I needed a TIME OUT!

SO I took one!

A TIME OUT for WOMEN to be exact!

Deseret Book sponsors this wonderful women's conference in different cities across the nation, but it usually doesn't come this way. I have always wanted to attend one and when I heard it was coming I was so excited! I didn't really get serious about it though until Audrey and Marilyn invited me to go along with them. I was even able to arrange my schedule to go, and so I DID! Anytime there is an event with great speakers, great music, and great friends, I am there! This lived up to all I expected it to be and MORE!

Oh, and of course great food has to be inserted in there somewhere. Not to mention a great AMOUNT of food! Audrey didn't realize how much food came with what she ordered! I think she ate her soup and took one bite of the rest. But it was yummy. We went to Hug Hes.

Audrey already did a post on this (yes, I am really slow!) and she did such a great job that I am not going to go into a lot of details. You can read the more detailed version at her blog here.

On to the great speakers...

I have been a long time fan of Kenneth Cope, but never more so than I am now. He is AMAZING! I can't even describe how his spirit touched me as he sang with such a powerful conviction that what he is singing about is true. I honestly learned more from his lyrics and spirit than from all the speakers combined. I truly believe music has a way of touching our souls that other mediums can't.

He is just as amazing in person as he is on stage. I had previously added him as a friend on facebook and he even wrote to me personally, AND he remembered who I was from meeting him. He is such a nice guy.

Marilyn, Julie, Kenneth Cope, Me, Audrey
He was my favorite part of the whole event. I made Audrey take this picture of him ↓ (my camera wouldn't zoom in that well) because I wanted to remember the look on his face and in his eyes as he was singing about the Savior.

Another highlight was getting to hear Chris Stewart ↓ speak. He is the author of The Great and Terrible series. My oldest son Skyler and Dave have been engrossed in these books and can't put them down. There are six in the series and I am only on number two. I highly recommend reading them!

He is a brilliant man and his talk was very patriotic and full of information I surely NEVER learned in history class!

Michael McClean ↓ (of The Forgotten Carols fame) was also on the program. He writes the most incredible lyrics and I am convinced he must have been a woman in another life because he can understand us and relate to us so well! (at least in his lyrics!) Maybe his wife tells him what to write!

During an intermission, we were all being a little silly and taking some silly pictures (hey that's what happens when they let you out for a while!), when the next thing we knew he was standing by our sides reaching out HIS hand to meet US! They probably told him to find the women that appear to be the most desperate in need of a Time Out and see what you can do to help them! He was awesome in person as well, and a lot of fun.

It was a two day event, and so the next day we headed back to soak in some more soul soothing.

The event was held at my old stompin' grounds WSU. It was a real flashback to eat in the cafeteria that I hadn't been in for over 20 years!

We stopped at Farr's Ice Cream on the way home for a little tummy soothing too!

It was a FABULOUS event and afterwards I was even ready for a

TIME IN!