Women's Conference . . . so much good stuff!

I really enjoyed going to Women’s Conference this past week. It was fun to see my sisters, listen to the speakers, meet new people and learn from the talks.


I had a special treat on Friday when I met Kristin Klein from Alpine Klein Bunch for lunch. After reading her blog for over a year, enjoying her insights and admiring her beautiful photography, it was so much fun to meet her in person. Thanks Kristin for a wonderful time!!


I will write more about my sister’s presentation another time, but right now I want to comment on a few highlights for me from other talks.


I loved the talk given in the general session Thursday night. Sister Forste spoke about how we as women are frequently hard on ourselves, and never feel we are good enough, smart enough, thin enough, etc. In contrast, studies have shown that men are more content with who and where they are.



A study was cited where men and women were given a survey of 31 questions where they were asked to rank their level of performance in such areas as church attendance, scripture reading, etc. Although men ranked themselves lower than women in 26 of the 31 categories, when asked “If you were to die today, which kingdom of glory do you think you would inherit?”, most men said, “Celestial” while most women said one of the lower kingdoms.


I found that more amusing than anything else. And although we were encouraged to see ourselves in a more positive light, it struck me that Women’s Conference itself exists because women always want to do better. When I later asked some men if they would ever attend a “Men’s Conference” their response was, “No! Why would we want to go to another meeting?”


Another talk I enjoyed was by Sister Savage. She talked about building unity in marriage by keeping our baptismal covenant. I loved that. It is interesting to me that although we enter into the baptismal covenant individually, we renew the covenant each week as a group when we partake of the sacrament. That alone helps us to build unity with those in our families and church congregations.


But in applying the covenant specifically to marriage she made three main points.


1. When we covenant to “take His name upon us” we are covenanting to act as Christ acts. To do as He would do. If we remember that in our marriage relationship we will always be kinder, more loving, and more patient with our spouse.


2. When we covenant to “Always remember Him” we are covenanting to remember and apply His atonement in our lives. This means we are willing to sacrifice our will for the good of others. It means we are willing to forgive and to seek forgiveness.


3. When we covenant to “Keep His commandments” we are covenanting to always put the Lord first in our lives. And when we both put the Lord first, everything else becomes easier. We won’t have to argue over who is right, because we will always be trying to do what is right—according to the will of the Lord.


Another talk I LOVED was by Sister Elizabeth Ricks. She spoke on standing for truth and decrying evil. She told a story of a time when Sister Elaine Dalton, general young women’s president, was asked to address a gathering of 900 priesthood leaders. As sister Dalton walked into the room, all 900 men stood out of respect. Sister Dalton later commented that they were not standing for her, they were standing for womanhood.


I loved that. I wish we could always show that same degree of respect for womanhood and manhood, motherhood and fatherhood.


Sister Ricks went on to say that we can “stand” for righteousness in different ways. She told of Queen Esther who saved her people, Mary Elizabeth Rollins who rescued the pages of the newly printed “Book of Commandments” when scattered by a mob, a ten year old girl from Yemen named Nyrood, who stood against spousal abuse, Issac, Abraham’s son who was willing to be a sacrifice, and Joseph Smith, who was killed.


She then said, “Esther stood by kneeling, Mary Elizabeth stood by hiding, Nyrood stood by escaping, Isaac by lying and Joseph Smith by dying.


I thought that was beautiful and it left me with a greater desire to always stand for truth and righteousness in everything I do.

It's A Small World After All . . .

It is seems like where ever you go, you meet someone who knows someone you know or discover your path has crossed before with a person you thought you just met.


I supposed it is likely, especially in the church, for this to be common, yet it still surprises me how often I discover a connection I have with another person.


Take my friend, Jenny from Oregon. After becoming good friends we learned that at one time we lived only four houses away from each other in Orem, Utah, when she was five. In fact, my sister was her primary teacher. We also discovered I knew her husband’s aunt when I was at BYU.


Then there is my friend Sonia. While visiting with her uncle, for what I thought was the first time, I learned my father was his mission president and that he had actually been in my home on numerous occasions.


This past weekend at Women’s Conference I had a few additional “connection” experiences.


I arrived at the Phoenix airport an hour early and glanced around at the bubbly groups of women, all going to Women’s Conference. Finally, I spied a sister from my stake and went over to sit by her. She introduced me to her friend Heidi from another stake. I learned this past week that the most often asked question to anyone attending conference is, “Who are you with?”. (I think I was asked that at least 30 times in two days)


I told them I was meeting my sisters and we were all going to hear our oldest sister speak. Heidi asked me her topic, which I was not sure of, so we looked it up. As she saw my sister’s name on the program she asked, “You are Terri Ballstaedt’s sister? When I said yes, she exclaimed, “My husband grew up with her husband, Rock!”


I thought how funny that out of everyone there at the airport, I found someone to sit by who knew my relatives.


But, the most surprising “connection” was revealed after my sister’s talk. Sister Sylvia Allred, first counselor in the General Relief Society presidency was sitting in front of me during the presentation. Not being able to resist talking with her, I went over to visit after the presentation. During our chat we discovered that not only had we lived in Costa Rica at the same time, but she remembered my family. She had several family home evenings at our home, remembered the school we attended, my siblings, (especially my older sister Ruth who was a teenager at the time) and even the topic of a lesson my father gave.


But mostly she said she remembered how amazing she thought my mom was. Not only did she have teenagers at home and missionaries to care for, but she also had just given birth to my little brother Mark.

I have to admit, I think it is pretty cool, that Sister Allred thinks my mom is amazing. But then I think she is pretty amazing too.

One of my favorite pictures ever. I think it is such a classic.

This is my brother Randy, and my sister Ruth, standing in front of the mission home in Costa Rica. Sister Allred particularly remembered Ruth because of all the boys who had a crush on her.

Here is a picture of me and my four sisters with Sister Allred.

There are 21 years age difference between my oldest sister and the youngest.

Leaving On A Jet Plane . . . and a little touch of randomness

Tomorrow morning I am boarding a plane to Utah! I will be met by my daughter at the airport, who will chauffeur me to my parent's house. And the following morning I will be joined by my four sisters at Women's Conference.

Now can anything be more fun than that?!

I am so very much looking forward to it. Although I would be just a little more excited if I hadn't checked the weather report.

SNOW.

Just a little added adventure, coutesy of Mother Nature, I suppose.

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About yesterday's post . . . I am feeling a little guilty about the support people have given over being left alone during labor just as the baby was making an appearance because . . . my mother has a much more dramatic story.

Making a long story short . . . When she was expecting my youngest brother we lived in Costa Rica. This was also a time when fathers didn't participate much in the birth of their children. So when it was time to deliver, my dad took my mother to the hospital, was told it would be several hours and to go home and they would call him when it got closer. So he did.

Unfortunately, they also didn't have a labor room available so they put my mother in a storage closet, on a table with a pillow and then left her there. About an hour later, a nurse did check on her, but that was the last time she saw anyone for FIVE hours!! No one monitored her process, no one made sure the baby was okay, no one administered medication or helped her with contractions.

She was left there all alone.

When she got close to being ready to deliver, still no one had come and so she started yelling, "Help!! Help!!" as loudly as she could. Unfortunately she couldn't remember the word for "help" in Spanish and so just hoped her English would be understood. Finally, a nurse came, checked her and then immediately called the doctor. Luckily my father had grown concerned and gone to the hospital even though no one called him. While walking in, he saw the doctor run past. Just a few minutes later, my mother delivered a very cute 9 lb baby boy.

Pretty dramatic. But then my Mom is a farm girl, and very tough! :-)
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Lastly. I am LOVING studying the book of Ether right now for seminary. Today we were talking about how the Brother of Jared was so faithful about praying but when he got to the coast he stopped praying for four years. I asked the kids how that could happen to someone who was so righteous.

One boy blurted out, "It was because he was enjoying his cottage on the beach!" Isn't that the truth. How often do we get content in where we are and so we stop moving forward, even though our "promised land" hasn't been reached.

Perhaps that is another good reason for me to go to Women's Conference . . . I have grown a little too comfortable in my "cottage" and need to be nudged/kicked out. :-)

So here is to progress!! May it always bring . . . joy to our journey.

What happens when I add my voice to 18,000 others?

I do not sing well. I have confessed that before, but for those who haven't yet heard me whine about my lack of vocal ability . . . I really do not have a good singing voice. It is something I covet, dream about, wish for, and hope that someday, in some post-mortal realm, God will be merciful and I will qualify to sing in the Heavenly Choir. But for now, my singing is mostly limited to my seminary class (who is very forgiving) and the shower.

Perhaps that is why the song we were invited to sing at the conclusion of the opening session of Women's Conference made such a deep impression on me. Or perhaps there were just lessons I needed to learn; but my head has been spinning with thoughts since that morning.

Sandra Rogers, International Vice President of BYU, was the speaker. At the conclusion of her talk she asked Merrilee Webb to lead everyone in singing "Now Let Us Rejoice". She explained that the song, by W. W. Phelps, was written at a time of great trial and tribulation, and yet he still found cause to praise God.

But it wasn't the words of the song necessarily that impressed me as much as what happened when we all sang together. After practicing the song a few times, we sang it all the way through, concluding with the words, "And Christ and His people will ever be one."

That last sentence resonated with me. For as we all sang loudly in unison, my individual voice could not be heard either by me or those standing near me. Instead, all 18,000 sisters voices united together to form one voice--one powerful, beautiful, melodic voice, that seemed to rise from the earthly confines of the Marriott Center and ascend to Heaven.

I wondered how many women there did not feel they had great singing voices. How many, like me, avoided singing opportunities due to feelings of inadequacy, or lack of talent? Yet, what if all of us, who felt we can't sing, didn't? The volume would have been greatly reduced, and it was the volume that stirred my soul that morning. My not very good, sometimes squeaky voice, contributed. In a small way, my voice made a difference and that difference was for the better.

There are several lessons I learned that morning. First is that even in my weakness I have something to give that can help others. My talent might not be the same, or as great, but it can still benefit. Even if all I have to add is volume, that can be important.

I think that principle applies in all areas of our lives. We were all born with different gifts, talents and abilities. But just because we may not be the best, or even good in some area, doesn't mean we don't have something to offer--even if our role is just to give support. We can benefit those around us just as they benefit us.

The second lesson I learned is that there is strength in unity. Unity doesn't mean we have to be doing exactly the same thing, in exactly the same way with the same level of ability. Some people sang alto, some soprano; some had strong voices, and some had weak. But what was important is we were all singing the same song.

And it was that unity in song, coupled with our differences in voice that created the beauty. And the power.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we ---as righteous women, covenant keepers, and defenders of the family--- could always unite our voices? No matter how weak our individual voice might be, no matter how inadequate we may feel, or how limited our resources, our voices---united in one strong message---could transcend the confines of our homes, and our communities and cause even hell's foundations to shake--and all the world to know that . . . "Christ and His people will ever be one."

I think that is what they call Zion.

And that thought brings great. . . joy to my journey.

Women's Conference--Memorable Moments

Later in the week I am going to post about my most favorite moment at WC, but today I want to show some of the memorable moments held timeless by my camera.


High on the list was seeing all the fruit blossoms. Beautiful trees in bloom were everywhere on campus and lining many of the streets. We loved walking under them, enjoying their beauty and breathing in their sweet scent.


Even better was seeing all the gardens splashed with color! Tulips are my favorite flower so I couldn't resist taking this picture.

I learned that whenever you travel to unfamiliar territory you should always take a wise and experienced guide. This is Christy and she is amazing! Years of WC experience has taught her how to strategize your class schedule, where to sit so you can escape the most quickly to make your next class on time, and secret passageways to aid in getting there. Christy not only was the impetus behind us all going, but she also was a huge help once we arrived.

One of the highlights of our trip was meeting Sandra Rast, the artist of this beautiful painting entitled, "My Presence Shall Be There". It brought tears to all our eyes as she explained the symbolism in the picture. Every detail of the painting had been well thought out, from the reflection of the temple, the contrast of the dark clouds and the light, the girl in the white dress, the blossoms on the trees and the red umbrella. She did such a wonderful job telling us about the painting that Lisa even bought one!

So you think texting is only a teenage problem? Guess again! Every woman I came to conference with is texting in this picture. I am not a fan of it personally, but I am sure peer pressure will win and one of these days I will succumb to the trend.

This was the line behind us, waiting to get in to hear David Christensen (one of my most favorite speakers). Thankfully-- due to Christy's sage strategies, the majority of the lines were always behind us, rather than in front.

Ahhh! Mint Chocolate Brownies! A perennial BYU favorite! What? This doesn't look very appetizing??

Well, my friend Jenny bought it for herself and knowing I love them, saved me half. Unfortunately she saved it in her very cute bag where it got very squished. Still, it was a kind thought, and although not very pretty, it was very good! Luckily I also have the recipe to this delicious delight so I can make more at home!

Being at WC gave us many opportunities to meet a variety of people. We got a kick out of these women wearing matching shirts that said, "Chuck Norris goes to Women's Conference." Being as Jenny's husband is a huge CN fan, taking a picture was a must! (Although Cory may have lost a little respect for his hero had he really had been at WC! :-)

And last of all, it was very fun to see people we knew from home. Friday, after the conference ended we went to dinner at Carabas in Orem and ran into a group of women from another ward in our stake. Everyone had a good time visiting .

So there you have it. A couple days of great classes, spiritual enlightenment, and friendship. I had only been to conference one time before and not knowing all the strategies, left feeling frustrated by the crowds. This was a much better experience for me and one I will always remember. Thank you-- Amy, Christy, Jenny, Lisa and Mauriann!!

Super Cute Bags with "Purse"onality!

Meet two wonderfully, sweet and talented women--Amy (L) and Lisa (R)!

Out of the kindness of her heart, and with an abundance of generosity, Lisa decided to make cute bags for all the women in my ward who were going to Women's conference.

She enlisted the help of Amy and together they chose fabric to match each person's "purse"onality.

Lisa lovingly stitched each bag, while Amy carefully cut, pinned and ironed.

Not only are they cute on the outside, but inside they wisely contain four large pockets!

When they were finished, they were filled with notepads and pens, nuts, mints, gum and Dove Chocolates!

We LOVED them!
Lisa was a bit embarrassed by all the attention they attracted at conference, but we were more than happy to brag about her.
It was so much fun to put all our things in our "purse"onalized bags and walk around campus together.

What unity! What love! What fun!!
And what great friends!
We didn't even mind being called the "Bag Ladies Of WC"!



We had such a great time I am sure it will take several posts to include all the details. We stayed at Amy's in laws home in Edgemont, and together we ate, shopped, walked, sat, learned, prayed, laughed and cried.

Tuesday I will post pictures of some of my "favorite things"!