More 4Real Mini-Conference Pics

...especially for those dear Southern ladies who couldn't make it to either conference this year.

Children, food, coffee, and friends...that's what it's all about!

This weekend I met Alice.

Alice is my ideal.  I want to draw like Alice.  I want to dress like Alice.  I want to sew cute dresses for my little girls like she does.  I want to be refined like Alice.  I want to bake like Alice and give delicious teas like Alice.  And my husband wants to take her youngest (simply adorable) daughter home with us.  And my middle daughter wants to take her oldest daughter (her new-found friend) back home with us.   

But, while none of these things will ever put me in Alice's league, there is one thing I discovered this weekend about myself that is like Alice.   And I know this will embarrass her but Alice is sweet.  So sweet!  And I realized that this is a tremendously good quality. 

All my years in school I was always known as "sweet".  That's all.  Never "adventurous", never "the most likely to succeed", never "the most athletic", never "the most talented", never "the most beautiful", never anything but "sweet".  My yearbooks are filled with "To a sweet girl!"  "Stay sweet!"  If anyone runs into my parents and wants to say something nice about their daughter, I'll bet my savings account they're going to say, "You have the sweetest daughter." At least that's what my mother tells me they say. 

I guess we always want to be more than we are. I mean, didn't we all want to be talented, beautiful, gifted, and successful in high school?  That's what I wanted.  But I never was. I was just "sweet" as in saccharine which equals sugary which equals sticky.

But after meeting Alice I see that there is much more to that cupcake image that people see than I ever realized.  Cupcakes are awfully nice, in a good way. It's really a beautiful compliment and I'm now proud to be in the same leagues as Alice.  Now, if I can only practice and refine her humbleness, I'll be just like her.  : )

Our girls enjoyed a one another's company

My husband held Colleen's baby boy.  My husband said it has been too long.

Marcie and me:  what can I say!  Marcie and I can talk as easily and freely inperson as we can via email.  I felt like I had been talking to Marcie my whole life.  I could even joke around with Marcie in my tongue-in-cheek manner and she would just stick her tongue back at me.  (Just joking.) She "gets" me.  We were that comfortable with one another.  Oh, and she is "sweet" too.   Welcome to the club, Marcie.  : )

And here's Colleen and I

I've known Colleen for some 8 years on the internet and we never met...until this weekend.  I could spend all day...all week...with Colleen and never get tired of watching her.  Colleen never misses a beat, she plans a mean party, brings home the bacon, fries it up in a pan and never let's you...oh, sorry...song running through my head.  But she was the power behind this mini-conference during which she had a nursing baby.  And her husband had left that very morning to go overseas. 

I would have just buried myself under the bedcovers, dictated the orders out to my family, and told everybody to just go away.  But not Colleen.  She prevailed. And she has begun to share her Seven Steps to a Charlotte Mason Lifestyle at her blog.  You will not want to miss that.

Oh, did I mention she is the mother of 5 boys!?!?!  As in...gets all 5 boys dressed and ready for church by herself and still gets to the chapel on time.  Then, when they begin to swim in the town square fountain, simply smiles and say, "Oh, it's just water. They'll dry." God truly does know who He can trust to raise boys. 

(Colleen didn't really say that but she did smile and didn't stress one bit about the wet clothes. Her boys will grow up and call her blessed.  No doubt.)

All this to say that Colleen is a rare soul who can do so much without making you feel you have done so little she is the least bit burdened.   And she smiles the whole time she's making you feel comfortable.

Thank you, Colleen.

I also met 4Real mom Phoebe but failed to get a picture together.    She is another sweet soul who seemed to stay so cool and happy despite the heatwave that rode through Louisiana this past weekend.  I could see the joy of eager anticipation in her face and thought her the most blessed soul for getting an early start on this adventure in her children's lives.

There were other warm, lovely women there in Abbeville who are not at the 4Real forums...but should be.  <hint! hint!> 

One last time ladies:

Thank you, Marcie, for the picture.

Comments

[Paula in MN]

And my Aunt-in-Law lives in Abbeville! If you plan this next year, let me know -- I'll come down!

[Mary Ellen Barrett]

It all looks so wonderful. I'm so glad you all had such a lovely time.

[marcie]

I was thinking the exact same thing about Alice!! I want to be able to draw so bad, I just can't stand it, but, to be able to draw like Alice does would be a dream come true!
I also felt the same way about you, Cay. It was like we were long lost friends. I am so glad to have been able to meet all of you and spend the little time that I could.
Hopefully, I will see more of Colleen soon!! Saturday was a beautiful day!

[Alice C]

Ok, Cay. "Refined"?? Chip is going to be cracking up with that one! Lol!! Seriously, can I just *borrow* your TypePad password for a sec... just need to edit a couple of lines... ;-)

It was really wonderful meeting Marcie and Phoebe, too! And you are spot-on about Colleen... she IS amazing!!

[Colleen]

Aw, shoot, and I was working on humility today!!!! Just joking, I am flattered and humbled by your kind descriptions. I was honored and all too thrilled to spend the weekend in your company...it was well worth the effort.

[Elizabeth Foss]

Thanks so much for sharing this with us Cay! I want to be like Alice too! And Colleen...I'd love to spend a sweaty day in the South with such sweet ladies (you included). What a wonderful, wonderful time you all had!

[Heather]

I am new to homeschooling and to blogging. I just have to say that I have really enjoyed reading about all of these wonderful ladies and hope to make some friends here as well. Thank you for indirectly introducing me.

[Jacque Dixon]

Hi -
I found you through MyBlogLog...
I loved reading about how much fun you had!
3 of our children, my daughters, and I all blog (they are still at home), and we have all met friends through blogging and had the privilege of meeting them IRL, too. What a blessing and a privilege.
Thanks for sharing.
Blessings
-Jacque

[Maria]

Looks like a grand time!

[Chip Cantrell]

Cay,

Your family is so special. Alice and I had an awesome time meeting all of you. The weekend not only gave everybody a chance to exchange homeschool ideas, it gave us a chance to put names with all the faces and really get to know one another.

I was really impressed by your family. Talking with you all just threw our camping bug into overdrive. Alice couldn't stop talking about all the great places your husband told her about. She is determined to camp every weekend this Fall and Spring. We love you guys!!

Chip (Alice's Husband)

[Leonie]

Super pics and how I wish I could meet everyone!You all seem sweet, said in the nicest meaning of sweet! :-)