Plenty of other “real” bloggers have already given their beautiful recaps of the Edel Gathering. You should read some of my favorites for a better picture of what the weekend was all about:
- Kathryn Whitaker
- Lisa Schmidt
- Jen Fulwiler
- Kelly Mantoan
- Wendy aka Cajun Texas Mom
- Mary Lenaburg
Since I’m just a fake blogger, I’ll spare you the rest of the play-by-play of the weekend. Besides, getting there was half the fun! Instead of a summary, I thought I’d share some of my favorite moments and takeaways.
Friday’s live radio broadcast of the Jennifer Fulwiler show
- Jen Fulwiler and Hallie Lord are just awesome. It was so much fun to watch her in her element, talking with the show guests and broadcasting right in front of my eyes. I am so grateful for her and Hallie Lord’s “YES!” to God when He asked them to create Edel. What a dynamic duo!
Hallie and Jen during their live radio broadcast
- Hallie Lord talked about being reckless vs. living life according to God’s will while hosting a women’s conference on her due date.
- “God is not reckless…discern His will…When God calls you to do something hard, you get signal graces, but He doesn’t take away the burden or the cross; He sends people to help carry it. God can give us the strength to do things ourselves, but sometimes He forces community upon us.” I’ve been prayerfully discerning doing something that my spiritual director is helping me to work through. In our discussion about discerning God’s will, he said I can’t let my analysis paralysis stop me from hearing what God is asking of me. Instead, I need to keep making decisions, knowing that sometimes they might be the wrong one. With all of this in mind, I heard Hallie say, “If I discern that i made the wrong decision, God is still there.” YES!!! I don’t think she had any idea how much those simple words blessed me. I allow fear to stop or paralyze me so much instead of just saying, “Here I am, Lord. I might make mistakes, but I’m trusting that You’ll be here to get me back to where You want me to be.”
- Listening to Mary Lenaburg, one of my favorite bloggers from Passionate Perseverance, talking about her family’s trip to Lourdes
- For the first seven years of her daughter Courtney’s life, Mary said she “tried to fix her.” “At Lourdes,” Mary shared, “God gave my husband and I the word ‘acceptance.'” I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place. When I finally met her later that weekend, I had to give her a huge hug and thank her for sharing Courtney’s story with us. Mary is one of the most beautiful souls I’ve ever encountered.
Catching up with my college gal pal and dear friend, Amanda Teixeira, at the crazy shoe cocktail party
- After we had caught up, it struck me that the girls we were in college probably wouldn’t recognize the women we are today. As I told Amanda, I loved the Amanda I knew in college, but I’m so glad to see today’s Amanda–the best version of Amanda I’ve ever seen. Watching a longtime friend journey from heartache and despair to a place of genuine peace and contentment is a beautiful thing to behold!
Saturday morning’s stroll through the farmer’s market with Amanda
Saturday afternoon’s talks:
- Haley Stewart: “You can’t believe the lie that you are alone here.”
- Instantly, my brain made the connection from this quote to an interview I had just listened to on the Fountains of Carrots podcast with Auntie Leila. Auntie Leila was talking about the deep loneliness and isolation she felt during the early years of motherhood. As only Auntie Leila can, she shared how she looks back at that time as a blessing. “Sometimes I look back and I think, in a way, the loneliness that I experienced was good for me because it helped me to be friends with the lonely Jesus.”
- I love that. The lonely Jesus. The Jesus all by Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Jesus denied and abandoned by His friends. The Jesus unrecognizable on the road to Emmaus. Jesus knows what it is to feel alone. He doesn’t want it for us, and He is with us in it. He sends us community to get us through the journey. “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We need each other, and Edel is all about helping us to realize that there’s a real, tangible body of people who are right in the trenches with us.
Haley Stewart
- Another gem from Hallie Lord: “Stop living in the wreckage of the future.” I think I wrote down everything Hallie said over the weekend. So. Much. Wisdom. I need to stop imagining the worst for everything and just surrendering to the moment, to whatever God is asking of me right now.
- Rachel Balducci of Testosterhome‘s talk on motherhood. A few of my favorite pearls:
- “You are a flawed human being with human children.” Yup. Why do I forget that?
- “The devil was doing a great job…’nobody’s kids are as crazy as this.'” I thought I was the only one who had those thoughts!
- “Make peace with the children God has given you and the chapter of life that you’re in.” Dang. I could chew on that one for a lifetime. Why did God give me exactly these children? What does this chapter of life require of me right now, and what do I need to let go of?
- Her mantra: “That doesn’t work for the family Balducci.” I’ve already started stealing that to be, “That doesn’t work for the family Boucher.” If it works for them, great, but it doesn’t work for us, and that’s okay.
- Realize that what God is doing in my soul at this moment He can’t do with anyone else. Don’t waste it!
- Cultivate humility to keep me low to the ground like a child so that I don’t have too fear to fall in my pride
Rachel Balducci
- Kelly Mantoan of This Ain’t The Lyceum‘s talk on how to rock motherhood:
- I have 2 choices: Accept the reality of my vocation OR see the daily tasks as shackles. (You know you’re hearing truth when you hear it like a dagger to the heart. “You hardened heart is what shackles you, not your daily tasks.”
- “If you can’t find joy where you are, you won’t find joy anywhere.”
- Fill in the blank: When Satan uses your _____________ (pick a vice: pride, anger, gluttony, etc.), you pray for ______________ (pick a virtue: humility, meekness, temperance, etc.).
- Perhaps the most quoted phrase from the weekend: “Blessing yourself is like punching satan in the face.”
Saturday evening Mass at St. John the Baptist Cathedral. I’ve got to share some pictures of the stained glass windows another time!
Saturday evening:
- Singer Audrey Assad’s talk. “Pruning is one of God’s love languages.”
- Watching a bunch of women dance and sing karaoke
- Delicious cosmos
- Getting to meet so many of my favorite people that I had previously only “known” online
- Meeting Jen Fulwiler, buying her a drink as a thank you for the weekend, and our chat. I thanked her for her ministry and said I am such a fan of her blog, her book, and her radio show. I said that I was the blogger from Nebraska who had stolen her friend Rachel’s idea to create a Dinner Club for Underachievers. “Oh! We were just talking about you today on the broadcast!” I think I peed my pants. (Again.) As it turned out, the foundress of Dinner Club for Underachievers, Rachael Escandon, was AT EDEL, and I met her a few minutes later. I was blown away by her graciousness and how easy she was to talk to. Jen Fulwiler, you’re a gem!
Nevermind that I was gross from not getting to shower or change into my formalwear. I GOT TO MEET JEN FULWILER!
- Meeting Rachael Escandon, foundress of the Dinner Club for Underachievers. Rachael was also the winner of the crazy shoe contest with her boots that had real chips and guacamole with tiny bottles of tequila. I want to go to HER dinner club! The girl must know how to throw a party!
- Meeting Hallie Lord
- I gushed and went on and on about how much I loved her blog, her book Sex, Style, and Substance, and her ebook to spice up your marriage. I thanked her for her “yes” to create Edel with Jen and for being such a source of blessing in my own life. I think I peed my pants (again) when she asked ME if we could take a selfie together and then I had to sheepishly ask if we could take one on my phone, too. What a doll!
Me & southern belle, Hallie. Someday I’ll bring a real camera places so that I can take good pictures!
My roomie for the weekend, Julie Nelson, who I now affectionately call “Auntie Julie”
- Jule co-hosts the radio show Catholic Women Now! with Chris Magruder. We “met” when Julie asked me to be a guest on the show to discuss our saint coin reward system. I was so excited to get to be her roomie for the weekend. Despite all of the time we spent together, Julie and I managed to go the entire weekend without taking a single picture.
- After the festivities Saturday night, Julie and I chatted until about 3 am!
- It was such a blessing to hear Julie’s wisdom and learn about her experience of raising a family while supporting her husband’s career as a physician. I felt like I had hit the jackpot with my very own personal mentor for the weekend!
- Gaining “Auntie Julie” as a friend is definitely one of my favorite memories of Edel
* * *
From beginning to end, Edel shattered all of my original expectations. I walked away from the weekend knowing that satan is lying when he tells me that I’m alone in this Catholic wife and mothering thing. Edel taught me that NOW is my time to figure out what God’s doing in my soul and what He wants me to do with it. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be with exactly the people who He sent me. No more surviving these years with young children; it’s time to thrive and encourage others along the way. I just need to get out of the way and listen to His movement in my life in the ordinary day-to-day.
He’s here, I’m listening, and I’m ready to start rebuking fear.
Here I am, Lord. Let’s do this thing!
I’m so glad you connected with Julie. I was just thinking, after talking to her Friday, how much the two of you would hit it off! So sorry our only chat was on the flight to Charleston. Next time!
Isn’t she the best??? I’m so glad “Auntie Julie” was my roomie. I know it, I’m so bummed we didn’t get to chat more. Most definitely next time! In the meantime, I look forward to seeing more of each other in the com boxes and blog FB pages. Take good care as you continue to recover from surgery. You’re a rock star!
I’m so glad you connected with Julie. I was just thinking, after talking to her Friday, how much the two of you would hit it off! So sorry our only chat was on the flight to Charleston. Next time!
Isn’t she the best??? I’m so glad “Auntie Julie” was my roomie. I know it, I’m so bummed we didn’t get to chat more. Most definitely next time! In the meantime, I look forward to seeing more of each other in the com boxes and blog FB pages. Take good care as you continue to recover from surgery. You’re a rock star!
I’m one of those “fake” bloggers or I like to say “not a big time” blogger, but it was fun to be in the same room as some of the big timers and meet a few too! I’m sorry we never met at Edel. It looks like you had a wonderful time! I love your recaps on the talks. I was fighting a bad cold so I felt sort of out of it for most of the weekend, but still managed to have a good time. I love reading all the recap posts from everyone and seeing Edel from others’ experiences and memories! God bless!
Oh, good, I’m glad to have found another “fake” blogger, too! Ha! I introduced myself quickly in the Francis Marion lobby (I think you were checking in), but I wish we had gotten to visit more. I’ve been following your blog for awhile and love hearing about your family’s adventures. Keep writing and sharing your story! So glad to hear you had a great time at Edel.
I’m one of those “fake” bloggers or I like to say “not a big time” blogger, but it was fun to be in the same room as some of the big timers and meet a few too! I’m sorry we never met at Edel. It looks like you had a wonderful time! I love your recaps on the talks. I was fighting a bad cold so I felt sort of out of it for most of the weekend, but still managed to have a good time. I love reading all the recap posts from everyone and seeing Edel from others’ experiences and memories! God bless!
Oh, good, I’m glad to have found another “fake” blogger, too! Ha! I introduced myself quickly in the Francis Marion lobby (I think you were checking in), but I wish we had gotten to visit more. I’ve been following your blog for awhile and love hearing about your family’s adventures. Keep writing and sharing your story! So glad to hear you had a great time at Edel.
I love this, Catherine! It was so nice to meet you!
Right back atcha, Emily! I am blown away by your story and am so glad I had the chance to meet you at Edel. Looking forward to getting to know you more through your writing until we meet again! Keep punching Satan in the face with that big, beautiful smile of yours! 🙂
I love this, Catherine! It was so nice to meet you!
Right back atcha, Emily! I am blown away by your story and am so glad I had the chance to meet you at Edel. Looking forward to getting to know you more through your writing until we meet again! Keep punching Satan in the face with that big, beautiful smile of yours! 🙂
I have been reflecting on my own take away messages from the weekend, and it’s amazing that many of the things that really spoke to me are so different from what resonated with you. That is one of the great things about the weekend, that we can all get what we need out of it. It sounds like you had a fantastic time 🙂
I couldn’t agree more, Amy! I think what makes Edel awesome is a microcosm of what makes the Church beautiful–there’s such a wideness in the Holy Spirit’s ability to draw all kinds of kinds together in the fold. I was listening to an old podcast from This Inspired Life when Haley Stewart was the guest. She talked about how awesome it is that there is no such thing as one way to be a Catholic woman. There’s such a range and depth to how we can live out our vocations as wives and mothers. So glad you found what YOU needed at Edel! Thanks for taking the time to comment, Amy. Hope I’ll keep seeing you on our blog com boxes. I’ve really enjoyed reading yours!
I have been reflecting on my own take away messages from the weekend, and it’s amazing that many of the things that really spoke to me are so different from what resonated with you. That is one of the great things about the weekend, that we can all get what we need out of it. It sounds like you had a fantastic time 🙂
I couldn’t agree more, Amy! I think what makes Edel awesome is a microcosm of what makes the Church beautiful–there’s such a wideness in the Holy Spirit’s ability to draw all kinds of kinds together in the fold. I was listening to an old podcast from This Inspired Life when Haley Stewart was the guest. She talked about how awesome it is that there is no such thing as one way to be a Catholic woman. There’s such a range and depth to how we can live out our vocations as wives and mothers. So glad you found what YOU needed at Edel! Thanks for taking the time to comment, Amy. Hope I’ll keep seeing you on our blog com boxes. I’ve really enjoyed reading yours!
Hey! I’m a member of the fake bloggers club, too! 🙂 I am trying to take bits and pieces of time to reach out to those who shared their blog on the Edel FB page, and am so happy to have found you, Catherine! And, I thought your recap post was lovely! In fact, I am printing it out so I have some notes from the weekend. I was so lucky to get to stay with Kathryn and be her little helper during Edel, but it didn’t leave me much time for note taking or chatting with others. I hope we get to meet at Edel 2017!
P.S. I have a feeling that you know the Boever family, also from Lincoln??
No, no, no, no, no. Susan, if YOU are a fake blogger, then I don’t know what that makes me! I only recently discovered your blog, and I love it! Keep it up, girl! How wonderful to have found another Midwest girl. Your shoes at Edel were ADORABLE! I’m glad Kathryn had you as her trusty sidekick and helper during Edel. I’m sure she was so grateful to have you there! I would LOVE for us to connect at the next one. I haven’t met all of the Boever family, but I attended grade school with one of their daughters in Omaha before they moved to Lincoln. They are such a wonderful, faith-filled crew! Do you know the Boever family?
Hey! I’m a member of the fake bloggers club, too! 🙂 I am trying to take bits and pieces of time to reach out to those who shared their blog on the Edel FB page, and am so happy to have found you, Catherine! And, I thought your recap post was lovely! In fact, I am printing it out so I have some notes from the weekend. I was so lucky to get to stay with Kathryn and be her little helper during Edel, but it didn’t leave me much time for note taking or chatting with others. I hope we get to meet at Edel 2017!
P.S. I have a feeling that you know the Boever family, also from Lincoln??
No, no, no, no, no. Susan, if YOU are a fake blogger, then I don’t know what that makes me! I only recently discovered your blog, and I love it! Keep it up, girl! How wonderful to have found another Midwest girl. Your shoes at Edel were ADORABLE! I’m glad Kathryn had you as her trusty sidekick and helper during Edel. I’m sure she was so grateful to have you there! I would LOVE for us to connect at the next one. I haven’t met all of the Boever family, but I attended grade school with one of their daughters in Omaha before they moved to Lincoln. They are such a wonderful, faith-filled crew! Do you know the Boever family?
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and thoughts from Edel! All the quotes from the talks you included were amazing. 🙂
Hi, Rosemary! Thanks for popping over to my blog and taking the time to comment. I hope I’ll be seeing much more of you around these parts. 🙂 I filled pages and pages with notes from Edel, and I could have gone on and on with all of the wisdom I heard from the women (both speakers and regular ol’ attendees)! God is doing big things with these women. So glad you enjoyed listening to what they had to say!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and thoughts from Edel! All the quotes from the talks you included were amazing. 🙂
Hi, Rosemary! Thanks for popping over to my blog and taking the time to comment. I hope I’ll be seeing much more of you around these parts. 🙂 I filled pages and pages with notes from Edel, and I could have gone on and on with all of the wisdom I heard from the women (both speakers and regular ol’ attendees)! God is doing big things with these women. So glad you enjoyed listening to what they had to say!