And the Greatest of these is Love: A gift of heart and community

We called it a drop.

But it was really more like a flood.

A flood of love, of community, of down-and-dirty heart.

For a full day, Katie Howard, someone I am proud to call a friend, was wrapped in a cocoon of love so tightly, I’m certain the light I saw in her was part relief, part comfort and all awe.  Katie was the March recipient of Love Drop – the brainchild of two every-day guys who’ve made it their mission to change the world, one person, one family at a time…. Nate St. Pierre and J. Money.

Thank you to the lovely @sarahinmi for this picture

Each month, the Love Drop community adopts someone in need – spends the better part of 30 days rallying their LD troops – gathering gifts, collecting funds and making the world better simply by being.  At the end of each month – in Katie’s case – March 27th – all of the “LOVE” amassed is “DROPPED” on the intended.

Katie, a single mom of two beautiful children, is battling her second brain tumor and hydrocephalus.

Lead by March’s Love Drop sponsor – Blissdom – a leading social media conference for women - the Love Drop Team gathered in Dallas, swooped down on the amazing MaryAnne’s home - cooked, baked, shopped, schemed and wrapped until they were sure Katie’s Drop Day would be divine.

And it was.

Watch.

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Big News I’ve been waiting to share!

So… here it is, my BIG NEWS: I am thrilled, but clearly will be missing many of you!

Free thinking

I have so much to say.

And yet, I still need time to process it all before I can share it.

Should I talk about the amazing time we just had at Disney World?  How my kids couldn’t stop grinning and squealing that pure-kid squeal that could only emanate from someone so small and filled with joy?

Should I share the wisdom I learned from Guy Kawasaki or Chris Brogan?  Maxine Clark or Kathy Ireland?

What about the family time?  The lessons I gleaned from my kids and stellar husband?

Ohhh…and the videos….sigh.  There is much editing to be done.

Not to mention, I still have thoughts to share on Blissdom.

What about the fact that I am heading to the OLYMPIC GAMES IN VANCOUVER in less than 84 hours to act as a correspondent for Procter and Gamble?  I am over the moon….AND, I have this amazing interview to share with you – I talked to 2002 Women’s Bobsled Gold Medalist Vonetta Flowers and we chatted about what it is like to be an Olympian. I cannot wait.  I am overjoyed.

Does it make sense that my head is spinning? Or that I am exhausted and just really want to snuggle with my husband (who has likely fallen asleep while I’ve written this short note)

And….. I still have to SHOP AND PACK for Vancouver – because, really – who has Olympic Games worthy gear just hanging around at their house?  Clearly not me.

I have missed just sharing from my heart – and that will start again tomorrow.

Good night, friends…..

Blissdom Lessons Learned

More Lessons Learned from my friend Meredith…..

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On Blissdom….In the beginning…

In the beginning, there was Little Me.

Little Me had a small website and a tiny blog.  And no clue what to do with it.

Enter Twitter.  Grand Entrance Blissdom.

Witness the community circle, pet her hair, compliment (despite an utter lack of worthiness) and offer to help.

Help?  What’s that?

Advice, Friendship, community, passion and understanding.

And that was last year.

This year?  Trumped all that.

Why?

Not because it was bigger – though it was.

Not because it was fancier – though it was.

Not because I knew people – though I did.

Not because I understand more – though I do.

But because this is now my world.  I belong here – and it is these women, the women I first met last year, the ones I talk to on Twitter and skype and text…..the ones I JUST met this weekend….it is THEM.  The ones who still wrap me in the snuggie version of community and hug me until I realize I am not the only hugger in the world. They share until I can say SEO and know what it means…until I understand WHY I need to make changes to my blog…until I welcome every smile, every everything.

Over the course of the next week, I will share more about this experience.  It deserves more than one post….it deserves video, writing and screens with links to people you should visit.

Because that is BLISS to me.

Harry Connick Jr. Performs When the Saints Go Marching In and Who Dat?

Thank you, Harry Connick Jr. for delighting us with “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “Who Dat?” at BlissDom 2010.

A few favorite things about Blissdom

The anticipation.

The drive here with my friend, Molly.

The volume in the room as people see each other.

Meeting someone in person who I have only known virtually.

Reconnecting with the people who made this a special event for me last year.

The belly laughs.

Tweeting from across the room – it is like passing notes in class.

Learning that writing is a craft, not simply a gift.

The dancing.

Harry Connick Jr….I mean, seriously.

Having roomies – it is like a college flashback.

Video.  Video.  Video.

Connecting.  Smiling.

Speaking on my first Blissdom panel with some amazing women: Audrey, Jo-Lynne, Jendi and Esther

And of course…..

The hugging.  I’m a hugger.  I love the hugging.

Did I mention the hugging?