Influence Network Link-Up

Last year, through a series of rabbit holes I followed in the blogging world, I discovered The Influence Conference, a faith-based bloggers conference. I signed up, drove to Indiana, met a bunch of new and wonderful women and learned so much. I loved being in sessions, taking notes and applying tips I learned later. I loved watching relationships blossom as new friends were made in as short as three days. I loved getting a few days free from all other responsibilities to totally focus on one thing that would make me better at what I do. What I loved the most about the conference though was the overwhelming sense of being welcome, being wanted, being an important part of community, having others want to spur you on and help you fulfill your purpose -- all because of our common thread: sweet Jesus. It was a testimony, a living and breathing one, of Christ's love fleshed out.

I'm heading back to Indiana again this fall for the conference. I am excited to see the girls I met last year (you want to meet them too? Well sure! Natalie, Arielle, Amanda and Danielle) and to meet face-to-face with the ladies I have come to know online in the past year. The lovely thing about being an online community as well as a "real life" one is that we don't have to wait to get to know each other! The Influence Network has been up and running for a month or so and the community can be found right there, in the forums and the online classes. It's fantastic! I have taken one class so far and loved it! It felt as personal as having a one-on-one talk with the speaker, even though there were more than twenty people attending the class. It also had the community feel of a small group sharing hearts and caring about each other, thanks to the discussion column. You find new and "old" friends in the classes, you discover people with similar passions and opposite giftings, you make connections and build bridges with ladies who can help you or you can help.

Photographer: Jessica Scholl of Jessi[capture]

For first-time readers, I am Chelsea Mills. 20yr old girl, brand new home-owner of a darling little fixer-upper in town but currently living at home in our 100yr old family farmhouse in Wisconsin -- one of my favorite places on this green earth. I am homeschooling my 13yr old brother and 15yr old sister while my parents work. I'm also doing design work for my Dad's two companies, blogging in between, retweeting dozens of ministries and organizations that advocate for vulnerable children, posting pics of my new puppy, Barely, on Instagram, pinning as many lovely bits of inspiration as I can on Pinterest, sharing photography of my life on Facebook and selling paintings and prints from right here. Like most introverts I love piles of books to get lost in, a plane ticket to somewhere lovely and new, a camera to get behind and capture my world with, and hours spent in the living room tucked between my family on the couch. Sharing this life of mine with the Lord has led to the development of His own heart in mine resulting in my passion for vulnerable children. I recently went to India to visit orphans and the people I met there and fell quite in love with are seared on my heart for good. If you have time to hear stories and see pictures I would be happy to share! While gifts are not my greatest love language I really delight in giving what I have to people I love (from family to strangers), be it my time and energy or talents and finances. I love fellowshipping and being in community, having people at the farm in the summertime and having customers-turned-friends of my mom's around our table for a meal. I love neighbors, and according to Jesus you are my neighbor! So please say hello, because I want to know you.
See you in September!