This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to spend four days and three nights in North Carolina with my friend Ashlee! It was an experience that will truly go down in the books (pun intended). From exploring the charming small towns to worshiping at Elevation Church and celebrating a major milestone with Hope*Books, this trip was filled with special moments, deep connections, and plenty of laughter.
We arrived in Charlotte and found a great spot to eat before heading to Matthews, home to the bookstore and publishing headquarters of Hope*Books. As soon as we got there, I fell in love with the town. Matthews is like a scene straight out of a Hallmark movie. It consisted of all brick buildings, twinkling lights, music in the air, and train tracks running through the middle of it all. We spent the afternoon walking up and down the streets, stopping for coffee, and just soaking in the atmosphere. It was so fun.
That evening, we checked into our hotel and had a relaxing night. Although, I did stay up until midnight watching my husband’s second playoff game win. Even though I wasn’t there in person, getting to watch it on my phone with headphones in was so cool. I was so proud of him and his team!
Sunday morning, we woke up early and drove 25 minutes to Elevation Church in Ballantyne. This was a surreal moment for me, since I’ve been watching Elevation’s online services since 2017, when I first came to Christ. To finally be there in person was an experience I’ll never forget.
The worship was incredible, and one of my favorite moments was when Pastor Steven Furtick asedk a worship leader to sing “What a Beautiful Name.” The Holy Spirit just filled the room, and I could feel God moving. It was Spirit-led, and such a beautiful moment. Then, Pastor Steven preached an incredibly powerful message titled “Move It to the Middle.” He talked about Moses and the significance of God calling his name twice in the Bible, and how we often think we’re at the end of something when really, we’re just in the middle. The message was full of deep truth and encouragement, and I took so many notes!
After church, we headed to The Bowl at Ballantyne, a beautiful new development with tons of food options, a huge park, and a gorgeous fountain display. We ate at Flower Child, which was delicious, and then spent time walking around, shopping, and of course, grabbing more coffee.
That evening, we decided to go to a comedy show in Charlotte, and it was definately a highlight of the trip! We laughed until we cried, and the best part was that it was clean comedy, which made it even better. Afterward, we wrapped up the night with dinner at a modern Mexican restaurant before heading back to rest.
Monday was the big day at Hope*Books! We arrived early and got to meet the photographer, who invited us to lunch before everything officially began. It was such a fun way to kick off the day.
At 1pm, all 10 authors gathered together—the first time every single author of a Hope*Books collaboration attended their book launch! It was powerful. The women I met are full of faith, and their stories are true miracles.
We spent the afternoon rotating through three workshops:
1. Headshots– Professional photos to capture the moments of the day and headshots so we could use on our social spaces.
2. Writer’s Workshop– Refining our mission statements and giving ourselves a focus when share our message.
3. Podcast Recording– Talking about our writing journey and experiences. This was my favorite as it took meback to my podcasting days and it fired up that old spark! (Comment and tell me if I should do another podcast?!)
The evening continued with a beautiful dinner, where we were joined by the publishing team, fellow authors, and their guests/support system. The conversations were meaningful, and I felt so grateful to be part of it all.
To end the night, we went back to Hope*Books store for a live stream event where each author was interviewed about their chapter. We went one by one, from Chapter 1 to Chapter 10, sharing our hearts and our stories with family and friends tuning in. It was an out-of-body experience. The kind of moment authors dream about. Getting to share the words God has given me, knowing they might encourage someone else on their journey, was truly an honor.
Tuesday morning, I woke up still running on adrenaline from the night before. I went for a run, finished packing, and we headed to the airport. As we landed back home, I jumped right back into reality, getting home just in time for T-ball practice. But my heart was so full.
I am beyond grateful for this trip, and for everyone who sewed into my author journey, for my family’s support in letting me go, and for the opportunity to experience something so special.
This wasn’t just a fun getaway with my friend Ashlee (who was so fun and supportive). It was a trip of God-ordained moments, both big and small, funny and profound. From walking the streets of Matthews to worshiping at Elevation, laughing at a comedy show, and sitting alongside incredible women of faith at Hope*Books, every moment was meaningful.
I’ll never forget this experience, and I can’t wait to see how God continues to move in my author journey. Thank YOU times a million for your continued love and support, it means the world to me. If the words God gives me helps ONE person see Him in their life, then my prayers as an author (and Christian) have been answered!
You can grab your copy of Rising Above: Stories of Overcoming by heading to Amazon!
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