I Am A Writer
I have had many roles over the past 50+ years. Daughter, girlfriend, wife, mother, friend, volunteer, Bible study teacher, speaker, retreat planner, graduate student, and licensed counselor. In the last year, I started a blog and have been trying to write. I think I have a book in me, but thought I’d start out blogging and see where it took me. This past weekend I had the privilege of attending the Allume conference for Christian writers and bloggers. My mother was the keynote speaker for the closing session on Saturday night, so I got to tag along and be her roadie. I don’t even have the words for how meaningful this conference was for me. It wasn’t denominational. It wasn’t political. It was magical.
I started off the weekend by picking up a stranger at the airport. Jenn Giles Kemper (http://jenngileskemper.com/) wasn’t technically a stranger. I’d connected with her online through her Kickstarter campaign for her Sacred Ordinary Days planner. When I heard she was coming to the conference, I messaged her and asked if I could pick her up from the airport. She agreed, which led to a lovely lunch and several points of connection throughout the weekend. Y’all, I love Jenn and there are only five days left to get in on the Sacred Ordinary Days Planner for 2016. If you’re looking for a way to connect the church calendar and your devotional life in one beautiful spot, the Sacred Ordinary Days planner is your answer. Here’s Jenn and me at the conference, along with another new friend Katie Anderson. 
Katie is a real author! You can find her at http://www.katiedanderson.com/. Katie writes young adult fiction and she is the real deal. I loved having meals with her and discovering how vulnerable she is, which made me feel so much safer about my own vulnerability. Both of these women were such a gift to me. Here’s picture of the mockup of the planner. It’s lovely!
On Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting Molly Huggins. Molly blogs at http://www.allthegracebetween.com/. She is mom to four children and she even had little number 4, Hannah, at the conference. Hannah is seven weeks old and clearly recognized my innate grandmothering skills. I got to hold her for a while during a creative seminar, and I’m not sure I heard much that the speaker said because I was so infatuated with little Miss Hannah. Isn’t she precious?
Saturday night my mother spoke about the Holy Spirit. At almost 80, my mom, Esther Burroughs, has still got it. I was so proud to be her daughter Saturday night. She spoke truth and challenged us to listen to the Spirit and let ourselves be guided by His direction. She literally rocked it. Standing ovation. God is definitely not finished using her yet, and I am guessing He’s interested in having her speak into yet another generation of believers. She blogs at http://www.estherburroughs.com and you’ll be blessed by reading her wise words. There was a picture booth at the conference, so of course we had to have a photo made.
Many times throughout the weekend I was asked this question: Are you a writer?
I found myself saying something like, “Well yes, but not really. I’m a counselor and I started a blog. Nobody really reads it…” The coolest thing that happened to me last weekend was that I actually began to feel confidence in saying “Yes, I am a writer.” I’m a mother, a wife, and a counselor. But I’m also a writer. There, I just said it. I’m a writer. I learned so much from Brian Dixon http://dixonagency.org/, Amber Haines http://amberchaines.com/, Logan Wolfram http://www.loganwolfram.com/, Timothy Willard http://www.timothywillard.com/ and Deidre Riggshttp://www.deidrariggs.com/. My world was changed this weekend. I am so thankful.
It sounds like you had a great experience at Allume. And I LOVE that you are telling it like it is: “I’m a writer.” YESSSS!
PS, would have LOVED to hear your mom share about the Holy Spirit! I’m sure it blessed many.
Thanks Adrienne for taking the time to comment and for your encouragement. At some point the keynote speakers will be available online on their website. I’ll try to remember to let you know.
Melody, it was so great meeting you and your mother at Allume! You are right, she did indeed knock it out of the park! And it is great reading about your experiences at Allume. I remember Logan coming home several years ago from Allume and sharing that she, too, had found the freedom and courage to finally say “she is a writer”! So run with that, embrace that facet of how Papa has gifted you and the world will certainly be blessed in the process!
Also, the Allume keynotes are online now at http://allume.com/2015keynotes
Thanks, Jeremy! Your words are so encouraging to me! It was a pleasure to meet both you and Logan and I look forward to staying in touch with you both.Also thanks for the heads up about the keynote availability.
I LOVED reading this. You are a writer! Yay! I wish we had gotten some time this weekend. I just adore your mom. She has done so much for me and my book. Let’s keep in touch. Keep me posted on your writing.
Thank you Courtney! She has told me all about your book and I look forward to reading it. It was great to meet you and I look forward to connecting going forward. Blessings!
This is so comforting. I too don’t think of myself as a writer, having just started blogging this May. And I don’t think anyone reads it. Someday! I’m in learning mode and just want to soak it in. So your links will help! I’m so sorry I missed Allume. Are there other faith based writing conferences you’d recommend?
Thank you, Tracy for taking the time to comment. I’ll look forward to checking out your blog! I recommend the Clumsy Blogging Course offered by Micah Murray, but as far as I know Allume is the only Christian blogging conference I’m familiar with. If I hear of something else I’ll be sure to post about it. Blessings!
Beautifully stated! I told several people this weekend – I have known Jesus a long time, I have known whose I am, I have known who I am as wife and mother – BUT I am figuring out who I am in the Kingdom of God!! Several speakers hit me with a two-by-four . . . and I too have been challenged by Brian Dixon. Let’s bring it on together!!!! I am a steward of His word and work in me!! I have all I need at this time for this time!
So true Michelle! Loved meeting you this weekend and look forward to bringing it on with you!