This past weekend was a time of friendship and renewal and lots of estrogen floating around. LOL! I went to the Women of Faith conference in Columbus, OH. Our church gets a group of women together each year and we take a bus to the conference. This is my second year and I hope to go each year if it works out. Last year I drove over on my own and went with my friend from Columbus and stayed at her place. This year I took the bus over and stayed in the hotel with the other women.

Right before last year’s conference I was asked to be in charge of it for this year. The decision to say yes has led to a lot of positive things. I am now a member of the Women’s Ministry at church. Each month we meet at someone’s house and we talk about the different teams we are leading and what they are doing. Of course I never have a whole lot to say about my team because the conference is only once a year. There are, however, a few preparations that start in late summer just getting ready for the conference in April. I have really enjoyed getting to know the women at the meetings each month. Each one is unique and has something really special to give to their area of ministry.

One really sweet person I got to know is Pat, the lady who was in charge of the conference for the past 2 years. She agreed to stay on the Women of Faith team and help me along. I don’t know how many emails she has had to answer. She has been so helpful in guiding me along the whole process of getting everything taken care of. I am so glad I had her by my side and have gotten to know her better. She is one of those people that you meet and feel like you have known them for years.

I had asked some friends to go along to the conference with me. Because they are all in the witness protection program I will just refer to them by their first initials. LOL! Originally V and H were going to go but V ended up having to go to a footwear conference for work. H and I talked on the bus over to the conference just wondering what you do at a footwear conference. H thought it would be pretty cool to look at shoes like that. LOL! Anyway, I was pretty disappointed that V couldn’t go. She is my friend that now lives in Columbus and I enjoyed being with her at the conference last year. I also knew that the conference would have been really good for her since she has been going though some tough times lately. But since she couldn’t go I asked A to go along. H and I have know each other for around 13 yrs or so. We worked together at a prior job and now we are working together again. I have been working with A for about 8 yrs. I have talked to her a lot at work but have never done anything outside of work with her. She is a very upbeat person who is fun to be around. I knew we would all have a good time together. I knew that A could really use some time away too.

After we boarded the bus, Dan, our pastor came out and prayed with us before we left. He is not in the witness protection program so I can say his name. Anyway – in his prayer he mentioned that we might find God in times other than when we are at the conference such as when we are sharing a meal with friends, etc. As soon as we took off H and I noticed that A was just chatting away with the lady sitting next to her. A doesn’t know a stranger. After we got to the mall (Yes – we had to go shopping first) A told us that she had already been so blessed by talking to the lady sitting next to her. I remembered Dan’s prayer and thought that she found a little gift from God sitting next to her on the bus.

We spent the day shopping and then went to the hotel, out for dinner, and then to the conference for the evening. If you ever get a chance to go to the Women of Faith conference please go. They have them all over the USA. I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying them. I found myself laughing one minute and then holding back tears the next. The speakers and music are great. Sharing the experience with friends too is so special.

I know that God was there with me during the organization of the conference. Everything just seemed to fall into place. People were there to help me along the way. I was so surprised and blessed to receive a gift bag from the women in our group. I’ve got lots of reading to do now and lots of laughing while watching Anita Renfroe’s DVD set. I have to admit in some ways I’m relieved it is over but I’m ready to go again next year. I know that by then I will need that time of renewal in my life.