Counting Gifts and Other Lessons from the She Speaks Conference 2011

The words dripped off her lips. Slowing her cadence, she naturally wove her story around us, drawing us in. "Open handed living is the only way to take the hand of God. Counting gifts changes my default of discontent to doxology. Never disdain the small; moments are what add up. A pen can be a cheap medicine. We are made to give thanks, to give him glory. Write 1000 gifts." "Give thanks to the Lord forever, His love endures forever. What is always the strategy? Gratitude, thanksgiving," breathed author Ann Voskamp.

Lysa Terkeurst, Glynnis Whitwer, and many others taught and inspired the 650 of us women last weekend at the She Speaks conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Three days of workshops, keynote sessions  and networking times have swamped my brain. Dreaming to-do lists, writing imaginary thank you notes in anticipation of my printer being fixed, and brainstorming my next steps have made this week fly by. I pause in thankfulness though for my family, for this great conference, and for the joyful noises of Vacation Bible School children at my church this week.

Join me in this new adventure, will you? Naming gifts from God. Pausing the frantic pace to savor, name, and thank the Artist.
...for the sweet fragrance of a sun-swept toddler's cheek and curling tendrils of hair, nuzzling into my face
...for the vulnerable words of my willowy teen daughter, "Come look at my new book, Mom"
... for the rough face of my man, as I welcome him home from work