What I Learned from Ann Voskamp at Allume Last Year

Early tomorrow morning I’m returning to the Allume conference so if my blog is a little quiet over the next few days you’ll know why. Last year it was called Relevant 11, but the name has since changed.

I just got back from the pharmacy where I picked up a few travel-sized items. I’m finishing up a few things on my to-do list including a few loads of laundry, and tonight I’ll head to bed early to catch an early morning flight to Pensylvania!

This year, I’m excited about meeting a few new friends including Gina from Keepin’ it Real, Lisa from Club 31 Women, Fawn from The Happy Wives Club, Sheila from To Love Honor and Vacuum, Angela from Good Morning Girls (who I’ll be rooming with) and last but not least, my agent Matt Jacobson! Oh, and the writers at The Better Mom and Roo Mag–so many wonderful friends to catch up with!

Here’s a photo from us last year. This was minutes after I got off the plane, and I was wiped out. Can’t you tell? LOL

Allume is a conference for Christian bloggers. Me along with several hundred other women gathered together in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to meet online friends, listen to some incredible speakers and eat some amazing food.

After travelling for about nine hours, the three girls above picked me up from the airport and we stopped in for dinner before heading to our hotel. This was the first time that I had ever met these women, and they were exactly the way that I imagined they would be.

There were six of us in two adjoining rooms, so the way I see it, I was blessed with five roommates for those few days: Janelle, Clare, Courtney, Ruth, and Joy (Gracefull Mama). Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo of myself with Joy. Ugh–so disapointed!

Courtney (Women Living Well)

One of the highlights of my weekend was seeing Ann Voskamp again. As some of you may know, Ann and I used to write together at Christian Women Online magazine. I also attended a writing conference in Seattle with her about four years ago at which time we shared a bedroom. It’s a fond memory that we both cherish. At that time neither one of us were published yet. Now Ann has gone on to be a NYT Best Selling author with her incredible book, One Thousand Gifts. I’m not surprised that God has blessed her in this way.

While at Relevant I took away an important lesson from Ann. I asked her how she managed to keep up with all of the email and inquiries from readers, while balancing her family life well. Her response is wise advice that I will definitely take to heart, “Each time we say “yes” to one more thing, we are saying no to our family.”

Those words solidified the work that had been stirring in my heart for weeks already. Answering email is one thing, but what I really needed to do is to pull back from some of those projects I love in order to lend my attention to the few things God has given me to do–family and my ministry here at Time-Warp Wife are a part of those things.

I came away with a definite focus for my writing. I write to minister to the hearts of women and encourage them in their marriage, and I write to sharpen the skill the Lord gave me.

Please pray for me as I’m traveling over the next few days: that I will remain focused on The One I write for, and that He’ll continue to sharpen my focus.

More of you Lord, less of me!