Choose to Become

My sister Wendi and me at Time Out For Women in Denver.

"All things are possible to him that believeth."  -Mark 9:23

I really enjoy going to Time Out for Women events.  It was fun to be there with my sister.  This was our 5th time attending the event.  (They are in their 9th year...5 out of 9 isn't so bad...oh wait, it's like an "F", right?  Sad day.)

Anyway, this year's TOFW presenters here in Denver were:

Mary Ellen Edmunds

Heidi Swinton

Dallyn Vail Bayles (singer)

Mariama Kallon

Emily Watts

D. Kelly Ogden

Merrilee Boyack

Emily Freeman

Hilary Weeks (singer/songwriter)

Each presenter gave wonderful messages.  They each added a different idea to what I could do to accept the invitation that we each choose to become a little closer to the women we are meant to be.

It's true we are here on this earth for a reason.  It's true we are all in the process of becoming something.  But what?

We were challenged to open our hearts to all of our possibilities. 

Mary Ellen Edmunds is hilarious.  In her challenge to become, one of the things she decided to do was to stop eating sugar.  She thought:  "I know I can't do that, so I will!"  

I think that's a great thing to tell myself the next time I think I can't do something.  Take that self!

Heidi Swinton wrote the biography of Thomas S. Monson (the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).  She asked us to think about the questions: how are you different because President Monson is a Prophet of God?  What influence has he and his words had you?  What is the Lord teaching you through him?  Those are all very good questions...time for me to do some pondering I think.

Mariama Kallon grew up in Sierra Leone and her story would blow your mind...  I feel so blessed that I didn't have to go through what she went through!  She challenged us to not only become something, but something better.

Emily Watts gave us some Habits of Happiness.  They were: 

1) develop a thick skin 

2) expect hard things of yourself and your children-there is honor in that 

3) provide stability of a few well-chosen, established traditions (emphasis on few and well-chosen) 

4) treat yourself as a person 

5) work hard on catching yourself and your children doing what's right (focus on the positive)

D. Kelly Ogden emphasized that we are to "be of good cheer".  He quoted numerous scriptures, and gave many quotes and stories that all had the theme of happiness.  He listed some things that would bring us happiness.  They were:

1) the Spirit of God

2) Service- looking outside of yourself

3) Missionary Work

4) Reading the Scriptures

5) Attending the temple

6) Turning our hearts to our fathers (Family History work)

Merrilee Boyack was very charismatic.  She talked about "Blazing our own trail" and the excitement that should bring us.  She gave us some suggestions on what we could strive to be:

B- Bold

E- Eternally Minded

C- Creative

O- Outward Focused

M- Meek

E- Enlightened

She also added another letter at the end:

U- Unique (I wrote in my notes: Younique...because I am so clever...)

While Merrilee was speaking the power in the building/the whole block went out...  That didn't stop her.  She made her way to the middle of the audience and continued speaking without a mic (until the sound technicians got a portable speaker up and running, that is).

The last speaker was Emily Freeman.  By the time she started, the power still hadn't come on.  She was just going to share the end of her talk and then we were to exit the building in an orderly manner and go home early.  But while she was speaking, the power came back on!  Miracles do happen :)

Anyway, Emily spoke about being "almost persuaded vs. altogether committed to the Lord".  She told the story of John Moyle- the stone-cutter that worked on the Salt Lake Temple when it was being built.  He walked 22 miles twice a week to work.  He even continued to do so after an accident required that his leg be amputated.  Emily's goal this year was to become more like John Moyle- to keep back nothing, to be altogether committed to the Lord.

It was a wonderful event.  I hope that- if you did end up reading this whole blog post- you were able to feel something like I was able to at the meeting.

Off I go to become something.  Hopefully something better.  :)