believe it. We only had to pay parking once.
I went to a Women of Faith conference many years ago--before my daughter was born and while I was still married. I only went to a portion of the conference, but I remembered it being pretty good.
We got there right as the conference was starting on Friday morning. We came in just as the worship time was winding down. And we were blessed to hear Patsy Clairmont speak with her newly-dyed red hair!
I really don't know where to begin. Andy Andrews was awesome--I had not ever heard of him. And I loved Debbie Warner, Marilyn Meberg, Lisa Whelchel, Sandi Patty, Mandisa! Who did I forget? Selah!
I am going to only list the highlights for me. If you ever get a chance to hear Andy Andrews, you will not regret it. He was an awesome speaker, history buff, and very ADD! He actually made Patsy Clairmont look normal. I learned so much from them.
I was a Mandisa fan from the time I saw her on American Idol. She has lost over 100 pounds, and I spent a good amount of time just crying as she gave a powerful concert. The woman is awesome and definitely on fire for God.
I remembered Lisa Whelchel from Facts of Life--indeed a great speaker. But when it came to Debbie Warner, I spent most of my time in tears. I definitely want to get her book. Her story touched my heart in a multitude of ways.
I'm going to spend a little more time talking about Sandi Patty. If anyone knew me as a teen, they knew that Sandi Patty was who I wanted to be. I sang her songs, and my voice was very similar. We have about the same range and the same power to our voices. I was devastated when she had an affair, divorced, and remarried. I was preparing to go off to college, and I thought I would never be able to listen to her again. I was too hurt. And I think I had a little bit of that hurt still going into this weekend. But now I am the one who is divorced, and I even fell in love with a non-Christian. I have been through a lot. I can say with certainty that God has done a work in her life, and her message meant a lot to me. God has changed my dreams from what they were as a teen. Just like God has changed Sandi Patty's dreams. Thank you, Sandi! She has also given me hope because here she is 55 and still has a dynamite voice!
Marilyn Meberg was fantastic--very theologically sound, I can't tell you how much I appreciated everyone. And Selah ministered to me as well.
The main message for the weekend was "Don't give up! God knows what He is doing!"
While at the conference, I participated in a twitter conversation. If you go to twitter and type #wofott in the search engine there, you will find a load of my tweets. I almost tweeted more than Sandi Patty did! And whomever the women of faith tweeter is, she kept responding to me. They thanked me, encouraged me, and even said that they sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" just for me! I had so much fun tweeting. I plan to do that regularly.
I want to thank book sneeze and Thomas Nelson publishers for providing 2 free tickets to me in exchange for my honest review of the event. I am definitely going next year. My sister-in-law loved it too! If you ever get a chance to go, go!
http://www.womenoffaith.com/
