At the beginning of this year, I committed myself to being more diligent with this little blog space that I call mine. Over the past 9 months, I’ve seen small steps in learning more about writing, WordPress, and the blogging world in general. One of the biggest highlights that has come from my new adventure of joining up with the Influence Network. If you’ve followed my blog for anytime now, you may have seen me mention the Network.
What is the Influence Network?
THE INFLUENCE NETWORK is for creatively minded women, who are looking for an uplifting community where they can be encouraged and also resourced to make their online lives mean something.
I have loved taking the monthly classes on all things from blogging to spiritual growth to personality types. I’ve been so thankful for the relationships that have started to bud from this little Network of women. I’m encouraged every time I hop on to the Influence forum to see other women encouraging each other in their business, family life, and faith.
In almost TWO weeks the Influence Network will be hosting their second conference ever and I am SO EXCITED to attend it! This will be my first blogging conference and my first conference where I won’t know any one else by face…I know many of them by their blogs 🙂 It will also be my first women’s only conference…a lot of firsts for me in the coming weeks!
This is the beautiful hotel that we will be having our conference!
I will be boarding a plane two weeks from tomorrow to spend 4.5 days in Indianapolis with like-minded sisters and very talented bloggers/writers! There are so many things that I am looking forward to, but to keep it short, here are 3 (I just can’t keep it to 2!):
1. My roommates! Lindsy Wallace, Lauren Mills, & Amanda are all super talented bloggers and I’m blessed to be able to room with them over the weekend.
2. Like-Minded Community. I still feel uncomfortable talking about my blog and my passion for writing with my in-real life community because I struggle with feeling inadequate and “not there yet”. I’m looking forward to talking “shop” with people about how to make my online life mean more and be more of an encouragement.
3. Spending time in the Midwest during the Fall season! I LOVE Fall. It’s one of the hardest things about living in the Southwest. I’m so excited to go to a place where some of the leaves will be changing colors and the temps will be cooler.
With our link-up for today, I’m also supposed to share what I’ll be packing in my bag for the conference 🙂 If any of you know me well, you know that I’m a low-fuss girl, so here is what I’ll make sure I have in my bag:
1) My running shoes. I’m looking forward to taking a run in the Autumn weather (see point 3 above) and supposedly my husband and I are going to be training for a sprint triathlon (I have such a hard time spelling that word) so I need to keep up the training! Any of you ladies want to take a run with me?!
2) My photos of my two girls. I’m hoping to show off their beautiful faces every chance I can take! There are a lot of moms who have adopted, are adopting, or love adoption at this conference and I know many of them will love to hear our story.
As you can see, I’m thrilled to be headed to the Influence Conference! I won’t lie, this introvert is nervous about it too. But I won’t let that get the best of me 🙂
In Truth and Grace 
This will be my first conference of any sort! And I think you’re pretty ambitious when it comes to doing training runs during the conference–good job! I’m no runner–I would walk or bike. 😛
Oh fall in Indiana is my absolute favorite! Hopefully the weather will cooperate that weekend…it has been all over the place here lately. 🙂 Looking forward to meeting you! 🙂
Sounds great! Fight that lie that you’re inadequate sister! Keep doing what you love no matter what and do not let the enemy take your pasion and outlet.
Don’t forget to pack clothes 🙂 you know besides the shoes and the picture of your lovelies.
Love you!
You’re in the right place for sure! It’s a fantastic thing that you’re taking a step outside your comfort zone to attend the conference. That’s how we grow personally. I can’t wait to attend the conference and hope we introverts can meet up! Challenge yourself to start conversations with at least 5 people while you’re there 😉
Yay, friend! I am so grateful to be rooming with you AND can’t wait to sneak a peak at those beautiful girls. Two weeks! -lauren
I’ve been blogging since 2007 and I STILL find it hard to talk about in real life. It’s just a very different method of community and outreach that a lot of people don’t understand if they aren’t involved in it! I’m excited for you to experience fall in the Midwest; it’s beautiful!
I’m from Iowa & have missed the Fall the past three years…this will be a good “home”coming 😉
I feel the same way as you about the opportunity to commune with like-minded women and how to best pursue our creative endeavors as followers of Christ. This is my first blogging conference, so I’m really looking forward to that aspect!
Sarah, I’ve loved following your family’s story, especially through adoption, this year and am so glad you’ll be at the conference! Looking forward to seeing you there soon!
I’m up for a run!
Oh my goodness! I’m jealous!! Have so much fun!:-)
Firsts are good! This is my first conference, too! I’m checking out all the link-up posts and it seems there are a lot of introverts (me too). Excited & nervous for the weekend.
I cannot wait to finally meet you in person. I’m expecting God to work in our hearts in a big way. 🙂
I look forward to hearing about your adoption story! And Lindsey’s!
I hope the Midwest pulls through for everyone who is looking forward to fall weather. It almost reached 100 in Chicago this week; so we have lots of cooling off to do. I can’t wait to see pictures of your little ones. I’ll definitely show you pictures of mine- they just aren’t so little anymore (21,20, and 17!). See you soon, Amy
I’m SO looking forward to being with like-minded sisters in Christ as well! It will definitely be refreshing. Hope to meet you there! (Although you won’t catch me running ANYWHERE haha)
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