Yes, I wish I could be one of those California girls we hung out with last weekend at Fresh Grounded Faith – Yorba Linda! What a great, fun, gracious, loving, warm, beautiful group of women who gathered at The Friends Church for a jam-packed weekend of wonderfulness!
I was just in one of the sweetest places on the planet! And, I don’t say that just because of the 1000 women I met in Belleville, Illinois this past weekend. I also say this because Belleville is where, in 1869, a certain candy was born. Guess which one? Here is probably the only hint you need: President Ronald Reagan loved this itty-bitty burst of sweetness. Yep, you got it…Jelly Bellies! Jelly Belly jelly beans were invented in Belleville, Illinois by a young candy maker named Gustav Goelitz over one hundred years ago.
“Perfectionism kills skill.” Those were the wise words of Ann Voskamp during Spill the Beans at Fresh Grounded Faith, Evansville this past weekend. What truth that woman spoke! She shared earlier that morning about how we as women can use measuring sticks as weapons that hurt ourselves and hurt each other. But, of course, because she is such a wordsmith, she said it a lot better than I just did!
The last time I posted a pic of my BFF’s on my blog, we were in swimsuits on a boat in the middle of the lake. That move on my part almost made me lose a couple letters — you know, the B for best and F for forever were definitely in question! But, Joan and Paula are my BFF’s and they stick with me no matter what, which included pouring themselves plum out into Fresh Grounded Faith Springfield last weekend! And, don’t they look cute in that pic?
This past weekend I was in the diner capital of the world. Do you know where that is?
Well, they’re famous for their tomatoes and they have more race horses than the state of Kentucky. Still don’t know where I was?
Okay, another hint or two… This state is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production – and my oatmeal thanks them very much! It’s the home of “Lucy The Elephant” and the Statue of Liberty has her feet planted in this state’s waters….
New Jersey!
“Careful, Jennifer… there’s a lady in front of you!”
That’s what Christie called out from right behind me as we climbed up the moving escalator. Christie said, “She’s blind and determined, so watch out!” as she scaled the stairs just a step behind me.
The lady just laughed a nervous laugh and probably went home and told her family, “You won’t believe what I saw on the escalator today in Atlanta… a crazy blind woman with a white cane running up the escalator while the sane, sighted people just stood there.”
So… that’s what happened on the way to Fresh Grounded Faith – Centerville.
