Several times a year the Wellspring Board meets together to discuss plans for the ministry, share ideas about how to better serve churches in the area of women’s ministry, and plan the annual Wellspring Women’s Conference. They usually gather at Gloria’s house on a Friday night, have dinner together, have a meeting, spend the night, and finish the meeting the next day. This past weekend one such meeting took place, and Joseph and I drove to Fayetteville on Saturday to do some promotional photography shots of them individually and as a group. I thought it would be cool to do a post on what goes on behind-the-scenes at one of these meetings.

First, let me set the scene that Joseph and I arrived to. Saturday was a brilliant day – it felt like summer – high humidity, bright sun, and just plain hot. It was the kind of day where you’re outside for 5 minutes and you’re sweating profusely. So we get to Michael and Gloria’s house (by the way, Michael had gone for the weekend in order to let the estrogen roam freely in his house), we walk in the front door and what do our eyes behold but a group of women wearing winter clothes and bundled up in blankets. All except for Gloria, who was wearing shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. She might have even been sweating a bit, but I can’t say for sure.

It was FREEZING in that house.

It always is. When we go to stay with them for a weekend, my entire wardrobe consists of sweatpants and sweatshirts, thick socks and a parka. Well, okay, maybe not a parka. I just want you to understand that even when it’s winter outside, it’s a steady 60-65 degrees inside M&G’s house. No matter the season. And I think even that temperature range is a compromise because if it were just Gloria in the house by herself she’d probably lower it 10 more degrees.

I jest.

This is all to say that Gloria is known for liking a cold environment, and everyone who knows her and loves her feels free to kid her about it.

Okay, so we’re all bundled up in blankets and sweatsuits on a warm (almost) summer day, talking about God and his heart for His girls across the country, and our hearts are already feeling strangely warm. And it wasn’t because of the layers of clothing, either. There was some luv in that room – ladies who adore their God and His Church – and you could feel it. They were getting serious about how to share His heart with women, and they were dreaming big. No freezing temperature was gonna stop them!

It was a great day. Ladies, in case you didn’t already know it, these women love you. They want to serve you and they want you to know how much God loves you and believes in you.

Here are some behind-the-scenes pics of the day..

Here is our trusty photographer extraordinaire, my hubs, Joseph.

This is the lovely Saundra, who will blog very soon!

This is the picture that proves to you that I was exaggerating about everyone huddled up in blankets. The half of the room that you can’t see was in blankets and long pants and long shirts (it was only 2 people – a slight exaggeration, I know).

Q: What is a meeting without cheesecake?

A: Pointless!

Here’s Vikki being funny! I love her.

This is the totally awesome Sue, waiting to get her picture taken in front of a bush. Check out Sue’s post from last week, it rocks.

Here are all of the ladies together, waiting for their group shot.

I love this picture!

Joseph wanted to get some shots of them walking towards him as a group.

This is the lovely Emily!

If everything goes as planned, these women are going to be a part of changing the world, just like you and me! Hopefully, we are already doing just that.

Jessica