That’s right — the future bride has taken up residence in our very office.

Well, she’s not actually living here but she’ll be running things for me every Tuesday and Thursday morning this semester. This is fantastic news for all of us as HELLO, MY NAME IS AMY BETH AND SOMETIMES I GET STRESSED AT THE AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO AND DID I MENTION I HAVE A SECOND JOB BECAUSE STARLITE, IT DOES NOT PAY BACK THE STUDENT LOANS.

Katie, she does not get stressed and use all caps. Opposites attract, I guess.

For those of you who are new to the blog, Katie has been my roommate for the past year before new Roomie got here (Katie was already planning to live with some other girls, so it isn’t like I kicked her to the curb).

(Although it would be fun to kick her.)

(Trust me, she’d kick right back. Girlfriend may look sweet, but she can be VICIOUS.)

Anyway, sometime this summer, Katie gave me a ring on ye olde cellular device and said “So, when am I taking over Starlite?”

You think I joke. I do not.

You see, ever since Katie got involved with Starlite, she’s had one singular obsession: her quest to take over our wee little ministry. I’ll come in the office only to find Katie in my desk chair with her feet propped up on my desk saying “I have total control now.” This has, I’m sorry to report, happened more than once.

In years past I may have been concerned about this, but? Now? Sure, she can take it over. As long as she takes all of it over. The bills. The donation requests. The distribution of processed nacho cheese to hundreds of little mouths.

She should last about a week with us, give or take. At which time she will remember that? Hello? She has a wedding to plan after a certain question was asked while walking along the beach:

I would make a good flower girl, no?

Let’s change gears for a minute so I can tell you about my real love in life, Starlite. That little pink ministry is going strong and is right on schedule for the semester. We’re in the middle of selecting new girls for our leadership team, so I’ve been in back-to-back interviews for the last couple of days now. I love that part of my job, especially since some of the girls that I’m meeting will end up being the ones who will run our programs this semester.

We have the girls fill out applications and also write out their answers to three in-depth questions. One of the questions asks about their ability to work as a part of a team instead of always being the one in charge and so forth. We typically get the same answers — “I love team!” and “There’s no “i” in team!” and so forth. This time, however, one girl took it to a new level. After writing about how she felt like she could be a part of a team because of her past leadership experiences, she ended that essay with the following:

“And anyway, I live in Nora Chambers Hall [a dorm at our campus that has one bathroom per floor of girls] so I am obviously good at sharing.”

Well, amen sister. If you can share a mirror with that many girls, you can share a ministry with our team of 25.

One of our favorite things to do in the fall is participate in a thing called Community Showcase where we have a tent about Starlite. A few of our hardworking girls did a great job at getting everything together for it and making it the cutest tent on the block, so I thought you might like a little peek:

Please notice Becky’s expression of glee in the following photo:

Oh yes we did serve pink lemonade. Would you have expected anything less from us?

So what if we do look like a booth for Victoria’s Secret? Got a problem with it, punk?

If you’re older than me, think back to what you were like when you were my age and dealing with a little bit of heartbreak… what did you do? More importantly, what do you wish you had done differently?

I’m assuming that refraining from listening to “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” would be a good idea, even though Celine does know how to minister to a hurting heart.

“There were nights when the wind was so cold…”

Spill it and help a sister out, ya’ll.

Edited To Add: Thanks for your emails.  It’s a long story that’s been going on for awhile.  I don’t blog about everything happening in my life, you know.  :)  And out of respect for anyone involved in this, I won’t blog about it, either. 

Right before I checked out of the hotel on Sunday morning, I noticed that the light coming through my floor-to-ceiling windows was perfect for an unplanned photo shoot. I called Cindy and asked her if she’d come pose for me. Since she’s so sweet, she agreed and we got these shots in the few short minutes I had left in the hotel:

I’ve been trying to decide what to write about from the conference, but I’m having the hardest time picking one thing to write about.

I’m also having trouble even typing because a certain puppy whose name rhymes with FUDDLES is insisting on curling up on my laptop keyboard. Yes, he’s that small. I know.

I suppose the thing I want to write about will be a bit different from everyone else’s recaps, but oh well. I mean, how many times can we really read about Beth’s hair?

Actually, um, forever. I’m still not over her hair. IT’S A SICKNESS, I TELL YOU.

I think the interesting thing about this particular conference was the fact that so many people were getting the chance to meet other people that they really admire, especially from the blogging community. I don’t know about you, but I have an little tendency to get really excited when I meet someone famous or well-known. There’s nothing inherently wrong about that, but just like most everything else in our lives, it can cause problems if it gets distorted.

When I boarded my first flight on Friday morning, I pulled out my Bible and began reading about favor. As I was praying, I very clearly heard God instruct me to not try to open any doors for myself this weekend. I don’t have a tendency to do that in day-to-day life, but I knew He had reasons for His instructions so I decided to obey, and STAT.

Throughout the weekend, I had so many different opportunities for God to show me what graciousness looks like, especially when it comes to people we admire. He also reminded me that we should not be living to please man, which is something that I think can be difficult in the blogging community.

The ugly truth of it is that it would be so easy for any of us (I’ll use me since I’m the one on the soapbox) to treat certain people differently (read: better) than others simply because of their status or what connections they have with others. In other words, am I being sweet to Melanie or Sophie because they are Major Bloggers or just because I like them as people? And am I excluding other people because they aren’t part of the “in” crowd? I hope not, ’cause I’m not sure what Jesus would think about me acting that way.

I was thinking about this late Saturday afternoon after I had a chance to talk very briefly with Amanda. I started reading Amanda’s blog awhile ago, long before I knew who she was related to or where she worked. I like Amanda because of the way she writes and the way she lives her life, not the connections she has or the doors she opens. I like her because she’s Amanda, plain and simple.

After our chat on Saturday, I headed back to my hotel room because I was tired and just wanted to take a nap after I got caught up on a little Starlite work. Not long after I shut my door, I heard a soft knock and found the maid ready to clean my room. I could tell she was in the mood to talk, so I began to ask her questions about her life.

How many hours had she worked that day? Eight, but she only had two left. Does she have any kids? Four, but she’s got 13 grandchildren. Does she get to see them a lot? Some, but it’s hard since she works seven days a week.

Our conversation was still going strong long after we had made the beds and replaced the towels together, in between my bites of a grilled cheese sandwich and her occasional breaks on the chair in the corner of the room. I was genuinely interested in her life, even though I won’t see her again. She’s retiring next month after 27 years of being a maid at this particular hotel.

When the door closed behind her as she made her way to the next room down the hall, I heard a quiet voice whisper “She’s just as important to me as the rest of them.” He’s right, of course.

I want to be the type of person who will answer the hotel room door with the same attitude whether it be Beth Moore or the maid on the other side. Don’t get me wrong: I believe in giving honor where honor is due. Beth is an incredibly gifted Bible teacher that God has used to impact so many different lives. But I truly believe that God loves Beth just as much as He loves that maid and that He desires for us to reflect Him in that way, especially here and especially now.

Amen.

I know I told you that I’d be back today with a re-cap from the conference but that was before I remembered that I am scheduled for back-to-back meetings until 9:30 p.m. tonight.

Who’s bringing dinner to the Starlite office? Dominos? Is that you I hear?

So, I’ll be here bright and early tomorrow to tell you all the fun stuff. But first, I have to tell you what just happened here in the office:

I was going through the back-to-school financial donations that had come in while was gone for the weekend and realizing that we’ll need some Major Miracles in order to buy the amount of processed nacho cheese we’ll need. Don’t get me wrong — we’re not hurting financially, but we’re also not receiving the normal amounts of donations which we believe is due to the economy.

I put the donation report away and whispered “I know You’ve got it under control” before heading out to our front lobby to check on something. As I went out there, I noticed that our vase of (fake) flowers that sits on our fireplace mantle was turned the wrong way. I went over to adjust it, and when I did, I noticed that something was tucked in between the flowers.

It was a gift card to Sam’s Club (where we buy our PNC) for a very, very generous amount.

Even more amazing?

On the front of the card, only two things were written:

“To Starlite. From Jesus.”

You do have it in control, don’t You?

I suppose I should begin by telling you that it’ll probably take me two, maybe three posts to cover my San Antonio trip. I definitely want to show you the trip via pictures, but I also want to share with you about what God spoke into my heart this weekend through the conference.

But let’s keep our priorities in order:

I chose this picture of Beth’s hair because I like that you can get the full idea of just how incredible the height is. I have no idea how girlfriend does it, but I feel fairly confident that there is some backcombing and hairspray involved. Maybe a little dose of miracles from the Lord, as well.

I had the chance to meet a lot of fun people this weekend, starting with sweet Cindy. Here we are just waiting to see Beth’s hair for service to begin.

Cindy (who is responsible for all the pictures by the way) has a fancy-smancy camera that she insisted on using to take random photographs of me when I was least expecting it. Thanks, Cind. You’re a real pal.

Gayle was also there too, even though I’m not so sure that she’s as sweet as Cindy…

Yep, that’s Gayle in her pajamas making fun of me for a little texting problem I may or may not have. What can I say? I like to stay in touch with my peeps.

Side note: Beth Moore definitely said “peeps” from the stage on Friday night. I almost fell out of my chair. I have never been more in awe of her in my entire life.

On Saturday night, I had the opportunity to share a little about Starlite with about 100 women who were attending a pajama party at our hotel. I’ll spare you the details of my little chat other than to mention that, in breaking news, it is always best to avoid wearing a white colored undergarment when people will be using their flashes as they take photographs of you.

Thanks again, Paint program. You really saved the day.

Be back later today with all the heart stuff (and maybe a little more about Bethie’s hair).

Okay, probably a lot about her hair.

Living up my last 24 hours of this mini-vacation, but you better believe I’ll be back Monday morning with a recap.  But since I know you’re just dying in the meantime…

… her hair was everything that I had hoped for and more.

I left town on an early morning flight today as I’m in San Antonio this weekend for the Living Proof Live conference featuring Beth Moore.

By “early morning” I mean that I only had to get up at 5:30 a.m.

And, if you want to know the truth, I just got up then because? Hello? My hair.

Those of you who don’t know who Beth Moore is won’t understand this, but if you’ve ever seen her, you’ll understand about the hair thing. Beth has The Hair. Seriously, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone bring up her name only to hear “Ohmygoodness, herHAIR!”

Yes, it is that special.

So, since I’ll be in the same 65,000 seat arena with her tonight, I figured that the best way to prepare myself would be to attempt to have a good hair day. Sure, I could have spent the time reading my Bible more, but, again? Hello? I can read my Bible on the plane. I cannot operate a can of aerosol hairspray in seat D2.

Although I didn’t actually know that fact until this morning when I may or may have not attempted to address a little volume issue with the back section of my hair only to be chastised by a rather serious acting flight attendant who was saying something about cabin pressure.

Whatev’.

My new friend Annie and I had a connecting flight out of Memphis, so we spent the whole flight to San Antonio sharing our life stories in between cranberry juice (her) and apple juice (me). You might find it surprising to learn that they do not serve Sunny Delight on Northwest Air Lines.

Shocking, I know.

Once we landed, the lovely Melanie (perhaps better known as Big Mama though I can now confirm that while she is a mama, she is not big) picked us up and took us straight to a culinary delight called Garage Taco. I decided to live on the wild side and order puffy tacos instead of my regular soft tacos.

First I go to a Beth Moore conference and then I eat puffy tacos. OUT OF CONTROL, I tell you.

I am happy to tell you that the puffy taco was quite delicious, in case you were wondering. Also: Garage Taco is actually much nicer than the inside of any garage I’ve ever been in, hallelujah.

‘Cause there’s nothing quite like having tacos with a side of old oil and wiper fluid.

We had lots — and I mean LOTS — of college girls at our Ice Cream Social last night which is a GREAT thing for volunteer recruitment purposes! Also, I did not fall when I walked out on the stage, nor did I drop the microphone at any point in the evening. All in all, I would say it was quite the successful event.

Except for the fact that we ran out of cookie dough. I have no idea how that happened.