Well - up until the last minute - I didn't know if we were going to get to go to Dot Mom. But God worked it all out and I'm SOOOOOO thankful because I had one of the best weekends of my life! And I have to thank my sweet husband and wonderful in-laws for keeping the girls so I could get away. What a blessing!
We live about 6 hours from Dallas and we didn't want to leave too early in case there was any ice so we left around 8 and headed to Dallas. We stopped in Oklahoma for some fried chicken and okra. What else?
Then we did what you do in Texas - we went to eat Mexican food! And it was SOOO good. But it took a long time so we were running late to start with. And then our GPS was Completely wrong and kept taking us to an empty field instead of to the Embassy Suites so we were lost for an hour and completely missed the second session.
But hey - we had no kids, hotel rooms and good food. We were having the best time no matter what!
I didn't get to hear Angie talk (but thankfully we are getting the DVD since I hear she was amazing) but we did get to visit for a while. I love her so much.
Some of my friends and I with Angie!
And then we headed to Cheesecake factory at 11 at night because why not?
(Calories consumed on this trip do NOT count!)
Saturday morning the fun began again. Vicky Courtney spoke and it was SO good. And Travis Cottrell led the best worship of his life. I was tired and a LOT weepy. I cried so much Saturday that my contacts were completely blurred and I couldn't see anything.
A fun moment for me was that the current Bachelor (Sean)'s sister Shay reads my blog and Sophie and Melanie's blogs and lives in Dallas so she wanted to come meet us. She was going to come to Dot Mom but was moving. So she came up and we got to visit for a few minutes. She is so cute and sweet and you can see her on TV in the next week or so. :-) (She's the one in pink). And her best friend Sheaffer is the girl who has the fun blog Pinterest Told me To that I featured recently!
I have to make a side note that all my friends were mad at me that I didn't ask her who Sean picked. Like she could tell me????
Y'all know I love Melanie but I was especially excited this weekend because I got to meet her very best friend Gulley. I have heard about Gulley for the last 7 years and feel like I know her. And I love them because they are so so so much like me and Laurie. I always tell Melanie that Gulley is her Laurie. And if you read her book "Sparkly Green Earrings" - you will know what I'm talking about.
Laurie and I are going to take a road trip one of these days to San Antonio to spend a weekend with these two.
I got to meet SOOOOOOOO many fun people and blog readers at Dot Mom. So many sweet sweet girls! I was excited because I got to meet Dina. I have read her blog for a long time so it was such a treat for me. She has the CUTEST and most colorful house on this planet. You need to check out her blog!
The Conference ended with Priscilla Shirer speaking. Which you can imagine was awesome.
I stayed in a room with my friends Elizabeth and Amanda Saturday night and we stayed up until 3 a.m. laughing and talking. It was the most fun I have had in forever.
Sunday we spent about 2 hours in Ikea which was just across the street and then headed home. We got home last night and I think we would all agree it was a trip we will always remember.
I'm pretty sure my girls were JUST fine without me. These are pictures Scott took while I was gone. Harper was glad to see me but she was happier to be with her grandparents. But Hollis is a momma's girl and she wouldn't leave my side or quit hugging me for hours after I got home. She said at least 647 times "I'm so glad Mommy's home".
And my heart couldn't have been happier!
These are my people.
Two of my friends through blogs and Twitter - Sarah and Megan came and met up with us and hung out with us all weekend. Sarah said the sweetest thing at the end - she said "you always talk about how great your friends are and now I can see exactly what you mean. " I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have such sweet, Godly and FUNNY friends. It's something I honestly pray for each of you.
Loved spending my weekend with Vonda, Hillary, Ginger, Tracy, Aimee, Maegan, Amanda, Megan, Rachel, Laurie, Sarah, Ashley and Elizabeth (and Jenn!)!
YOU are Proverbs 27:17 to me!
(As Iron sharpens iron, so do Y'all SHARPEN me!)
If you get the chance - there is a Dot Mom in Chatanooga, TN on Sept 20-21. Get some friends and GO!
