The Pearl Event II-Double Strand

It's been a little over a week since I've returned home from The

Pearl Event II, Double Strand  (TPE-II).  I've been wanting to write a post about it

but I really wanted to let it soak in first.  What a blessed and wonderful time.

How could you not love being  in a gorgeous southern ballroom with

lots of crystal in a magnificent hotel, 

with inspiring testimonies and beautiful worship music by a group

of lovely women who love God and have a heart for loving

and supporting their sisters and daughters in Christ. 

It really doesn't get much better than that.

First and foremost, there's Sibi.

One of the most beautiful, spiritual and loving women I've ever met.

She is the author of the beautiful blog, Pearls and Grace.

She is the creator, organizer, planner and heart behind TPE-II.

Her calling, in addition to being a wonderful wife and mother, is blessing

women with the knowledge that they are God's pearls.  No matter

what has happened in their lives or where they are now.

God created and loves us and we are SPECIAL.

In the culture we live in most women need to hear this.

Sibi and her sweet husband, Eric, along with her beautiful

oldest daughter Macey worked hard and gave up much time,

energy and resouces to make her vision come true.

Through the circumstances of her hard life, she rose up as she was blessed

and loved by God and has a heart for sharing her testimony to bless others.

I've followed her blog for a couple of years now.

Long enough that it feels like I know her. 

If you're a blogger you know what I mean.

Now that I've met her in person, even though it was just over the

weekend, she feels like a long-time friend.

She loved on us and cared for us the entire time.

She was so sweet and when the room got colder as the

day wore on, I could hear her tell her husband,

"My girls are cold.  Go see if you can do something about it.

My girls are cold"

Thank you Sibi.  You've made a difference in more

lives than you know. 

Sibi, I was able to speak to your first born baby girl, Macey, several

times on Saturday.  She was even the one who placed the pearls around my

neck.  She is such a beautiful and sweet girl young lady and

I know you must be so proud of her.

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Then there is Paige.

She is the author of the very popular blog, Simple Thoughts,

a photographer and an ambassador for Noonday.

Noonday is a company the helps widows around the world

provide for their children.

Paige became a widow as a young women when her husband

passed away from cancer leaving her with 3 small children

under the age of 3.  So this is a cause near to her heart.

The Lord sent her a godly man who loved her and her girls and they

later added another baby daughter to their family.

She is blessed with four  sweet and beautiful girls.

Paige has been a sweet "blog" friend to me for quite a while and actually

was one of the main people who inspired me to find my gifts from God and

pursue them.  I'm "retiring" next week and will begin my journey.

She also has a heart for widows and orphans and that is a cause very important

to me also.  And if that wasn't enough, I very recently found out (at TPE)

that she was the oncology nurse for the son of a dear friend of mine.

It's a small world and I'm so happy that Paige was one of the

medical professionals that loved on our dear Jesse.

I just love her.

*******************************

Next there is Sarah.

I heard several of the speakers refer to her as Miss America

and indeed she is beautiful.

But honestly, she's even more beautiful on the inside.

Sarah is the author of the blog, Mercy Living .

She is the mother of two children and two baby boys in heaven.

Her testimony is about God's comfort, grace and redemption

that got her through the tragic loss of her twin baby boys.

There were lots of tears shed in her story but her unbelievable

strength and grace is so inspiring. 

It was an honor meeting her.

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Now on to Edie.

Edie is a funny, beautiful southern mom of four children.

She made "the best chocolate chip cookies ever" for

everyone and they indeed were the "best".  Yummy.

Five years ago she gave up her career as a family

practice pediatrician to stay home full time with her family.

She's a home schooler, blogger of the popular blog, Life In Grace.

She is a self proclaimed goddess of the domestic arts, loves

cowboy boots and Loretta Lynn.

A little over a year ago a fire destroyed everything they owned and

barely made it out.  Visit her blog to see the amazing things

God has done in her life.

*******************************

We had the most amazing worship music throughout the day

by Brittany.  She has a new blog, Melodies of Grace.

She released a cd:  Nothing But The Blood.

I encourage you to buy this cd.  She has a true  gifts for writing and

singing worship music that I've ever heard. 

She blessed us thoughout the day and we were so greatful.

Her in-laws played backup music and they were

so talented. 

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And finally there is Jane.

Jane is a single mom to a teenage son.  She works for a

international Christian ministry as a prayer counselor.

(Wow! A professional pray-er)

Her testimony is about how god got her through not only

her parents painful divorce but her own eventual divorce.

God has done amazing things in her life and she

was such a great speaker.

She is also a blogger.  You can find her at Design with Grace.

Jane was new to me until I registered for TPE-II.

She has some design posts.

******************************

The Pearl Event-II was an amazing time

where the speakers were able to share their stories.

Their testimonies of how God was there for them.

How God loved them.

How God loves us all.

I feel blessed to have been there and I'm hoping there will

be a Pearl Event-III so I can invite my mom, sisters,

daughters and granddaughter and nieces.

Do you hear that Sibi?   Just saying.

Someone asked me if I could sum it up in one word, what would it be.

I thought about it and decided I'd sum it up with many (one words).

grace

love

faith

friendship

tears

laughter

awe

beautiful

worship

ice-tea

lemonade

cowboy boots

spanks

I'm sure there's many more words but this blog is long already.

Thank you Sibi.  Thank you for blessing us, loving us,

praying for us, finding wonderful speakers to share their story,

finding a beautiful location where we feel special,

and working tirelessly to make it happen.

You definitely are his pearl.

Thankful for:

621.  Sibi's hard work.

622.  lemonade.

623.  returning home safely from our travels.

624.  new friends.

625.  lessons heard and learned.