Time Out For Women Day 1

I couldn’t wait for 5:00 to get here today!  Lexie & Jon & the boys came up for the weekend, and they dropped Lexie off at my work so that Lexie & I could go straight to Arlington for the Time Out For Women event.  We bought tickets for it back in May, and October seemed so far away.  It kind of snuck up on me that it was this weekend, but I was so ready for it to be here.  I’m glad we made it in time and that we were headed southbound on the freeway, b/c there was a big accident going northbound and the backup was literally for miles and miles!

We got great seats in the front section just right of the main stage.  I’m so glad that Lexie & I get to spend this time together and be spiritually uplifted.  We already decided that we’ll have to make this a yearly tradition.  The theme for this year’s TOFW was “Think, believe and live HIGHER” based on the scripture in Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

The first speaker of the night was supposed to be Brad Wilcox, but his mother passed away on Tuesday and the funeral was today.  So sad, especially since Dad knows the family b/c they grew up in the same neighborhood.  So, instead we had to settle and suffer through listening to John Bytheway (wink, wink).  He, of course, was an awesome speaker.  Here are some of my favorite quotes that he shared about “thinking higher”:

Elder Packer from October 1980 General Conference: “Our lives are made up of thousands of everyday choices. Over the years these little choices will be bundled together and show clearly what we value.

The crucial test of life, I repeat, does not center in the choice between fame and obscurity, nor between wealth and poverty. The greatest decision of life is between good and evil.

We may foolishly bring unhappiness and trouble, even suffering upon ourselves. These are not always to be regarded as penalties imposed by a displeased Creator. They are part of the lessons of life, part of the test.

Some are tested by poor health, some by a body that is deformed or homely. Others are tested by handsome and healthy bodies (John Bytheway joked here that this is not one of his tests…LOL); some by the passion of youth; others by the erosions of age.

Some suffer disappointment in marriage, family problems; others live in poverty and obscurity. Some (perhaps this is the hardest test) find ease and luxury.

All are part of the test, and there is more equality in this testing than sometimes we suspect.”

Here is a great quote by Elder Neal A. Maxwell from May 1991, “One’s life, therefore, cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free. President Wilford Woodruff counseled us all about the mercy that is inherent in some adversity: ‘The chastisements we have had from time to time have been for our good, and are essential to learn wisdom, and carry us through a school of experience we never could have passed through without.’ (In Journal of Discourses, 2:198.)

Therefore, how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, ‘Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!’”

Another GREAT thing he shared was this poem:

My life is but a weaving
Between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow
And I in foolish pride,
Forget that He seeth the upper,
And I the under side.

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

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.

We ended the night by hearing from THE incomparable Sheri Dew.  I could listen to her talk & share nuggets of wisdom for hours on end.  Here are some of my favorites from her:

• The Spirit will translate what I have to say into what you need to hear.  He is the Great Translator.
• Are you authorizing the Spirit to teach you through the choices you make?
• What are you walking around with that you don’t know of it’s power?  A temple recommend gives you access to the highest house of learning on the Earth.
• You have to learn the language of revelation.  Learn the language of God by immersing yourself in the scriptures.
• She had a few quotes that she shared w/ us and instead of her just reading them to us, she had us read them WITH her!  It was INCREDIBLY POWERFUL and something that I want to try in my teaching w/ the Young Women.
• She also introduced us to new verses to the song, “As Sisters In Zion.”  She had us stand and sing these new verses together and the Spirit was SO STRONG:

THE SISTERS OF ZION
The sisters of Zion are called to God's labor,
We willingly serve Him with spirit and might.
We go to the nations with truth everlasting,
We teach of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us,
We trust in his words and our purpose is clear.
The angels of heaven are walking beside us,
We'll share our glad message with all who will hear.

We go forth enlisted with Helaman's Army
In numbers much greater than ever before.
With power and spirit we'll faithfully witness
The heavens have spoken and truth is restored!

We got done at 9:30 and ran over to WalMart to get a few things.  I looked up the closest one on my phone, and it was just around the corner and one block over.  I was shocked to find out it was directly across the street from “The Death Star” (Cowboys Stadium)!  I had no idea it was that close.

There was a whole huge section when you first walked in of nothing but Cowboys stuff.  Then on the other side of that it was all Texas Rangers baseball stuff.  I told Lex she had to get a picture by this cute Cowboys pig.

Once we got our stuff for the service project tomorrow and some treats (like peanut butter M&M’s and York peppermint patties), we went to our hotel.  We had planned on just driving home & coming back down early in the morning.  But, Mom surprised us w/ a hotel right across the freeway!  She is so incredibly thoughtful and good to us.  It was GREATLY appreciated!  Lexie said that while we were walking around WalMart her feet were hurting.  When we got to the hotel, she took off her shoe and it was LITERALLY falling apart!  The whole bottom had cracked and was leaving pieces of shoe all over the floor!  She was so sad to have to throw them away b/c she’s had them since high school and are super comfy.  Guess we’ll be going back to WalMart in the morning to get her some new shoes!

I thought this towel folded into this cute flower was so fun to discover in the bathroom.

We had a great view of Six Flags right outside our window.  How fun!

We had fun talking and laughing and spending some quality sister time together.  Mom said we weren’t allowed to stay up late, but we did.  We went to bed around 11:30, which is pretty late for 2 old Mamas like us.  I’m so thankful that Lexie & I get to be together this weekend and have our spiritual cups filled to running over!  I’m so excited for more of the same tomorrow.