Women from every walk of life gathered together for three days at the beautiful beach on Hilton Head Island.
Entrepreneurs, story tellers, home makers, authors, cooks, artisans, cancer survivors, coordinators, speakers, photographers, decorators, mothers, wives, teachers, business owners, and even some pretty incredible former 7th grade cheerleaders.
Mainly we are all just women who have chosen to share slices of our lives on-line, yet brought together through our desire to connect the hearts of women over at (in)courage.
We dreamed big dreams.
We laughed and cried. Honestly, I think there were even a few snorts mixed in throughout our time together.
I love the different gifts represented in these women.
I love how Dawn, Tsh, Melissa, Heather and The Nester didn’t roll their eyes at me when I asked if anyone wanted to hit up the Hilton Head Goodwill.
I loved how we could sit for hours and didn’t have to clean up the table after we were done because so many varying and amazing restaurants gave us just the respite we needed.
I loved hearing of dreams realized when one blogger’s Compassion Trip to Kenya revolutionized her family. Her dream? To build a house of mercy in the heart of Africa to help heal and offer hope to pregnant girls. To save one life at a time, and she’d done it.
There’s something special about being with a group of dreamers for a few days, and it’s even better when it’s done on Hilton Head Island.
Their creative juices rub off. Their convictions inspire. Their passions infuse.
They help you realize that your ordinary can be extraordinary, and that your mess is part of the story. (Which is a good thing because often, I am just a mess.)
I hope you haven’t lost your dream.
Just dream ladies. I’ll cheer you along the way.
And if you get a chance? Bring some of those friends to the beach and do it all together. It’s so worth the extra hassle to get away if only for a few days.
Do you have any dreamers in your real life?
Thank you so much to both Dayspring and Hilton Head Department of Tourism for providing this wonderful weekend for us dreamers to get together. Resort Rentals of Hilton Head Island provided the beach front accommodations, while Dayspring fed us and took care of the incidentals.
What a blast! So glad to meet you in person. (Can’t wait to hear about the baking soda.)
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Jen Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Deidra – you are a joy! I just wish we would have had more time to chat. Maybe by next year, I’ll join you on those runs. 😉
And the baking soda? I would be the only one rooming with the one person who doesn’t use toothpaste (since I forgot mine. ;))
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Love you, loved spending time with you! xoxoxo
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Looks like lots of fun!! It’s wonderful to get together with women of faith…..and dream 🙂
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Jen Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
And I think we’ll be able to do that together in a few weeks, right? Are you heading to Relevant? I just decided for sure that I am…booked the flight this week.
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I’ve always been a dreamer. I kind of can’t imagine going through life without dreaming in one way or another! 🙂
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Your post reinforces to me why it’s so important to have girlfriends, people that stick with you through thick and thin. I’m so very excited for the in(RL) conference, to meet like-minded women in my community, to have that same closeness that your group has experienced. With God’s help, we’ll find it.
I love the dream bracelet by the way!
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ooooooooooh i LOVE it. i love seeing you all together working on making God-sized dreams come to life! i love all those ladies dearly, and i’m so happy for you all. AND i love Hilton Head! gorgeous, huh!? perfect for a getaway with friends. excited for (in)RL!
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Thanks for sharing! I am a 60+ yo Grandma who is realizing that I have never had anyone encourage me to D-R-E-A-M! Is it too late? I guess not, as long as I am breathing. Don’t know how or where to start. Talking to my Creator seems to be a good place. Do you have any posts that would help get me going in the right direction? I am reminded of the Bible verse that says, “Without a vision, the people perish.” Praying I can dream at least one dream & see it come to fruition.
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I want to get with Linda and be a dreamer. I’m a dreamer, but don’t seem to surround myself with dreamers. I let my dreams get choked out by the practicality of carpool and the reality of budget. Maybe I need a “dream-day” to dream, and to add those dreams to my regular prayer list — including friends who will dream with me.
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What a wonderful time you girls have had on that retreat! There is nothing like spending time with women who are kindred in spirit.
Ya’ll swing by Montgomery, Al and pick me up next time. I love this group!
~Di
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Thank you for sharing your stories. They are so much fun to read!
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Jen – I can’t wait to read my (in)courage emails everyday and have gotten to know a little of each of you through your writings. This morning while washing dishes you came strongly to my mind. Now I know why – the Holy Spirit was knudging me to pray for you, especially in light of your message on lonliness today. Well, hit me over the head! – Oftentimes, I still don’t catch on (until it is obvious) that the Lord brings others to mind for prayer!! “Isn’t He beautiful…wonderful, isn’t He?” I am praying for you today! Love your heart for serving! Thank you.
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