I’ve cleared a space, picked up the clothes thrown atop the desk chair, and baked warm brownies.
You are welcome here.
It’s messy and a little bit scattered, full of coffee dates and never ending to-do lists, but it’s my life and my story and you are welcome to it.
On April 25 & 26, I’m throwing wide open the door to my story and my heart.
It’s a little bit scary, a small bit risky, and absolutely thrilling. In May I wrote that there is power in your story and since then I’ve fallen in love with the fact that nothing brings women together and binds hearts fast like stories.
And so it should be of no surprise that you’ll find us doing just that for (in)RL. We are gathering together believing that hearts will connect in all the ordinary glory of our individual stories.
Stacey Thacker, Kris Camealy, Anna Rendell, Crystal Stine and I are ordinary women with very different stories. We are all in different stages of life but we are coming together and going first. We’re sharing our stories in hopes that you will feel more comfortable sharing yours, too.
What do your benches look like? How are you in community and what does that look like for you practically, in your every day life?
These are the questions we’re answering as we think about the fact that we each carry with us a story that could change the world in a million little ways.
This is the (in)RL Roadshow, doors open wide, sweet stories gathered just for you.
If you haven’t registered for (in)RL yet, it’s FREE and super easy! You can sign up here.
After you’ve signed up, make sure to join a local meet up. It’s the very best part of (in)RL, the “how” behind the “why,” the practical way to meet women in your own area as you join in community and share your stories with one another.
I know it can feel so very risky. There are tons of excuses and lies, so many reasons to stay behind the computer screen and keep your story silent. But I’m asking you to risk. I’m asking you to share. I’m asking you to speak.
I’m asking you to open up the story of your life and invite others into the pages.
There will be underlined paragraphs and dog-earred pages you’ve loved well and read one thousand times. There will be entire chapters you’d prefer for us to gloss over, sentences scratched right out. It may feel like you haven’t turned the page in years or like your story is more of a handbook than a best seller.
I’ve been there. In fact, I’m there with you right now in the middle of all your ordinary.
And I’ve been there with you in the ripped pages, the reflection of a broken heart. But in all my broken places, God has turned a holey mess into a holy offering by pouring Himself right in. And now those cracks allow Him to pour right out.
He is writing a best seller in you, right in the middle of all your ordinary.
It’s really not a matter of whether you have a story – you do. It’s a matter of what you’ll do with your story.
Let’s invite each other in. Let’s build bridges instead of walls. Let’s share our stories with each other.
And on April 25 & 26, you can gather your girlfriends over coffee and brownies or tea and fruit and watch as thousands of women with all their beautiful stories come together around the world.
The door is open wide, a seat is saved just for you.
We need your story.
I need your story.
It can change the world.
Leave a CommentYou’re Invited! Join us tonight for an (in)RL Twitter party! Grab your favorite snack and join us as we chat all things (in)RL using hashtag #inRL and enjoy an hour with your girlfriends … where you might just win some fun prizes! We can’t wait to see you there!
How to join in:
- If you don’t already have one, sign up for a free Twitter account
- Follow (in)courage on twitter
- Invite friends: I’m hanging out with my friends at @incourage tonight at 9pm EST to chat about #inRL & you’re invited too! –> Click to Tweet
- Sites like TweetChat make it easy to follow along – just enter the hashtag #inRL
- And for a super helpful guide read How To Successfully Navigate a Twitter Party
Can’t wait to see you there. Come just as you are.
9pm EST/8pm CST/ 6pm PST
Rebekah says
It was so fun to watch this trailer again and hear your sweet voice. You are indeed a bridge builder – in your inRL community as well as this wonderful, vibrant one online here. I’m loving getting to know you and your story a little better all the time – through your writing, through encouraging tweets, through the #fmfpartysnailmail. Your words are always lifting us up and pointing us back to Him. Bless your heart for being brave and stepping out to serve!
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
Just lots of thanks for your thoughtful words and encouragement. You are so faithful to lift up others!
Tammy says
What encouragement and I needed that today. I was just thinking I wish it was on a weekend as Friday is work for me. So I am little sad about that. But I can pray for all the stories shared and that makes me smile as I feel like that makes me part of it. Thank you for giving me some words to ponder today.
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
Hey Tammy! (in)RL is on Friday *and* Saturday… join us for Saturday! You could always see the Friday videos later. 🙂
BraveGirlStacey says
Whoop Whoop Kaitlyn! You are a Brave Girl indeed! Loved reading/watching! 🙂 Let’s build bridges instead of walls. Let’s share our stories with each other. Love you Sister!
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
Thank you, Stacey!!!
Stacey Thacker says
Oh love! Love you and this fun roadshow which just brings together all my favorite people in one story!
xo,
Stacey
anna {girlwithblog.com} says
Ditto!! =)
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
Double ditto? Yes, there must be such a thing.
Emily Phillips says
Awesome idea!!!
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
It’s going to be so fun! Hope you’re joining us. 🙂
Cheryl Ricker says
Great video, ladies! Way to serve and love! 🙂
Kaitlyn Bouchillon says
I hope you’ll join us, Cheryl!
Alia Joy says
Lovely Kaitlyn! Watching all these beautiful stories unfold makes my heart happy. Love you, girl.
Kim says
How exciting! I cannot wait to hear more of your story, Kaitlyn! “Building bridges instead of walls” is something I need to hang on the wall as a reminder when we move. I am and am not looking forward to trying to find new friends. On one hand there’s the *thrill* of the unknown, and on the other, the *dread* of the unknown. But I know God has it all under control.
elisa says
Kaitlyn, I loved hearing your voice! It matches exactly what I pictured you’d sound like. I am thrilled you’re a part of this story telling adventure and can’t wait to see what God is going to do in you and through you. Only wish I could participate in inRL this year, but will be booked up with a speaking engagement out west!
tammy @ grace uncommon says
So excited about this Kaitlyn! I just registered last night, I guess God really wants me to be there. 🙂 I love when He does that. I agree with you wholeheartedly, He does very extraordinary things in the middle of our ordinary lives. Thank you & many blessings!
Beth WIlliams says
Great idea! Love the concept of building bridges instead of walls. To many women have walls around their hearts & won’t let people into their lives. If people would just open up a little and share their stories then others can be encouraged or better yet someone can encourage them!
Love the Road show idea!!!
Blessings 🙂
Kristin at See the Shine Be the Shine says
Found this post through Facebook today. I love the concept of building bridges not walls. I am in the process of tearing my walls down, brick-by-brick.
Debbie McDaniel says
Love this Kaitlyn! Building bridges, sharing stories, believing that “He is writing a best seller in you, right in the middle of all your ordinary,” so good. Blessings to you, and thank you for pouring your heart and life into so many others, bringing such encouragement, praying it back your way! 🙂