This was my first convention and it was what I expected and more. It was 4000 women on their feet at any given time singing, worshiping, listening, sharing stories, laughing and crying. Lots of crying! It was no husbands and no children in sight. It was warm meals and no stroller to push around. It was a quiet hotel room (except for the couple next door with the baby crying in the middle of the night) and getting up in the morning, going to the bathroom AND taking a shower with no fingers under the door. It was the company of 13 of the most wonderful women in my life who have not only touched my soul but lifted my spirit and make me SO proud to be a fellow mom. It was bonding with those women in a way I can’t even convey with words. It was my time with God – my accountability time – and it was remembering I was Bonnie before I was Mommy. It was remembering I loved to dance, to read, talk to my friends, spend money on myself and JUST BE ME.

 The second thing I wanted to share was a session I sat in on Friday. Julie Barnhill wrote a book called One Tough Mother. http://www.juliebarnhill.com. The session was just incredible and she truly inspired me to want to be a better mom. She's totally funny and just had us rolling on the floor. She made me feel normal in the motherly issues I have with my kids. She validated so many things I go through every day and she talks about them in her book, how she used to be “there”. I’m only a quarter of the way through her book but I can tell you it’s a better guide on parenting your kids with the help and direction of Christ than any book Dr. Phil could dream of writing. If you get a chance, take a look at her website and you can borrow my book if you're interested in reading it. She's totally awesome AND she has a Facebook page!

 The last experience from convention that I want to share with you is that this year Lynn Spears came to the MOPS convention. She appeared on stage with Elisa Morgan (MOPS International CEO) and Lorilee Craker (co-authored the book Through the Storm with Lynn). 4000 women with cameras in hand turned into the paparatzi – I have never seen so many flashes go off at one time and so consistently through a speakers time on stage. Honestly, I’m not fan of the Spears family and I don’t follow along with the Britney and Jamie Lynn tabloids. I feel SO sorry for how much the media follows them around and never leaves them in any peace. For a while it felt like every time I turned on the news, one of the Spears girls were in trouble. But I have to say I was intrigued by her presence. How odd for HER to be here I thought to myself. Elisa asked Lynne about her book and I heard the mother/daughter similarity between her voice and the voices of her daughters. Not to mention she LOOKS just like Britney. Then Elisa said, “Lynn a lot of us moms have the idea that if we follow some “formula” then things will work out. How do you respond to that?” Are you kidding me? We’re going to get advice from Lynn Spears? This ought to be good….Then Lynn said, “I had a plan. I had a perfect little plan. But I’ve learned that you can’t control outside influences and that you do the best you can and hang onto your faith.” I started to cry becaues I realized she was just like me. She wasn't superhuman because she was "Lynn Spears" - she was a mom. And she was right. Some days I feel like Faith is all I have to hold onto. Then the most wonderful thing happened. Elisa asked us all to extend our hands over Lynn and we collectively said a prayer for the Spears family. I got chills then, and I have them again just telling you about the experience. It was so powerful. You see, I had a plan too. In fact I had several plans when it came to being a mother. But none of them ever seemed to work out the way I thought they would. If there’s one thing I can take from convention and share with you is that as Moms the only plan we need to follow is God’s plan. We need to have Faith that He is in control and we as moms, are in this together. We are not alone and we can make a difference in our childrens lives and the lives we touch. At the end of the interview with Lynn, MOPS International presented her with two MOPS memberships – one for Jamie Lynn and one for Britney. Every woman in that auditorium stood up and it lit up with thunderous applause. It was a totally amazing moment and I was glad to be a part of it.