I had the privilege of attending the Allume conference for Christian bloggers this past weekend, and it was just as wonderful as I remember it (back when it used to be the Relevant Conference). A little larger (OK, twice as large, at least as far as attendance is concerned), and in a totally different hotel, but still very much the same.
I’ll try to sum it up in 5 words.
(Yeah, right.)
Friendship
Online friendships are a wonderful thing, but real life friendships are, well, real. Authentic. Whenever possible, I highly recommend you turn your online friendships into the real-deal, authentic, face-to-face in-real-life friendships. Because it’s a beautiful -and irreplaceable - thing.
Community
None of us can survive without a community. Once again, the authentic face-to-face variety is always to be preferred, but an online community can fill in the gaps. I was challenged with the privilege and responsibility of cultivating the community right here at Authentic Simplicity, a treasure I have heretofore taken for granted.
Sugar
What can I say? I ate a lot of sugar. Way more than I have been used to recently. And I drank a lot of coffee. More than I’m used to, for sure. Henceforth and therefore, I stayed up way too late, talking, chatting and laughing with the above-mentioned friends. But it was all totally worth it.
Dreams
Whether it was intentional or not, one of the prevailing themes in the keynotes and sessions was that of “dreams”, but not perhaps in the way you might expect. Dreams are wonderful gifts, and if we have one, we should pursue it with passion and intensity. But for those of us who desire the will of our Heavenly Father to guide us, sometimes we have to lay those dreams down at His feet, and instead pursue HIS dream for us with the same passion and intensity. And the wonderful thing is? His dreams for us are much bigger and better than our own dreams.
Family
I was reminded once again that nothing can replace my precious family. All the blog followers in the world will never make me anymore important to the world than I already am to my family. If I were to become a mega-blogger with book deals and TV shows and speaking engagements across the country (hey, it could happen!)… but my family hated me… I would have lost everything.
So. Want a little taste of Allume? Go pick up the phone and call your friends to have some fun over sugar and coffee, then wrap your arms around your family and pursue the dreams God has given you together.
I loved reading this Anne! I had so much fun getting to know you better IRL
Me, too!
I love, love, love this post, Anne! You summed it up beautifully! I especially loved the part about friends.
(And I loved how you wove the word “authentic” throughout!) Cyber hugs! 
Thanks, Erin! I like that part, too
What a great summary, Anne! I literally could not have said it better myself. Love you!
I’m sure you could say it much better.
Oh my gosh! I need that picture of Nikki with Andy!!!
I can send it to you!
Great post! I really enjoyed your 5 words:) I would love to attend the conference…maybe next year! Great to get to know a little about you. Popping over from Titus 2sdays and your newest follower!
Blessings!
~Heather
This is great! You totally summed it up perfectly! And that face I was making with Andy made me LOL! I can still hear your cute laugh! Loved rooming with you and getting to know you better!!
aaw great photos of Nikki and Rachel! I can’t wait to see the rest
Great job summing up Allume (especially about the sugar!!!) ;). So great to have gotten to spend the week with you 
I wanted to attend Allume, but your summary gave me a little peek — thank you! I just found you through Intentional Me. Thanks for sharing
Visiting from Be Not Weary today 
Sorry you couldn’t come.
Thanks for visiting, though! 
See you again soon!
Visiting from Fellowship Friday - I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on Allume. And also, the reminder to focus first of all on those closest to us - so true.
Hi Anne. I’m so encouraged by reading all the recent posts about the Christian bloggy conferences (both Allume & Influence). I’d love to attend one next year, and am sincerely hoping my blog grows a little to pay for the intl. airfare to get there. I really enjoy the community I’ve found with other bloggers-especially mom bloggers, and would more than love meeting them in person. Visiting you today from Fellowship Fri. Have a lovely weekend!
Anne,
YES! Love what you said about turning online friendships into real ones! And I love that Allume affords that opportunity and presents us with names and faces and lives we didnt’ even know we needed as well! Thanks for sharing girl! And hey…random question, but your photo collage above is so lovely! I didn’t get a single picture of all the decorations that I spend months planning…could you email me a few pictures that you took? Yours are so beautiful!!!
Logan, Sure! I will try to get to that later today.