TOFW Infinate Hope!

Friday night and all day Sat, Michelle, Cameo, Sarah, Roy'l and I attended
Time Out for Women.
We had a wonderful time!

Friday night, Michael McLean performed. For anyone who doesn't know who Michael McLean is, he is a very talented LDS song writer and performer. He doesn't have the greatest singing voice, but he writes the most inspirational songs/music, plays, and books. He approaches very sensitive issues that we all experience, and shares the Spirit and the Gospel through his music and humor.


















We were sitting close to the front, to the left of the stage...not bad seats, but not the best, but close enough to bask in the Spirit!

Sister Ardeth Kapp spoke about her years of service in the Church and finding hope that helped her through trials. What a special woman she is, and such an example!!

Mark Mabry spoke and shared his marvelous photography. I was most impressed with his sensitivity to emotions that, I'm sure, were displayed by those who actually saw and touched the Savior.

On Sat. as I was showing Mikel one of Mark's books of photography, I was overcome by the same tears and emotions that were felt the night before when the photos were first displayed for us on the screen, so Mikel purchased the book for me for my birthday. It's put away till Dec. but even the thought of it now brings tears. Needless to say, Mark Mabry's photography is fabulous!














On Sat. Mikel attended with us as he was asked to be one of the Priesthood holders in attendance in case a blessing was needed, etc. (As it turned out, he and another brother were called upon to give a blessing to a sister who had a seizure. The sister was fine afterward but her husband was called to come pick her up.)
Back to the story at hand....we arrived early on Sat. so Mikel could report for his duties. We sat in the third row from the front, to the right of the main stage. All the center seats were reserved for the sisters who arrived in the very early hours of the morning to get front seats. Mikel and I were able to enter before the crowd and save seats for our girls. It was a completely sold out event with no spare seats....except for one seat next to us. I like to think that seat was supposed to belong to our Brooke. We love you Brooke and wish you had been there!
...back to our Sat...

That day, Hilary Weeks performed. Hilary is another wonderful performer who shares her testimony of the Savior through her music. She is also a wonderful speaker and shared some very personal, humorous, touching stories and experiences.












Sis. Emily Watts shared humorous stories and experiences from her years of motherhood, and service in the Church. It was very easy to relate to her because the experiences that took place in her home could have very easily taken place in any of our homes...and probably did or are still happening!

Michael Wilcox spoke and shared that his wife is dying, but he holds to HOPE as they spend her last days together....not hope as in healing, but hope, as in Eternal families, the Atonement, service, and Gods love for each of us.

Mariam Kallon spoke about her escape from Sierra Leone, Africa, and witnessing the murders of her parents and brother and sister. She shared about the hygiene kit that was given her, and that it gave her hope to continue on to a better life. She still carries that hygiene kit as a reminder of where she came from, and what is left to do in this world.


Sister Merrilee Boyack spoke about her desire to continue servicing during her trials, and the heavy weight she carried as she ran for a political office, serving as Relief Society president, organizing the Proposition 8 campaign in California, all while fighting her cancer.

Kris Belcher spoke about her battle with cancer of the eyes at a young age, and how she held onto hope as she learned how to live her life to the fullest even though she can't see.

All the speakers shared the same messages of hope, faith, and Heavenly Father's love. We laughed, we cried, we laughed till we cried. What a glorious day and a half spent with over 2500 other women!

...and we were given adorable tote bags too!