Last week I attended American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee. I knew it was going to be great the moment I stepped into the lobby of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and saw this gorgeous glass sculpture.
A photo just doesn't do it justice, though.
One of the best things about a writers conference is connecting with friends, both new and old.
And chatting with the Love Inspired editors is always a treat.
The workshops are informative. I especially loved this one with Carrie Schmidt from Reading is My Superpower, Beth Erin from Faithfully bookish and other book bloggers.
And then there's the food. The night of the gala is always a treat.
That chocolate creation was absolutely divine.
But by the end of it all, I was ready to get back to the ranch. To pony tails and no makeup. To beautiful sunrises...
And nature in all its glory.
Now it's your turn. What have you been up to? Is it feeling like fall where you live?
Three-time Carol Award finalist, Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com
Conference at the Gaylord looks like it was so much fun! My Facebook feed has been inundated with pictures!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of attending conference is meeting up with old friends and getting to know new ones.
And then there's the food. It's always wonderful. :-)
But there really is no place like home, is there?
You are so right, Jan. Friends, food and fun. And maybe a little learning, too. The retreat is always nice and the resort was beautiful. But it feels good to come back home.
DeleteOh boy, you made me hungry, Mindy!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine why, Missy. ;)
DeleteBTW, I loved the photos!
DeleteSquuueeeaaallll! Thank you for sharing, Mindy! They seem to have the most decadent events and those conferences!!! I bet they serve lots of chocolate to bolster courage or provide comfort. :-) And that venue is way over the top!!!! Y'all must have felt like princesses!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's amazing how much chocolate you find floating around at conferences, Kav. I should have known it was for medicinal purposes. :P But the desserts are always my favorite part.
DeleteThanks for sharing, Mindy. I SO wanted to go, but it's almost always in September, and school's in session, so no can go.
ReplyDeleteMary Cate, the timing does make it tough for teachers. However, I know they choose that particular time because it's cheaper than doing it in the summer. Someday, Mary Cate. Someday.
DeleteThis all sounds wonderful... and like Cate, my September is chock full of pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins so ACFW isn't on the docket... but I'm okay living vicariously through all of you!
ReplyDeleteBut I have to say one of my fave things about the Alaskan Cruise our kids gave us a few years ago was being able to have fine dining every single night.
Honestly, for this mother of six, a bowl of cereal was about as fine as we got some nights, so that was a super wonderful princess-like treat!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the conference... And love the glimpses!
Ruthy, since we're the ones who scrambled to get dinner on the table everyday, it's always a treat when we don't have to worry about what to fix, not to mention just sit down and be served. I've always told my husband that's why a cruise is the ultimate vacation for me. I don't have to cook, clean or do laundry, and I get treated to decadent meals. In my book, that's a win-win.
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