Happy Friday, friends! I'm linking up with Andrea and Erika for today's favorite blog post of the week. How has your week been? Mine has been not only great, but one of the most fun weeks ever. I'm so thankful to be able to say that, especially since I didn't know how I'd feel coming into the weekend from such a huge conference that was held at our church. I'll jump in with some of my favorites from this week!
This view was my favorite last weekend as I sat in my new zero gravity chair on our deck. I'm hoping to do some more of that this weekend!
A friend of mine shared this image above on Instagram last week, and it was one of my favorite things that I saw online all week. It's so true!
Charcuterie boards are my favorite! How cute is this one? This would be so simple to make!
Our new Italian restaurant in The Ville could easily become a new favorite! I loved my lunch there on Monday with my friend Vicki. I loved it so much that when a new friend from the conference asked me where was good to eat, I recommended they eat here today for lunch before they leave. I had tons of those questions this week, by the way, since people were here for this conference from all over the world! I'll share more about this in a few minutes, though, so sit tight...
Having Drew stop by unexpectedly for lunch on Monday was my favorite! And so is sending him home with a few groceries for his lunches for the week. My sons are always welcome to come shop in our pantry!
Oh, friends. This day was not my favorite, when my Coca Cola man at work came to deliver my $2.500 order and jumbled up the order of all my drinks. Thanks to my amazing friends Tiffany and Amy, they came in early on Wednesday and reorganized all of this to make easier for us to be able to grab and go. I was so grateful for them both doing this!
Do you remember me saying that Todd and I were trying to find a couple of lost birth certificates on Tuesday? In looking through all those files, I came across this letter that my dad wrote to me the week I got married. I sat and read this and cried like a baby, feeling all of his love for me poured out through his handwriting. I am so thrilled to have this! These types of things are my very favorite.
Having all of these people in our church was my favorite! I've said it before here that I love seeing life in our church building, and I mean every word.
The sunrise yesterday morning on my way into work was my favorite!
This was me making 25 gallons of coffee at 7 a.m. on Thursday morning. (I made 15 gallons, and my friend Amy made 10 in another room.)
I took these pictures to show you all the people! It doesn't look like it, but there were about 800 people in attendance, from all over the country and some parts of the world. This event is Collegiate Summit; an event that takes place every three years for Christian college campus group leaders. For the Southern Baptist Convention (the SBC), this college group organization is called the BCM, which stands for Baptist Collegiate Ministry. This is essentially a conference for BCM leaders, many of which are college aged. I've met so many incredible leaders and even more amazing young people! I love, love, love this age of people, and I've had several groups come into the bookstore just to talk to me and to get to know me and the way things work there. It's been so sweet, and it really has been so much fun for me to a part of. And guess what? Even after all of the extra hours of work this week, I love my job even more and am excited for the next time that I get to be there again!
I dressed very comfortably every day this week. Wednesday was a ten hour day for me, and yesterday was a thirteen hour day! Today will be about eight hours, I'm guessing.
I took these pictures in the evening while everyone was at dinner to show you what the setup was like in the grand foyer of our church. All of these booths were there for people to browse through, one of which was the IMB, or International Mission Board. Many of these college students go on to become short or long term missionaries, and I met several of them from places like South Africa, New Zealand, London, and Canada. It was great to learn about what they do and to hear their beautiful accents. It was a blessing for all of us to have them at our church, and they were grateful to be there at a place that acted as both venue and host. I say it was a great thing for them, but it truly felt that way even more for us! I enjoyed every second of them being there, even though I way overbought and didn't sell nearly the amounts of drinks and snacks that I'd originally thought.
It was an amazing week and though I am exhausted from the extra time standing on my tile floor and the hours of work that I was there, I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. They've already said they'd love to have it at our church again in three years, and I'll know quite a bit more going into it then than I knew going in to it now. I've learned lots from the last few days and am grateful for the fact that the Lord opened up the door for me to work at our church; it's truly the greatest place ever to work and to attend!
On a lighter note, did you happen to catch all of my blog posts from the week? I'll link them below, just click on it and you'll be redirected to a link in a new window.
Hello Monday
A Post of Random and Unrelated Things on a Tuesday
Currently
Thankful Thursday and Share Your Shelf: the books I read in April
What about you; what was a favorite from your week? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog, friends. Love to all!
I love the Instagram quote and I couldn't agree with it more! The letter from your dad is truly special. He sounds like a wonderful father.
ReplyDeleteIs that not the truest thing ever??? I loved finding that letter all over again. I knew it was there, of course, but it's been at least ten years since I last read it. He was and still is such a wonderful dad!
DeleteSo glad it went/is going well! You have the best attitude and I know that helps, too!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks, my friend! I will say: attitude is everything. EVERYTHING.
DeleteGlad everything is going well at the church. How heartwarming to know that there are scores of young people who love and want to serve the Lord! Speaking of young people, I took a picture of that charcuterie board to send to Abby. Either she or I will recreate it, I am sure. She likes fun food presentation just like I do.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Maria; I was relieved for that, too. That's how I felt about all those amazing young people. I love that age, and knowing that they love Jesus makes me love them even more. If you make that, I want to see!
DeleteSo glad your work is paying off- sounds like such a success! Hope you have a relaxing and fun weekend :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Holly! I hope the same for you!
DeleteYou had quite the week! Love the letter from your Dad, how precious! And as a parent of a grown up, I can so relate to the quote.
ReplyDeleteI really have! Thanks for that. I know so many of us can relate to that quote. Even as I write this comment, I was just praying for something for one of my sons. I'm always thankful we can take all of our burdens and cares to the Lord!
DeleteSo glad everything went well with the Summit! I find that age group mostly uplifting to be around since they have such wonderful dreams, visions, and ideas. But my very favorite from the list of your favorites has got to be that letter from your dad; that is priceless (I got a whole different kind of letter from my dad before my wedding and let's just say it was NOT a keeper).
ReplyDeleteThanks, my friend! That's a great point, one that I hadn't thought of, but you're absolutely right. Isn't that the best? I know that must have brought back a memory for you; I'm sorry that you didn't have that in your own dad. That had to have been so hard! Much love to you, my friend.
DeleteWhat a great week!
ReplyDeleteThat is so true about grown up children. I think I worry more about them now they're older.
Wow! That is a lot of cola and the letter from your dad is so sweet.
It sounds like the event at your church went really well. I hope you have plenty of time to rest over the weekend.
Kim, isn't that the truth about our grown kids?! Thanks for that, my friend! I am looking forward to doing just that.
DeleteOh, I love that letter from your dad. I have a few things saved from my grandparents and there is something about seeing their handwriting that makes me so happy! I am glad your event went so well. I bet that anti gravity chair will feel good this weekend! Have a good one!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah! I am like you; the written word is so special to me. I have a box of cards that our parents have given to me over the years, and it's my "grab in case of fire" box. I hope you enjoy your weekend, friend!
DeleteOh, the BSU, as it was known when our kids were in college was their social lives. They loved it and it was such a blessing to both of them. I pray that it will mean the same to our Grans in a few years. Always enjoy stopping by your blog.
ReplyDeleteYes! I met a man who shared that name with me. I know that was a blessing for all of you! Thanks for that, Lea!
DeleteWhen my mom moved out of our childhood home my sister found a letter my dad had written me from Vietnam. And one I'd written him that he kept which made me weep. I love that charcuterie and am definitely doing that one sometime this spring! Its wonderful to see college students living out their faith together. We see so much despair around us in this generation and the reminder that all is not lost is a good one. Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure letters like that are! That would have made me cry as well, finding one I'd written to my dad that he kept. I love seeing that same thing too, Joyce! Thanks for that, my friend.
DeleteGlad to hear things went well this week. I was thinking about you Friday and kept meaning to text. I came home Thursday and told Johnny I felt so much energy and excitement for ministry being there during the Summit. It warmed my heart to hear how much they loved the heart of our church!!
ReplyDelete-Jenna
DeleteI felt that same way, Jenna! Hey, thanks for letting me know that was you. I always like to know who I'm talking with here! 🤣
DeleteSo glad to hear it went well, but know it was some long days! I hope you get caught up on some rest and fun this weekend. It sounds lilke it was rewarding admidst the hard work.
ReplyDeleteThey were long days, but we had a blast! Thanks for that, my friend. I hope you've had a good weekend!
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