L to R: Lindsay, Leah, Kat, Stepanie & Donielle
The Relevant blogging conference was a rich time building new friendships, learning the importance of time management, balancing priorities, writing well, and striving to become intentional bloggers for the Kingdom of God. I was privileged to meet so many lovely ladies – including my lovely contributor and now a dear friend, Kat (pictured with me below). We roomed together for two of the nights and had a blast! She is a woman with a mission – God’s mission to encourage wives and mothers to live intentionally. I love her! I loved finally meeting Stephanie & Donielle as well (pictured above), my fellow real food bloggers.
Crystal Paine shared on the importance of time management and I have gleaned so much from her tips and suggestions. She stressed the importance of keeping a simple and clean inbox – unsubscribing from anything that is cluttering it! A huge help for me! She recommended an ebook: Tell Your Time: How to Manage Your Schedule and Live your Life Fulfilled by Amy Lynn Andrews that I have been delving into and can highly recommend. It helps you learn how to make a time budget and list out your priorities, scheduling and such. Amy (who was also at the conference) also blogs extensively about how to set up a blog, maintaining it and such, which is a great resource for those who are wanting to venture into this world of blogging.
I also was privileged to meet Sally Clarkson – a dear godly woman and author of my favorite book on motherhood, Mission of Motherhood. What a sweet challenge she had for us to become message maker’s after God’s heart in our blogging. She encouraged us to see the importance of being faithful in our homes because we are God’s word to our children. She stated, “it is the living of life not the writing of life that changes lives.”
Finally, Ann Voskamp (pictured with me above) gave a final challenge that was incredible about Blogging in the Upside Down Kingdom. Thankfully, you can read and listen to it here. This woman is an incredible writer and encouraged us to tell our story through our writing. Like a mother duck that plucks feathers from her chest to build her nest, we are to pluck feathers from our chest to meet the needs of our family first and for others in our writing (or whatever ministry God has called you too). She called us to humility. To see our writing as an art, a service, a worship to our King! To make our writing a gift. It’s not about the numbers, the statistics, but about the only ONE number that counts – Jesus! Her book, One Thousand Gifts comes out in January, and I highly recommend it! She gave out downloads to attendees and I have been blown away by her call to a radical life of thanksgiving. It’s changing my life and I plan to share more in the upcoming weeks as God changes me…
So my cup is full this month and I have much to process and pray through as I move forward in this ministry that God has assigned me. I want to glorify God in all that I do – including my writing here at Passionate Homemaking. I am seeking direction. Stay tuned for a special giveaway and survey as we move forward in planning out the new year!
Hi Lindsay, I bit of a random question for you. Is the white shirt you are wearing in the picture with Ann from Sakura Rose? If it is I have that exact same shirt just tinted pink from a laundry mishap.
No, it’s an Aeropostle shirt.
fun picture! Thanks for rooming with me, y’all. I wish I hadn’t lost my camera.
It was wonderful to finally meet you! But really – that picture of me is ridiculous!
I love it! It shows your beautiful and joyful personality!
I read your blog often and I attend a monthly mom’s group at Sally Clarkson’s house. She is absolutely amazing and I wondered if you would meet at Relevant. On Tuesday she shared about the conference also. It sounded wonderful! Have you ever been to a conference of hers? They are great, but so far I don’t think she’s ever been to the northwest.
Thanks for rooming with me Lindsay! I had a great time getting to know you
Hope to see you at Relevant 11 
Thank you Leah! It was tons of fun! Especially enjoying that late night outing to Olive Garden. Won’t forget it all those wonderful laughs.
Thanks for sharing your recap. I learned a LOT just by following the Tweets and live feed when I was able to catch it.
I can’t wait for Relevant ’11! My husband said we are FOR SURE going!!!
You just radiate the love of Christ… a passionate heart, hard after Him.
And I am so grateful for the privilege of meeting you —
and for your ministry here.
Your words make a difference and I run to Jesus.
Thank you… just that.
Noticed in the foreground of your group picture at the beginning of the post, that someone has a Heather and Holley tote bag from Blessings Unlimited. I love their stuff! All the items are inspirational and very encouraging. Anyway, just had to comment
Danielle
Great recap, Lindsey! The weekend was so full. You reminded me of some things I’d forgotten, especially Ann’s analogy of feathering our home nests first. That’s strong on my heart right now. Thanks!
Can I just say, to anyone who stops to read this comment, Lindsay is simply amazing. She’s adorable and funny and has an incredibly tender heart toward the things of God.
This is the blog of a wise and gracious woman.
…
And Lindsay, I still think you need to move to Texas.
Agreed!
And it was fun meeting you as well Kat!
One conference I truly wish I could’ve had the pleasure of attending! Thank you for sharing all about it!
I enjoyed reading your recap and seeing your beautiful smile!!!
Much Love,
Courtney
Oh, this sounded so amazing!! I’m hoping to go to Relevant next year. Already cleared it with hubby, the only thing that would prevent me from going is not getting a ticket!
Will you be going next year? I hope so, I would love to meet you!
Next time you are in Harrisburg, we should meet (not often a Oregonian comes to my city)! I just wish I saw the info earlier… oh well. Next time! And you can stay here for free.
Consider that an open invite. 
It sounds like a wonderful conference! Thank you for the recap.
Really enjoyed this re-cap Lindsay. It sounds absolutely wonderful. I sure hope to attend next year!
Looking forward to all that you have planned for Passionate Homemaking in the coming months
so excited and encouraged by all that you learned and can’t wait to hear more! love you, friend!