by Tina Radcliffe
Coming home from the 2012 ACFW Conference in Dallas I was reminded of the Amy Grant song, because truly my spirit was soaring on the mountain top fellowshipping with the Lord and my writer friends.
A recap of conference for those who couldn’t make it this year:
Breakfast
Praise & Worship
Squeals of delight and hugs at meeting new friends and reuniting with old friends.
Workshops.
Lunch
Praise & Worship
Squeals of delight and hugs at meeting new friends and reuniting with old friends.
Workshops
Repeat.
Four days of conference passed in a blur of activities and joy with my brain over-loaded and my spirit flying high. It was truly an honor to sit at the feet of those writers whose work I have enjoyed for years. What a delight to meet those online friends who have been huge supporters and prayer partners, sharing in the ups and downs of my writing career.
Seeing live and in person the agents, editors and industry professionals that shape our writing world was very much part of the experience. I also had the pleasure of meeting my peers at Love Inspired. The icing on my cake was spending hours catching up with friends, giggling, belly-laughing and chatting.
The acceptance speeches for the 2012 Genesis Awards and Carol Awards were humbling and gracious. What a wonderful organization ACFW is. Where else can we cheer for our peers and be joyful when others are honored because we understand that our mission is the same-touching lives for the Kingdom. When one of us succeeds we all succeed!
I look forward to seeing all of you next year on that mountain top!
Tina Radcliffe writes contemporary romance for Love Inspired. She was honored to be a 2012 Carol finalist with her release, Oklahoma Reunion. You can find her in her writing cave or at www.tinaradcliffe.com or in Seekerville, www.seekerville.net.
Comments 0
Tina,
I enjoyed meeting your for the first time this year. The smile in the picture tells the story of your loving personality and helpfulness. I appreciated your help…you saved my life!!! Yes I still owe you chocolate:) Looking forward to next year and my turn to minister to others as you did for me.
Mary!!! Meeting you was a treat for me as well!
What a great picture of you ladies!
I’m back in the valley too, but already looking forward to next year.
My DH pointed out that Mary is right not left. LOL. And Erica dear, is Vetsch. It was a long four days on little sleep.
TINA!!!
Beautiful blog, my friend, and makes me wish I had gone this year. Your statement that “When one of us succeeds we all succeed!” is SO very true!
You also said: “The annual conference really brings home the fact that while I am already down from that conference mountain top and back to the life in the valley below, I am not on this journey alone.”
Oh, AMEN!!! That is the #1 thing I come away with from ACFW each year — we are all in this together for His glory!!
Hugs,
Julie
Thanks, Julie!
What a beautiful description of our week together, Tina! I really enjoyed getting caught up with old friends and meeting new ones.
I learned so much from workshops and came home inspired. Thanks to all who worked so hard to make the conference happen!
Tina, what a great way to describe the conference.
A mountain top experience.
that’s perfect.
And now we are back to level ground and that’s okay, too…because the mountain top is coming again and the memories of it make level ground lovely, too.
It was so fun to see you, sweetie.
Tina,
So wonderful rooming with you at ACFW and sharing in the Mountain Top Experiece!
Miss you and all the other special ACFW friends. Waving to everyone, and counting down the days until ACFW 2013!
Thanks to all those involved who made this year’s event so special.
Hugs!
You notice we all have similar expressions. We were suffering from evening dress oxygen deprivation.
I loved seeing you, Tina!!! And I’m glad to hear you’re planning on being there next year. 🙂 HUGS!!!