Nancy Ray and I hosted our fourth Branches & Light workshop this past Monday! (If you missed it, check out our instagram hashtag feed.) I have so many photos and stories to share with you, but for now, I wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes glimpse into my experience: the six moments that meant the most to me personally.

• Waking up at 5am the morning of the workshop. My sweet husband brought me coffee in bed and I sat under the warm blankets and started my morning with Psalm 16. “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken…You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” (v. 8 & 11)

• Driving to The Winfield Inn with Nancy, watching the sky lighten, and singing passionately to All Sons And Daughters (an amazing group from Nashville–do yourself a favor and check them out).

• Taking a deep breath and diving into my first talk of the day on the topic of fear, insecurity, and how it affects our lives and business. Whew, getting to that place of vulnerability with myself and with everyone in the room was quite a risk…but oh how rewarding it was!

• Looking around during our styled shoot, and seeing the attendees spread out around the grounds, totally engaged in the shoot. It can be overwhelming to photograph at a workshop, but these girls made me SO PROUD. Everyone was just jumping in, no hesitation, and giving it their all. They were extraordinary. At that moment, I was so grateful that we could provide this workshop for them.

• Furiously taking notes as our guest speaker, Stefanie Miles, changed our perspectives on business and networking. “Cultivate a grateful heart. Gratitude is the only short cut in life. Are you grateful for every time someone appreciates and values your art?”

• Standing up with Nancy at the end of the day, explaining, with great passion, the meaning behind the name Branches & Light. We were moved to tears, there in the bright sun porch where we held the workshop, literally surrounded by branches and light. It was an unforgettable ending to such a sweet time.