Living Proof

Sometimes you just need a time out. Now, I'm not talking about putting a kid in the corner, although I was put in the corner of our office at work. I am talking about a break. There is a lot of drama in life. It comes from work, home, and friends as well as the inner struggle you have with yourself every single day. I have come to accept that there is no better place for a time out than that of General Conference or Time Out for Women. Good thing we have the latter once a year in Texas because it came at the most opportune time. It is when a rather large group of women gather together to laugh, listen to uplifting music, and hear wonderful speakers. Speakers such as Hank Smith, Brad Wilcox, Meg Johnson, Mary Cook, and Lisa Valentine Clark did not disappoint this year. Yes, I got to hear a beloved former teacher, a member of the Young Women General Presidency, the sister of a Project Runway designer (for 2 seasons), and so many other wonderful people speak this weekend. It was just what I needed.

 I am not going to bore you with all that I learned because let's face it, what connected with me may not connect with you. We are all going through different stuff (there's a lot to go through). I will say, seeing Brother Smith and getting to talk to him made my week. I look up to him. I admire that he is so happy and makes people laugh and is willing to talk and lift you up when you need it most. He did that for me my freshman year of college when I was missing home and barely making it through my first real winter. Today he showed genuine interest in what I was doing with my life and told me I had grown up and looked beautiful. At a time when I don't usually feel beautiful and feel inadequate in most that I do, it was really nice to see a familiar, smiling face and hear the person that I admire so much tell me I looked beautiful. The best part was, I felt beautiful. I could feel the sparkle. The sparkle that has seemed to dull lately--as my clothes get tighter, school gets harder, and the stress of work and the other aspects of my life that aren't quite the way I would like them to be--was shining bright (like a diamond!).

At a time when people laugh about Pinterest fails, trying to be perfect, and so much more that women struggle with I thought about being at home. I may not have been able to make a bunch of friends or learned to enjoy the single's ward or go back to BYU, but I have learned how to cook quite well, I have a puppy that I absolutely adore, and I have been able to do a lot of things I probably wouldn't have been able to in Utah. So, I may not know why I am supposed to be here, but I know I am. And to all the people who have been a positive influence in my life, Thank You. You are living proof to me that some angels physically walk beside us to love and help us on our individual journeys through this mortal life.