First of all, if you haven’t already,
be sure to click HERE and pop on over to my Silhouette Giveaway post
so you can win one of these!
Woohoo!
Last year, I had the most amazing opportunity to go to Blissdom 2010.
It was a complete unexpected blessing.
My mom had just passed away 4 months earlier, and I was still grieving her absence in my life.
Posts about Blissdom began popping up all around blogland last January, and I wondered what all the fuss was about.
I had no clue what Blissdom was or why I would even need to go. All I knew is that some of my very favorite bloggers in the world were going, and I was dying to meet them in real life. :)
There was a writing contest to win a ticket to Blissdom, and I entered it. I wrote about my mom. You can read about it here.
I almost won. It was really, really close. But I didn’t get the ticket.
I was crushed.
Until my sweet daddy said he was going to buy me a ticket to Blissdom because he knew Mom would want him to.
I couldn’t believe it! I was thrilled.
Until he went to purchase the ticket, and they sold out only an hour earlier.
I was crushed again.
I wanted to go so badly.
Without me knowing, my hubby and dad actually contacted one of the Blissdom Leaders to see if they could still purchase me a ticket. They emailed them back and told them I could get a ticket!
Unbelievable! I was going to Blissdom!
So I started making plans. My sister was going to go with me, but not attend the conference. She and I were needing some sister time together. Life had been really heavy since Mom passed away.
So this little girl and her little blog went to Blissdom ’10!
Remember how I said I wanted to meet my favorite bloggers?
Well, look at this…
Yep…That’s Rhoda and Layla!
Rhoda was my angel last year. She took me under her precious wing and introduce me to all the “home” bloggers. She saved me seats at tables and invited me to hang out with her. Rhoda’s blog was one of my mom’s favorites and I know why!
I got to eat lunch with Layla. It was surreal. :) Yes, I texted my hubby and said I am sitting with Layla. He texted back, “The Lettered Cottage?’” I said, “yes.” He said, “Wow!”
He understands me.
And I got to eat lunch with this amazing lady! Sandy from The Reluctant Entertainer.
She felt like a sister from the moment I met her, and she has continued to be a blessing to me this entire year. I cannot WAIT to see her again this year!
And then there’s Sarah from Thrifty Decor Chick. I didn’t get to hang out with her much, but I totally stalked her until I was able to get a picture.
My feet were not touching the ground in this picture!
I have gotten to know Sarah even more over the past year, and she is a precious soul. Can’t wait to see her again. :)
Who else did I meet?
None other than Kimba, at A Soft Place to Land.
Totally thrilled to meet her! She is beautiful and funny.
I even got to see Kimba again at Relevant ‘10 in October of last year. I have total “hair envy” when I am around her. :)
Do you know this next sexy lady?
Yep. It’s Kate from Centsational Girl!
Her blog has blown up this past year!
I didn’t get to hang with her a lot, but I have had the blessing of getting to know her even more this past year. She is so talented and has a great heart.
When I saw the picture of her kids’ Christmas tree on her blog, I couldn’t believe that it had the same candy garland on it that I had when I was a child. It reminded me so much of Mom.
And do you know that sweet Kate bought me some candy garland and sent it to me all the way from California? Just because. It blessed my heart so much. Thank you, Kate!
And look at this next picture! That’s Melissa, from The Inspired Room, on my right and Nester, from The Nesting Place, on my left! I could hardly stand it!!
It is the most amazing feeling to make your online friends your real life friends.
I got to hang out more with Melissa at the Relevant ‘10 conference, and she absolutely cracks me up! She is one cool chick!
I didn’t get to talk to Nester much last year, but I am hoping this year I can get to know her better. Since we are both the mom of all boys, I think we would have a lot in common, don’t you? :)
Here is a group shot of some more amazing bloggers! I remember standing in this group and thinking, “What am I doing here?” “Am I fooling anybody?”
Honestly…who cared? I was having the time of my life!!!!!
And my sweet sister hung out at the Opryland Hotel the whole time while I was “star gazing”.
She had to listen to all my blog stories every night when I got back to the room.
But man! Did we have fun!!! It was just what my heart needed!
Cyndi and I are going again to Blissdom in one week!!!
I am beyond excited.
I have so many blog friends going. Most I have never met in real life. It is going to be great hang with them. :)
My sister is going to be attending the conferences this year. I told her I was going to tell everyone she is my “blog assistant”. :)
And we are going to be rooming with Richella from Imparting Grace.
Isn’t she the cutest thing ever?
She has been my precious online friend for two years. And she has faithfully prayed for me and my family during the loss of my mom. And now I get to hug her neck in person!! How great is our God!
Can’t wait to see you Richella!
So why am I going to Blissdom again this year?
Well, I hope to learn more about blogging.
I hope to make my blog an even better blog in 2011 (for my awesome readers!)
But most of all, I hope to make even more of my online friends my real life friends.
I will still stalk my favorite bloggers. I will be nervous. I will be excited.
I will laugh and cry!
I will be blessed!
I’m so very thankful to be going again this year!
If you are going, please come introduce yourself to me! I want to meet as many new bloggers as possible!
I will share a few fun posts from Nashville next week!
Have a blessed day!
