Ok, stop laughing. Yes, the very sweet ladies who are planning A Woman Inspired conference asked me to speak. At first, I panicked. Thinking, "Do those ladies read my blog?" I'm not exactly channeling Beth Moore over here. 
I post inappropriate photos, and have salty language.
I often even have shied away from topics deemed controversial because of the Internet backlash. Crazy, huh? I have had tons of advice telling me never to discuss my faith, my politics and so on. But, as time goes on….it all comes out.
After much prayer, I decided on my topic. Getting through the valley. Many of you know my story. A year and a half ago my husband lost his job. I was pregnant and on bedrest with our fifth son. As the months went by with multiple companies not coming through at the last minute, we realized we were in trouble.
Savings were gone, we lost our dream house, I lost my fancy car. Lost my security. Poof. Homelessness. It happens fast.
I did what any of us would do. I started working. I had a laptop and tried to figure out what to do. Two years ago I didn't know how to email a photo, but I wanted to figure out a way to work online. Let me tell you, it has been a comedy of errors. Who starts a bunch of sites without having any clue what she is doing? {waves hand wildly} ME!
So where am I now? We are back in Nashville. My husband is working for a great company, and my three oldest boys have a wonderful school. As for my company? I'm still here slogging away and am surrounded by wonderful women. My company motto? Do the most good for the most people. Isn't that what we all try to do?
So many women have written me in the same situation I was in. Husbands who are out of work, homes about to be foreclosed, and they are crippled with fear. My heart aches for them. I know that feeling well.
I wish I had answers to all the problems. I don't. But I do have my story. My story of loss, struggle, faith and redemption. I hope my story is an encouragement to women in the valley of life.
God used our struggles to change my husband and I for the best. I wouldn't want to suffer through that again, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Wonderful things can happen in the valleys of life.
I am giving away 10 tickets to the conference! The conference was kind enough to donate them to 10 of my readers. Don't worry about airfare and hotel costs, the conference is online from April 6-9th!
I will be speaking in my PJs, with a baby on my knee. And I hope you will be there, too.
To enter simply leave a comment below. Nana Fussypants will choose 10 readers to receive the tickets tomorrow. Y'all know I can't choose. Oh the guilt!
Be sure to check out the amazing list of speakers who are nice enough to let me join in.
Love, Alli
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
Having you as a friend and knowing your story gave me so much hope back in January when my husband lost his job. Fortunately, his unemployment only lasted 3 weeks (a freakin’ miracle in this economy!) but I was inspired by you all the same.
I want to win..I could really use some inspiration!
Alli, congrats on being asked! You definitely deserve it.
I didn’t know your story until this so thank you for posting it.
Please enter me in the giveaway! I’d love to be considered.
I would love to hear you speak as well as others, going into this with my head up and my tail dragging, I definitely need to hear what you and others have to say to push me over the hump.
This sounds like an awesome conference. I wish I could hear you and all the other women speak.
You are beyond Inspirational, and I would love to win and attend the conference!
This is so awesome for you!!! congradulations. God really does work in mysterious ways but always for our good.
Wow, I didn’t know your story! I am going to start reading now. My husband is in the oil industry and hasn’t worked for two months. We have sent out dozens and dozens and dozens of resumes and heard nothing. We have four children and a slew of house, cars, and other payments.
I am really glad things worked out for you! The conference sounds great!
Melissa
I am sure you will be great~
I do hope you NEVER listen to that advice;)
sandy toe
Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring story. And good luck at the conference — they’re lucky to have you!
I actually did not know your story and I admire you even more now – as if that is possible! I want to attend.
I would love to be considered for conference tickets. I love ALL your sites…thanks so much for sharing all that you do and being such a blessing to so many. =)
I love you and all your sites too. You will be great at the conference! Some inspiration could be used around here too.
I would love to attend! Thanks for your story!!!
Wow, what an honor and blessing all at the same time to be asked to speak….I hope to be blessed as you one day.
I would love to hear you speak since I was unable to attend BlissDom:(
Not to mention that I LOVE all your sites:)
This conference looks amazing. I didn’t know your story but WOW, I’m really impressed.
God uses those situations to draw us closer to Him but they are so painful! (Worth it – but painful.)
Yeah! I am so excited about this giveaway. I keep going to the site to check it out. I am crossing my fingers and toes.
Smiles!
Wow, y’all are all so very sweet. I am humbled again.
Thank you for the love!
Ooh I hope I win! Thanks for giving us the chance. What I love about your story is that through your struggles and giving birth to your sites & businesses, you have given so many of us other gals the opportunity to grow & shine as well!
Love you.
Ooh I hope I win! Thanks for giving us the chance. What I love about your story is that through your struggles and giving birth to your sites & businesses, you have given so many of us other gals the opportunity to grow & shine as well!
Love you.
Testimonies are very powerful.
Hope I can sit in my pjs & listen to you !
It’s a shame that this conference excludes anyone that isn’t Christian. I don’t really understand why anyone would WANT to be involved with a conference that discriminates, but each to their own.
I already have a ticket, so I don’t need to be entered in the giveaway. But I did just want to say what a blessing you are to so many people, especially to me.
I’d love to win a ticket!!!
This sounds like something that I would love to be a part of. Especially to hear more of your incredible story!
I would love to hear your story and get to see this conference. I do wish it was a live conference so I could win tickets and then have an excuse to fly out to Nashville to visit my Daddy. Of course this way I actually might get to see it
This is perfect for me as I sit around in my cozies all day simply getting pregnanter and pregnanter. I’d love to be a part of this inspiring event!
Sounds so interesting! And it would be nice to put my baby in her bed for her nap rather than bounce her on my knee so I can listen!
I think as long as we are considerate and mind our manners we should be allowed to proclaim our faith and our politics. I’m not sure why, but those that scream the loudest for “fair speech” seem to want to silence those of us that are conservative Christians. Thanks for giving the silent majority a voice in your blog, even though it must be scary at times to fear the backlash. I love to see Christian conservatives using the internet more and more, and this conference is a fantastic example of that. I would love to participate!
I felt the tears well up just reading your post today – I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I were watching you speak online. I so remember lurking and reading your posts when things were looking so bleak, and quietly cheered your family on when everything started turning around. As a single mom of a wonderful three year old – who is facing losing her job in a little less than 30 days and who is scared to death of what the future holds, I hope I have a smidgeon of your faith in the days ahead. If I am lucky enough to win a ticket or not, I still want say thanks for being so inspirational every day.
On April 6, I will just be getting back from my honeymoon after our wedding on March 28. The story of how we came to be Mr and Mrs is my testimony, and is pretty darn amazing, given that two years ago, neither of us hardly dreamed of dating again, much less getting married again in our mid-40s. God is just awesome like that.
Oh please enter me! I never get to go to the conferences because of air fare so this would rock!
This was a really nice post- Alli I admire you so much. But I won’t be able to attend the conference, so don’t enter me! (I’ll still be seeing you in person right around then, right?) : )
Steph
Alli,
Thank you for reminding all of us to feel fortunate for what we have and thank God regularly. And I don’t just mean the material things, because if you beleive, God will give us a way. I also mean the things we forget in everyday life. For me it’s that I am still alive, I have a roof over my head (though it’s not the roof I desire), food in my belly and the ability to have met someone as special as you are.
Allison there are no words to how inspirational you are…much like when I fought my cancer..you fought for your family and won…
Blessings and success to a very brave and strong women..
Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com
I so love happy endings.
Of course, it’s the journey that makes us who we are. I love how adversity can bring out the best in people.
As for the conference – a conference I could go to even though I’m miles away in little ‘ole Australia? You HAVE to pick me!!! Pretty please!!!!!! It might be the only one I can EVER actually make it to! Plus of course, I’m a big fan of being able to attend in my pj’s – my favourite outfit!!!!
My family is currently in a similar situation, and like you, I have taken a hold of my laptop and am working away. Thanks for all the inspiration!
This is soooo exciting for you Alli! Hopefully I’ll be picked, I’m needing some inspiration….what with my husband away in Afghanistan and me back at Fort Campbell with six kiddos and no family within a 850 mile radius, Lord Help, lol.
Awww, what a fabulous story. THEY are the ones that are lucky to have someone like you speaking!!!
What a great story, I can’t imagine, my step-dad was always losing his job so I have tremendous anxiety if our money situation becomes precarious. Then I remind myself God is still in control, Romans 8:28 hasn’t vanished out of my Bible, and start to trust God again. Fortunately it happens less often as I lean on God more.
I hadn’t checked in with you in a while and was surprised at the “whole story”. Anyways, you are an inspiration and I’d love to be considered for the conference and you’ll do a fantastic job!!
Talk about a learning curve! I’m sure you will be grand. Send me tickets if Nana picks me.
Oh, Alli! Congrats! I am so happy (and proud!) of you! I would LOVE to hear you speak (I’m still crying b/c I was unable to come to Blissdom, lol!). You totally deserve this honor, and everyone who attends this conference will be blessed by what you have to say and the example you set. YOU GO GIRL!!!
i know your story…intimately…and you know i do!
love you girl!
Hi Alli! I would LOVE to hear you speak. Your story has inspired me to no end.
That’s definitely a very inspiring story for us moms… I have given you an award in my blog. Head on over at http://www.imahotmom.com/?p=481.
I would love, love, LOVE to attend. Pick me Nana fussy!
Am i too late????
Oh please enter me!! I went threw exactly the same thing you went threw pregnant of my 3rd child!
I so understand you and now we are in NC from Fl and God has blessed!!
So much in common!!
Hope to win!
I am “attending” the conference. I was pleased to see you listed as a speaker. YOU RAWK!