Friday 3/16/07 in San Antonio

Even Anthony's dad got a surprise





















Anthony & his dad marking the BIG "18"





















Anthony's birthday dinner










Anthony learning the ropes at
the age of 18 "Oh My"




















Mama showing her BABY BOY some love

















Anthony and the infamous "Belly Dancer" Veronica.

Okay so those were some of the pictures from the celebration of Anthony's birthday dinner. After the dinner we went to the famous "Howl at the Moon" piano bar and that was so much fun but I am not at liberty to share those pictures. Too much evidence against me !! (hmm).

Let's go back to the day on Friday. The women's conference began at 9:00 am with praise and worship. Once the speakers began - the morning started out with "Anita Renfroe". OMG - this women is sooo funny. Let me tell you alittle about Anita -She's been described as "a triple shot of espresso in a decaf world" but there isin't a latte cup big enough to hold the party that Anita Renfroe brings. Her inventive blend of musical comedy and inspiration leave audiences with cheeks that hurt and hearts infused with humor and hope. The moment she takes the mic you can be sure that truth will arrive in Technicolor -as different as Kansas is to OZ. As a comedian, musician, author, and speaker Anita stretches each experience beyond the normal boundaries. who wants to be normal anyways? She is decidedly original, bodacious in her faith, and unashamedly REAL. "Laughter breaks down walls. It disarms people. It allows extraordinary truth to be communicated in unexpected ways, says Anita. "laughter really is the shortest distance between two hearts". Her book "purpose driven life" explores those things that could drive a person crazy if only they weren't so funny! Anita and her husband John, make their home suburban Atlanta with their semi grown children, Calvin, Austin and Elyse.

After Anita Renfroe spoke, told jokes and made every women in the Alamodome crack up, Nicole Johnson (one of the women of faith) took the stage with her talented drama. After Nicole Johnson spoke that was followed by (another women of faith) Patsy Clairmont. This was session 1.

After session 2 began around 11:00am - KJ-52 took the stage. I was not aware of who KJ-52 were but they were very talented, let me explain. "A white dude from the suburbs and inner city of FLA doing christian rap? " YEP that's pretty much how he put it. "None of that makes sense, but he says "it just proves that GOD did it". Winner of both the 2004 and 2005 Dove awards for rap/hip hop album of the year, KJ stretches the boundaries of Christian hip hop with humor and profound insights on subjects like divorce and suicides. As a boy, KJ felt isolated as the "only white kid in an all black and Cuban neighborhood". but when he moved to the suburbs "I was still just as poor" he says. He tried desperately to fit in - and failed. KJ was 15 and at the end of his rope when he finally found something to belong to. GOD used KJ's cousin, a borrowed bible, and radio preachers to bring him to a relationship with Christ. "And from that point on" he tells us, "My life has never been the same". I tell you Praise GOD for he is good all the time. KJ-52 now is touring with the younger version of women of faith called "The Revolve Tour" - The Revolve tour is a teenage girls conference between the ages of 12-18. Pretty cool !!!!

After KJ52 went off stage, then (another women of faith took the stage) The very well anointed and very talented "Thelma Wells". I will tell you more about Thelma later - after Thelma Wells went off stage then Sherri Shepherd came on - Now this women has a testimony - let me tell you alittle about her. - Sherri Shepherd was a successful standup comic, opening for the likes of Richard Pryor, Martin Lawrence, and Sinbad. But while audiences roared with laughter, Sherri Shepherd struggled with fear and anxiety. Ungodly relationships, mounting debt, homelessness and a brief stint in jail finally sent her to the only one she knew could help - Jesus Christ. What followed was a dramatic change worthy of a mde for TV movie. Her heart and career were renewed. You may have seen her in Everybody loves raymond or Less than Perfect. She was hard to miss in theatres last year, lighting up the big screen in Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah and Alicia Silverstone and the movie Guess Who with Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher. As Sherri says, "If you trust God, anything can be done" And her life proves it. She had a miraculous thing happen to her with her miracle baby (son) named Jeffrey. If you want me to tell you what happened with her son - let me know and I will share the story.

After Sherri spoke we had another drama skit with "Nicole Johnson" (who is now pregnant with her first child) How exciting for her !!!! We had lunch and then session 3 began. Does this seem like a long blog - imagine that day at the conference it was a very, very long day for us as well. Session 3 began with Nicole Mullen - the girl I blogged about on Thursday adventure and then followed with (another women of faith again - Luci Swindoll) I will speak about Luci later - but did you all know that Luci Swindoll is the sister of the minister Chuck Swindoll. I hear him on a local radio station - he has a great ministry. Anyhow - I need to focus - okay here we go. By this time of the day it's about 3:00pm.

We began session 4 - with praise and worship and then guess who comes on stage - the one and only "Max Lucado" Yep you got it Mr. Lucado he is a pastor based out of Texas. This man is unbelievable. Let me tell you alittle about Max Lucado - he is widely recognized as America's leading inspirational author. His uncanny ability to turn ordinary people and everyday activites into an extraordinary story about GOD and his love may explain why there are a jaw-dropping 40 million Max Lucado books in print. "I think the greatest need in people is to hear that GOD is not angry with them" Max says. "When they get to see how much GOD loves them, they stop running from him." His inimitable, compassionate delivery of that message is in part why Readers Digest named Max "The Best Preacher in America" in 2005. It's also ensured that a Max Lucado title has appeared on the Christian Book sellers Association hardcover bestseller list every month for well over a decade and placed three of his books on the New York Times bestseller list. Max serves as a pulpit Minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife Denalyn and daughters Jenna, Andrea, and Sara.

After Max left the stage - he was followed by (another women of faith) Marilyn Meberg - I will talk about her later with the rest of the women of faith and then Ms. Kathy Troccoli closed the session for Friday - Kathy Troccoli - boy what a voice this women has - Let me share about kathy - I promise this is the last one -Kathy Troccoli has said herself "everything changes" Certainly the girl who used to worry about what she might say between songs at her concerts didn't dream she's one day be known for her speaking almost as much as her music. Never did she imagine she's be the author of a best selling bible study guide "falling in Love with Jesus". As Kathy says, "God is amazing and certainly has a sense of humor." She has received the mutiple Dove awards and Grammy nominations, and has made numerous TV appearances during her twenty years in Christian and mainstream music. But what has penetrated Kathy's heart is a life changing GOD who has brought her through the loss of her parents, bulimia and depression. It has often been said that Kathy's vulnerability and authenticity on stage encourages women that GOD will also meet their deepest need. "When I hear a women say, "after today I know I'm going to make it", Kathy says it the greatest gift, her passion and honesty has made her one of the women of faitth popular guest over the years. Kathy lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

And that my friends, is the end of this blog and also the end of the conference for Friday. I hope to you it sounds like we had fun because you know what WE DID. Please get involved, join us.

Have a good night my friends, it is well past my bed time. Peace !!!!