TOFW

This past weekend, I pulled out some of my OAMC pizza wheels, packed a bag and headed off with 5 other women to TOFW.

What.a.blast!

The last time (2007 with Kimi D) was such a great time too, but I was still nursing, so I had to worry about Spencer too.  This time?  No kids and no worries as we traveled over 4 hours to Cincinnati and stayed with a friend's family. Blast.

What a memorable and spiritual experience! Wish I could get a  fix every 3 months or so..the next one is in April 2012! :)

Now that I put the basics above, here is the break down.

Met at the church (12) to pack up.  Drove down to Shanna’s parent’s house.

Picked our beds and unpacked most of our stuff. Off we drove to Kentucky.

We walked in to the Convention center and immediately I hear someone yell, “Katie!”  I whipped around to see Jen Anderson-Allred.  Oh, what memories I have with Jen from Freshman year at Ricks.  She lived upstairs from me and we had such a great friendship.  It has been over 11 years since we had seen each other.  Hi Jen!

There were 2 Main Speakers that night: Jason Wright.  Author of the Wednesday Letters.  He had some good experiences (about his dad) and insight, but it wasn’t a ‘wow’ experience.

Michael McLean was there rocking it out.  I know that some of our group was ready for him to be done (mostly bc he doesn’t sing), but I wasn’t too concerned.  I knew that he would eventually hit his stride.   (I had seen him perform at BYU-I and he was good) 

And let me tell you, AFTER Mariama Kallon.  Michael was doing awesome! 

If you have never heard of Mariama, like we hadn’t, you are going to want to read her story.  It is one of unbelievable horror and yet, she was able to find peace and comfort in the Gospel.  Simply amazing.  She was the highlight of that night!

SATURDAY:

We had stayed up past 2 a.m., so we were a bit tired today (among being emotional also..these things get you on a spiritual high!)

Anyway, the music was performed by Mercy River.  I didn’t really love them.  Don’t get me wrong, they had some good music and some great lyrics, ESPECIALLY “Bye, Bye, Bye”, but I just didn’t think they were amazing.  (Their harmonies were awesome, just not their solos. But Come Thou Fount was beyond amazing!)

We also listened to Dean Hughes, Wendy Ulrich, DeAnne Flynn, Emily Freeman and Brad Wilcox.  Wow.wow.wow.  These people were amazing.  They had SO much to offer and it was like they were talking directly to me.  So great.  When I get my notes, I’ll write some things up…

Anyway, we were each asked to bring supplies for Possibility Packs.  (similar to humanitarian packs).  Here is a pic of Laura and I and our completed packs.  It was nice to help out.

This is all of us:

Shanna, Me, Laura, Natalie, Lisa & Lindsay

What a wonderful weekend filled with amazing experiences and friendship! Here’s to April 2012!