a very talk-y weekend

I went away on the weekend to a women's conference* and had an exhausting, encouraging, very talk-y time.

I set some kind of record on Friday, talking for 8 hours without a pause with my dear friend Emma in Sydney. Then she drove me to the conference and I talked for what felt like 2 solid days (okay, so there was some sleeping) with lots of women from around Australia.

What's unique about women's conferences?

• No one ever stops talking
• everyone is so busy talking that all the seminars run overtime
• there are no men sticking their heads in the door saying, "It's time for you to finish now!"
• everyone is late for all the meals (because no one ever stops talking)
• everyone leaves all the meals late (because no one ever stops talking)
• no one ever stops talking.

I love talking but I am an introvert. So I arrived at the conference tired (after 6 weeks writing 2 seminars and an article and caring for a sick son) and left even more tired (after all that talking). It was worth it! As Jenny said, it was wonderful, enriching talking.

Memorable moments:

• hugging / meeting / catching up with 3 of my bloggy friends: Jane, Jenny and Wendy
• making some very dear friends who I can't wait to catch up with next year**
• making lots of other friends that I can't wait to get to know better next year**
• grieving about all the hard things we've gone through, and being encouraged by my friend Cathy to keep setting my hope on heaven
• hearing about God's work all over Australia, illustrating Wendy's lovely words from Philippians 1 about our partnership in the gospel
• seeing a bunch of women giving some great talks and seminars
• leading a seminar with 20 women about helping our husbands (yep, it went well, thanks to God and your prayers)***
• stepping into the airport arrival lounge to shouts of "Mummy!" and a kiss from my hubby.

Most memorable moment:

• talking and praying with Bronwyn, who is dying of cancer, unless God has other ideas. I am so grateful to God for her joy in Christ, her bubbly warmth, and the privilege of being encouraged by her wisdom and godly example.

Less memorable moments:

• that uncomfortable feeling when people know who you are and you don't yet know them (but what a joy to get to know them too!)
• realising that I have a lot more to learn about packing
• tiredness. Did I mention that already?

Ringing in my eyes are Jen's (or is that God's?) wonderful words from our final talk on Philippians 3:

• stand firm in Christ
• press on in knowing Jesus (don't tread water!)
• keep your eyes on the glorious day when we'll know Christ perfectly and (finally!) be perfected in him.

I pray that we can all do this during this coming year.**

If you were there, what did you enjoy about the conference? Tell us here.

* The conference was for wives in AFES, an organisation that shares Jesus with university students across Australia.
** Yes, Tracey, I want to have a conference every year. And they all said "A-men".
*** Oh, and I have LOTS of ideas for future seminars. Bring it on!