My sister and I had the honor of traveling to Harrisburg, PA this past weekend to the Relevant 10 conference.
I was looking forward to spending time with my sister, meeting new bloggers and reconnecting with others, and learning new ways to make my blog even better for my readers.
Relevant 10 did not disappoint! It provided me with the opportunity to do all of the above and more!
I knew it was a Christian blog conference, and I was looking forward to learning how to make my blog an even greater witness for the Lord. And I did.
But the one thing that I didn’t expect from this blog conference was the message that if my blog is keeping me from keeping first things first in my home, then I needed to stop blogging.
Sometimes it was mentioned subtly, and sometimes the message was in my face. It made me uncomfortable and convicted.
Because to be honest, many times over the past year and a half, I have put my blog before my family. I didn’t have time for my kids because I HAD to get a project finished. I laid in bed at night with my computer in my lap instead of cuddling with my husband and spending time with him. And I will even confess that I have chosen to spend time writing a post… and hours later …complained that I didn’t have time for my quiet time with God.
Ugh.
It was painful to realize that my priorities have been all out of whack! Relevant 10 reminded me that my priorities should go in this order:
GOD
HUSBAND
CHILDREN
BLOG and other ministries
I am so thankful for feeling uncomfortable and convicted at the conference, because it is in those uncomfortable places that God can change us and mold us to who He wants us to be.
I do not feel God calling me to quit blogging, but I do feel I can only blog if I keep my priorities straight.
I love my blog, and I feel like it is a gift from God. But I know that He wants me to honor Him in my home more than my blog.
I want my husband and children to always know and feel that they are my first priorities.
I am so very grateful to everyone who helped put together the Relevant 10 Conference.
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors! (see list HERE)
Thank you to the conference leaders, Sarah, Dawn, and Jessica.
Thank you to the wonderful speakers…(see list HERE)
Thank you to all the precious bloggers who came from all over the United States to share their stories.
And Thank You most of all to Jesus…from whom all blessings flow.
I wish I could have taken all of my readers there with me! It was such a blessing to make my “online” friends my “real life” friends.
Here are a few more pictures from the conference with some links to other great bloggers. Click on their names to visit their blogs. Tell them I sent ya! :)
The first day, we ate lunch we these beauties…
Me, Cyndi, Melissa, Beth, and Tracy
I complained that my hair looked “big” in all the pictures and that somebody needed to Photoshop it to make it look smaller.
Look what Beth posted on her blog…
That little rascal! I think I will stick with my BIG hair, what do you think?
Here is a picture of the conference room full of amazing bloggers…
We connected with these two fabulous girls the first night! Darlene and Flamingo (well, I actually called her by her name). Love them!
I was so excited about meeting one of my sponsors, Dee from Red Letter Words.
She is the most delightful person! I could talk to her for hours. :)
I cannot put into words what a thrill it is to meet your online friends in person. It makes me love having her as a sponsor even more! She is real and genuine and extremely talented.
Thank you, Dee, for being such a blessing!
Me and My Sis being serious
Me and My Sis being not so serious
Cyndi chit-chatting with Mandy
One of my favorite chicks from Relevant, Darlene from The Only Thing Worth Walking Toward.
She also has a brand new online design blog called, Fieldstone Hill.
I expect big things from this girl!!!
Her enthusiasm for life is infectious! I can’t wait to hang with her again someday! :)
I was so happy to connect with one of my online friends, Wendy from Relatively Unique.
She is a sweet, sweet spirit, and it was a joy to get to know her in real life (IRL).
I got to connect with Kimba, from A Soft Place to Land, again at Relevant. I had the pleasure of meeting her at Blissdom and have enjoyed getting to know her in blogland this past year.
You don’t have to be around Kimba for long to start envying her gorgeous hair.
It is thick, and luscious, and va-va-voomish…
I have serious “hair envy” when I am around her.
You can see more of her hair in this picture I snapped of her talking to Serena from Grace is for Sinners and Jen from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.
When I took my picture with Kimba, I was feeling a little bit insecure. My hair can be so thin and stringy.
So I asked her if I could borrow a little of her hair for the picture and she kindly obliged.
Thanks, Kimba!
And lastly, I was so blessed to meet and get to know Laura from 10 Million Miles.
She is beautiful inside and out. I was so inspired by her heart for Jesus. Thank you, Laura, for sharing your heart with me!
I am so thankful for all of the many blessings I received at RELEVANT 10!
