Time Out for Women

Last weekend, I went to an awesome conference with some of the wonderful women in my life. The conference is called Time Out for Women and it is put on by Deseret Book. It really was great. I went to TOFW with a couple of goals. One of the biggest things I was hoping to get was a recharge from being around so many women who have the same goals, concerns, challenges, hopes as I do. I was feeling down about some of the things going on in the world and our country. I wanted to feel the spirit and companionship that comes from being with nearly 3,000 LDS women.

It is really hard to pick my favorite presenter. Mary Ellen Edmunds is just hilarious. She is able to convey a message of assurance and hope while making herself and everyone else laugh. The same was true of Emily Watts. The one that made me cry the most was Emily Freeman as she shared personal experiences of trials and depression. The one I took the most notes on was Jill C. Manning who talked about Pornography and teaching our children about pronography. She talked about teaching our children truth relating to our bodies, our home and our sacred sexuality. Really good talk.

Chieko Okazaki helped me with the concept of teaching children correct principles then letting them govern themselves as taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith. And Carolyn Rasmus spoke of the Atonement as a cover to protect and help us through this life.

The two musical presenters were very good. Who knew Hilary Weeks was so hilarious?!

The wonderful women who went with me:

my MIL, (me), my mom, Aunt Sue, her daughter Haylee (holding A), Aunt Linda, Grandma and Aunt Jewel Not pictured is Sue's SIL who insisted on taking the picture.

If any of you get a chance to go to a TOFW event, I would strongly recommend it. It is so great to go and be spiritually fed in a relaxed environment with a bunch of women with the same values!