True Praise

I think I have started this post 3 times already, but I simply don't know where to begin. There are just so many things that I want to say. So. Many. But, I need to pull it together better in my mind.


Some of them are so completely hilarious that I have to hold in a SNORT every single time I think about it and probably will for the rest of my life. Including now, which is causing me and my laptop to receive some very concerned looks. I am at the airport, by the way, waiting on my flight out of San Antonio. Suffice it to say, we laughed y'all. I mean laughed till it flat-out HURT!!

Then there were moments like getting to meet and hang out with my sweet friend Cindy all weekend. I already loved her, but she is even more of a treasure to me now. She is all that you'd imagine and then some. We laughed and we worshipped and we stayed up way too late chatting about everything under the sun, just like we'd known each other forever. I am missing her dreadfully already. So I better quit talking about it because I will, for sure, start with the ugly cry and then these poor fellow travelers will certainly request my ban from their flight.

Ahem.

Together we spent a ton of time with the Fabulous Amy Beth who knows and rocks the awesomeness of a late night girl talk. Not only that, but she comes bearing gifts of the chocolate lava cake and ice cream variety to said late night gatherings. And you thought she could only pull off the nacho cheese... Negative. Love that girl.

Then there's Jennie, who had to endure two of the most directionally challenged people ON the planet thankyouverymuch. She was still kind enough after suffering many of our antics to want to have the longest most awesome lunch ever, in the coolest most awesome spot ever, along the Riverwalk. Love that girl, too.

I was finally able to look at so many lovely faces to so many of the blogs that I read, and I was blessed. BLESSED by ALL of my encounters. There just isn't enough room to write about each of them, but every single one, from the moment I arrived, are special to me.

Here comes that dern lump again. God is just so good. So good to bring together a bunch of His daughters from all across the nation to raise the roof together in worship, and to just do what He designed us as women to do.

I plan to blog about this more as the week goes on because there is too much for just one post. I especially want to tell you how awesome Living Proof Live was, but before I do that, there is one thing I have to tell you about RIGHT NOW. It impacted me so strongly this weekend and showed me how deep God's strengh can run in one person that for me to keep it to myself would be wrong.

I already mentioned that I am"directionally challenged", so when I had to go back to the hotel to meet up with Cindy and Amy Beth after lunch on Friday, I was a mite panicked. Everyone else was heading to the Alamodome which is in the opposite direction from where I was where I needed to go.

By the grace of God, two women, who were with our group, were going my way and they appeared to know what they were doing. We loaded up on the trolley and began the normal, "where are you from?" and "what's your blog name?", which, incidentally, would usually illicit a huge squeal because THEN we would recognize each other. So it wasn't weird to hear someone say something like, "I'm Fuzzytop" followed by the high-pitched "OH MY GOODNESS!! It's SO good to meet you" and then a huge hug would ensue. But I am getting away from my story.

So we're on the trolley chatting all the way back to the hotel and when we got into the lobby, I thanked them again, and we went our separate ways.

On Saturday morning, we ended up sitting right behind them. Cindy had to use the facilites, and Amy Beth hadn't arrived yet, so I was alone when Michelle (one of the ladies) decided to crawl up one row to chat. I told her how I drug Cindy seven blocks in the wrong direction trying to get to the Alamodome and we had a good chuckle at my obvious issues.

Then I noticed the CUTEST Build-a-Bear dog sitting on Michelle's seat. I commented on it and touched it's foot, when she said that it reminded her of her son. I guess I thought that she was taking it home to her young child, but no. She then went on to tell me that three years ago to the day she had to say goodbye to her boy while on this earth. He was 17 and in a terrible car accident. He survived for several days, but his precious body was just too broken and God wanted him home. I listened, barely able to speak, to her tell about her Father and how she praised Him for healing her son for eternity. I was in awe at the strength of God in this woman. I hugged her so tightly and then the event started. She took her seat and I went on to watch her for the next 3 and a half hours worship and receive and offer up her battered heart in deep praise.

Girls, there are no words. Her and her Father together blew me away. And I couldn't have been more blessed. Michelle Bentham, it was so good to meet you this weekend. God used you to show a few girls in the next row what an awesome Abba He is, and I am so grateful. I love you my sister.