The Shearrer's: DotMOM Trip to Nashville

Last weekend I had the most amazing weekend in Nashville with some of my closest friends and sisters in Christ. We attended the DotMOM conference in Hendersonville, TN and I can't say enough good things about it. I attended the conference back when I was pregnant with Parker when it was in Dallas but I think this one was even better. The speakers were all excellent and I learned so much and got so many things to take home with me from it. I read several famous blogs like Kelly's Korner and several of them mentioned the conference a few years ago and how awesome it was so that is how I heard about it. Lifeway the Christian bookstore puts it on and they do such a great job. I was so excited we got an even bigger group together this time to attend. It was my first time to leave the kids for this long especially Parker being so young but between my parents and my fabulous husband they were well taken care of and had a great weekend at home. The break out sessions I attended this year were:

Sex and Marriage
Moments, Memories and Making Time Matter
The Fringe Hours Making Time for Yourself
How to Teach God's Word to Your Children

All of them were excellent! I think I learned more about marriage at this conference and the importance of a strong marriage than I did about parenting. Here are just a few things that spoke to me from the conference.

My marriage should be the only physical relationship on earth that reflects the love of Jesus.
As wives we should have a gentle and quiet spirit and many times we are the key to open our husband's hearts to the Lord.
In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live, ²when they see your pure and reverent conduct. ³Let your beauty not be external—the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes— ⁴but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. ⁵For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, ⁶like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so. 1 Peter 3:1-6
Your marriage should be a priority over the kids and the kids need to see this. Be a great example they are watching everything you do. One day they will be gone and your husband will still be there.
Don't be so structured let dads be dads and just sit back and have fun with your kids. Less criticism and more words of love. Our words carry so much weight to our husbands.
What did I bring into our marriage that he had nothing to do with?
Unspoken expectations will lead to discouragement don't dwell on what your husband is not.
In my weakness He makes us strong quit trying to be the perfect wife. Be who God created me to be. You don't always have to have it all together.
Walk with the Lord authentically and grasp how much He loves us.
My marriage is an example (earthly relationship) that reflects my relationship with the Lord.
The greatest security for kids is to know that their Daddy loves their Mama.
The loneliest years of marriage are when you are raising small children.
We are designing our children's hearts by the words we say to them. We are the primary author of their heart.
There should be no texting, no ipads or TV times at dinner and sit down and communicate with your kids be intentional with your time. You are stripping value and worth from your family when you are playing on your phone/ipad etc.
We must build our children up because the world will beat them down.
We must tell our children everyday we love them, we are proud of them and they are good!
Our husbands are the first indicator of who Jesus is to our kids.
Look at your kids eye to eye when you speak to them with joy in your heart.
Let your kids fail while they are still home under your roof and stop trying to rescue them or create a "perfect" life. If we have too much control our kids can't fail and we need Jesus when we are failing. They need to learn this too.
Spend time with them every night at bedtime and kids will open up and talk to you and you will have some great conversations with them.
Parenting is meant to disrupt us, change us and by God's grace make us better.
We have to truly trust in the Lord and stop controlling our kids.
Be an example let your kids see Jesus to you in your worst moments.
Show them with your life who God is.
As moms we don't always have to do what society expects of us in the home.
Doing something that you enjoy and that brings joy to you is living to your full potential. Doing what God created me to be.
How you spend your 5-9 will determine how you spend your 9-5.
Make time for yourself before your family gets up in the morning.
Organize your life to include you and learn to say no.

I have separate notes that I typed up on How to Teach God's Word to Your Children and I'll share those tomorrow. I hope somebody reads this and gets something out of it. These are just a few of the big things I took away from the conference it was some really good stuff. I have not laughed that hard or cried that much in a long time such a refreshing four days away. Here are some pics from our fun time in Nashville!