Our 21 day adventure started with me attending The Relevant Conference.
Last year, I went with no expectations and was completely blown out of the water.
Unfortunately for me, this year, I had expectations.
I had expectations of being rested and rejuvenated.
Of spending great time with dear friends. And leaving refreshed and full of ideas.
That didn’t happen.
Not because the conference didn’t offer it. But I was too busy to take it in.
I wore a lot of hats at The Relevant Conference this year.
I was the momma. The bacon cooker. (don’t ask) One of the homeschool meetup gals. A social media manager (and now affiliate manager). I was the one who was trying to spend time with people I only get to see a couple times a year, yet I was exhausted. Because I was also wearing hats that weren’t visible at the conference.
Some were expected, others not so much. And some? Self induced – because ya’ know – I tend to think I can wear a lot of hats. (insert perfectionism here)
Did I leave Relevant this year with all the warm fuzzy feelings I had last year?
No.
I left with more.
I left with the reassurance that I can’t do it all. And the confidence that it will be OK.
Those few days at Relevant were just a glimpse of my everyday life.
It’s crazy.
Only because I let it be.
I have been wearing too many hats in my life. Not doing anything 100% and not doing many of the things that God has for me. I have been trying to ignore Him telling me this for the last few months. But at The Relevant Conference, I heard Him loud and clear.
I am usually the gal who will drop what I am doing to put out a fire for someone else. I am the one who says ‘oh, don’t worry about it – I will do it’ –
Those aren’t necessarily bad things to do or say. They are just not always the best.
I want to focus on the best.
Saturday at the conference, it snowed.
I mean, not drizzled, but snowed!
We Florida girls were giddy!
Maggie kept asking me if we could go play in the snow.
When in the world will get this opportunity again??
So, what did I do?? I put on my snow hat.
No other ‘hat’ that I was wearing was more important than the snowballs thrown and snow angels made with that sweet girl.
So what if my rear end was still soaking wet at dinner from making snow angels (with no coat or gloves) – it was about the memories that were made.
It was about taking off the less important hats and saying YES to the one who mattered most.
That’s what I brought with me from The Relevant Conference.
It doesn’t mater how great the things you are doing are – if you aren’t saying YES to the One who matters most, then your actions are in vain.
Hats will change with the seasons of life.
I just have to be willing to allow them.
*Darcy, I am forever indebted to you for those pictures. What a great visual of what I would have missed had I not changed my hat ….
What a beautiful post. This speaks to me in so many ways. Thank you for these words! How special to have this images as a reminder. I met you at te homeschool meetup and I am blessed for that!
thank you kris! i am so glad to have met you!
i pray you are blessed – xo
Oh, Jenn! What wonderful words – I’m a “multiple hat” girl as well, so I totally relate! Thank you for sharing your heart and the wonderful memories you made with that sweet girl of yours! I’m glad to have been able to finally put a hug on ya and next time, I’m comin’ over for some of that bacon!
you are such a blessing to me! i can’t wait to cook you some bacon!
if you are ever headed to south FL i will make a batch just for you!
Such a wonderful reminder!
thank you, kasey!
I LOVE this post and I LOVE you! This is a beautiful reminder to take time out of what we think is important for something more eternal.
Thanks for encouraging me!
i love you too, girl! you are such a blessing to me – xo
Our pastor spoke on something similar to this recently. He was telling us that even though something is a really great thing to do – it doesn’t mean it’s the best thing for us to do, just as you’ve said. God has things lined out for us and we need to listen closely to what HE wants us to do! So glad that you were able to come away with such a great lesson! And just as glad that you and your sweet girl got to play in the snow!! How awesome is that!
Those are super fun pics to remember it by!!
thanks, donetta!
it’s like we know these things but then we get ‘busy’ – and forget –
so thankful for His grace and mercy!
Thank you for your transparency…You are beautiful!!
i so miss you!
xoxo
What an awesome thing to share. I have that problem too and have learned that I have to say no sometimes and not take things upon myself. So glad you had a wonderful experience at Relevant and I am so going to try to attend next year.
oh, dianna, i hope you do!
you will enjoy every minute of it – those women are full of encouragement and love!
(please let me know if you get a ticket – would love to meet you!)
PERFECT !!
i love you, my friend!
thank you for holding my hand through all of the seasons of life –
xo
How fun! More important, she will always remember that you chose her! What a sweet thing for her to carry in her heart!
And I’ve been following that adventure since the conference and it looks like an amazing trip!
So good to see you!
you too stacey!
this entire experience has been such a blessing! i told stef last night the last 3 weeks have been very eye-opening (AKA heart-opening) in so many areas of our lives. and we just thought we were off to see washington, dc! ha! so thankful for His grace!
xo
GREAT post!!!!!! LOVE it!!
You know that book Caps for Sale? I pictured you wearing all those caps on your head and dropping them all to go play in the snow. What fun!
haha!! now that’s all i am imagining! (that would have been a great photo!)
and the smile that accompanied that wet butt – priceless
(albeit a very tired, exhausted face – it is beautiful)
What an absolute pleasure to meet you Jenn, as delightful in real life as I had hoped you would be after chatting on the phone!
I look forward to seeing you again … SOON!
ha! enjoyed you so much too! you really blessed me – thank you again so much for your kindness xo
I had to smile when you said that you tend to think you can wear a lot of hats, as I have the same problem
I often have to remind myself, or be reminded by my husband or by exhaustion that I can’t! Thanks for the reminder to focus on what is really important in our lives. A verse that has been going through my head this week is ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you’. I realised that I worry too much about what to do with my time, (not just what to wear and what to eat!) when it would all be a lot simpler if I just focused on seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness, as that then shows more clearly where my priorities should be.
thank you so much for those words, rhoda – that is exactly what i needed to read first thing this morning!
thank you for being a blessing!
Awesome! I too went to Relevant but didn’t get the chance to meet you
I wonder why…Ha! there were only about 200 some people there! So often we can get spread too thin too fast…and it always backfires. So glad for you and your family that you have more clarity on what you are supposed to be committing to! Love your blog!
thank you christina!
i hate that too often reality checks need to come into play, but i am thankful for His grace and mercy in giving them!
would love to hear your thoughts of Relevant …..
I LOVE that you did that! I must say that I would have been watching from the window though. THIS Florida girl does not appreciate the cold. Maybe I need to go to the next conference with you to get a change of view point?!
; 0 )
Karin
THIS Florida girl absolutely detests being cold too – but these memories were worth every minute!
And YES – I am still game for the ‘next’ conference