TOFW

I just had a wonderful weekend with my Mom and sister. Julie and I didn't know what to get Mom for Christmas and finally decided we would give her the gift of our undivided attention for the weekend, so we bought tickets to Time Our for Women. We had a nice time being together. Mom and I had a little slumber party and stayed up late visiting it was really nice. Mom loves to shop and no girls weekend would be complete without it so after TOFW was over we shopped for costume jewelery. Mom has a new obsession with rings so she bought me a ruby one, she also got us all a "Mercy River" CD. They will be great mementos of our weekend. I love you both thanks for a great weekend. I "HOPE" to do it again real soon!

The theme for this TOFW was "Infinite Hope" it was a great conference and I am still on a high from it. All the presenters were amazing. I was particularly touched by Mariama Kallon she was raised in war-torn Sierra Leone and watched her parents be killed and went through other unspeakable tragedies at a very young age. But her face shown brightly and her laugh tickled my heart. She talked of the HOPE the gospel brought to her and about her most prized possession a hygiene kit that was given to her when she so desperately needed it. My heart was lifted listening to her. She had challenges I can't even imagine and if she can have HOPE it should be easy for the rest of us.
My favorite speaker (just like the last time I attended TOFW) was Emily Freeman. She used a scripture to teach us to love life, find hope and see the good in each day. The scripture was 1 Peter 3:5. It was a good reminder to turn to our Heavenly Father each day so that we can enjoy our journey and recognize the tender mercies he sends.
While at the conference they asked to list the things we have faith/hope in and I had a very generic list with things like eternal life with by family and the power of reading our scriptures daily. But I have been thinking about it more and during the sacrament yesterday I realized I have Faith in the effects of the sacrament and Hope that partaking of it will help me be better during the week. Then when I was saying my prayers this morning I thought about how I have Faith that Heavenly Father hears my prayers and I have Hope that I will be trusting of the answers. While I am writing this I have been reflecting on my testimony of the gospel. I more than Hope it is true. I know it is true.