What I Learned This Week [Hissy Fit Edition]

I spent the weekend with 22 fabulous women at Women of Faith in Columbus, Ohio.

Well, 12,000 women if you count the ones I did not know.

We laughed.

We cried.

We ate.

We laughed.

And we peed.

This year’s theme is Over The Top, so you can just about figure that I fit in real well there. Seeing as how I live most of my life over the top, and all.

There is discrepancy regarding how many years we’ve been making this trip. Some say six. And some say seven. I stink at math, so I didn’t even attempt to figure it out. All but one of those years was in Columbus. One year we visited Pittsburgh, but the shopping possibilities were limited, so Columbus and all of its shopping opportunities became our annual destination.

Out of those six or seven years, this was MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE conference. I thought it might be fun to share What I Learned at Women of Faith.

Never heard of this guy,

Andy Andrews,

but if you ever have the chance, you should run, not walk, to hear him because he is a delightfully energetic, engaging speaker and I enjoyed (watching and) listening to him. He was a cameraman’s nightmare because he worked the room. But I liked that. I liked that he came down from the platform and actually talked with us instead of at us. Not to mention he has two young sons, same as me.

Here, Sandi Patty, Marilyn Meburg, and Luci Swindoll are no doubt discussing which one of them will be approaching me about a possible speaking deal with Women Of Faith. I am, after all Over the top.

Sandi Patty performed a stirring rendition of “We Shall Behold Him” and I was in awe. She has an amazing set of pipes.

It gave me chills.

Two of my gal pals took their daughters along because they love Mandisa. My friend’s daughter, Lexi enjoyed her short meeting with Mandisa.

Oh, and if you’ve never heard Mandisa perfrom Shackles live, you need to. But you should have your dancin’ shoes on. And a sweat towel.

That’s all I’m sayin.

And speaking of live performers, this cat was awesome.

If I had any sense at all, I would have taken a picture of the drummer because his guns?

Impressive.

And I’m not one of those types who are easily turned on by guns. And if you’re reading that sentence thinking about a rifle or a pistol, you should moverightalong and not even worry about it.

Oh, and Steven Curtis Chapman, If by some chance you end up here at From Inmates To Playdates, can I just say I was in awe of your wife, Marybeth. She was awesome and brave and humble. I will continue to pray for your family.

Here are just a few of the things I learned this weekend thanks to Patsy Clarimont, Marybeth Chapman, Anita Renfroe, Sandi Patty, Marilyn Meburg, Mandisa, Lisa Welchel, Nicole Johnson, Andy Andrews, and Richard Stearns.

- God is good even when life is not.

- A hook can only grab and pull and push,but a hand can hold and help. May God give us the grace to put down our hooks and use our hands.

- We should stop talking about anger management and start talking about anger resolution.

- Forgiveness is a decision, not an emotion.

- Know that people are taking notes on you.

- We gals can rise up mightedly when it comes to our people.

- What if this [insert situation here]  is for good?

- Refuse to think unclean, unkind, unpure thoughts and replace them with everything that is good, clean and pure. Otherwise, the enemy will come in and tap dance in that space.

- Minimize your word count. Chances are you don’t need to say all of that anyway. Go on a word diet.

Hello, are you talking to me?

-Grief is a journey, not an address.

Oh, I love that!

- God is under no obligation to tell us what He is doing.

- For me to tell everything that is on my mind is foolishness.

- I’ve always wanted to be a speaker, I just don’t have a lot to say.

Um, Andy Andrews, yessir, you have a lot to say. And I love the way you said it!

- The amount of stuff that comes out of my mouth amazes me.

Whoa.

- I went to school to be a vet. Well that or a taxidermist. Either way I’d be able to tell them they’ll get their dog back.

Bahahaha.

- I’m ADD. I used to be ADHD but the “H” was too much trouble.

- Watch the complaining, the exaggeration, and the complaining. They will suck the vitality out of you.

And my absolute favorite line (possibly of all time) courtesy of this gal, Anita Renfroe whom I met last year,

- You just don’t have a hissy fit. A hissy fit must have a verb involved. Some action. A hissy fit must be thrown or pitched.

Thank you, Anita for that wonderful tidbit.

A tidbit I am sure never to forget.

What about you?

Did you learn something this week?

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Tagged as: girlfriends