What I Gained from Allume

I recently got back from my first blogging conference. Allume is … well, I’ll let them tell you because their words are much better than mine. Here is the Allume mission:

The Allume conference exists to offer a gathering place for kindred spirits to connect, learn, grow, and be refreshed so they can persevere in being a people who bring hope to the world through the social media medium. We want to reflect His Light in all our spheres of influence. Our goal is to go beyond the surface into intentional blogging and real life living, all to the glory of God. Allume is a one-of-a-kind conference that seeks to engage women by teaching blogging techniques and social media skill while also urging and encouraging women to live fully integrated lives with their faith and family.

That is such a perfect description. If anyone who had a hand in planning or running this year’s Allume is reading this, let me just say ya’ll completed your mission.

Here’s what I gained from Allume …

 

I knew, for whatever reason, that Allume would be good for my heart. I hoped to learn a little more about blogging and how to do what I’m doing better. I hoped to meet some awesome women and connect with others from around the country who are also running their little corners of the web — people who get it, people who know how much work goes into it, people who struggle with letting the numbers be discouraging. People like me. People who want to write and tell stories.

Allume was all of that — I met those people like me. I learned about how to do what I’m doing better. And my heart — well, it’s full. And so was my suitcase!

At Allume, you are given a big bag full of goodies as a welcome. Then throughout the weekend we were given more and more and more goodies. Seriously, this is all the stuff I came home with that I didn’t take with me. Thank you so much Allume people and sponsors!

For each meal, we got to listen to speakers. Not just any speakers, but awesome people who love Jesus and seriously had something to say. I really enjoyed hearing from authors Sophie Hudson, Leeana Tankersley and Shauna Niequist, as well as Logan Wolfram (who was running the show). When we weren’t eating or being given free goodies, we were being given lessons and words during our sessions. I loved hearing about how to be a trailblazer from Annie F. Downs. I’m in the middle of her book, “Let’s All be Brave” right now, and did I mention I got to meet her? Here we are all BFF and what not 🙂

Emily Freeman taught me how to write like a hostess, and Jessica Turner taught me how to better use affiliate links on my blog. I loved those sessions!

Then there was the gathering, where we got to go meet the folks who run one of the sponsor companies and hear more about them. I chose She Reads Truth because as ya’ll know from my previous posts, I love that ministry! Women reading the Word of God every day — that’s their mission. I got to meet Amanda Bible Williams (Editorial Director) and Raechel Myers (CEO and co-founder) — don’t let their titles intimate you, these are the kinds of women you can just hang out with! I wish I had gotten a photo with them! I also won a giveaway from She Reads Truth and I was able to get a study pack for one of their study plans. (More on that later)

Oh, and we also got to worship together every day. There’s nothing more refreshing than standing in a room full of people praising God. I loved listening to Judah and the Lion, Alisha Gordon (wish she had sung more!), and Karyn Williams.

Lastly (except not really because I have more posts to come about Allume), we had an afternoon tea party one day. It was so cute sitting down to tea and cookies. But the really cool part was the designs on the cookie. Sunshine! Just look how beautiful these cookies are! I wish I could bake some myself and somehow become a gifted artist to paint sun rays on the icing and then package them all up and send them to each of you. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? And what a way to brighten your day. I’m going to need a whole lot of sugar and flour!

Stay tuned for more posts inspired by my time at Allume!