Greetings from NC!

As you are reading this, I am in North Carolina to begin my conference today! I will register at 1, attend a bloggers conference at 2, the actual conference starts at 4 and from then I won't stop going until Sunday at noon!

I'm a little nervous about keeping up! Those who know me well, know I hit the sack at 9:30 every night. Well the conference goes until 9:45 Friday & Saturday night, and then there will be socializing and "room parties" and I'm sure to be as keyed up as I am exhausted! There will be so much to see, so much to hear, so much to learn. New friends to make, great food to eat, and a time of worship too.

Then, after the 5 hour drive home on Sunday night, I'll come home to love up on my little girls, spend some time with my hubby, hit the sack by 9:30...and then get up and head to vacation bible school by 8:30 on Monday morning. Because I am a volunteer, I'll be there all day playing with the kids. So, if I don't post on Monday, don't worry about me. I'll try to get something up...but no promises! If I miss Monday's posting, look for the post to appear on Tuesday morning instead.

Pray for me and my stamina! And I'll "chat" with you soon, on Tuesday by the latest!

Isaiah 40:29 -- He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Jeremiah 31:25 -- {The Lord said} "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."

Matthew 11:28 -- {Jesus said} "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Coffee Anyone?

I love coffee! I've said it before, I love the entire coffee experience. The smell, the taste, the feel of the warm mug as I hold it, and the way I feel totally grown up as I drink it. I like it hot, iced, frozen...in expensive candies...coffee ice cream...you get the idea. So I found this cute little coffee quiz to take to find out what kind of coffee YOU are. You can take it by clicking HERE. My results are below, and if you know me, you know it is accurate! Neat! If you do take the quiz, let me know what type of coffee you are in the comments.

You Are a Cappuccino

You're fun, outgoing, and you love to try anything new. However, you tend to have strong opinions on what you like. You are a total girly girly at heart - and prefer your coffee with good conversation. You're the type that seems complex to outsiders, but in reality, you are easy to please

Well, there is one type of coffee I don't like. Sugar free. "Lite" coffee is just yucky. It doesn't satisfy. Like today's post - which is, let's face it, LITE! But I'm gearing up to head to She Speaks. I'm completely preoccupied with packing, having my articles ready, getting groceries for the family, having some meal plans done. So forgive me for the LITE post today. Like lite coffee...while it doesn't completely satisfy, it is better than nothing!

"Chat" with you on Friday!

She Speaks Conference

The irony isn't lost on "Chatty" Kelly that the conference I'm going to this weekend is called "She Speaks." Well duh! It could be called "She never stops speaking!" In my prep work, I've been reading lots of writing blogs and books, and have noticed a big piece of advice is to find your writing "voice." Chatty Kelly has never lost her voice...Has she?

Your writing voice is the tone that comes across in your writing. It should fit your personality. Agent Rachelle Gardner put it this way "Your writer's voice is the expression of YOU on the page. It's that simple—and that complicated. Your voice is all about honesty. It's the unfettered, non-derivative, unique conglomeration of your thoughts, feelings, passions, dreams, beliefs, fears and attitudes, coming through in every word you write.Voice is all about your originality and having the courage to express it."

When you read "Monkeys are Funny" (my sisters blog), you know you are hearing her voice (or perhaps one of the many voices she hears in her head - JUST KIDDING!). But I don't know if I'm projecting my "voice." Lost my voice?!? I'm not even sure if I've found it.

This weekend I hope to learn more about finding my writing voice. And I think a big part of that will come from listening for that still small voice that leads. The voice of God.

Exodus 15:26 - - He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

1Kings 19:11-12 - - And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still, small voice.

Revelation 3:20 - - Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.