My "TIme Out For Women" Experience!

I wasn't planning on going to Time Out for Women this year. I didn't think I could, and honestly this past year (August through mid-October) I have been struggling with my depression and didn't feel I "deserved" it. But when it came down to it, I was feeling much better with myself and was given the opportunity to go with a group of ladies from church so I was able to go. I am SO GLAD I did! On November 5th I drove a van full of women up to Portland where we attended the Time Out for Women conference at the Portland Convention Center. We stayed in a hotel and went to the conference all day on November 6th as well. It was an amazing experience! Here are just a few highlights I wanted to share with you...


First, one of my favorite speakers was Mariama Kallon. PLEASE read part of her story here: http://www.ldsgenesisgroup.org/kallon.html

Actually, of course, that is just a small part of her story. She is such an amazing person! She has been through things I could only imagine in my worst nightmares, yet she is one of the happiest and most grateful people I have ever met! She absolutely glows! I bought her dvd that has a documentary about her life and her TOFW presentation on it. You can see a trailer for it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx3sSZTuOyA Then I had her autograph it and I got my picture with her. My camera was on the wrong setting, so the picture isn't very good, but you get the idea. Isn't she beautiful?!



How many of us have helped put together humanitarian kits? You have to watch this expert from her TOFW presentation where she talks about her hygiene kit and her sisters' school kit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SUx4nvSCFE&NR=1 It truly makes me grateful for all I have been blessed with! Could you even imagine?!


There were MANY amazing presenters this year and I am so grateful for the opportunity to go. I came home GLADLY carrying my tiny baggie of troubles home with me. Everything is in perspective. This may be the first time any of you have heard that I struggle with depression. I KNOW I am blessed, I know I have a great life. I know I have no "reason" to be depressed. That is what makes it even harder when I struggle. My depression is not something I can fully control, I wish I could. It is kind of like diabetes, or any other disease. It is just that, a disease, something I have to deal with. I do pretty good usually. I "self medicate" with exercise (mostly running), having a close relationship with my Savior, and remembering to count my blessings daily and recognize His hand in my life. If I ever let any of these areas slack, that is when I struggle. I am so grateful for opportunities like this that help put my life in perspective and gives me NEW HOPE... "if she could survive that, then I most certainly can survive my tiny trial!"

Another SUPER COOL think happened to me while at Time Out for Women. I was sitting there and received a text. First of all I don't normally do texting (so please do NOT start texting me!), it isn't a part of our cell plan and I just don't want to rack up the fees. But I had been texting some that weekend because there was a large group of us and sometimes we had to sit separately or would get separated, there were over 1200 women there!!!!! Anyway, on with my story... I received a text from a gal I knew when we were growing up in North Dakota. She saw me, recognized me, texted her mom who called my sister to get my number then texted her back with it and then Heidi texted me. Crazy, huh! I quickly texted her back and told her where to meet me during the next break. When we met up I also recognized her right away because she also hadn't changed a bit. It was so cool to see her! I mean, what in the world was she doing there?! We were a long way from North Dakota. What are the odds? Come to find out that she lives in Vancouver and her husband works for a dental school friend of Nathan's! What small world!!! So we exchanged contact information and not only are we in contact now, but through her I have found a few other NoDaks that I haven't seen or heard from in a while. Pretty cool.

Here is a picture of me and beautiful Heidi taken with my cell phone, another not-so-great-quality picture, but it is all I have!

I am grateful for opportunities like this that help me grow and become a better person, a better wife, a better mom, a better friend. I am extremely grateful for a husband who makes it easy for me to go and take "time out" for myself. I am grateful for children who shower me with hugs and kisses when I return. I do have a good life, and I AM happy!