Time Out For Women 2010

Time Out for Women is an inspirational event featuring presentations by respected authors and artists who address the spiritual challenges and needs of women in the Church. It's a great opportunity for women to gather and get recharged.

So excited! On our way to the David L. Lawrence Conference Center for Time Out For Women

I was such a lucky girl on this trip. Not only did I get to spend the weekend with my mom (which is always a good time), but I was able to also convince my very dear friend, Susan to come along. The trip was so much sweeter because she was there.

Karen with Dallyn

"From Phantom to solo gigs with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to the role of Joseph Smith, Dallyn’s done it all. And it doesn’t matter if he’s singing your favorite hymn or a well-loved Broadway hit—when Dallyn sings it from his heart, you feel it in yours...it is truly a musical testimony."

Maria and Mom with Dallyn Vail Bayles

Dallyn isn't usually bearded, but he is preparing for an audition for a New Testament Movie and needed to look the part.

Mari and Dallyn

Karen and my mom served in Young Womens when Ardeth Kapp was General Young Womens President.

"Do you feel like you have enough hope, or do you wish you had more? There is a principle of hope that can bless your life in new ways. Drawing on a lifetime of experiences, Ardeth shares steps you can take every day to increase your hope and discover the promises that await you."

Ardeth Kapp with Debbie Jastal

*Sister Kapp said that" one woman is influential, 10 women are helpful, 100 women are powerful but 1000 women are invincible!"
*Prayer is calling home, calling our Father.
*She said let your covenants be paramount and your obedience exact. She assured us that He Knows!
*We need to put Faith in place of Fear, Hope in place of doubts and Charity in place of contention.

John shared with us how often he is mistaken for pro football players like Steve Young :D
This is his football player stance
John shared with us some thoughts regarding "teams"
Often times "even though we are in the last days, and we all know who wins...there are those who still struggle to decide what team's jersey they are going to wear."
He read this poem called "The Weaver"

My Life is but a weaving

between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

2 Oft times He weaveth sorrow
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.

3 Not til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

4 The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned.

5 He knows, He loves, He cares,
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
Who leave the choice with Him.

I grew up listening to John Bytheway talks on Temple Trips to Chicago and Toronto.
He came to a youth conference in our stake the year after I had graduated.
Many in our group still remembered that youth conference with fondness.
It was so fun to finally meet John in person.

"John Bytheway is a prolific writer and an equally prolific thinker. And so when he shares what he’s learned by attending TOFW events in the past, it means something. Sharing his own insights about life and the gospel, John reminds us of the importance of focusing on the basics."

The fountain outside of the Conference Center

The other side of the fountain

Me watching Susan take pictures

The Pittsburgh night line as we left the Conference Center on Friday night

Susan Rapp, Martha Pilbeam, Leslie Lake, Karen Benner, Mari Tribett, Maria Simons, Sarah Reyes-Cairo and Terry Fox

Karen Benner and Hilary Weeks

"Hilary is not just a great songwriter and incredible performer. She is first and foremost a woman—a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister. Her humor and her testimony make every event perfect."

Susan is converted to being a fan of Hilary Weeks now too

*Hilary spoke to us about gossip...she shared a quote she once saw in a shop outside of a Cracker Barrel which said "I don't repeat gossip...so listen closely."
*She then quoted 1 Peter 3:10 "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile" (In the footnote this is referring to gossip).
*Her goal is to not gossip and she prays about this each morning.
*She also said the He has the power to multiply and magnify, not just the loaves but our talents.

Maria, DeAnne Flynn, Karen Benner, Mom and Mari Tribett

"Leave your sewing tools at home. This mother of seven is not talking about those kinds of patterns. Are you hoping to raise good kids? While there might be headaches and heartaches along the way, with the Lord’s patterns as our foundation, that hope can turn into reality."

DeAnne talked about patterns "And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations" D&C 52:14.

She pointed out that obedience is not transferrable. We need to follow the patterns the Lord has set for us.

Mom, Michael Wilcox, Karen Benner, Maria and Mari Tribett

"Though some may believe hope is a gift we either have or don’t have, Michael believes hope is something we create consciously. And he has the scripture stories to back that up. You’ll discover that hope becomes the natural emotional consequence of living key gospel principles."

Michael told the story of the Israelites spying out the promised land. Joshua and Caleb came back with the fruit and encouraged the people to enter in. But the others that went with them told of the giants and the walls around the land. Then Brother Wilcox asked, "Will we be wall watchers looking at giants or grape gatherers seeing the fruit?" God brought down the walls of Jericho and the Giant Goliath. God will bring down our walls and giants IF we focus on the fruits. David was given bears and lions to fight that prepared him to face Goliath. What lions and bears are we facing that is preparing us for a battle in our future?

Mary Ellen Edmund autographs our tickets for us.

"We know some of you know that song—you know, the one about the ant? MEE has been learning about resilience: how to get it, how to keep it, and what to do with it. And she’s sharing life lessons from her own personal journey."

Maria and Terry Fox

Being diagnosed with cancer and ultimately losing her sight initially left Kris Belcher in a hopeless state. But, she learned that when she walked, facing the light of the sun, the light from THE Son filled her dark world with a light only He could give.

She described LIGHT = L ove, I ntelligence, G race, H ope, T ruth.

My mom was so excited to be "vindicated" by Kris Belcher.
My mom contends with others who claim that Heavenly Father won't give us more trials that we can bear. In fact often times, He does just that to drive us to our knees and teach us that only with Him are we able to bear most of our burdens.
Kris mentioned this very fact in her presentation.

Mari Tribett, Mom, Kris Belcher, Maria, and Karen Benner

How often do you get to see a urinal???
These two together spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E :)
(They converted some of the mens rooms into ladies rooms, since there were ~1000 women there)

Mom trying things out...Crazy girl!

Walking back to the van to head home :D

As we left the Conference Center and headed back to our hotel, we witnessed these signs...
the one says Strip District and the other is for Liberty Ave.
I couldn't resist saying "Give me liberty or give me strip!" (Tee hee hee)

It drizzled as we walked back to our van.

The bridge over the Allegheny River

We were right by the Heinz factory

Susan reminisced about a trip she took with her family last fall, where her sister was panicking about the hills/mountains and curves they had to drive through to get to Connecticut. She referred to them as "vistas of death and valleys of doom."
(I had to get a picture)

This trip was "just what the doctor ordered" for so many of us.
I was so grateful to have been "filled" back up when arriving home to discover really tough trials happening in those I care for...my turn to help others find "hope"