TOFW 2012 - Part IV

Not going to lie, some of the best parts of TOFW are meeting up with and seeing old friends. I saw many of the ladies from my Stake that were in the Musical Parable of the Ten Virgins with me, see earlier post, that was delightful in many ways to see each other again. I saw a friend that I only know through blogging and I always love when we end up at the same place doing "good things". And never to leave out or play down the importance of just getting to be with women in my Ward, in a way that we don't always get to be together was wonderful.


But kind of special this year is that not only did I get to be at the amazing conference with my sister, but we also were with our Stepmom, Barbara, who is the RS President in my Ward, and our Aunt Debbie (Barb's sister). Nothing will ever be as wonderful as if our Mother was still alive and could be with us, but this was quite special and a good bonding time as a new blended family!!


Saturday's favorite lines/quotes/statements:

Mary Ellen Edmunds - What if we got merit badges for all we do?

When we think of someone good who do you think of? We rarely come up with ourselves

1. Goodness is a Choice
2. Goodness is contagious spread it around.
3. Look for the good in others and in life - Don't wait for the funeral
- Don't gossip, never find fault or mock
- Focus on their hearts
4. You were born good
- Elder Neal a. Maxwell "No one was sent here to fail"
5. Goodness can only happen because of and through Jesus Christ.

Sara Wess & Kate Jones - Our Best Bites:

Enjoy the little things because when we look back they are the big things

Notice talents in ourselves

D. Kelly Ogden - What soever you do, do it heartily

"Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear to be totally unfair, unreasonable and undeserved"
- Elder Marvin J. Ashton

The Lord told us to "Let our light so shine before all men..." and then he told us that "He is the light" so what he is telling us is that we hold him up and let him shine through us.

See the good in you, then seek the good in others!

There is no end to the amount of good you can do if it doesn't matter who gets the credit.

Unless you are fully engaged in living the Gospel you can never push back the darkness.

Our Heavenly Father is the greatest being in the universe - and I am his daughter!

Julie DeAzevedo Hanks - Most Authentic Self

When you put Heavenly Father's will + Our gifts and experiences = your authentic self.

Emotions aren't "good" or "bad" its just information.

Myth - I should be happy all of the time.

Truth - It's normal to experience a broad range of emotions - we don't have to be "fine" all the time.

You can't give up something you don't have -- How can you be selfless if you don't know yourself.

Myth - Taking good care of myself is selfish

Truth - Taking good care of myself is key to developing my authentic self.

In the dictionary it says - Selfish is doing what's in your best interest without regard for others.

So we hopefully can take that to mean that when we do what is in our best interest with regard for others that it is not selfish.

Myth - Acknowledging my strengths is prideful.

Truth - Acknowledging and owning my God given strengths is humility.

81% of us feel guilty about what we haven't done.

Instead of a "To Do" list - make a "Ta Da" list

Then I loved the song she sang that talked about "The Savior who performs all miracles can make enough of me to go around"

Emily Watts - Hints for the game called "Life"

Hint #1: Sometimes good needs a catalyst

Question: What can I do to be a Catalyst?

Hint #2: Good does not always reside within our comfort zone.

Question: How can I reach outside my comfort zone?

Hint #3: Good often appears in disguise i.e. Joseph in Egypt; Book of Mormon the Musical

When Joseph met up with his brothers again in Egypt he said "You meant it unto bad, but God meant it unto good.

When the Broadway Musical about the book of Mormon came out we all thought it was so terrible - how could they make fun of us about something so important etc...

But now the bookstores in Manhattan are calling up and asking to order stacks of Book of Mormons because people are coming in and asking to buy them.

"You meant it unto bad, but God meant it unto good"

Our trials are where the good is hiding!!!

Question: What good might be hidden in this trial?

Hint #4: Good takes Patience.

at some point its not going to seem like that long of a time --

Question: How can I increase my trust in the Lord?

Hint #5: Good is primarily other-centered -then it comes into our life!

Story from RS Book - "It's o.k. now, the Mormon Women are here!"

The Musical group - Mercy River - was spectacular I loved so many of their songs but particularly loved:

"Better than Hallelujah"

"Beautiful for Me"

"Just Like a Father Would"

So many spiritual moments its hard to share it all!!




Front row L to R: MaryAnn Stephens; Rosa Tillman; Linda Davila; Elizabeth Lundwall; Barbara Clay; Shawna Rhea Back row L to R: Lois Brown; Bridgette McGuire Missing: Becky Wangler; Debbie Zelenske