Time Out for Women with one of my favorite women!

The Time Out for Women tour came through Dallas, and the first person I thought to invite was my high school BFF, Shannon. I had never been, and although the retreat is catered to LDS (aka Mormon) women (and Sha-nay-nay is not LDS), she agreed to accompany me, and it was a fun, uplifting weekend. I'll take quality time with this chicka any day. Love you, Shan!

I truly am so grateful for my religion. It's something that I wholeheartedly believe in. When you know something so extraordinary is absolutely true, you just want to share it with everyone.  Which is why I was so happy that Shannon came with me to get a little taste of something that I hold so dear. You just wish everyone would give the gospel a chance. Give God a chance. Give faith a chance.

 I'm not a religion basher. Every religion has pieces of truth to it. Just last week, I was at my church in the middle of the week, and the sister missionaries were giving a tour of the church to a guy in his early twenties. He was greatly moved by a couple different things, and just sat in the chapel with tears in his eyes, and said he had literally not cried in years. He was moved. He was touched. He told us that he doesn't like how people bash religions and pretty much alluded to the idea of "What's the big deal in choosing a church if we all believe in the same God?" For one (among several reasons), we believe in The Plan of Salvation, also known as the Plan of Happiness. Just since then, he's had several lessons, and is loving what he's learning. It's people like him, that listen with an open heart, kneel down on their knees and pray (something that perhaps they NEVER do, or never knew how to), and have the faith that they will receive an answer. I wish more people would give it all a chance like this guy. It's the sweetest thing in my family's life. It's what makes my marriage a rock, and a happy rock at that. It's what helps me be the best mother I can be, and gives me inspiration to live a life worthy to meet my Savior again one day.

-------

Forgive the creepy eyes.