Dee Dee Parker and I arrived a day early to the writer’s conference—not to play, but to work on a beloved project. We’d planned on trying to find a conference room as soon as we reached the campus. After all, sitting on a cushy mattress isn’t the most conducive way to work. Within minutes of arriving, however, God surprised us with a place to meet in the middle, literally.
On Saturday and Sunday we prayed, brainstormed, took notes, and giggled like girls. I may have even spotted a few bolts of brilliance fly over Dee Dee’s head a time or two. (She’s amazing!)
One night, around 11:30 p.m., we decided to end “lobby time” (where everyone gathers after dark) a little early. We dropped our things just inside the door and patted ourselves on the backs for turning in earlier than normal. It was then the rush of wind took its cue and began to whistle. Trees swayed to and fro, leaning to the side as if to kiss the grass, and dry lightning struck gold. Dee Dee urged me to turn off the lights and take a seat. She on her couch…and me in my chair. There we sat, in the dark, cheering on the storm until close to 1:00 a.m. Oh, what a moment in time!
As
for the rest of the week, I’ll borrow the Las Vegas line: What happens
at Ridgecrest stays at Ridgecrest. Ha! Let’s just say I’m thankful no
one chose to walk past our window while I was dancing to Barry Manilow’s
Copacabana. (I kept forgetting we were on the ground level!)
Perhaps those few snippets from our week give you a glimpse into why I chose the above quote from Henry David Thoreau to describe my friendship with Dee Dee.
When all is said and done, our writing aspirations may differ in some ways, but we are kind to each others dreams because we know the One who placed them within us—and that alone is something to truly cherish.
Whose hopes are we cherishing besides our own? Are we being kind to each others dreams?
(One of greatest blessings you’ll discover at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference is how eager others are to to join you on the journey. I encourage you to make your plans to join us next year. Hope to see you in the lobby!)
Precious Friend, our time was so blessed. We share not only such a dear friendship, but a great love of writing. Watching God show out thru his mighty handiwork of nature was awesome and humbling. Thank you for your invaluable help on the novella.
The conference was a gathering I'll never forget. Thank you for this touching post. I am praying for the conference attendees and friends who were absent this year.
As for our singing and lobby time……………….
And for those who may determine that it's nice these two found friendship, let me explain that their love overflows to anyone willing to take a step toward them, as Jesus does for you. Go. Be blessed as I have been in knowing these two wonderful people.
As for the dancing, you'll have to see it for yourself.
Thank you, ladies.
How could I add to that, Dee Dee? 🙂
Love you much.
Thanks so much for sharing, Warren. We enjoyed getting to know you more.
Of course, we knew you had to be a great guy to have such a lovely daughter. Alycia is a blessing to us all!
We hope to see you next year. Grits and good conversation await!
I love this! I only wish I'd had time to hang out with you two. I think we need a retreat.
Be careful what you wish for, Edie! Dee Dee and I are praying about retreat type ideas.
We'd love for you to hang out with us any time.
Thanks for sharing!
Retreat! Yes! Edie, we had some great retreats in the past.
What a beautiful tribute to the friendships God provides us. What would we do without our writer-friends? Nobody could possibly understand our joys and fears like another writer. 🙂
I agree Dee Dee!!! Hey, God may be up to something here. 🙂
That's so true, Vonda. There's one special writer-friend I'm especially missing.
You. 🙂
Cathy, tell me when you and Dee Dee get a retreat together!! I want to come!
Wish I could have watched the storm with you both! I'm so glad you both had a great conference!
Love the post… 🙂
Will do, Mary!!!
And consider yourself invited next year. As soon as the thunder begins to rumble, come on by 🙂
Cathy,
I appreciate your heart of encouragement – it is a gift — and a true friend can see the gifts and dreams God has put within us for the glory of His Kingdom. – you have communicated this so well Cathy.
God bless your writing my friend . . . and I so wish this conference was in my neck of the woods. 😉
Love to you, Hester 😉
Sounds like you had a wonderful and memorable time. Glad you enjoyed it.
Hester, I wish you were in our neck of woods as well — for many reasons! But I praise God for the ability to meet, pray with, encourage, and make life-long friends via the internet.
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking time to share.
Much love from SC!
Thanks, Ellen! It was an amazing week, for sure. Hope to see you there next year. 🙂
Wow. What a lovely, lovely tribute…and testimony…to your friendship. And what an extreme blessing to have such a friendship. I am curious as to what project you two are working on together. So sorry I had to miss both your beautiful faces at the conference!
Such a lovely, lovely tribute and testimony to a wonderful friendship. And what a blessing such a friendship is. To be cherished, for sure. I missed seeing both your lovely faces this year!
Such a lovely, lovely tribute and testimony to a wonderful friendship. To be cherished for sure. I missed seeing both your beautiful faces this year! I am curious as to what project you are working on together.
Thanks for sharing, Deb! You were missed at BR. It just wasn't the same without you, Lori, Lynn, and others who weren't able to make it this year. 🙁
Dee Dee hinted at the project in her comments — but other ideas are also swirling around during our prayer time. 🙂 Hope to see you at BR next year!