I'll get to the regular "filling up" in a few minutes, but I need to finish off my ICRS visit first. Part one is here.

Just to let you know what a fun day it turned out to be, I also had the privilege of meeting and talking with this lovely, new artist, who was genuine and as down-to-earth as the girl next door. She and I chatted for a moment while I told her how much her testimony and perspective on true beauty meant to me as I try to teach my own girls the value of what is inside being more important:We will continue to pray for Mandisa as she begins her journey as a frontline music artist in such a public arena. She was the one who caused quite the "stir" in our house. My girls have played her "mini" CD over and over again, continually gazing at the autograph that certifies her "famous" hand actually touched the case!

Rather than bore you with all the details of the others I either saw or met, I'll just hit the highlights and link to those who have sites. You can check them out for yourselves:

• Beverly Lewis -- Great woman. Love her books. Definitely in my top 10 authors list
• Francine Rivers -- Did not talk with her, but she is also one of my favorites. Especially this book. A must-read.
• Terri Blackstock -- Not an avid reader of her work yet, but after the book she gave me -- I could be persuaded.
  
• Dennis Rainey -- Again, did not have a chance to talk, but his ministry and his books are dear to my heart. God has used him mightily in my life and my marriage.
• Casting Crowns -- The ministry this group shares with so many has personally touched my life in a myriad of ways. I was especially moved by one member of the band recently as his life impacted my Libbyline's in a significant fashion. I am reminded by the actions of these fellow believers that we are all ministers . . . some are just more visible than others.
• Crawford Loritts -- I was able to minister alongside this godly man years ago in a land far away. He was as genuine, sincere, and winsome when I saw him Monday as he'd been almost 15 years ago when we briefly worked together. Another blessing.
• Jump 5 -- Cute kids that "WOW" my girls, but I just felt old and frumpy next to their fresh faces and sleek figures. Bringing home a signed photograph for each daughter tho' earned me a lusty scream and choruses of thank you's! The Hawk Nelson foam finger and the autograph from Anthony Evans . . . not so much.
  
• Last but certainly not least by any means!!
  
• Sandy -- I interrupted her and her dashing husband for a moment as they were headed to another meeting, and for that I am quite sorry. I wish we'd had time for tea and a muffin. She is sweet and quite southern-looking, which is especially interesting considering she's coming from the Northwest. I read her blog regularly and would encourage y'all to do the same. She is a wise and practical kindred spirit that I hope will have lots more to tell us all in the near future.

I've belabored my foray into the publishing and bookselling arena long enough. Time for filling up that tank. I am thankful for:

1. Friends: Especially ones who don't tire too easily of gushing. My dearest friend probably had to hold the phone at arm's length Monday as I cackled and cawed about all the people I met and saw.

2. Awards: A bloggy friend bestowed this award on me, and though I've not tagged anybody -- I am grateful to have received it.

3. Stampin' Up! Catalog: My dearest friend in the whole world is a demonstrator of this great product, and I am always thrilled to receive mine. Maybe you'd like one, too? I can getcha' one, if the price is right!

4. Books: How I love new books! I love old ones, too, but the feel and smell of a new one . . . that can't be duplicated. I received a stack of new ones at the show Monday. Maybe I'll have to take a picture of all the reading I'll be doing in the coming weeks and months.

5. Books in the Mail: I have a friend on the other side of the country who cares enough about my health and well-being to send me a book that will help me take better care of myself. What a sweetheart!

6. Magnifying Mirrors: I like mine for a variety of reasons, but I just thought about this the other day while applying my make-up. When I am up against 5x magnification, how common is that in my real life? Looking in that mirror reminds me that no one sees me like that with the exception of Jesus. He's the only One who can see me up close and personal, flaws and all. He alone can turn the mirror back and let me see what He sees.

7. Cast off: Sweetcheeks was thrilled beyond belief at getting her cast removed today. She still has to wear a splint, but she can take it off for showering and washing her hands. Tonight as we were sending everyone to bed she erupted into gales of giggles and squeals. She kept saying over and over, "This has been the most wonderful day of my entire life!"

8. Soccer Camp: Yes, my JD is gone all week from 9am-3pm. Need I say more?

9. Rest: The early part of my week was strenuous for little, old me. So, I've been thankful for extra rest gleaned here and there.

10. My Precious DP: He missed out on several great book signings in order to make sure I got to meet my favorites. I adore this man. Sure wish he could have gotten Tony Dungy's new book though. Oh well, maybe that'll be a gift idea.

As always, please join me by sharing how God has filled up your tank this week. I'd love to hear about your blessings in the comments or at your own site. Take the header and start filling up that tank yourself. You'll be amazed at how much you overlook unless you're intentional. Have a blessed day!

Labels: books, celebrities, joy, thanks tank

Rarely do I ever have a chance to just gush over the events in my daily life. Most days I have little of extraordinary consequence take place. Not that I don't have anything ever happen to me, just little of earth-shattering proportions.

Monday was an exception. Monday I had the privilege to leave my routine and dream a little bit (Who am I kidding here, I dreamed a lot!). This day I was surrounded by people who do daily what I only dream of one day doing.

A dear friend of mine provided an opportunity for me and DP to attend the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in Atlanta. According to its site description:

The International Christian Retail Show, the largest event designed for
Christian store owners and operators, has one goal: to enable you to
succeed. With its inspirational speakers, informed presenters, leading
suppliers, artists and musicians, and thousands of fellow Christian retailers,
the International Christian Retail Show is a source of nearly unlimited
value you simply cannot find anywhere else in the world.

I came away from my day at ICRS having brushed up against that mission statement. The value to me personally was immeasurable.

Let me explain:

I have a list of favorite authors. I read voraciously. I am an aspiring writer as well. So, imagine my delight in finding that three of my absolute favorites are present at the show . . . all signing books Monday while I was there!

Let me backtrack just a bit. DP and I left our three, precious blessings (who did NOT need to be on the floor at this show) with a babysitter and headed for Atlanta. We arrived at the World Congress Center, parked, got our appropriate identification badges and headed to the main floor to scope out the "people of note", ie. those authors I absolutely adore reading. In my humble opinion, these women are some of the very best at what they do.

So, amidst the crowds and elbowing for space, we quickly located and stalked/arrived at the booth of my first favorite just as she was finishing up -- Liz Curtis Higgs. Liz greeted me warmly like we had just seen one another the day before, signed a copy of her most recent release, Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible, and shared that her next book will be out in the spring -- another set in Scotland, of course. I can't wait! She is funny, sweet and just like I thought she'd be. What a God thing! I even had a chance to be photographed for another blog while I was there. Now to find the business card with their blog address . . .

Then we quickly sped over to another book signing just as it was beginning to wrap up. I'm standing in line and one of the assistants hands me the last book this author has available. It is a devotional for women by Robin Jones Gunn and one of her dearest "sisterchick" friends, Cindy Hannan.

Robin has written several books in the Sisterchicks series, and I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them. Though at this time I was more interested in the two series she's written for young girls, Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen. Robin was all too gracious and shared her insights as to the books in those two series being appropriate for an 11 year old, as well as giving me some sage advice in regards to my own writing. I just soaked in all she had to say.

I was pleasantly surprised at Robin's genuine interest and willingness to take time to chat with the likes of me. A true blessing.

So, after more wandering, more gathering of goodies (where was my rolling carry-on when I needed it most?), and scanning nametag badges for someone I recognized, we met up with my friend and a former colleague of his for a meeting regarding a business venture we are pursuing together. After some positive feedback and encouraging conversation, all while surreptitiously scanning my watch over and over, we finally came to a pleasant and timely close to our meeting.

I had somewhere I had to be. Someone to meet to complete my day of female fiction author fawning. I would not be impeded. Nothing was getting in my way of shaking this woman's hand!

Who could that be? I've only mentioned her numerous times throughout the summer as I have immersed myself in more of her books than any other author I've read in a very long time. I have read so much of her work in such a short time that I have been known to dream about the characters in the book as if they were real people from my own life's experiences. Here is the pinnacle of my day, my one shining moment with my favorite author of Christian fiction, Karen Kingsbury:

Not that we really got a chance to do more than exchange pleasantries, but it sure was a blast to be able to let her know how much her work has ministered to my heart and to the hearts of others I know who also read her novels.

Now, my day would have been complete without anything else added to it. I was thrilled to have met the three favorites. I was especially thrilled to not have made a bumbling idiot of myself with any of them.

Three favorites, three successful meetings without any toes being mashed or finding out I had something in my teeth AFTER I had already shaken their hands. I wasn't even going to post myself in the photos with them, but it really does make more of a statement if you see my silly face with each of these precious women.

So, I know this has dragged on long enough for one post. However, I will share the rest of my brushes with greatness tomorrow. Suffice it to say . . . my children were thrilled with my interactions with "famous" people.

So much so, that Sweetcheeks said today, "She touched this! You mean her famous hand was on this very thing!" I'll let you know next time whose hand caused such a "stir." at my house today.

I am off to dreamland now, exhausted but happy!

God is Good all the time!

Labels: celebrities, joy, writing