So...
There was this girl.  A girl who had a blog.  A girl who liked a lot of things.  Who liked to write.
Who one day was asked to speak at a conference.
But you see, this girl although she liked to write, she did not like to speak.
But for a moment she forgot and said yes.

Her topic is about using your blog for good, which is the reason why this girl said yes.
Her passion about the subject was greater than her fear of speaking.

Now this girl is working on her speech and is 50% at peace/ 50% totally freaking out.

What does using your blog for good mean to you?
What type of things would you like to hear from this girl?
What advice would you give her?

If by chance you will be attending Blog Sugar this weekend, say hi to this girl.  She would love to see your friendly, smiling face.
(She may or may not be trembling in the corner at the thought of the whole speaking thing...  Pull her out of the corner if you see her there.)



49 Comments

  1. I will be there and I cant wait to hear you speak....although I will be in the corner with my hands in my pockets....and Im not even speaking, so I dont think I can offer anything more than a cupcake and a hug...:)

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  2. This girl
    and her awesome Dry Bar hair
    are going to rock the house.
    No worries.

    ~Keri

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  3. i am so sad to miss this girl and her incredible inspiration. (mom is having emergency surgery). praying for you and knowing that you will get a great blow-out, wear your sunshine shoes and necklace and knock it out of the park.

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  4. Oh how I wish I was attending because you're going to be a smashing hit! God's blessed you with an amazing gift and talent to share GOOD with others. BLOGGY goodness at that, how can it be any better?

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  5. Ahh! You are so the person I would love to meet! Sadly, won't be attending. I bet you're going to be amazing!!

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  6. You spread hope! You are not afraid to share your faith in God and your insecurities over Popsicles all in the same week. I will be honest, I look forward to new posts from you more than others. Even if it's just pictures or your Sunday scripture. I wish I could be there to here you give what I'm sure will be an amazing speech. Best of luck!

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  7. can't wait to give you a hug on sunday!
    you'll do great...

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  8. Cant wait! you will be awesome! you are awesome!

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  9. You have made me laugh and you have made me cry. You have inspired me and pointed me in directions that have changed my life (One Thousand Gifts)...you are awesome! The same God who has brought you this far will not leave you now...praying He settles those butterflies and that His words pour out in an amazing way!

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  10. Aww I love you! This girl is SO sad to not be there to hug that girl and steal her baby boy! Doing good with your biggity blog to me is doing your best to show the love of Jesus by bringing awareness of how He loves us, how He encourages us to love others and being vulnerable to share when we fail at this quest. You my love of always been one of my very favorite inspirations to love like Jesus! XO

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  11. I just told my friend to go and find you at Blog Sugar. Thanks for taking this leap of faith! You have touched so many people by your awesome blog. Have a great weekend!

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  12. have no fear. God will see you through. And some awesome cupcakes may help ;)

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  13. It means praying every morning that God would use my blog for His glory.

    I just want to hear her say hello. I probably won't even hear what she is saying at first because i'll be so FREAKING OUT just to meet her in person.

    I'd tell her to hug someone whenever she gets nervous. I'd tell her I'd hold her hand if she wanted me to. I'd tell her I promise to wash said hand in sanitizer before I held her hand. Just 'cause. In my other hand would be a cupcake. Just for fun.

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  14. You are totally going to rock it. Can't WAIT!!!!!!!!

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  15. I am attending your breakout session! I am so excited to hear from you and so very excited about the topic. you are amazing!

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  17. Julie, you have nothing to worry about it will go amazingly well.

    Just pull some strength and courage from Jesus and your big luscious hair :)

    p.s. one of the reasons I and I'm sure many love your blog is that it is so well balanced and always on point

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  18. You will be AMAZING!!! My thoughts will be with you & can't wait to hear how it goes. Julie, God has used you and your blog for such goodness. He has used you this far, He ain't gonna abandon you now! Be yourself. Be honest.

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  19. I am so excited to see you again at Blog Sugar. I met you at the last one and didn't even know it until you sent me a comment about my cards (the library ones). And then I was bummed because I missed out on meeting one of my favorite bloggers.
    So anyway, I am excited to meet you.
    As to speaking, I would tell this girl that her blog touched my life and heart when I was struggling after my miscarriage.
    This girl's blog gave me the courage to tell my story and to reach out to others the way this girl reached out to me.
    That;s using your blog for good, right?
    Thank you, Julie.
    Love from,
    Greta

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  20. I am so excited to see you again at Blog Sugar. I met you at the last one and didn't even know it until you sent me a comment about my cards (the library ones). And then I was bummed because I missed out on meeting one of my favorite bloggers.
    So anyway, I am excited to meet you.
    As to speaking, I would tell this girl that her blog touched my life and heart when I was struggling after my miscarriage.
    This girl's blog gave me the courage to tell my story and to reach out to others the way this girl reached out to me.
    That;s using your blog for good, right?
    Thank you, Julie.
    Love from,
    Greta

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  21. all the cool things happen in s. cali... ;)
    God has given you an incredible platform. Use it to His glory as I know you will!
    You are going to be fine... pretend you are speaking to your 4 kiddos instead of a room of gals and you should rock it out :)

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  22. You will be awesome. Here's my take on blogging. It's not so much about what you post about, it's about commenting on others posts. I've found many bloggers that are somewhat lonely and don't have alot of friends outside the blog world. Always remember when you leave a comment, that what you say to someone may just be the only thing they hear all day, so make it nice and lift them up.

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  23. I hate speaking too, but you are awesome and will do great! I started my blog after we lost a son 4 years ago. It was an outlet for me. A way to cherish my other kids more and not let myself be so sad as a stay at home Mom who no longer had a 3 month old baby stuck to her at all times. My blog is private, but yours is out there and amazing. You have used your blog for good beyond measure. I hope you can see that!

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  24. I will be there too with bells and whistles on... and my Forever 21 ensemble. can't wait to see you. You will be R.A.D.

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  25. Praying that He will calm your nerves and give you strength! :)

    For me, blogging is such an amazing outlet to reach out to others in need, to encourage, to exort, and show God's infinite love. You have done that, sweetie, and this weekend, I know you will do the same!
    Put Him on as your banner and wave it high! :)

    xo,
    Mary

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  26. you are going to do perfectly. because you will speak His words. with beachy curls.

    also, CANNOT WAIT to have a party at your house when you're not there. i promise we won't break anything. but i cannot promise that we won't steal a quilt.

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  27. i feel like this post is sorta cheating. you're using the "ask the audience" option already. don't let me catch you phoning a friend off to the side when you're up there on Sunday. 'cause you know the answers, and you're gonna bring 'em with love and inspiration! as usual.

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  28. there is another girl (in fact a lot of girls) who are already thrilled to see you. we've already been inspired by the Jesus in you here in blogville. Through you we have watched Him delight in life, encourage, speak Truth, create, and in ever post BE GLORIFIED
    we're all looking forward to seeing Him in you in real blog sugar life!

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  29. I would tell this girl what I tell my middle schooler (and the middle schoolers that are in my GS troop or carpool with us). There is a Secret, and the Secret is: everyone is exactly as worried about whatever it is that you are worried about, and because of that, they are not paying attention to you, or your perceived flaws. So go ahead and do what you need to do, be who you are, and it'll be OK. :)

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  30. I'll be there. I'm sure you'll be great. Just speak from the heart.... don't be nervous, you'll be surrounded by friends!

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  31. oh how i wish i could hear you speak this weekend! just remember you're already awesome, and have a lot to share and teach. the ladies who will be there already love you so much don't be afraid! i'll be praying for you. breathe, take it all in and be forever greatful and blessed that the Lord has brought this amazing oportunity your way. you can do it!

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  32. You will do wonderful! I'll be at Blog Sugar, and can't wait to meet you!!! :)

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  33. This girl will do a great job if she just speaks like she writes. Straight from the heart.

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  34. I know a girl that has been following several wonderful, inspirational blogs for YEARS and is going to be starstruck and possibly in the corner with you! ;-) I am in your 6:30 break out sesh...have been looking forward to this for months! If I hadn't of gotten into your session, I would've totally crashed! Just imagine yourself sitting in a ginormous Starbucks chatting with all your closest friends. No biggie, right? ;-) XOXO

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  35. How fun, Julie! I know how you feel. But you'll do wonderfully :) Love ya!

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  36. I'll be there and I'm so looking forward to hearing you speak (and meeting you). Whatever you say...it will be great.

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  37. you don't give yourself enough credit! you'll do fine, cause were all pull'in for ya! have fun!

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  38. I think about this subject a lot--doing good with my blog. I think it means a lot of things. But most importantly, I think it means being yourself and sharing the truest, nicest things about yourself that you can. I think belief in God is a lot of that (which you share--that's cool). But I think just trying to say, "Hey, it's cool to be a nice person and do good things," is one of the most important messages you can send out.

    I'm sure you'll do a great job speaking. You do a wonderful job with your blog. I so admire the way you seek to share so much good.

    Break a leg!

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  39. you are going to do great! your little blog and hearing you speak is one of the resons i'm going to blog sugar. ;)

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  40. go get 'em Jules!
    Just know how inspiring you are too all who read your words.
    Know that everyone listening truly feels like they know you already.
    NBD.
    Remember, that one day, when you are 85, sitting in your rocking chair while watching your many grandkids frolic in the yard, you will know that you have no regrets.... you lived life to the fullest, took chances, stood up for what you believed in and by doing all these things, set the best example for your three daughters and son. I so wish I could be there this weekend.
    Someone better video it for me...

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  41. Joy, your question spurred me on in my own thoughts. It was the final push for me to say, I must write. I'm only including the link to my blog because I wanted you to read my answer and thank you for the great, great question. Good luck at the conference!
    http://energiesandaffections.blogspot.com/2011/09/stumped.html

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  42. Oh I so love your blog! And I feel the same way about speaking - I always forget how nervous I get and say yes. And then I remember and dread it forever. I don't know if you've spoken (spake? speaked?) or not yet, but I'm sure you will do swimmingly.

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  43. I would tell this girl to set aside a good long while to get ready. Like 2-3 hours. Then I would give this girl a glass or two of her favorite adult beverage. I would tell this girl, to visualize how she is going to feel after the speech. I would tell her that she is special and awesome and at home there are a gang of babies that don't care if she is nervous, they just want chocolate milk with a lid on it.

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  44. You'll do great! Just practice practice practice. You know...in all your spare time :)

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  45. Your blog reminds me I'm not the only one at home with my kids all day, doing the same thankless things. God hasn't forgotten us. And we can still be beautiful and creative, smart and funny. Our uniqueness and wonderful personalities can still shine even while we turn into "Mom machines". Thank you.

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  46. Julie,
    You are an inspiration to so many. I know I have read before that you are on the shy side and sometimes struggle at these things. Just know that everyone there (wish I was going to be) can't wait to hear what you have to say and I bet many of them will be there specifically to listen to YOU. You are smart and witty, you have a wonderful life and we all love to read and hear all about it! Have a great time!

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  47. I loved hearing you speak--you touched my heart and gave me wonderful hope and things to think of. Thank you.

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  48. I was in one of your groups. You did great and the awesome part was it was God who sparkled through you. And isn't that the most radiant beauty of all?
    Many Blessings,
    Sam Keller

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