Weekend Update

I have had an incredible weekend full of reminders of what it's like to be uplifted, enlightened and inspired. On Friday night and Saturday day, I went to a conference called "Time Out for Women". It was exactly what it was advertised to be. This is a picture of me and my friend Emily. She and a group of other sisters from my ward got in line bright and early Saturday morning and snagged us second row seats. Thanks Em! (BTW, Emily is going to Chile tomorrow to pick up her mom from her mission. She's very nervous. If you would, please remember her in your prayers so she won't be so nervous. K? Thanks.)

Friday night included a wonderful speaker and a world-famous LDS musician named Michael McLean. Mostly known for songs he wrote but sung by others, we had the treat of hearing him sing his own songs. I love this one a lot - mostly the last part of the song. It was wonderful to be reminded of how much I have loved his music throughout the years.



The theme throughout the conference was how to find joy in our lives. Jane Clayson Johnson was one of the speakers. Other speakers included well-known authors and musicians that are also LDS - Jason Wright, Pam Hansen, S. Michael Wilcox and award-winning musicians Hilary Weeks and Cherie Call.

The speaker whose words resonated with me the most spoke on Friday night, Kim Nelson. He asked the question, "Think of the things that you say to yourself, the way you treat yourself in your head (or out loud). Now, if you were to hear a mother speaking to her daughter that way, what would you think of that mother?". Wow. Talk about something to make you go, "hmmmm". I think I have to work on the way I treat myself. Actually, let me rephrase that. I KNOW I need to work on the way I talk about myself and I need to treat myself better.

Then, as if I hadn't had enough of a spiritually uplifting day, I went to a fireside featuring the Saints Unified Voices choir which was led by Gladys Knight McDowell. Yes, that Gladys Knight. In case you were not aware, Gladys Knight (or Sister Knight as I like to call her) and I attend the same church - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The choir was amazing and we were able to learn how Sister Knight became a "Mormon". Lucky for me, I was given a VIP ticket (I was asked to give the opening prayer) and I was able to sit right behind Sister Knight. In all my life, never did I imagine that I would someday sit behind Gladys Knight in a church meeting. To hear some of the music sung at the fireside last night, click here. Needless so say really, it was amazing.

Sunday started rainy thanks to Hurricane Ike. Winds and rain woke me up. I went to church this morning but left to take myself to an urgent care clinic. I've been having a problem with my right eye. I thought it was maybe a sty (I have a sty in my eye!) exacerbated by allergies. The Dr. at the clinic couldn't really diagnose what it is but gave me some drops for an eye infection and said that if it didn't clear up in seven days, to see an Ophthalmologist. Bummer for me because 1) my eyes are burning, 2) the skin underneath my eye is very tender, swollen and red and 3) I have to wear my glasses for 24/7 and I really don't like wearing my glasses.

Tonight I will go back to the church around 9:30 to clear out the choir's dressing rooms that were set up on Friday afternoon by me and my fellow stake Relief Society presidency members.

Sadly, my great weekend is ending. How was your weekend?