I just saw the 2008 schedule for "Time Out For Women," sponsored by Deseret Book, and I just had to make a plug. And no, they are not paying me to do this. I noticed that they will put on an event in Oklahoma City in April, as well as a host of other cities throughout the year. You can check the schedule here at http://deseretbook.com/time-out/schedule.
But with my ties to people in the Oklahoma City area, I did want to put in my 2 cents worth. I attended the event in Minneapolis in September. I went because several other sisters in my ward were going, and I thought it might be a fun girls' day out. I was frankly a bit leery of the way things were set up, with several Deseret Book authors speaking to us in the auditorium and their books for sale in the lobby. Being an author myself, I know how these marketing things work.
But it was such a great experience. From the time the first speaker got up there, I was scratching down all kinds of notes in my notebook and occasionally (I admit it) bawling my eyes out. Because these people were able to address us in a unique position. It wasn't an official Church meeting, so they could address the whole spectrum of what it means to us to be Latter-day Saint women, struggling with our families and callings and jobs, and trying to do the best we can. I came away with so many ideas I could incorporate into my life and with a firm desire to seek out what the Lord really wanted to be doing, and to try to simply become the best ME I could be in my own special circumstances. I felt assured of the Lord's love and His desire for me to excel in all areas of my life--from other women (and a man or two) who were working through the very same things.
It was amazing. And I really encourage you all to go when you have the opportunity. And reread those notes you take, and keep on hangin' in there.
So that's my plug for the day. And by the way, I did not buy any books there. I did, however, buy a very cute Family Home Evening assignment board and a scripture trivia game for my family. And I still love them. (That is, I love the things I bought...and, of course, I love my family.)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Time Out For Women
Posted by Katie Parker at 5:22 PM
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6 Comments:
I haven't been to any of of the "Time Out for Women" events yet. Hello- I live in Phoenix and there's one right in my back yard every year. I keep saying I will..I will... but I never end up going.
I like your opinion or plug as you say- it's great. Thanks. :)
I went last year when they came to Oklahoma. Jen and my Mom went too. We had lots of fun. Jason Deere was part of the event as well. That was really cool!
On a side note...Did you hear that Steve's family is coming for Thanksgiving? I think when they got the news about Becky they changed their mind.
I hope everything went well Yesterday.
Wow, I didn't realize they'd already been to Oklahoma. Now I feel left out...but maybe that means there's hope for them coming back to Minneapolis. It was quite cool. It would've been cool to see Jason Deere in action also.
OK...for all of you blog readers out there, "howard's" is my sister-in-law Marilyn, and Jason Deere who now has albums out with Deseret Book among other things is from our home ward in Oklahoma. *And* Steve is Marilyn's brother, and I don't know what we're going to do about Thanksgiving. And Becky is one of our other sisters-in-law, and she's a great lady but isn't doing so well health-wise right now. I'm sure prayers from anyone reading this would be appreciated. And what I did yesterday...that's another story! As you can see, I at least lived. :-)
P.S...it's times like these that I wish we didn't live so far away from family.
After several years of living near Sacramento and not going to TOFW, I went with my sister to one in Kansas City this year. We loved it, and will be dragging the rest of our family and friends along next time. It was so worth going! Jason Deere was at ours, too, and though I didn't know who he was then, his music about church history was so touching. Now my kids have all of the songs on both albums memorized.
Hey Annie, thanks for sharing your experience. I remember Jason sharing his music at a church meeting long ago, and I was blown away even back then. He's got a real talent for getting right to the heart of the matter.
Even though our TOFW had different presenters (we had Hilary Weeks singing at ours, for example), and they each have their own unique slants on things, they all did a great job of helping us see our eternal potentials and feel good about who we are and what we can do.
P.S. Yeah, Ajoy, you really ought to give TOFW a try! :-)
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