TIME OUT FOR WOMEN

My mother-in-law, Sheila, comes from a family of 10 kids, 8 of which are girls! She and her sisters have a great tradition: they get together once a year for a Sisters' Retreat. This year they decided to congregate in Spokane during the weekend of Time Out for Women, and Sheila invited me to join them. It was my first Time Out and it was my first Sisters' Retreat too! I had SO much fun getting to know the Gilbert side of the family more, and being spiritually uplifted by exemplary righteous women! Thank you again, Sheila, for a great weekend!

L-R: Becky, Paige, Sheila, Kelsey, Lori, Jeanie, Michelle

The first session of Time Out for Women was Friday night. Half of the ladies were exhausted from traveling and shopping all day, so they headed back to the hotel. The few of us who went to the session were starving afterwards, so we headed over to Olive Garden. The place was pretty empty...probably because

 it was like 10:30 PM! We had fun making a ruckus!

L-R: Sheila, Paige, and Kelsey Mackay

After a late night at the Olive Garden, the Saturday morning session of Time Out for Women came too soon, but it was worth it, especially to hear the accounts of Mariama Kallon, an African convert from the war-torn Sierra Leone. Her faith and dedication were amazing! Every speaker had something that I needed to hear. I left the sessions recognizing that I need to stop comparing myself to others, I shouldn't be afraid to try new things because it will give me a chance to rely on the Lord, I need to make prayer more of a priority in my life, I would like to develop some unique family traditions, I need to look backward when faced with challenges because the Lord has given me small challenges in the past to prepare me for the big challenges in my future, I need to be more obedient and will be more happy, going to bed earlier will help me solve several things I struggle with, and I can become a great woman by serving simply.

It was a great session and I can't wait to go again next year in Seattle!