BYU Women's Conference 2010

Last night I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Yesterday concluded months of planning for the BYU Women's Conference 2010. It has been the most amazing, wonderful experience. It will definitely go on my list of Top 10 Life Experiences. Here are a few highlights from the last two days, and by no way exhaustive:

1- Having my sister and her two friends here to visit. My sister was one of about 180 speakers. She talked to a sold-out crowd of 1,100 about "Giving Children the Gift of Work." Her talk was amazing. I was so proud of her. Women's Conference is always more fun when you share it with friends. My parents were able to come too.

2- Attending the session taught by my friends Kye and Wendi. They each shared insights about being a single parent, one from a divorced perspective and one as a widow. I cried because their message was so inspiring. I am grateful for the influence of incredible women in my life.

3- Being in close proximity to the presidencies of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary. You can feel of the goodness and strength of these women. Rosemary Wixom served on the Women's Conference committee this year too. I love her-- and not just because we share the same name! There is a tangible power and light in women who are striving to live the gospel. I want to be better.

4- Sister Allred wanting to have her picture taken with me. Sister Allred is a counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency. On Friday morning I noticed we were both wearing the same light blue suit. Apparently Sister Allred also noticed this, because when we came back together that afternoon she said she had to have a picture taken with me and wanted to know who had a camera. Julene was ready with camera in hand.

5- The Spirit guiding my talk preparation. Each session has two presenters who speak for 25 minutes each. My co-presenter was Janet Gleave. We met briefly in January and had exchanged one short email a few weeks ago but did not coordinate our talks. However, the Spirit orchestrated it so that our talks melded perfectly together. I don't think 'we' could have done it better if we had consciously tried. I felt so blessed. Thanks to my friends who allowed me to share their experiences with "competing and comparing."

Life is Good. It has been an exhausting semester. I do not recommend giving a devotional talk and Women's Conference talk within three months of each other. Whew... I am ready for a vacation... but alas nothing is planned. It is May 1st and it is snowing outside....Hawaii sounds good right about now!