So guess what?!  This time next week, I’ll be just arriving in Indianapolis to attend The Influence Conference and I’m linking this little post with other attendees as a way to introduce ourselves and get connected before our weekend away together!

Have I ever told you how much I adore the THE INFLUENCE NETWORK?  It’s for creatively minded women, who are looking for an uplifting community where they can be encouraged and resourced to make their online lives mean something.  And if you’ve hung around these parts much, you’ve probably noticed encouraging community is kinda my thing.  And by that I mean really, super big time.  Yep, these are my people 🙂

It makes me smile to think about how much has changed just since I participated in last year’s conference meet & greet.  I’d barely begun blogging and pretty much had no idea what I was doing.  I never actually planned to become a blogger, but I felt an undeniable calling right about this time last year – so I took a deep breath and WENT FOR IT!  Best leap of faith ever  🙂  And though I knew not a single soul and didn’t even have a real blog yet, I felt just the same about my first conference experience!  I met some incredible people, had the best roommate I could have ever hoped for, learned alot, and left super inspired to start blogging with purpose and intention!  I can hardly wait to do it again with a year of experience under my belt – and this time driving over and rooming with two amazing friends and so many women I can’t wait to meet that I’ve connected with in this last year!  Y’all this is me throwing confetti  😉  This is going to be GOOD!

Okay, so a little about me.  I’m a 34 year old counselor turned blogger and freelancer.  I’m wife to my high school sweetheart and mother since age 21 – my two girls are now 13 and 10.  I’m crazy about color, cappuccino, sunshine, warm weather, beaches, people, community, anything & anyone wild/wacky/wonderful, and most of all silly shenanigans with my favorites.

I’ve had my share of  stuck-in-the-storm kinds of days (and years). You know the ones, right?  Those days where you’re this close to pulling your hair out and you feel pretty much at the end of your rope. Through it all, I’ve learned the value of living a life loving the little things. I’ve learned to live with meaning, intention, and utter abandon. Now. In this moment. Because life here on earth is never perfect, but it sure can be wonderful!  And you know what?  I’m grateful – for it ALL.

Why yes, that is my crazy cute family!  😉

The hardest years of my life have led me to the sweet place I’m in today.  This is why I believe in looking for the good in life, and seizing opportunities to give and live with abandon!  I write hoping this little space will encourage you and inspire you to choose joy & see the good things all around you too.  She Lives Free is here to encourage living life on purpose, to the glory of God. This is a place for exploring what it looks like to live free through brave faith.

I write here about both the broken and the beautiful moments in life. Sometimes we talk about learning to live a life of abundant health as we seek balance and wellness. Often we discuss the joys of giving, volunteering, advocacy  and even what it means to raise raise servant-hearted kids.  Those themes will sometimes lead to deeper discussion on global issues like orphan care, adoption, foster care, and modern day slavery. There’s also no shortage of the fun stuff to be found here like gardening, crafts, fashion, photography, and even regular features like friday favorites and make a difference mondays!  If you’ve not yet joined us for this mostly Influence women hosted venture, seriously click here to learn more – you’ll be blessed!

Okay – Influence ladies!  I seriously cannot wait to see you soon and hug you BIG (if you’re a hugger like me)  😉  If we’re not yet connected, come find me in the meantime on Facebook and Twitter!  I love few things more than doing life with my people and you can find me there OFTEN!   xoxo