Do Catholics Have a Personal Relationship with Jesus?

I was that roommate. The one who came in after everyone was in bed and the
lights were turned off for the night. I brushed my teeth by the glow of my cell phone
and then promptly fell asleep only to be the last one up in the morning.
Staying up late and sleeping in like the rockstar I am was fun, but provoked this:

"Brittany, can I tell you something?"

BUSTED. I knew one of my roommates had to be bothered by my late
coming and awakening. We were at The Influence Network Conference -
holy loads of ladies everywhere and I was epically failing in the conscious
charity department.

"Uuuuuh sure," I said bracing myself for a gentle lecturing on roommate etiquette.

"I've never met a Catholic who is a believer."
This roommate was so serious. So sincere.

She went on to explain that most Catholics she knew were just going through
the motions and were sadly void of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
I just kept nodding my head, "I know, right?I know these Catholics too."

I was so happy to be the one standing in that void for her;
representing Catholics everywhere who do have a heart for Jesus Christ.
All the half-hearted genuflecting, fly swatting sign of the cross making,
zombie walking up to communion PEOPLE - I see you. And so do others.

I know so many Catholics who get their rosaries all bunched up when they
are asked, "Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?"
Most dismiss it with arrogant flair, "That's a protestant thing."

NO. That's a Christian thing.

So yes. Yes, to all who have ever asked me. I DO have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
And I'd say it gets super personal in the confessional and every time I receive
Him in the most precious body and blood at communion. Faith is my way of life.

And while we're on it, I was saved too. April 26th, 1987.
Baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Forever and ever, amen. And I renew that promise my parents made
for me as an infant EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Wear your faith on your sleeve, dear friends.
The world needs to see it.

One Ticket for Crazy Train

"It's very easy to think that 'someone else' is driving the crazy train...
NO! I am driving the crazy train." - Shauna Niequist



Can I just be very honest and say I got a tad creepy fan weird when I met
Shauna Niequist last month? I mean she lives one suburb over, so every day now
I'm on "Shauna WATCH"... at the grocery store, library, intersections.
I don't even know what I'd say to her. Probably just, "Hi, remember me?"
*Shauna reaches into pocket, pulls out cell, calls 911*

One day I'll get up enough guts to e-mail her and ask her to be my Yoda,
my mentor. Show me all the ways, oh wise and wonderful woman. Until then...

For those of you who don't know, *GASP* she's an author and speaker.
Bread and Wine, Cold Tangerines, Bittersweet... ring a bell?

After I heard her speak last month, I went up and got all emotional as I gave her
a big 'ole hug and told her that she changed my life. The drama level is embarrassing.

Besides all the obvious things that she is known for encouraging,
(community, bringing people around the table, doing YOUR thing well,
finding deep pleasure in being YOURSELF, etc.)
she also was shouting: "GET OFF THE CRAZY TRAIN."

She challenged: "What can I GIVE UP in order to bring the most fruit?"
Too much, too loud changes the quality of life and may actually inhibit one
from achieving their deepest, most cherished dreams.

You guys, I am the conductor of the crazy train.
I keep busy so that I HAVE AN EXCUSE not to do what I REALLY feel called to do.
I fill my days with lots of GOOD, FUN, and sometimes even HOLY activities
so that when God comes knocking, I have a pretty, little itinerary to
wave in His face. "Nope, got plans. Big plans. Not YOUR plans. MY plans."

I'm letting this be my burning bush. My sign.
The crazy train called and they hired a new conductor.
I'm saying "no" to more good things so that I can say "yes" to the
great things that God has put on my heart.

Thanks for ruining my life, Shauna.
I hope that through this recap she has ruined your life too.
Let's all eat ice cream and cry together now...
so that we can step off the crazy train and go change the world.

Deep Magic

A couple weekends ago, at the Influence Conference (catch the virtual experience), my heart
and mind were stretched, blown, moved, busted, blessed, and restored in so many good ways.
And in the midst of World War III that was taking place within me - I felt like God was
reminding me that I AM ENOUGH. It is enough if I am just faithful to the most
eminent task before me...

and that is living my vocation as a wife and mother to the fullest degree possible.
If I do nothing else, but love and mother my family well... it is enough.

All the other things - the dreams, the callings, the ministry opportunities are there and
seriously burning in my heart. Some days it all feels so heavy; a joyous burden, if that
makes any sense. I cry over the lives that I hope to touch. I am eager, chomping at the bit of hope,
that if I live my vocation well that God will bring all of the other things into His perfect order.

And you guys... He does.

I am often so overwhelmed with the condition of our world. Where are all the saints?
One day I'm ready to lead a rebellion, the next I'm making plans to pack up and move
my family to the North Pole to ride out "the end of the world."

But then I look at my sons. The greatest gifts I have been given this side of heaven -
and in turn, the greatest gifts I will leave - as a legacy - in this world. I know with my
whole heart that it is my honor, my duty, to love and form them well for the Father.
For the sake of the Kingdom. For the sake of the next generation that will walk this earth.

I want them to know the "deep magic", like that dear C.S. Lewis speaks of in
The Chronicles of Narnia. I want it to course through their blood. I want it seared
on their hearts. I don't want them to forget that when all the lights go out -
OUR GOD IS THERE. And that He must be given to the whole world.
That truth must reign.

If I accomplish nothing else in this life, I will die a happy woman...
knowing that I embraced the message that "I AM ENOUGH" and that it is MORE than
enough to raise a generation for Jesus Christ.



"...'for you I have prepared this.' She held up a small crystal phial:
it glittered as she moved it, and rays of white light sprang from her hand.
'In this phial,' she said, 'is caught the light of Earendil's star, set amid
the waters of my fountain. It will shine still brighter when night is about you.
May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.'"
- The Fellowship of the Ring // J.R.R. Tolkien

Influence Conference PART 2 || The Experience

The room was simmering with anticipation.
I made my way through the crowd, my eyes falling on all the beautiful faces,
as I dished out nervous smiles - wondering: are my butterflies showing?
This was it. This is the conference God so clearly called me to attend.

Opening night, brought us all together. You are welcome here. You are loved.
And so we loved other people. We sat in a ballroom, in the heart of Indianapolis,
that has probably seen its fair share of extravagance - sipping coffee, chatting,
laughing, sharing, and cutting out SHOES for Sole Hope in Africa.

We had all come to be served. Our ticket said we were to receive information, inspiration,
business wisdom, but in true Christ-like fashion we put that on hold and SERVED first.
I traced dozens of patterns onto jean material and my fellow sisters traced and cut
alongside me. Hundreds of hands touching cloth that would kiss the sweet feet of
children in Africa. WHO AM I to sit here and receive such an honor?
_____________________________
Sole Hope is currently in need of a full time Ugandan nurse to assist in their mission.
Please see the LEFT SIDE of my page here and pray about making a donation to help the cause.
_____________________________




I was surrounded by women with such tender hearts for the Lord - understanding
that their mission in blogging, writing, creating, sharing - sharing music, art,
handmade creations that reflect the God we serve -
is SO MUCH BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES.
Than me.
Humbling.

Use us, Lord, to share YOUR life in the circle of influence You've called us into.

This past weekend I learned...

that being a mother, giving Jesus Christ to the next generation, is ENOUGH.

that I need to be true to my fashion style AT HOME - not just at blogging conferences
where floral and stripes are the norm.

that being vulnerable is definitely the way to go.

that taking a weekend away (to enjoy things for ME) really blesses my family.

that although blogging may seem narcissistic - it's NOT. we all have Facebook, don't we?!
yea!? i am curating a community here. let's put the narcissism myth to bed.

Jeff Goins, Shauna Niequist, Lara Casey were definitely highlights for me.
((Will share more on them SOON!))

Literally, I kid you not, God was shouting, waving, dancing circles around me as a
golden thread of the truth I most needed to hear was wound through EVERY SINGLE SESSION
I chose to attend. *insert skeptical eyes* It seriously felt rigged!
_____________________________
YOU ARE THE STEWARD OF A DREAM. // DON'T WAIT. //
THE IDEAS IN YOUR HEART ARE THERE FOR A REASON. //
IF YOU DON'T - NO ONE WILL.
_____________________________

I have a list of EXCUSES as long and wide as the road to perdition.
I am too young. I have no experience. No one will listen to me.
My house is too small. I am not a millionaire. People will think I'm crazy.

And so my resolution is to begin. To start. I don't know exactly what that
means, but I know that the dreams that were given to me as a little girl are
still on the mind of the Father.

I don't know when. I don't know how. I seriously thought God had forgotten
about this call, but this past weekend proved otherwise. And it scares me to pieces
to even share this, but there it is.

God busted up my heart, calmly excused all the lies, and told me to BEGIN.
I didn't cry about it at all until I got in my car to drive back to Chicago.
One hour straight of ugly tears. Lord, Your will, Your call, is heavy and
burning on my heart. Use me.
______________________

You can catch Influence Conference PART 1 here

Please excuse all the iPhone pictures - it was just so easy

Ooooh and I am hosting a GIVEAWAY this week!!! Don't miss.



The Influence Network does community well. New friends everywhere.
And a cupcake truck!? Shut the front door. They had gluten-free!


(Lily & Light || Nadine Would Say || JMNway)

Can I just say how much I love the Influence girls!?!
I also had the opportunity to help with a photoshoot for Ginger Lane Goods!
Will share all the details as soon as the ducks get in line.




God showed up in Indianapolis last weekend.
And 250+ women ran out to meet Him.
Can't wait to do it again next year.

Influence Conference PART 1 || Preparing for the Unexpected

This past weekend I had the honor of "taking Indy" with 250+ women (and a few good men!)
at The Influence Network Conference. I'll be very honest and say that I went into the event
thinking that the sole reason I was attending = strictly business.

Make friends, rub elbows, learn how to grow my blog -
pack it up, strut my stuff, be the face of THE. LILY. FIELD.

So I prepped. I did all the things. I packed and re-packed.
My poor husband even bore an hour long fashion show as I flipped through my wardrobe
trying to find the "best fit" to represent "the real me" - who in his opinion is especially
whimsical with a funny sense of style. Take it or leave it. This is who I am, babe. *wink*

Stripes and floral all the way. With brown shoes. I love all the brown shoes.

So I rolled into downtown Indianapolis, checked myself in, wheeled myself to my room,
took and deep breath... and went to the lobby.



Tiny Prints hooked me up with their easy-to-design business cards.
They were so ME to begin with, but I wanted to add a personal touch.
Because that's who I am. I wanted to hand my card and a bag of tea to every
person I met with a subliminal invitation to grab a cup and meet me in the field.






You'd think my love language was "gifts" or something! I tell ya. I L O V E gifting!!!
I had great roommates for the weekend and I wanted to bless them with some goodies too!
Here's what I pulled together for them:

... glitter + chocolate + pretty paper + Burt's Bees + Starbucks $$ + SEVEN gum ...




So there I was, sitting in the lobby, with all the things in order.
I had my business cards. I had the gifts. I had my bags perfectly packed,
all my dress clothes ironed... and the angels sang "alleluia."

Truth is - I had NO idea that all of that was going to be thrown out the window.
Sure sure... I made new friends, I passed out all the biz cards, and shook a lot of hands.
I should have seen it coming though. God is so like that.

He busted up my heart in the best way at Influence Conference 2013.

But that's another story.
Stay tuned as I un-pack the unexpected!

______________________________
::: Don't miss the chance to win some HAND-STAMPED, CUSTOM jewelry
from the lovely Taryn of The Owl Tree Boutique!!! GIVEAWAY :::
______________________________

Carpe Diem Yadda Yadda

Yesterday I had a million things to do. And they weren't just things - they were little things.
So hard to get little things done. Big things? No problem. I think the problem with little things is
that they seem small (ironic). So I try to do ALL things at once and end up running in circles
and checking Facebook on REPEAT because my brain is like "Whaaaa?"

I overused the word "things" in the paragraph above. My creative side is coming out.
My English professors would shoot me and send me right back to second grade.

Oh thaaaangs! There, I changed it up a bit.

I threw the to-do list to the sweet, September wind and seized all 70 degrees as I went for a
bike ride with my kids. We drew pictures on the lawn in rain boots and then ate apples with peanut butter
while we watched Lilo and Stitch. I know you're all jealous of my little vacay with my kiddos. It was bliss.
Even though they both boycotted nap. Didn't see that coming, did ya? Either did I. Really?
You should be EXHAUSTED from all the F-U-N. Carpe diem... you backfired on me!




My heart and head have been swimming in excitement as I prep to leave for
The Influence Network Conference! If you want a sneak peak into the adventure
of my first blogging conference, follow along on Instagram and Twitter!
I'll be documenting the whole event like a teenage, texting addict.

I'm kinda stoked about learning from her and him!
Plus soooooo many other awesome bloggers - with incredible hearts and missions!!!
ALSO - attending a shoe cutting party for a ministry that I'm already in love with >>>


Can't wait to share all the details and inspiration when I get back next week!

Until then... I need to go make THIS so my kids don't have to
eat cereal every morning while daddy is on duty.



PEACE.
OUT.

The Influence Network || Conference Bound!

As many of you know, I am part of The Influence Network.
For those of you who don't know...

Back in March of this year I kept feeling God nudge me,
"Pssst... hey! Ya ya ya THE INFLUENCE NETWORK!"

Blogging alone brings about such an awesome community experience,
but I wanted to go a little deeper and make a commitment to something
that really reflected who I am as a blogger.
______________________________
straight from influencenetwork.com >>>
The Influence Network is for creatively minded women,
who are looking for an uplifting community where they can be encouraged
and also resourced to make their online lives MEAN SOMETHING.
______________________________

Bingo! That's me. Done. And done.

I always want my online life to mean something in light of eternity.
This is Kingdom work here - as I share my heart and my family's way of life.
I am so blessed to share this journey with you!

AND I am so excited to be going to The Influence Network conference this year!!!
Scratch that - BEYOND excited!!! I know without a shadow of a doubt that God wants
me there and that gives me goose bumps. Can't wait to see what He's got up His sleeve!!!

::: two things that will be in my bag :::

1.) Paper. Beautiful paper. I'm not bringing a laptop with me - only my phone.
Really hoping to just un-plug (a little!) and write write write down new ideas
and inspiration that comes to me along the way!

2.) Starbucks coffee. I know I know! There is a Starbucks in the lobby! Which I will
most likely utilize. But I am a sucker for the bottled mocha frappucino. So I will have some.
And probably some Clif bars to go with that. Because I'm a snacker. No shame.

::: two things i am looking forward to :::

1.) Being filled. I cannot wait to just sit back and let God love and lead
me through other faith-filled women!

2.) Watching this online community COME TO LIFE. I message, text, facebook, instagram,
tweet with so many awesome women on a daily basis - and I'm looking forward to seeing
them BEYOND THEIR AVATAR!!!

See ya in Indy!!!

P.S. I've had several people ask me if you have to be a blogger to attend.
NOOOOOOOO! Want to come too?! There are still tickets available. Details here.