Saturday, October 15, 2011

Women of Faith



It's hard to believe it's been two weeks already since I spent the week-end with 10,000 sisters at the Women of Faith conference. It's taken me this long to process it and be ready to write. I wish I had a DVD of the whole event, so I could listen again to all the amazing speaking and singing.

My first experience with WOF was when Kristen had been home from her anorexia treatment for a few months. Remuda Ranch sent us complimentary tickets - I realized when we were there this time that it must have been one of the first years (about 15 years ago) that WOF was in existence. We had lousy seats, way up in the nose bleed section, but I remember going home saying I was on "inspiration overload."

I have been privileged to go several more times, sometimes with Kristen and/or Angie, once with baby Olivia. This year we had a large group, and we were there all day Friday and Saturday. We had a great time at P.F. Chang's in downtown Denver on Friday night. Good food and fellowship.

I was sad to learn that two of my favorites were not going to be there - Luci Swindoll and Sheila Walsh. I couldn't imagine how it could be as good as usual without them. The WOF staff has grown a lot since they began, and now they take turns so not everyone has to travel every week-end. I learned that they will be here next year.

Patsy Clairmont is a tiny little lady who has been on the circuit for years - she was agoraphobic, healed by God, and now speaking to tens of thousands of women each year. She has the uncanny ability to take a minute daily happening in her life and turn it into a life lesson. She has you laughing one minute and crying the next. I love Patsy.



Marilyn Meberg is brilliant and sophisticated. Her background is in teaching English and more recently as a counselor. She always leaves us with some humor and great things to think about.




Lisa Welchel was Blair on the sitcom, "Facts of Life" back in the 80s. I didn't really watch this show, but Kristen did. I probably wouldn't have watched it if it was in my age bracket, but that's neither here nor there. I think Lisa was on her first year of speaking two years ago when I heard her for the first time. I have to say she has matured in her communication and content since then. And her hair is much longer now. Believe it or not, she's at the empty nest stage of her life.




Brenda Warner - does that name ring a bell? Her husband is Kurt Warner, who was named MVP in the Super Bowl a few years ago. When his team made it to the Super Bowl, his story was front page and first story news - he was the ultimate "rags to riches" story, with a testimony of God's grace and care. Brenda says her only claim to fame is being able to do the splits at age 45 - which she demonstrated there on the stage - and it made me hurt to watch her! But her firstborn child is now 22 - a special needs son who was rendered blind and deaf when his birth father dropped him when he was an infant. Kurt has been an amazing dad to him and her other children.



Karen Kingsbury - I'm sure many of you have read her books. I haven't, but I may now. She also had a great message for us - and she read us her latest children's book, about "last things" we do with our kids (and others) that we have no idea are the "lasts." It was a tear jerker - I need to buy it.


It's highly unusual to think of a man speaking at a huge women's gathering, but Andy Andrews fit right in - what a character. He realizes in his adulthood that he was most likely ADHD as a kid - and he still is, probably. He begins his message as he paces across the stage, up and down the stairs - rather nerve-wracking at first. But when he settles in, his words are powerful. He was orphaned at age 19, and for some reason ended up homeless, sleeping under a boardwalk, and in garages. But God mightily uses him and his story is astounding. And he is so very entertaining as well.



The music - oh, my, the music. You know me and music. Sometimes, in other years, I didn't enjoy the music as much as this year. But the worship team chose such great songs this year for all of us to sing together. My favorite moment of all was when all 10,000 of us sang "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" with only minimal keyboard accompaniment.



Amy Grant was there - she is just as beautiful as ever, and seems to not have aged since I first knew who she was. I'll never forget taking Kristen and her best friend from high school to Denver for her concert at Fiddler's Green, an outdoor venue. We got a room in a nice hotel, and the plan was for the two of them to drive to the concert while I waited in the hotel. I didn't realize what a nail-biting experience that would be. It poured rain that afternoon,and we didn't know if the concert would even happen. But we headed over to the amphitheater to check out where they should park, etc. The weather miraculously cleared up, the sun came out, and I remember watching the girls from the 5th floor of the hotel, driving off for their adventure - in my car. I relaxed until 10, when I thought they should be back. It was after 11 before they arrived, and I was a wreck by then. Seems as though they forgot where they parked, after all. Oh, my heart.




Mandisa - remember her? I was watching "American Idol" the fifth season, when she was a contestant. She made it to the final 10, but was eliminated not long after that. But she made her mark. I remember how nasty Simon Cowell was to her, and found this in her biography on Wikipedia:

"Idol judge Simon Cowell made several comments about Mandisa's weight after her successful audition. He first quipped are we 'going to have a bigger stage this year'. Then, when Paula Abdul commented that Mandisa had a 'Frenchie' growl to her voice, Cowell responded that a more apt comparison would be to France itself. These were among comments that . . . would be one of the reasons Mandisa would entitle her 2007 album True Beauty.

When Mandisa presented herself to the judges prior to the final cut-down to the season's 24 semi-finalists, she told Cowell: 'What I want to say to you is that, yes, you hurt me and I cried and it was painful, it really was. But I want you to know that I've forgiven you and that you don't need someone to apologize in order to forgive somebody. I figure that if Jesus could die so that all of my wrongs could be forgiven, I can certainly extend that same grace to you.' Cowell told Mandisa that he was 'humbled' and apologized to her immediately." I remember that moment and wonder if Simon ever thinks about it.

Mandisa is beautiful, has lost a lot of her weight, and has a great life going for her.



Sandi Patty - there is no voice like hers in Christian music. She's 55 and has not lost any of her power. She's been through a lot, and has written a book that I am anxious to read. I missed some of her words that day because I had a phone call come in at that moment that I needed to take. She has also come back from morbid obesity.

Sandi was one of several young artists given their first public exposure as back-up singers for the Bill Gaither trio. I remember well the night we went to a Gaither concert in Denver when there were two young singers in the back-up group, who were given a chance to sing a duet - Sandi Patty and Steve Green singing "Oh How I Love Him, How I Adore Him" - I get the chills just thinking of the magnificence of that soprano/tenor duet. They got a standing ovation and Bill remarked (as I'm sure he did every night), "I'm not going to let them sing again!" Larnell Harris was another one of those young up-and-comers Bill gave his start.

My second favorite musical moment was when Sandi sang and signed "We Shall Behold Him." Chillingly beautiful.



While I was gone, Dwight had the kids much of the time because of Kristen's work schedule. He got them to bed both nights, took them to McDonald's for breakfast on Saturday, and they were at Wendy's eating dinner when I got back into town. They spent Saturday "camping" - not overnight, but experiencing the tent and cooking outside thing. What a great grandpa he is!








I'm off to try to visit my good friends - I have had barely two hours to myself this week, and I'm up late tonight trying to catch up. See you soon!

42 comments:

Unknown said...

What an amazing weekend for all of you! So glad you got some big girl time.

C. H. Green said...

Looks like you had a great time, and so did Grandpa!

Linds said...

Dwight is an amazing Grandpa and the girlies are so lucky his theirs!

I would so love to go to a Christian Women's Conference one day. The WOF sounds fantastic, Dawn. So much encouragement and teaching - wonderful!

Hootin Anni said...

Hello sweet thing!!! I must admit that this will be just a skim-over of your post today, 'cause I'm trying to do laundry [and the dryer just buzzed me--permanent press]...and trying to catch up on about a week and a half of commenters.

Love the time in the mountains photos!!! So, so sweet.

Hope your weekend has treated you well. sorry for such a quick visit. Now that I'm done with all the files and PDF'ing, I'll have more time next time.

Needled Mom said...

It sounds like it was as amazing as in the past with some wonderful speakers. Isn't it great to come home so inspired?

Grandpa looks like he did an awesome job of holding the fort down too while you were away.

Gram said...

I had planned on going to WOF, but was with my family after my nephew died. I have always come away inspired and uplifted. Glad you enjoyed the weekend.

Linda said...

Thanks so much for sharing this special time Dawn. I'm glad you got to go. I am sure it was a welcome time of refreshing.
Yes - Dwight is an amazing Grandpa. Those sweet little girls are so blessed to have him (and you!) in their lives.
So good to visit.

Sam said...

He really is a great grandpa and those girls are so blessed to have him. (And you!) Love the camping pictures!

What a great recap of WOF. Sounds like you had an amazing time. I'm so glad you liked the music so much. Music has such power to transform us.

I remember Lisa Welchel from Facts of Life. I loved that show. Interesting life change she's had.

Great post.

nancygrayce said...

Wow!!! What a great time you had! I love hearing about all those women. I think most great people have overcome obstacles along the way.

Great Grandpa!!!!! Making memories those girls will have with them for life!

Liz said...

It sounds like an amazing time, Dawn!! I am so glad you had a wonderful time!

I have only ever been to one Women's Conference - Hillsong's Colour Conference (last year) and it was amazing to be in the Sydney Entertainment Centre surrounded by 11,500 women!! Amazing!

grammy said...

I use to go ...but have not been in 4 or 5 years.
I love it...but it is so expensive (o:
I looked into it and thought it would be to sad not to have Lucy there. I would love to hear a whole evening of just her. Glad you had so much fun.
Good thing they got the camping in last weekend...
freezing now (o:

Laurie in Ca. said...

Wow Dawn, the weekend sounds like such an amazing time. You know how to treat yourself to the Good Stuff that we all need. You especially with being so busy with 4 girls:) Dwight is like Corky with the grandkids:) I was relieved to read that he didn't really camp overnight with all 4. Potty breaks and all are easier with boys plumbing. Just saying:) Praying you get yourself some much needed rest when you catch the time. I am tired for you:)

Love and Hugs, Laurie

Carole Burant said...

It's no wonder you enjoy going to the WOF conference as often as you can, that's quite the line up of wonderful speakers and singers. I can well imagine how inspiring all the speeches are and what a renewal of faith it can cause. I'm so glad you were able to go again this year and have this time to yourself...well, with 10,000 other women! lol As for DC, my goodness, he's the most wonderful grandfather I've ever known:-) Looks like he and the girls had a fun time camping!! xoxo

Sharon Lynne said...

I loved hearing about WOF. Now I want to go!

Okay, who took the picture of Dwight and the girls...did he use an automatic timer? The Lord certainly gave him strength and energy to be a super-grandpa. He is amazing!

I posted my story that was published in Chicken Soup on my blog.

Yet God Is... said...

Sounds like an awesome time! I remember years ago attending a Christmas concert in Phoenix that had various artists including Sandy Patti. It was a circular stage and most of the artists made their way all around as they sang, but Sandy had just the day before had emergency gall bladder surgery. She stood and sang O Holy Night magnificently given her condition. I was amazed at her range, changing keys several time. I have her cd with that on it and am still amazed every time I hear it. She's one of my favorites!

NanaNor's said...

Hi there, I've been away for a week so just now catching up. Glad you had a wonderful time at WOF; I haven't been for about 10 yrs and that was in northern Ca. when we lived there but I well remember the blessings. Glad your hubby had such a good time with the grands. Have a great week.
Noreen

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