Before I say anything else about the weekend I need to talk about the Aggie game. By all appearances it seemed like someone must have given a terrible half-time speech in the locker room. Or that maybe our quarterback’s girlfriend texted him to let him know she wanted to break up. How else do you explain the complete and total third quarter implosion? But I’ve decided that my days of letting my entire mood for the weekend be dictated by how a bunch of 18-22 year old boys play a game of football are over.
Until next weekend.
And obviously I think we all know that I’m thrilled with the official Aggies to SEC announcement that came yesterday afternoon.
But that’s not what I’m really here to discuss. I bet at least three of you would like to know how the dotMom conference went.
First, the bad news. My toenail (oh, I hate that word) didn’t even make it through Friday. When Sophie and I walked out on stage we had to kick a bunch of faux cinder blocks out of our way.
(I realize this makes no sense if you weren’t there. You’ll have to trust that there was a purpose and not just us doing an impersonation of the Incredible Hulk.)
(Not to mention that if we were going to do an impersonation of the Hulk it would make much more sense for us to lift the faux cinder blocks over our heads and throw them.)
Needless to say, the toenail didn’t survive that process. As soon as I began to say my opening lines, I realized my big toe was causing me a bit of pain. But I pushed through the pain because that’s what a good host does. However, I was traumatized when I finally got off stage and realized there was a jagged crack across the middle of the nail. I just prayed it could hold on for the rest of the day because I was wearing open-toed shoes and no one wants to see half a Lincoln Park After Dark painted toenail on display.
But the show (and the nail!) must go on.
Now for the good news. It was an incredible weekend. DotMom was the best conference. I went into it without a lot of expectations because I had no idea what it was going to be like and I had some serious questions about their choice of emcees. But, y’all, it was so good. Like go ahead and register for next year good. Seriously. Just click over to the registration page for more information.
Here’s a quick picture of a few of us this weekend. I’m going to post it because it’s the only picture I have in my possession to prove I was there.
(Not that it really proves I was there. It just proves I was with my friends in a room with a large bowl of salad.)
So you may be wondering why it was so good and if I’m just saying that. I’m not. I don’t just say things I don’t mean. Unless it’s to tell Caroline things like “if you say you’re bored one more time then I’m going to give away all your toys”.
I’m kidding. I’d never give away all her toys.
I’d sell them.
The platform speakers (Vicki Courtney, Angie Smith, Priscilla Shirer, and Angela Thomas) were incredible. But I knew they would be. Melissa Greene led worship and it was amazing. But the part that totally took me by surprise was how great the breakout sessions were. They really gave all of us a great chance to hear from other women that are walking the same road. I mean, obviously everyone was there because they want to be good moms so we all have a common goal. But I sat in on the session for moms with kids under age 13 and learned about sixty-eight new things. And not just from the women on the stage. I loved that women in the audience stood up and shared how they’d told their kids about puberty or how they’ve helped them with friend drama. It just seemed like everyone was able to really connect in a tangible way.
(I hope that makes sense. I am very tired. And spent most of Sunday afternoon drawing pictures with Caroline using scented markers. It’s possible I am high.)
Anyway, the whole weekend was so much fun and I loved getting to meet so many sweet blog readers. And naturally I loved getting to wear a headset mic just like Janet Jackson wore in her Control video.
(I wish I had a picture to show you.)
Oh, the Duggars also showed up. Like all forty-six of them. Nothing in life prepared me for that moment. Or the amazement I would feel when they all lined up by height in under six seconds before they walked out on stage.
And, much to my relief, I think Sophie and I must have done a decent job because they asked us to do it again next year. Naturally I’m going to need to negotiate to have green M&Ms and sparkling lime-flavored mineral water in my dressing room.
Which reminds that I also need to ask for a dressing room.
But I’m certain we’ll be back because we both had the best time. To those of y’all that were there, HUGE thanks for being so sweet and supportive. It meant the world to us. And HUGE thanks to the LifeWay team who did an AMAZING job. This conference had so many moving parts and I have no idea how y’all made all that magic happen.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch by which I mean back at our house in Texas, Caroline and P appeared to have a great weekend themselves. Especially if you judge greatness by how many times you get your face painted in one weekend.
(I was going to post a picture here of Caroline in her face paint but that function of my blog has decided to quit working.)
(This is terribly inconvenient.)
All of a sudden I’m at a loss for how to tie up this post, so I guess I’ll just tell you it’s safe to assume I’ll be back at the pedicure place later today trying to get some help for my toenail.
Or at HEB buying a big box of Band-Aids to cover that sucker up.
Because, sadly, it’s back to being 100 degrees here again and boots aren’t an option.
I hope y’all had a great weekend.