Well, Friday morning I am going to pull out of Grayson, KY, all by myself at 6 a.m. and head to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a weekend conference called She Speaks.

I'm going to be honest.

I'm nervous.

I feel unqualified in many ways to think I have anything to share that could make a difference on this planet, and yet I feel such a burden to redeem the losses in my life and give some sort of glory back to God who has carried me through every day of this difficult journey.

On Friday evening I will be sharing "my story" in a three-minute critique group.THREE MINUTES!  Pray that I can condense my journey into something that makes sense and yet shows the power of a God whose faithfulness and love exceed all of my pain.

On Saturday evening I will share a five-minute talk on a Scripture. Marybeth Whelan will be evaluating me.  I'm going to confess that this talk is still buried deep within me and has not yet come out on paper...pray that I can pull it out and communicate it in a way that makes sense.

I am at a point in my life where I am trying to seek God's will for me...

Is it to return to the classroom as a middle school teacher (I'm just going to sub this year while I wait for a clearer answer.) 

Is it to write?

Is it to speak?

I just don't know. 

I do know this:

I am just a regular woman, an everyday wife, a struggling mom, a faithful friend (I hope), a sometimes moody daughter, a wanting-to-be better sister and aunt, a terribly lacking daughter-in-law (I'm so sorry I've been so distant), and the list goes on and on.

But I also know that I am part of the glorious Bride of Christ, I am the mother of four amazing kids and two precious angels, I am blessed to share life with great friends, I owe so much to my mom and dad, I adore my sister and brother and nephews, I am thankful for the parents of my husband...you raised him to be such a great man of God..thank you, and most of all I am a daughter of the King!!!!

I will share about my weekend as soon as I get home.

I'm looking forward to rooming with Melodie, my precious sister in Christ who lost her beautiful Brittany to a brain tumor two years ago.  I am looking forward to meeting another Tammy whose son Brian went home to be with the Lord last summer after being in a car accident.

I know that spending time with these women and so many more will be the biggest blessing of my weekend!  I'm sure we will share many tears and hopefully some laughter too. 

I am praying that God will give me peace and that He will speak to me in very clear ways as I sit in the workshops and as I stand in front of my critique group.

My heart is open to God's leading.

My Words are from Him and Him alone.

So I will enter this She Speaks weekend just as I do my blog..with...

My Heart His Words,