We were up at 4:30am and on the road by 5:00am. We arrived early and there was a mix-up with the tickets but it was good because we had to call Anne Jackson to straighten it out so we got to meet her. We had lots and lots of attention today. It was fun explaining our cow costumes and all about Anne’s new book Mad Church Disease. Mark has a blurry picture of us on his blog. I will try to post pictures when I can.
We also got lots of funny looks and I can’t count the number of times we were asked if we had Chick-fil-a coupons:) The conferences were wonderful. I heard Mark Batterson, Margaret Feinberg, David Ferguson and Ed Stetzer speak. Mark heard Joel Hunter, Gabe Lyons, Perry Noble and Mark Foreman speak. Oh we also saw the Deadly Viper Character Assassins guys for a bit but had to leave because it was 8:30pm and we were wiped out.
We randomly sat by Spencer Lovelace, the Clemson FCA President who also attends Newspring. We saw Jay Hardwick, LB, Trey Kelly and Tony Morgan. I had a guy stop me from Canada whose wife attends Masters classes with my brother Karl in Canada. I didn’t realize Karl knew I would be at Catalyst but apparently he did and told his friend to look for the girl dressed like a cow:) I started crying and hugged him. So this poor guy was being hugged out in public by a crying cowgirl:) What can I say, I miss my brother! I love you Karl!
We talked with some super neat fellas that are part of newthing ministries out of Chicago. They “reproduce” churches and model apprentice leadership. I met Crystal Renauld the pinkhaired girl (for those of you that recognize that name from the blog world). Dino Rizzo was sitting a couple of rows behind me in one session. I saw LV from Catalyst Roadtrip.
A random girl named Jennifer asked to take our picture on her phone. Later she bumped back into us and said she was so glad to find us b/c she twittered our picture and said someone she didn’t know responded and said she knew us and to tell us hi. It was Susanne Reeder! Thanks for reaching out Susanne:) Wish you were here. You would sit by me!! I sat in a row completely by myself in one session because people sat shoulder to shoulder in the rows above and below me because noone wanted to sit by me!
I am brain dead. It is almost 11pm and I have to be up before 6am. So I am going to go to bed. I hope this made at least a lick of sense. I am so glad to be here and so grateful to all my friends that are loving on and caring for my kids so we can be here:)
One final thought. I did think throughout today how interesting it is that of course everyone around me sees me as a cow. Not as Erika, but a cow. Wouldn’t it be cool if I was so “dressed” in Jesus that He is all people saw when they see me? Wish I could get there?
Living not striving... 
HEY ERIKA!! It was too cool when I was responding to something on twitter, and saw a picture of you and Mark tweeted by Pete Wilson (Pastor of Cross Point, Nashville TN, where Anne Jackson now works). I couldn’t resist the comment, even though I wasn’t sure if she would be able to get you the message. Glad that you guys are having such a great time, and I DEFINITELY wish we could be there with you. NEXT YEAR for sure!! (Spoken like a true Gamecock fan!) I would sit by you, my friend. I’d even wear a sign saying something like “She’s my friend, now go eat some Chikin” or something like that. 😉 Y’all have fun, and be careful on the drive home.
P.S. – The last two sentences MADE the whole post! I love it!
hey — it was great running into you at #catalyst08!! 🙂 i am so used to writing catalyst like that i can’t seem to stop myself. blessings.
I am so glad that Regan found you! Of course I figured at some point he would have to come across the people dressed as cows: )
I laughed so hard reading this and the following post. I know it must have been so hard wearing those costumes for two whole days, and I feel so bad that at a Christian conference noone sat next to you! But I cannot help but laugh histerically at the thought of you and mark dressed as cows, and then on top of it, have people recognize you and talk to you! Me and Dani had some good laughs. You two are amazing and you blog brightens up my day everytime I read it. Love you and miss you guys!