I’m hopping on a plane this morning (without a baby! hallelujah!) and heading to South Carolina for the Allume Conference. I’ve never done anything like this before and to say I’m a bit nervous would be an understatement.
I’m traveling solo and rooming with girls I’ve never met (a la summer camp, except I never went to summer camp). This is a conference that I’ve wanted to attend for two years now, but could never justify the timing or cost. When tickets went on sale back in February, I practically begged Brett to let me go, despite all of the disclaimers.
“I know it’s expensive, but….”
“I know you would have to take time off work to watch Everett, but….”
“I know I’m already leaving you for two weeks to go to Liberia, but….”
I rattled off all the reasons I wanted to attend: the speakers, the sessions, the fellowship, the worship, the time to myself. I had a million reasons to go and a million reasons not to, but mom guilt was in full force, tipping the scale as it often does.
Without so much as a second’s delay, Brett looked at me and said, “Go. I think you should definitely go.”
And just like that the scale tipped back because the power behind a supportive husband beats mom guilt every single time.
Today I am thankful for the opportunity to escape the daily grind of motherhood for a few days to focus on my writing. I’m thankful that conferences like this exist for those of us who need to be renewed and refreshed creatively. I’m thankful that this conference is all the way in South Carolina and that I have to physically leave the dishes and laundry behind. Speaking of which, I am also thankful that I don’t have to wash a single dish or change a single diaper for the next five days. I’m thankful that I get to fly alone and eat M&Ms quietly in my seat while reading People Magazine. And most of all, I’m thankful to be married to a man who recognizes the importance of a retreat like this.
I hope to come back inspired, encouraged, and ready to pour out some beautiful truth here. See you next week!
