LPL FRIDAY.......
I have decided to divide up the days because I have a PLETHORA of great photos and of course could not turn them away! ha!....so that means you might want to get a snack and cup of hot chocolate for this big baby of a post!
So, lets begin with last Wed. Dixie and I decided to leave on Wed for Memphis so that we could spend all day Thursday with our family and relax before a busy weekend. We pulled into Germantown, Tn around 2 am!
It was late but we had such a fun time talking and singing on the road. We even stopped in Texarkana at Cracker Barrel for some yummy Dinner Breakfast food! IT was perfect.
Daddy Bob's House
On Thursday we went for a long walk with Daddy Bob. It was fun having him all to ourselves and he even KILLED A SNAKE BY RIPPING IT APART WITH HIS TEETH ......hahaha just kidding but there was a snake on the path and he DID grab a huge tree limb and beat the thing to death.....sadly I left my camera at the house...tears...it was so funny!
That evening we ate a delish meal of chicken spaghetti that Ruby made us and then played this fun game!!!!! i forgot what it is called but you answer these questions and then guess who said it...hahahha oh we laughed and laughed! I love playing games with my fam. they can be so funny!
This is me right after I got the call from Jenna that she was on her way. I had not been on my bloglines so I was totally unaware she was even on her way. I thought I was gonna pass out! I just could NOT BELIEVE IT!.....and yes my hair is different and my bangs back....i don't go without bangs to much so that was something way out of my comfort zone!ha! i was going for "Old Hollywood" kinda hahahahaa
then we headed to Collierville to pick up Aunt Chris and drive to the Forum......this is us in the Westin parking garage....
It was such a rainy day! We decided to sit in the Westin lobby to wait till Melissa arrived and of course take more pictures ha!
While we were relaxing....I looked over to the elevator and noticed a man that looked A LOT like TRAVIS COTTRELL....so i told the girls..."i think that is travis" as he walked out to the street. Then he came back in and I said "I do really think that is travis".....so they told me to go on over and check it out ...AND I DID WITH MY BIG FAT CAMERA.
We looked at each other and we smiled. He was on the phone and in a very intense conversation so I just stood........ha awkward i know...anything for the blog right hahaha......then Beth's little bodyguard guy, that followers her around while she speaks, came up and started talking to him and they looked worried. I then knew that my spirit was saying to walk way because I was the least of their issues.
I sat down and was so excited that I was standing by them like I knew them personally hahahahahaahahaha.....
Then I sent a text to Kelly and Jenna and Kelly told me I had failed her and to get up and go back AND GET THE PICTURE GIRL hahahahhahaa....and of course she was kidding with me but she was right...I had failed and started to feel terrible as if I had missed an opportunity.........but don't cry yet.... God was up to something ELSE with ole Travis and I for Saturday hahahhahah!
In the mean time Melissa arrived
and we walked to Hard Rock for a delicious burger...
and this chocolate chip cookie pie thing.....
that tasted soooooooooo good and was the perfect dessert to eat before going and praise the Lord!
funny pics
lipstick touched up and then we walked across the street to the FedEx Forum
where women had been in line since 3 pm.....really???? I mean this place was great and there were tons of great seats. We got to be at eye level with Beth both days which was our goal!
the stage
we had time to spare so we took pictures and kept our eyes peeled for blog friends
There were two ladies that I REALLY wanted to meet in person. This is Paige Greene and she is the Director of Women's Training and Events at LifeWay! She was soooooo daring in person and I enjoyed getting to talk with her!
Paige then took me over to meet Pam Case who is the Director of LifeWay Women and I got to meet her husband too! These are women that I admire in the area of women's ministry and I just Praise God that He lead me right in the path of them both!
So when I thought it could NOT get better in my world.......I looked down on the floor and spotted BooMama talking with another woman. We were saving seats so I asked Melissa to go down and see if it was her.........AND IT WAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BigMama was there too and I was just THRILLED! I would have known them anywhere. It was so fun! They were so curious to find out if Jenna had made it....and at that point they were STILL DRIVING AND I WAS GETTING NERVOUS!!!!!!!!!!!
Jenna and I did get to go back down to them right before the conference began and people were seated. I totally spotted Amanda Moore's mother in law. She and Curtis were both in town for the event! fun fun and then I LOOKED TO MY LEFT, while Jenna is talking to Boo and Big, and there is Mr. Travis again.....just steps away! it was so fun!
Then it was time.....Travis and the Praise Team came out and lead us in the most Move Around, Clap Your Hands, Jumping for Joy music! Oh it was amazing to here 13,500...that was the final count.....women praising OUR GOD! I hope that I will be able to describe it more later. It sounds like what Heaven will be like.........Glory!
a few of Beth walking and talking at the beginning......
and of course........my dear Jenna. She arrived just before everything began and when we hugged..........it felt like we had hugged a million times before. Friends! Oh I hope you can understand what it is like to love someone in the faith and pray for them and talk with them.......and then Worship our God for the very first time with them! It will take your breath away. Meeting for lunch is great but I think I need to start meeting blog friends during a Church service so that we can sing together and learn. Instant bond was sealed when we hugged. If we had only had OUR KELLY with us it would have been perfect. I can't wait till we three can meet and sing hymns TOGETHER!!!!!!
Anyway, Jenna is so beautiful in person and her southern accent makes all the old hymns and praise songs sound delightful! It was extremely special for me!
I will share more about what I learned when I post about Saturday. I would like to end with posting my mom's own words. Being the wife of a retired football coach..... I thought how she wrote it out was just perfect........
God vs Satan
Oct 9, 2009
Memphis, TN (FedEx Forum)
Kick-off time 7:30pm
"Only God could of orchestrated all He did for us to come together in Memphis for the Beth Moore Living Proof Live.
I just want to thank the Lord for not letting “stuff” get in the way of his daughters......like......
* A good friend’s stepson totally dislocated his ankle..but she still came.
*Dixie thinking of backing out when she was held up trying to download her next assignment for her job (satan loves to use the computer to distract us), but Caroline would NOT let her...imagine that!
*One young lady had unexpected expensive car trouble and thought she might not go but she did and even doors were opened for Jenna to go with her.
It is so exciting to see how God did it all even with the enemy working to stop us from learning about Him. Even Beth herself..... the enemy tried to keep her in Houston with rain and canceled planes, but the Lord sent a jet to rescue her just in time. Thank you that 33,300 women were there to hear how God loves us, “Jesus loves me this I know”.
Lord, I praise you for orchestrating all of us who desired to grow in you to be present in Memphis at the appointed time that you called us to be there. That we, sisters, were strong in the Lord and in his mighty power, that we were able to put on the full armor of God so that we could stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
We did have your full armor on and we were able to stand our ground when the evil one came. And your daughters were able to stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around our waist.(Eph 6:11-14) Your daughters knew they needed some loving from you, Lord, and pushed their way thru the defensive line to reach the goal to win another battle.. We give you all the praise and glory and I thank you that your mercies begin afresh each morning. AMEN
Thank you for allowing me to express some of my thoughts with your blog world".
Oh by the way,
God wins every time.
Final score
33,300 to 0
amen amen amen! Thanks Mom for writing this. See, I was wanting a pic with Travis at 3 that afternoon and I had no idea that they were still in the middle of trying to get Beth out of Houston. I also had no idea that when I posted on Twitter this update.......praying AGAINST satan that is already trying to stop, discourage, or lead away those coming to LPL this weekend! SHUT HIS PLANS DOWN LORD!
10:47 AM Oct 9th from web ............... that I was praying not only for the women but for the one woman LEADING US! But like many have already posted.........
IF GOD WANTS US THERE HE WILL GET US THERE......IF HE WANTED US HOME HE WOULD HAVE KEPT US HOME!
I PRAISE HIM for making a way for us all!
He is a VERY.GOOD.GOD!
I so look forward to sharing my heart with you soon!
love you friends!