Time Out For The Ladies

Shortly after our return home from kayaking I took off again with nine girl friends to a wonderfully uplifting conference called Time Out For Women. Yep, it is just for women (though I think there was one man in the audience this time - and we loved him for it). Normally I attend this conference every other year with my SIL who lives in another state; we both drive and meet up at the conference. This year I decided to round up a group of friends from my area to go with me.



I came away from the weekend feeling renewed and having a notebook filled with inspiring quotes and ideas.

One of our favorite presenters was Mariama Kallon. Her story of struggle, war, endurance and faith touched all of our hearts. We all shed tears with her as she recounted her life living in Sierra Leons during their civil war and how she came to know God and found her way to America.



Of course I met up with my SIL again.


Our journey home had a 3 hour detour in Moses Lake. I've been sworn to secrecy as to this pit stop and what it entailed but I will stay it involved the Golden Corral, square dancers, prom, Walmart and a wooden chicken.


Below are some of my notes and favorite messages/quotes from the weekend:

Sister Hinckley was once asked how to have a successful marriage. Her quick reply, "Lower your expectations." - as told by Virginia Hinckley Pearce

How will you know if you are growing spiritually? (taken from Dallin H. Oaks talk "The Challenge to Become")
- You will start losing your disposition to do evil.
- You will begin to see things as Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ see them.

"The fast track to misery is to compare yourself to others." - V.H. Pearce

"Everyone is on their own path. Each path is successful if you are doing what the Lord has asked." - V.H. Pearce

"Peace joy and hope are available to those who measure success properly." - Julie Beck

"We can be out of touch by being consumed by the world." - Ardeth Kapp

"I have a photographic memory, but not same day delivery." - Ardeth Kapp

"Be your own kind of best mom; be the kind of mom your kids need." - Linda Eyre & Shawna Eyre Pothier

S. Michael Wilcox shared this regarding Hope:

Look Forward - hope comes on where we put our eyes
Look Backwards - to see what we have accomplished, to know what we can do
Look Beside You - HE walks with us

Wendy Ulrich shared these gems:
1. Stop worrying about your weaknesses - instead identify and focus on your strengths.

In an answer to prayer when she felt inadequate she received this answer: "I didn't call you on a mission for your weaknesses, I called you for your strength."

2. Don't try to get motivated to exercise. Commit to just 2 minutes of exercise, the motivation to go longer will follow.

3. Stop trying to find friends. Instead, develop skills of friendship.

4. Don't try to feel happy. Try to feel grateful, do the gratitude exercise each day.

5. Celebrate failure. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing ___________?
- badly = this is better than not at all and often where most lessons are learned.

6. Don't practice resisting temptation. Instead, practice distraction, feed your real hunger, take back your power over what you can control.

7. Don't endure to the end.
"Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." - President Hinckley
Savor everyday delights.

Emily Freeman shared some ideas for finding hope.

"Part of learning to love life is learning to love the journey." - Emily Freeman

Each day list a favorite thing. As you review your list it will give you hope each day.

Give with simplicity.

"Hope sustains the soul in moments that would otherwise destroy us." - Emily Freeman