Women Of Faith Conference at Xcel Energy Center

I won tickets to the 2010 Women of Faith Conference here in St. Paul, MN. I was so excited to go because I haven’t attended for about 5 years or more.

I knew right away that I wanted to take my 19 year old daughter, Baby. I rarely get to spend time with her being away at college and I knew this would be a great time for us to be together. Plus I had free room and board got to hang out with her and her roomies.Friday I shipped the boys off to a friend’s house and took Rugby to spend his first doggy overnight with a close friend’s family and their doggy Katie. Remember she’s been here before!

I headed down to St. Paul and met up with Baby before the Evening session. We were there for a few hours and then headed back to Baby’s dorm room to “sleep”. I’d just like to say for the record that I wish I could go back and have a Do-Over. I never went to college and being with those girls overnight was just plain fun!

Saturday morning we dragged ourselves out of bed and headed back to the Xcel Energy Center for a day of listening and learning.

Going to these conferences, one of my favorite speakers is Patsy Clairmont. If you EVER have the chance to hear her speak, you will not be disappointed. She’s a feisty little wisp of a woman who will have you really laughing.

At first I couldn’t figure out who the gal was at the foot of the stage getting her groove on with every worship song being sung. I pulled out my program and that’s when I remembered Mandisa from American ldol was supposed to be performing. That woman knows how to worship all out! She gets in some awesome aerobics! She’s not afraid to show her stuff while worshipping the Lord!

Another gal who can take a regular song and transform it for the everyday woman is Anita Renfroe. That gal knows what it’s like to have ta-tas that aren’t so perky when you get older, that the kids don’t always listen and that marriage isn’t as easy as a teenager envisions.

The team that I really anticipated hearing were Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman. Steven Curtis Chapman is synonymous with Christian music. I had never heard Mary Beth speak so was excited to hear from her. The only “problem” was I knew I was going to need tissues. See, 2 1/2 yrs ago one of their sons accidently hit his sister with a vehicle and she died. I knew it wouldn’t be easy.

When SCC was introducing his sons, who play in his band, I may have tweeted out something to the effect of “if you ever want to set your son up on a blind date, let me know I have a precious daughter”. *grin* I mean, they are the same age. tee hee hee Don’t tell my daughter she’d have a cow!

One of the sweet songs SCC sang was Cinderella and I sobbed through the whole thing and leaned over to kiss my girl and tell her I love her. Mary Beth spoke of the tragedy, but even more, how life has gone on and they are finding a new normal.

I also enjoyed hearing Sandi Patty speak and sing as well as Lisa Welchel, who I grew up watching as Blair on the Facts of Life. I love how down to earth she is.

We ended up having to leave early because I had to get back to work. That meant we missed Marilyn Meberg. We got to hear a few of her opening lines and I could tell Baby wanted to stay because she was pretty funny!

I’d like to thank @hopemag for the opportunity to go from winning them at their Twitter party! I was blessed not only by the conference, but the time I got to spend with my daughter!