The 100th Hampton University Ministers Conference!

Last week Marc and I attended the 100th Hampton University Minister's Conference.

We went on last Sunday to pick up our registration info and packets and to help my mom settle into the dorms which she stayed in during the week (they also offer workshops that week for Choir Directors. You might recall us helping her last year as well). Last year Marc attended for the first time and enjoyed it so much that he thought I would want to attend this year.

The contents of the Conference bag this year was pretty good!

Although the conference would not officially start until Monday evening they held a concert Sunday evening to kick off the event. After we helped my mom unpack we went to dinner and then came back in time for the festivities. 

I even got to see two of my friends who sing with the Mount Unity Choir.

The first night of the event the President of the HUMC spoke. The next morning we got to hear from Pastor E. Dewey Smith. That man preached his socks off ! 

Tuesday during lunch time I got to attend a special session for Women Leaders. The speaker was Pastor Susie Owens. This was not the first time I had heard her and as usual she did not disappoint. 

If you left that session the same then maybe its time to do something different! 

The women (and a few men) were packed in there! 

I had the pleasure of sitting between two awesome women of God who made me feel loved and accepted despite the fact that I didn't hold a degree or carry the title of Minister. 

Tuesday night we got to hear Bishop Jakes speak. The place was so packed it was crazy. People were entering the conference center two and three hours in advance to get a seat!

Wednesday before the afternoon sessions I caught a shuttle and met my mom over at the Hampton University's Cafeteria for lunch. The company was great, the food was filling and the view was breathtaking! 

Wednesday after the TD Jakes had spoken and Marc and I were on our way out we ran into our good friend Slater who was one of the worship leaders for the conference. 

Marc and I learned our lesson the first night and made it into the center in plenty of time before having to end up in the nose bleed section. LOL

A few of the days we were there we got to hang out with long time friend Rev. Ricky Lee.

I had a great time but my feet suffered the consequences of days of walking and I had to break down on Thursday and go get a pair of more comfortable sandals to wear because my feet and ankles were swollen.

There were several vendors at the conference (next year I will have to get a pic of the big tent where everything a First Lady or Pastor would ever want (or not) could be found. Including a Rolls Royce! 

I think the best part for Marc was seeing all of his fellow classmates and Pastor friends. I even saw a few people I knew including some family.

On Thursday night we attended the concert that spotlights all of the Music majors, worship leaders and directors. Somewhere in that sea of people was my mom. LOL

I really enjoyed the week and I can see going back again if Marc decides to go next year. Other then the morning speaker Dr. Smith I really enjoyed the class sessions. My favorites were Relevant Social and Civic Engagement with Dr. Antipas Harris from Regent University, Using a Familiar Story to Reach and Unfamiliar Culture with PastorTim Tooten, Sr who is a news reporter as well as a pastor. I also enjoyed the Dynamics of Organizational Change with Bishop Felton Hawkins. 

My advice to anyone attending would be to register early, make use of the shuttles for getting around the campus (which is huge). Spend a little time away from the conference just connecting with others that are there and if at all possible make use of the campus cafeteria (you can't beat an all you can eat lunch for $11.00.....lol). 

Rubber Ducky Your The One!

So our local museum just did a big expansion.

And to promote all of the changes they invited this fellow to come hang out in the lake.

Everyone seemed to be getting in on the fun!

First Quisha went and posted this pic!

Then Nicki and her boyfriend went!

So I proceeded to beg Marc to take me. LOL He kept asking why I wanted to see a big yellow duck! LOL Eventually he relented and Memorial Day (which happened to be the last day) we made a Day Date to see the Duck! 

Apparently everyone else had the same idea! 

I mean do you see all of the people lined up to take pictures? LOL

I bet none were cheesing as much as I was! 

I even attempted to take a selfie. Can you say Epic fail. And don't even ask me what Marc was doing! We are such dorks. LOL

In all of the years that I have lived here not once have I been to the Chrysler Museum! Its actually pretty sad. Especially now that I know its FREE! I mean how many places can you go to nowadays for FREE? And how many museums let you take photos?

You don't see artwork like this Tiffany glass window at churches anymore. Isn't it breathtaking?

And this dress is made from glass! The detailing was amazing! 

There was no way we could have seen everything so we will have to come back again!!!

After we left the museum we headed to the mall to eat lunch at Nordstrom cafe. Courtesy of a gift card I received on my birthday from a really good friend. 

And I couldn't very well go in the mall without stopping at my favorite store! With Marc's schedule right now we get very little down time so being able to spend the day together was a special treat! I want more Day Dates. Oh and a little side note...guess how many days it took me to get Rubber Ducky your the one out of my head? LOL

End of Month Ministry Wrap Up!

This month marked my 6th year at WABC doing our Women's Day services.

It was great honoring the Women of The Year for 2014. I've known Mrs. Madeline since I was a child. She just happens to be my aunts cousin. Marc said we must have really surprised her because she was actually speechless. LOL

This year we had a special Women's Day choir with women from different churches participating. It was awesome seeing so many women in the choir stands!

Our guest speaker was Rev. Anna Copeland. Who just happens to be a fellow classmate of Marc's.

Both her and her husband have been a blessing to Marc. Going to school, working his own business and pastoring (not to mention squeezing in family time when he can) is very demanding. I love that he has found friends who check on him and even call to remind him when an assignment is due. LOL

For the first time we had an afternoon service to accompany our usual celebration. Both of my daughters were there to support me. 

I'm very proud of these two young ladies for the contributions they make to God.

Speaking of proud. I was very happy to have my young friend Raven and her friend who agreed to come and render a praise dance for the program. Raven is the young lady who's sweet sixteen party I decorated for a few weeks ago.

This is Quisha along with other women from her church who came to sing a few praise songs. Quisha even debut her own song which she wrote and has had put to music. I wish I could share it but it hasn't been copyrighted yet.

We also invited back my daughters friend Elizabeth and her praise team. They were our special guest last year for our women's workshop. I am pretty sure our paths will cross again in the near future.

My girlfriend Teresa who I can always call on came out and did a spoken word using the poem Phenomenal Women by Maya Angelou. How ironic considering the fact that a week later Dr. Angelou would pass away.

The following weekend I got to hear my cousin Shelly speak at a prayer breakfast for the deaconess at WABC. I'm so very proud of her. Just this month she was named the Principal at one of our local schools.

Michelle and I are more like sisters then cousins. We've had each others back since the old days. We are truly ride or die sista's! I wouldn't suggest anyone bad mouth me in front of this girl. She's been known to fight (in the street) on my behalf back when we were kids. Her daughter and my youngest are the same way. Funny how history repeats itself. LOL

Sunday was bittersweet for us at WABC. Our longtime friends and Marc's assistant are retiring and moving out of the area. So our church got together to do a special service in their honor. We go back almost 20 plus years to our early days in ministry at a church in VA Beach. Our kids have grown up together, we've taken vacations together and have done ministry together at WABC for almost 5 years.

Several people from our old church showed up to surprise them, including WIT. An organization Dianne and I are a part of. Marc and I presented them with flowers and certificates on behalf of the church for their many years of dedicated service to us and the WABC family. 

I know these two are going to miss each other. The next coming weeks will feel just a bit more empty without them. Especially our trips to Ihop for late night dinner or to Brewster's for ice cream! 

I wish I could say life is about to slow down with the approach of summer. And although I get a slight reprieve from planning anything I can't say that our calendar is any lighter. VBS starts in a few weeks.

And in August we host our 5th Women's Workshop. After that we have two weeks of vacation and then its right back to work (and class for Marc who will be wrapping up his senior year at VUU). 

Next week though we get to sit among some great speakers and just hang out with other ministry leaders at the 100th Hampton University Ministers Conference. I don't know if I'm more excited about hearing TD Jakes speak in person or the fact that for a week I get to hang out with Marc and just chill (I think I'm more excited about hanging with Marc...lol). My mom will be there as well and this year we don't just help her settle in for the week we get to spend it with her!