I managed the impossible: Friday morning I escaped on a much needed, probably undeserved, yet highly enjoyed reprieve from being 'mom' and 'wife'! Ahhhhhh. It was such a fabulous weekend with some of my tightest inner circle. These are my girls. My just be myself, laugh til I cry, eat til I am sick, spill your guts kinda girls. We were missing Diane...but I only have probably one or two friends in my collection of 'God's tender mercy friends' who weren't there. And I felt incredibly blessed to enjoy this kind of trip with them. We sped(and I say this litterally, Holly's got some heavy-foot-itis going) to Billings for Time Out for Women. This is a women's conference not directly sponsored by our church, but certainly affiliated with some of our most salt of the earth rated people. This was my second Time Out...and I was certainly filled to the brim, both physically and spiritually.
So, for the record, here are my notes. Just some of the highlights that spoke to me personally. This is just a paraphrased selection...really, its just the message that I was supposed to hear.
There was a woman who was blinded mid-life by cancer...she's a mom, and she's amazing! She is funny beyond words and yet able to speak so candidly that it completely endeared me to her and her message. She talked about an experience she had where she was driving with her friend on a mountain pass and her friend let her drive! She prompted her 'a little to the left'...'a little to the left'....'now right!' ...and so on for over 45 minutes of driving! She talked about how we drive blindly as moms. And how we need the gentle reassurance and redirection of our Father in Heaven to steer us along. She drew the parrallel between her stinky pre-adolescent son's refusal to shower(I was totally with her on this one) and how he'd rather fake it then actually do it to the chance to really expereince the healing, cleansing living water of the Savior Jesus Christ. In the most personal application of Jacob chapter 5 parable of the vineyard I've ever heard she quoted about where the caretaker questioned the master on why some trees were planted in good soil and others in desolate, far off rocky places. And how He said he knew exactly where he'd planted every one.
What I loved: There have been different phases of my life where I have been planted in different places of the vineyard. Times where the sun has been brilliant and I've really felt able to stretch my roots and grow under the blessing of the sun. And there have been times when I have know rocky soil. And perhaps I've questioned why he'd put me there, instead of allowing the sunny place that I seem to flourish in. But He knows exactly where I am! AND...I do my flourishing in the rocky soil. I grow more, learn more and appreciate more fully the blessing of the times I am allowed a small reprieve and vacation to greener grass!
Another speaker taught that CPR means Caring Plus Response. That simply caring what happens is not going to affect the outcome...but responding, helping, will. She talked about Jesus Christ, and that with his power he could have simply made it be that our problems were fixed...that there was no evil or sorrow. He could have just allowed us to skip these things. But He didn't. He didn't skip coming and suffering for me. He did this so He could minister to me personally.
What I loved: I will change the way I approach each day. She said to give away 5 seconds of time away...through small and simple acts of love- and change my day. Change my family. Change my community, through increasing my access to my Savior and his personal love for me. I can do better to react in a way to things so that outcomes change...tempers are calmed...relationships strengthened and love increased.
Make sure I see the needs of everyone. The prophet Moroni in the Book of Mormon condemned our day because he saw it, and our lack of charity and compassion for those right in front of us. We are women on the errand of angels. The task of answering the needs of another might be overwhelming, but there is something I can do. YOU must be the change you wish to see in the world.
What I loved: I get a bit wrapped up in the daily happenings of my own life that I'm too preoccupied to really reach out to others in the way I should. And its usually my own family that consumes my time, but I could involve them more. Teach them to serve by doing it with them. I'm definitely scheming of things we can do together. Simple service projects that require a few hours and many hands. Things we can do: by blessing we will be blessed! Its my new mantra!
And then there was the speaker who assured us that He knows our mountains and deserts...and every single point of our journey here. I simply must trust that He is aware of me, and change the way I petition his help and seek His answers. Probably the most challenging thing is in trusting His timing. We have no idea what situations are at play in the grand picture, and by pleading for an end to our own struggle, we can't see the struggles of others. Trust that He will indeed rescue us when it is best for us. She referenced Matthew 9 as a day in the life of the Savior. I'm excited to study this chapter better! And finally, she taught that sacrfice will lead to miracles. Through the tender story of Abraham and Issac she taught 'what is it I will sacrifice so that the Lord can teach me more clearly?' My favorite was that Abraham did not know there would be an angel, or a ram in the thicket. But that if I do not withhold anything from the Lord, and sacrifice freely, He will provide an angel, and a ram in the thicket.
What I loved: Well, everything! I can do better. I can trust His plan, be faithful that by doing my best to accept this plan I'll recieve the promise He's offered.
And then there's the music. So good!
I can't tell you how grateful I am to spend time in the temple with my dear friends. And to share in the moments that most definitely strengthed all of our weary, mommy-hearts! Each of us knows struggles that are similiar...each of us knows individual refining and pain. But we're each on the same journey, learning the same lesson in slightly different schools. How thankful I am to be reminded that He knows exactly where I am. And exactly how to succor and strengthen me!
And....that after being spoiled with some time away, receiving sweet kisses and hugs from children that made this weekend feel unnecessary!
