Time Out....

Well, I do not have any fabulous pictures to share, because even after I put the camera with my bag, I still forgot it.... and all the people I was with forgot theirs too! Go figure!

Anyhow, we had a GREAT time. I loved everything about Time Out for Women. We are even planning next years trip already! (Vegas baby!)

I thought I would share a few things that I learned and felt were most important. Although I felt that many things they said were directly for me, I decided to pick one thing from each speaker that I felt was important.

Ardeth Kapp spoke on Friday night, her topic was the Personal in Personal Revelation. The thing I got most from her talk was that "We can wade through the challenges in life, because we are NEVER alone!"

Michael McLean was the musical artist for the night, besides telling us that he "turns his wife on" by vacuuming, one of the most inspirational things I learned from him was "If only you believe in yourself, you can achieve."

Kenneth Cope who is one of my favorite singers (my kids are sick of his music) sang 2 songs on Friday night, but sang a lot on Saturday. From his music I came away with We have a Savior who loves us and is persistent in finding us. He will come after us time and time again, even continually.

Mary Ellen Edmunds was our first speaker on Saturday, she is hilarious! I love her, she makes me "happified." She taught us that we can be "happified" if we look at our blessings, rather than our challenges.

Brad Wilcox was our next speaker, all I can say about him is WOW! I bought one of his books and am looking forward to starting it soon! From his talk I learned that "Christ doesn't make up the difference, He makes all the difference!"

Jill Manning spoke next, her talk was on a very sensitive subject for women, pornography. I learned that as a wife and mother, I need to protect my home, it is MY territory. As women our bodies are a gift from God and they are miraculous, but pornography not only glamorizes that gift, but abuses it.

Our last speaker for Saturday was Emily Freeman. She told many wonderful stories and had me in tears several times. She spoke about abundance. She had many wonderful inspirational stories and quotes, but the one that stood out most to me is "Christ is the abundance, we need to turn to him, then we will have abundance."

The theme for TOFW was Sweet Assurance. I know that through my Savior Jesus Christ, all things are possible. I know that he leads me and guides me, and when I need him, he is always there. I felt the spirit so strongly at TOFW and love to go. I wish I could go every month! I am sure that I would come away every time with something to uplift and edify me as a wife and mother. I am thankful that Mike lets me go. I loved my weekend away!