D6 recap

Last week Brian and I attended the D6 conference in Louisville, KY (sans kids, by the way), and it was amazing. D6 is a philosophy of parenting/family ministry based on Deuteronomy 6:4-7 which says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

So basically we are responsible not only for our children's physical well-being but that we are the most instrumental people in their spiritual health as well. The trend has been that you send your kids to church and let the youth/children's pastor handle their spiritual health. This puts the responsibility directly back into the family's hands. 

The conference was all about building strong marriages so you can build strong families. There were amazing speakers. I'm telling you this conference was as jam packed as it gets and information overload, but in the best way. I'm listing below just a few of the things that I jotted down.

Darrin Patrick: "Behavior modification vs. character transformation"

Tim Kimmel:

"There is a big difference between people who do great things and people who live great lives."

"God's love is best nurtured through spiritually thriving families."

"Family is the primary tool of launching new generations of chrst followers."

"God's love is best illustrated through churches and homes that reflect God's gracious heart."

(he was a favorite if you can't tell - and I totally left out an entire page worth of notes from him)

Mark Holmen: "Are we in love with God or are we just doing church? Who and what you love will impress your kids."

Tommy Sanders: "More media access = fewer connections, fewer relationships."

Rodney Cox: "God has designed our differences to complete us, not defeat us."

Lydia Randall: "The pace at which I'm doing God's work is destroying God's work in me."

Todd Wagner: "Marriage takes place on a spiritual battlefield."

Les and Leslie Parrott: "Conflict is the price we pay for a deeper level of intimacy."

Rob Reinow: "Family ministry = home discipleship."

Dave Stone: "Activity for Christ does not equal intimacy with Christ."

Rob Morgan: "Prodigals have a way of coming home."

Along with the speakers, The Skit Guys and Shane and Shane were there, both awesome. Brian and I have plans to go back next year and hopefully take a group of parents/church staff with us.

We were able to visit with a few old friends, but mostly it was just the 2 of us learning together. It was a much-needed break from our busy world, and I am so thrilled we were able to go.

And now I'm depressed that it's over - we've been looking forward to it for months!

I didn't take many pictures, but here are just a couple.

Brian had a full day of pre-conference labs on Wednesday so I hung out in the hotel room, ordered gourmet pizza for lunch and painted my nails in these pretty fall colors.

Louisville has a section of town called NuLu that was artsy, organic, etc. I wish we'd had more time to explore (and that I'd brought my big camera).

Supper at Taco Punk (in the NuLu district). Had the best hibiscus mint tea and pulled pork pineapple taco.

Downtown Louisville - on a lunch break. Our conference was right next to the Yum Center.

Gorgeous sky on the way home.

Brian headed back to work today, while the kids and I stay home on the last day of their fall break. I wish I could say I have fun plans for them, but we're probably just hanging out here getting caught up on laundry. I think the week wore them out because it is 8:12 and they are still in bed. I, on the other hand, managed to be up and going at 6:00 this morning. So ironic since I could have stayed in bed. I can guarantee I'd never wake up that early if I had to be up.

Happy Monday!