There’s lots of work to do with preparation for the four upcoming Bright Lights conferences. We were grateful for all the help from Lindsay (from NE) and Abby (from MN) who came to visit for the weekend to help. Thanks again Abby and Lindsay!
We are also very excited to announce that Rachel and Bekah May are joining us as staff here at the Bright Lights office!! The Mays live in the area and have been involved in Bright Lights for the past 12 years, so they have been able to jump right in and take on all kinds of responsibilities here at the office. We can’t say enough about how happy and relieved we are to have their help. (Plus, their energetic personalities are a lot of fun to have around. :))
Praise the Lord who is able to provide so perfectly!!! (I’m sure you’ll be seeing more pictures of them on here in the coming year…)
Bekah and Nickie
Rachel entering registrations for the upcoming conferences.
Sarah
Lindsay putting sleeves in the front of CDs.
Stephen
Abby making phone calls
And we can’t forget to include a picture of Dad back there typing away at e-mails. We are all very fond of our heroic leader who is just about always ready to either share a new spiritual lesson or a new great idea. 🙂
And we didn’t work the entire time Abby and Lindsay were visiting…instead we sat out in the backyard with the mosquitos. Yes, it was my idea. (Bekah came into the office this morning and announced, “Grace! I have 25 bugbites!” 🙂 )
Hey guys! I’m just checkin’ in on the Mallys and I’m glad to hear you had such a FANTASTIC vacation. It looked wonderful!!! I’m sure the much needed break was a huge refreshment to all of you.
Glad to hear things are going well at the office and I just wanted to say hello and give you my love.
Dani
Sounds like you’re having a great and busy time!
Have fun at the conferences!
Laura
wow- i just have a question for you: what do you do in the office, like what kind of things?
Hi Rachel,
I had to smile when I saw your question! It’s sort of hard to explain because there is such a variety. There is a lot of simple “maintaining” that always has to be done (processing and shipping orders, answering questions over the phone, answering e-mails, preparing everything for conferences, scheduling, keeping in touch with BL leaders, etc.) and then there are lots of new projects we are working on such as new Bright Lights material, the Bright Lights songbook, coordinating new events and conferences, video projects, audio projects, a variety of projects associated with our bookstore, misc. local events, some writing projects my dad and I are working on, etc. Well, there’s an attempt to answer the question, at least! Thanks for commenting. God bless you!
Grace
Nice post! And I think it was worth enduring the mosquitoes to enjoy the bonfire. 🙂
Hey Grace! I love what you are doing! I talked to yuo at CHAP and you gave me your e-mail address but it doesn’t work. I know you are really busy so don’t worry about it now but I was just wondering why it didn’t work. 😕
Looks like you have quite a lot of wonderful help in preparation for the upcoming conferences!! We’re really looking forward to attending the Radiant Purity conference!
Blessings, Grace!
Elizabeth
cool! I want to volunteer their! thats what kind of work I like.
how do you volunteer their?
Hi Rachel — maybe you can come for an internship here one day.
I agree! The fellowship and bonfire was TOTALLY worth the mosquitoes! Thanks for the fun post Grace! 🙂
how old do I have to be?
Eighteen
I can’t wait for the Cedar Rapids Conference!!! We will be driving from OHIO and I am so grateful we are able to attend. Last year was our first conference and it really changed my life and heart in so many ways. God is so good to provide for a trip for or family. We are so excited to see how he is going to move in a mighty way in your girls lives (and the moms too, like me!!!) Please pray for me, I’ve never driven this far without my husband… it will be a very stretching experience! 🙂 Any suggestions for things to do around Cedar Rapids? We will have a day off in between the 2 conferences.
Hi Kelly!
It’s great to hear you are coming all the way from OH!! Yes—we will pray for safe travels.
Regarding “things to do in Cedar Rapids,” we have a nice variety of parks and things but we don’t have a whole lot of tourist attractions! However, there are a few towns about 30-60 minutes from Cedar Rapids that are fun to visit. There’s the Amana Colonies, and also Kalona (An Amish Community with some fun stores, a cheese factory, etc.) See http://www.amanacolonies.com/ or http://www.kalonaiowa.org/
On Thursday (in between the conferences), we have what we call “Flight Night.” “Flight” stands for “Families Learning in Godly Homes Together” and several home school families gather at our church to watch a video of a Christian speaker. You’d be very welcome to come with your daughters! Also on Thursday we are inviting everyone to visit our store—Noah’s Archive, where we will have rolls and coffee, etc. See http://brightlightsdiscipleship.com/store/noahs-archive
Grace,
Thanks for the link and ideas. I like the idea of going to an amish farmers market. I was also very excited about the homefellowship group on Thurs. evening. Is it located in your home? I play the flute and I own some duet pieces… do you think you and I could play together? If you will be too busy I understand. 🙂
Looking forward to this conference and we are praying for your family and for all the ladies attending… to God be the glory!!!
C U Tues.!!!
I cant wait to see you all! I’m praying for everyone! : )
Hello again Kelly–flute duets are so much fun! The problem is time, though… conference weeks always fill up with all kinds of little emergencies and projects to take care of to make the conference run smoothly…as I’m sure you can understand! But you could go ahead and bring them anyway and who knows–maybe there will be a free moment somewhere! 🙂
The video is shown at our church, Cedar Rapids Bible Chapel and we will be giving directions at the conference.
God bless!
Grace
Yes, I am sure you will be soooo busy. I knew it was too much to hope for. 🙂 The music I have is not for 2 flutes, it is for flute and harp. I play the flute with a Bright Lights group for residents in nursing homes here in Ohio.
I always tease my daughters saying “I wish that I was born into the Mally family.” (I am an only child) They laugh at me, because they know I am joking. My son Tyler colored you and Stephen a picture. We are reading Making Brothers and Sistes Best Friends and he is very excited that I will meet Stephen. Tyler says Stephen is the funniest one in the book.
We are keeping you all in prayer as you fill all the last minute needs and conference details.
Aw, we think Stephen is the funiest too. 🙂 Go ahead and bring the duets because there are a few other BL leaders who also play the harp….maybe something would work out. Thanks — travel safe!!
Awww…I like this post! It’s so fun to be around the office…and of course, it’s fun to help with the work too…even entering registrations on the computer. 🙂 We really enjoyed the time while we were there, and it looks like you all enjoyed having vollunteers there for a few days. Yeah, even bonfires have “negative side-effects”. hehe