Time Out

Beware... This is a long one!!





I had such a great time at the Time Out for Women Confrence I attended on Sat. It was such an uplifting event. Here is a little info about Time Out for Women from the President and Chief Executive Officer of Deseret Book Company:


About Time Out for Women
During recent years, it has been my privilege to meet hundreds of thousands of you throughout the world. And you are, very simply, spectacular! I know something of your goodness, your virtue, and your strength. I also know something about the intensity of your lives. It's not necessarily easy to raise happy, righteous families and live as a woman of God in the 21st century. No doubt there are days when your clear perspective about life dims a little and you long for someone to remind you why you're here and who you are.
If you're like I am, on those days you might have wished you could just call "Time Out" long enough to regroup, and catch your physical and spiritual breath. As a result, Time Out for Women: Celebrating Life, Love and Learning was born.
In September 2002, we held our first-ever Time Out for Women in Phoenix, Arizona. The women who attended were fabulous and their response to the authors and music artists who presented that day was overwhelming. Since then we've been inundated with requests to bring Time Out to other cities.
It is our hope that during this day filled with messages of inspiration from respected authors and music artists, you will learn, you will laugh, and your spirits and sights will be lifted. It is Deseret Book's great pleasure to invite you to catch your breath, take a break from daily pressures, "huddle" with your sisters and friends, and feel rejuvenated for the days ahead.
We look forward to taking a Time Out with you!
Sheri Dew








And it was just that a rejuvination.. I didnt quite get the opportunity to really get into it as I had wanted to due to coming down with the worst tension headache I have ever had.. I was in so much pain I could hardly concentrate on anything else. But I still enjoyed it emmensly and would highly reccomend that if you have an opportunity and the means to attend one of these confrences that you jump on it..



So we left friday night around 6:00 and got into philly around 7 or so.. We went and got checked into our hotel and then tried to find a place for dinner.. We found this little Italian restraunt just a couple of blocks away.. I am still not used to the busy life of big citys and was taken back that we had to pay $20 bucks just to park.. The restraunt was fairly busy and by the time we finally got our dinner it was like 9-9:30 It is hard to eat so late but it was really good. We got back to the hotel and decided to get ready for bed and call it a night. I think it was close around midnight by the time we finally went to sleep and we were up at 5:45 Am to start getting ready. My crazy roomy decided she wanted to excercise before getting ready so she went and walked laps around the hotel floor we were on.. LOL!!! I didnt bring any work out clothes or I would have joined her.. So I just decided to do some crunches and push ups and some stretching so I could at least say I did something physical.. By the time we were ready and were heading out the door to the confrence center I could feel my headache coming on.. I had had one for the last 4 days just minor tension headaches due to some back and neck pain I was experiencing probably for sleeping wrong on it and I dont know if sleeping in the hotel bed made it worse or not but by the time i got to the confrence center I was in so much pain I was on the verge of crying.. I took some pain medication when I first got there but it didnt seem to do much. The music and noise just seemed to make it pound worse. A couple hours into it I took a little more pain medication and it finally helped take the edge off but never really took it away.. It kind of came in waves of feeling like I was ok and could actually function to horrible pounding with my neck and head tensing up.. Finally by the time it was over 6 hrs later I was finally getting some relief.


It was so great though. The confrence this time was really church oriented which I heard others in the past have not been so centered around the LDS faith. It was so refreshing and uplifting. It was all about finding joy.. Everything doesn't have to be going just right in order to experience joy.. It is sometimes in the midst of everything going a little less than "just right" that we can learn so much more about the everlasting joy promised to each of us.

Sorry for the quality of some of the pictures.. I think they were reflecting my head!! LOL

We got to enjoy many songs performed and written by Hillary weeks who was so witty and funny yet very spiritual. she had a couple "dittys" is what she called them that she performed to The sound of musics These are a few of my favorite things that was just hilarious..It kinda went like..... nap time and bed time and bed time and nap time, nap time and bed time and bed time and nap time these are a few of my favorite things. So funny...She related to how all of us moms have felt at one time or another and put them in words to beautiful music. There were 2 that really teared me up. 1 called If I only had today wich was so beautiful about what if we only had today what would we do and who would we do it with and about spending it with our family... So beautiful and the other one was Just let me cry which is a song about grieving and that sometimes we dont need all the words and nice deeds to make us better but that sometimes we just need to cry... Very beautiful... She is very talented. She and her family live in Lehi Utah.


We also got to hear from Chris Stewart who is a best selling author and world record setting air force pilot who talked about what is the purpose of our being. How much joy are we supposed to feel in a troubled world. Can our trials make us happier as well as stronger... Very good!!


We also heard from Carolyn J. Rasmus who was a professor and an administrative assistant to Pres Dallin H Oaks and Jeffrey R Holland. She is a convert to our church and she talked on that just because life's mountain tops are followed by spiritual valleys and deserts, that doesnt mean we cant or wont experience great joy.. I think I enjoyed her talk the most!!


We also heard from Jane Clayson Johnson who most of you from utah probably have already heard of her or know her from being the co- anchor of the early show on CBS as well as the network correspondent for the evening news and 48 hours. She spoke on "Stop. Listen. I'm here." Do you ever feel like your'e too caught up in life? When the noise and distractions of the world start to crowd out the voice of the spirit. We must stop and listen. as women we have the unique ability to tap into the promptings that come relative to our children and our stewardships. Today is more critical then ever that we hear and heed those promptings.



We also heard from Douglas E. Brinley who is a professor of church history and doctorine at BYU. He has authored or co authored several books on marriage and family relations. His talk was on "Because of the Empty Tomb" If there was no savior, there would be no faith. Nothing would matter. But, of course there is a savior and because of the doctorine of his resurrection, everything in the gospel of Jesus Christ has relevance to our daily lives, including our familys and our marriages. Drawing on the truths of the scriptures, you'll discover new applications for the resurrection in your most important life treasures.



Also we heard from Emily Watts who is an editor for Deseret Book. She taught us "Be Joyful..Even if it's all your fault".. She talked about experiencing motherguilt the nagging feeling that somehow everything that goes wrong is our fault. She taught us about putting our family's challenges into perspective and to feel the joy (and the relief) that comes from partnering with the lord in our parenting.



It was such a great confrence.. They had tables from deseret book there with their books and alot of stuff from the store for sale. It was hard not to buy everything. And now I am wishing I would have got more...



And so because of your life circumstances (or in spite of them) whatever they may be, today may you find joy in every song, every message, every struggle, every tear,every smile....

Here's to discovering your Joyful Life!!




I am so lucky today I recieved an award from my very good friend Jodi at Beacon of Hope who said some very nice words of me and my blog. I recieved the....

award.. Since she already recieved the award I cant pass it back but I love her blog.. From her Friday memes and fill ins to her serenity sundays which always has something spiritual and uplifting to her parenting points and tips for the frazzled mom based on the book The power of Positive Parenting there is so much entertainment on her blog and I look forward eveday to reading it...

Now to my nominees.... I wish I could have named you all for I look forward to reading each and everyone of your blogs.. No wonder i never get anything done!! I know a few were nominated by Jodi already...

Jen at Living the life

I can relate alot to her. She has kids the same age as mine and I can relate to some of the funny storys she posts about them. She has alot of strength and spiritualness that shines through in her posts. She also has a running blog thay I love to read.. I have learned alot from her.

Jody at Doran & Jody

I have always thought she is so funny and witty..I love to hear about her adventures with her family. She says it how it is and I love that..

Courtney at Ramblings of a Working Wife and Mom

I relate alot with her as well.. I think all of us mothers of small children relate with each other.. It's hard enough to raise a family but to work as well is amazing!!

Natalie at Me and Ma Vie

Even though she is family Ilove reading her blogs.. I love keeping in touch with her and watching her new baby grow.. She also is juggeling the life of motherhood and working.. You go girl!! Love ya...

Rebecca at The Pearson Posse

Also a good friend of mine.. I love reading her adventures too.. Her family loves the outdoors. She has the cutest kids ever.. They have had many struggles and trials with the health of their children and I admire her for her courageous strength.

Jodi at The Gallagher Family

My old neighbor and good friend.. I love to keep up with old friends.. She is so crafty. She is in the process of making the cutest halloween costumes and selling them...I love to watch her kids growing up through her posts.. She is a great mom and the love she has for them shines through in them...

And last but not least Emily at Family Junk

Another good friend and awesome hair stylist... I so miss her doing my hair.. She is so hilarious.. And she is a cool mom.. I miss home like crazy and reading her blog tends to take me back there..

The rules are simple - choose seven blogs you love, post a link - then leave a comment telling them they have been awarded.

Whew!! finally made it to the end... Sorry for such the long post today... Happy monday everyone!! Oh by the way all of you in utah.. Ha ha ha while you are freezing in the snow I am enjoying almost 80 degree weather out here.. Its been absolutely beautiful here!!!