What a wonderful Friday and Saturday Karen, Christie and I had attending Time Out for Women. It was very encouraging and motivating. The speakers all had a talent to talk and entertain but still have a spiritual message. The concert on Friday evening was Kenneth Cope, Kim Nelson (a therapist) and Michael McClean. The songs were so good and we left feeling so good as we walked back to our hotel which was just 5 mnutes away.
The next morning we had to be back about 8:00 to start the rest of the conference. We were given a free bag with the logo of Time Out for women on it. I, of course, needed a new bag.
One of the things they kept stressing the whole time was that we are daughters of our Heavenly Father and that he loves us so much.
Mary Ellen Edmunds gave a great talk and it washumorous. She told us that Satan convinces us that there are no U turns in our lives. Once we have done something, he convinces us that it's too bad, there's no turning back. God tells us we can come back, turn around, repent and He will welcome us back.
Camille Fronk-Olsen said that only God and Jesus Christ can support us in our trials. They are really the only constants in our lives.
Another speaker was Sister Boyack (don't know her). She talked about service and challenged us to do 5-10 seconds of service a day. By giving compliments to people and doing nice things like letting people in front of you in the store or on the highway. I accepted that challenge and in a snap of your fingers, you can give a 1 second compliment to someone that may make their day.
Sister Sharon Larson (the author of the Chocolate Chip story) was the final speaker. She had three suggestions to finding joy: Forgiving others, Trust in the Lord with all our heart and Keep our covenants.
After lunch and before the speakers started again, there was a segment where people had sent in nominations for people who showed joy in their lives even though they had trials. They started reading off several names and where they were from. They read my name -- I admit I jumped. They had us stand up and I leaned over and gave Christie a nudge and gave her a thank you look. I guess she and Debbie had nominated me and written a beautiful letter to submit. I really don't think there were any winners or any big prizes, but it was special to me just to be nominated by my daughters. Thank you again.
There is so much more that was said. I took notes and if any would like a copy, let me know. If any of you get the chance to go to any of these conferences, you will enjoy it so much. You will be very spiritually fed and feel that women ROCK!!!!! (as the kids would say)
I am grateful to be a mother, and a servant of my Heavenly Father so I can serve others and be strengthened throughout my life.
We stopped in Johnstown/Gloversville where Karen was born. We took a picture of our house there. Sharon was only 1 year old when we moved in and when she was 2, Karen was born. It is still a nice looking house. I guess they didn't like the tree we planted in the front because it looks like it is gone but they replaced it with another one.
We also took a picture of Beech Nut in Canajahorie where your Dad/Grandpa worked. He worked at the baby food side of the plant. They also made gum and mints. (Micaela would like that). Someone told me they don't make baby food there any more. It was fun to see the area. I remember that your Dad traveled to Albany two times a week to go to school to get his masters. It seemed far away years ago but we traveled the distance to Albany and it seemed like only about an hour.
