Christmas Photo Cards

Every year we take a family photo to enclose with our Christmas cards.  Sounds easy enough, no?  It is always more work than I remember.  Take the picture.  Make the prints. Pick up the prints. Buy the cards. Sign the cards. Enclose the picture. Seal the cards. Stamp the cards. Address the cards. Mail the cards. Whew.

This year since we are having a baby just a few weeks before Christmas, I decided I would finally order some fancy schmancy cards with half the work already done.  In comes DaySpring!

I had a chance to see, touch, and ogle the  DaySpring  Christmas cards while at The Relevant Conference last month. They are beautiful! Nice heavy card stock, just like I like.

 

I chose the bottom right card, it is called Stripes. I like the verse, the monogram, and the two photo option since this will double as our baby announcement. The price really drops if you order over 100. AND they offer free shipping if you order at least 25 cards.

**This post contains affiliate links, which support this blog if you choose to shop after clicking the links.  I was also compensated by Dayspring with 50 free cards for writing this post.  All opinions are mine.

Relevant Day 1

I know Relevant was several weeks ago, but I still have stories to tell about my trip. It has taken this long for me to get caught up and fully processed on this amazing event.

I left the house about 9 am for the 2 hour drive. I was about 30 minutes from the hotel and I had to stop for gas. And ice. And water~which have both been constant requirements for the end of this pregnancy. And I have no idea how that Hostess cherry pie ended up there :)

I arrived early and there weren't many people in the hotel.  But, as God would have it, the first person I met as I rode the elevator to my room was sweet Melissa from The Inspired Room.  I have been reading her blog since I started blogging and it was a treat to spend time with her throughout the weekend.

My next stop was a lunch that the fabulously creative Beth from The Stories of A to Z planned via a shout out on Twitter the week before.  Since I didn't know anyone in real life attending the conference it was a great way for me to start the weekend.  And, little did I know I would be meeting my two new best blogging buddies, Traci from Beneath My Heart and her sister Cyndi from Walking In His Grace.

 

And this is none other than HeathahLee (said in my best southern gentleman voice so as to try and sound just like her Daddy) from Butterfly Genes.  Heather was one of the first people to subscribe and regularly comment on my blog.  She was the easiest roommate in the world and she even acted like I didn't wake her up when I got up 1,000 times a night to go to the bathroom.

Cyndi and Traci (who is as big a goofball as I am)

I easily have one or two more posts about my weekend at Relevant to come.  Until then, go check out some new blogs and do some real, intentional, living and blogging.
p.s. If you missed my first Relevant post it is right here.

A Blogger After God's Own Heart

It took me 3 days to even find these words. 

Last weekend I attended Relevant and came home blown away by God.

Before I left I told my husband I thought my expectation for this blogging conference was that it would be the women's retreat experience I always hope for, but never really get.  AND IT WAS!!!!

I learned practical blogging tips from Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom like ways to save time and save relationships from being damaged by blogging.

I was greatly encouraged by a devotional given by Courtney Joseph of Women Living Well--she charged us to heed Jeremiah 45:5  "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not."

Sally Clarkson gave me a desire to sustain the weary with my life, my blog, and my marriage.  I felt the presence of God being with her.  I want others to feel the presence of God when they are with me.

In a session on "Finding God's Purpose For Your Blog" with Kristen from We are THAT Family and Courtney Joseph I was prompted to let the blog be a calling, not a job.  And I was excited by the reminder that if we have the heart of God it will show on the blog.

Through all my tears, snots, and tissues I couldn't take a single note during Angie Smith's keynote. I thought since I knew her story it would be easier.  I was weak as she asked the women in the room who had lost a child to stand.  I stood and as I looked at the sea of women who also stood I saw God and His amazing ability to give and take away.  Bless and heal.  Use all things for good.  "...because everything he does is right and all his ways are just."  Daniel 4:37

And this was just in the first 24 hours people!  I'll write about the rest soon.