I would so much like to thank my sponsors for helping me get to the amazing 2:1 Conference this past weekend! (That's said "2 to 1 Conference.") It was so worth the hard work and time it took to get there. I could never have done it without my sponsors! Would you please go check them out? IQ Locker, T-Tapp, The Ultimate Homeschool Expo, Turning Heads Boutique, and Eternal Encouragement Magazine…

 

I rose at the crack of dawn on Friday morning, April 27th. Hubby drove me to my friend Maureen's house, where we hopped into her vehicle and embarked on the hour drive to a her friend's house. After introductions, Jodi's husband drove us all to the airport. There was no going back now. We were on our way to the Washington, D.C. area and The 2:1 Conference!

We had wonderful conversation and time of getting to know one another in the airport. (This was the first time I had met Jodi.) The guy next to me on the plane almost slept with his head on my shoulder… creepy…

And finally we were there!

 

 

We met up with a couple of ladies that Maureen and Jodi already knew. We met some other ladies at the baggage carousel who were also going to the conference. Then we all made our way to the place where our shuttle was supposed to pick us up and take us to the hotel. Along the way, our little group kept growing. By the time we got to the shuttle pick up, we met up with even more women going to The 2:1 Conference.

We became this group of maybe 8 to 10 women all laughing loudly and chattering excitedly, waiting in the cold wind for a shuttle that we thought would never arrive. I'm sure we were a sight!

 

Then out of nowhere came a woman who seemed to know what she was talking about when she said that the shuttle at the front of the line was our shuttle. She instructed us all to climb aboard. She said she was going to the same conference, and she seemed so self-assured that no one thought to doubt her. We all turned and did as she said. Without her, we may have all still been standing there chatting and laughing today!

As I climbed into the shuttle, I took the seat right between my new friend Nicole and the lady who had taken charge. Nicole was talking to the lady on the other side of her, and so I naturally turned to introduce myself to the-in-charge- lady. Her name is Carol Anne, and she has the smoothest, sweetest southern accent. We told a little about ourselves and chatted all the way to the hotel. I told her that I would probably pick up her southern accent over the weekend and assured her that it would not be because I was making fun of her. She said I could be her translator when folks couldn't understand her accent. (Although she never needed one!)

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know my new friend! But I didn't see her the rest of the evening. Not at dinner. Not at the Sponsor Speed Dating. Not at the Apologia Pajama Party.

By the next morning, I had my eyes peeled for Carol Anne. I needed to say hello!

I didn't have to wait too long. I think it was just after breakfast (maybe during?) that I saw Carol Anne walking by my table.

"Carol Anne! I'm so happy to see you!"

Carol Anne smiled and greeted me back. We saw one another several more times that day and had more moments to connect and get to know one another better.

 

 

There was nothing monumental or earth-shattering in that story, right? Nothing that screamed, "God just did something miraculous!"

Well~ God often takes an interaction with another human being that you may find an everyday occurance and uses it to speak into the soul of someone else.

 

 

Saturday night, Miss Carol Anne informed a small group of us that she is a "fraidy cat." She said that she struggles with fear and anxiety and that she was a nervous wreak about coming to this conference with a bunch of strangers.

What?! The lady who ordered us all onto the shuttle?!

I'm not sure that I believed her.

 

After I finally returned home from the conference, I read Carol Anne's posts (Part 1 & Part 2) about her experiences at the conference. I was quite shocked to learn that she had been feeling like a fifth wheel in a room full of people who seemingly already knew one another. She was thinking she should forevermore stay at home. That moment when I called her by name had done something deep within Carol Anne. But God didn't stop there. Another new friend, Tabitha, also saw Carol Anne at breakfast and excitedly called her by name.

 

God took what Tabitha and I thought was a very small thing– saying hello to a new friend– and used it to speak volumes to Carol Anne. He loves her. He sees her. She has no need to be afraid. She is valuable. She is a desired friend.

 

The lesson here?

 

God uses the moments that we deem insignificant or small. He uses them to work miracles, to change hearts, to encourage, to reveal Himself…

 

If I am open and willing to do the small things that He asks me to do– even when it seems unimportant— then He will use me.

 

And He'll use you, too.

 

Often when we don't even know it.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you seen God use YOU in the small moments?

 

photo used by permission- Ashley Pichea