As I mentioned last week, I have wanted to go to TOFW for a long time and up until now, I was not able to do so. Despite my fears and reservations about going by myself, I sucked it up and went anyway. It was a really great experience.
It turns out it was my lucky day! Before I could purchase a ticket I was offered a free ticket at the door. Thanks to the sister who was unable to go, but wanted to share her ticket, I really appreciated it! So instead of spending $50 to get in I spent $50 on Deseret Book products. :)
Wow! What to say about TOFW?!? First off, thanks to my blogging friends for encouraging me to go despite the fact that I was alone. I knew that if I didn't go I would regret it later. I wasn't really alone there anyway. I sat by some sweet sisters from Greeley, Colorado and ate lunch with some fun sisters from Rawlins, WY.
The speakers were great. We heard from Dean Hughes, Richard N. Holzapfel, Pamela Hansen, and Daryl Hoole (the LDS version of flylady - she has a way of making me feel like a lump when it comes to keeping a house). Kenneth Cope provided the music and Virginia H. Pearce was the hostess. I especially enjoyed the remarks by Sister Pearce as she shared some cute things about her father, President Gordon B. Hinckley. She said that many people had been asking her about his health and how he was doing. She said that he is doing well and the doctors are always amazed at how well he is doing. His response, "Well, you know Doctor, I have 12 million people praying for me". :) She also said that as he has gotten older his hearing has gotten worse. I can relate as my own grandpa is 95 and is profoundly deaf. She said that one thing they have noticed with his hearing loss is he talks to himself. She said that now he talks loud enough for everyone to hear him. The other day while sitting on a couch he apparently was overheard saying, "Just get up. Just put one foot in front of the other and get up". How cute! ;) She said that she has learned through this self talk that he is always positive when speaking to himself. He is never negative and never dwells on disappointment. What an incredible man he is!
Anyway, the speakers were great! A couple of them touched on conference and specifically the talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks - "Good, better, best". I loved this talk at conference and thought it was interesting that they kept bringing it up. As my husband says, Elder Oaks really nailed it! He truly did!
I loved the music too. Kenneth Cope has been a favorite of mine ever since my EFY days (I could go on and on about EFY, maybe another post for another day). It was neat to see him perform in person and to get a glimpse into his personality. He obviously has a great love for our Savior. It was easy to feel his love for us, his sisters whom he didn't even know, as well. What an incredible person he is!
I really enjoyed TOFW and I am really glad that I went. I am really looking forward to when TOFW comes to Rapid City next year. The invitation is still open for anyone that wants to come next year. :)
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18 people have something to say:
I'm so glad that you went and had a good time! That would be neat to listen to someone speak about President Hinckley in his day-to-day life! :)
It would be fun to come to S.D. next year, but I'll have to see what this year brings! :)
P.S. We can be housecleaning lumps together! :)
Oh, I am so glad you got to go and had such a great time!!!
Thanks for sharing about Pres. Hinckley. That is really cool to hear. He is incredible.
I loved your recap on this conference. My SIL was there with her mom and sisters. I should've tagged along. It sounds excellent.
I'm glad you went! How brave! :)
I love Daryl Hoole. I want her to be my own personal Flylady.
I'm so glad you went! Yay for TOFW!
Good for you for going by yourself! That would be hard for me too, but it sounds like it was totally worth it. I'm sure it was uplifting and great! I checked their site and sadly, nothing in my area this year, maybe next.
Ooh- I wanna go next year. Can we visit the reptile park too?
I'm glad you had a great time!
You are brave I would have never gone by myself.
I would love to go to one of those.
[would have no choice but to go alone]
RAPID CITY! If I give up ice cream I can save the dough AND fit into my clothes!
wheeee
Wow, you went by yourself?? You're my hero! I'd never get myself to do it, I'm not outgoing enough. Yeah for you!!!
What a nice re-cap. I think it's wonderful that you went by yourself, and what a bonus to get a free ticket and spend your money on Deseret book stuff instead ; )
I love the stories about Pres. Hinckley, He is so amazing.
suzanne: lumps we are! :)
lisa: Thanks! It was great fun, and I loved the Pres. Hinckley stories. :)
mel: You should've come! Next year!?! ;)
millie: I'm glad I went. I knew that I would wish I had and think about it all day Saturday so I might as well go.
nikko: Me too!! :)
mary: You can always come to Rapid City. :)
tori: Yes, I will personally take you to reptile gardens if you come! :)
carronin: It wasn't as scary as I thought it might be. I almost didn't do it though.
dallas: They do have TOFW in Texas, but you are always welcome to come to Rapid city!!! :) The more the merrier!
yvonne: Yes, it was nice. I kept telling myself on the way there that I couldn't spend any money there. It was a nice treat to do a little shopping too. :)
Yea for you for going!!!
Thanks for sharing the highlights :D
I'm so glad you went! You would have always said...what if.
Okay, maybe not, but I would have.
So fun Amanda, I'm SOO glad you went! WHY is it I get teary eyed when reading anything about President Hinckley?
I LOVED Elder Oaks talk. I printed it out, read, re read, highlighted and handed it over to my husband. He really did nail it!
Your post was a really uplifting to read this morning!
I should have looked at that line-up! I used to work in Deseret Book's corporate office over the events to I know most of those authors. What a wonderful day you had (and next year for me!)
Hey Mary - want to meet in RC next year? that would be so funny!
Amanda - I am so impressed that you went alone! You are co cool! That is the kind of thing that makes my tummy hurt. But you did it! Sounds like a great program (cute Pres. H.) I'm going to have to see if they ever come over to Hawaii...
hi amanda dear:
so glad you went even though you were hesitant to go. so glad you had a meaningful time, too. thanks for sharing your thoughts about it and president hinckley. i want so bad to go to something like that one day. and pres hinckley just rocks. he is so cute and positive and what an example he consistently is. i loved hearing how he tells the doc i have 12 million people praying for me! so cool! now, it is 13 million, isn't it? so cute how he was overheard trying to tell himself to get up and put one foot in front of the other. he is so cute. i loved seeing him on the live showing when BYU channel did a bday special for him (2 yrs ago).
hey, off the subject, but why didn't you tell me you'd be in alaska with me today? :) i was at my doctor's office and i told one of the female staff members that everytime i see her there, it makes me smile because she reminds me of (kind looks like, even the little smile) someone i know in SD, amanda. the gal asked is she nice. i said, oh yea, amanda is a sweetheart! the gal said, good cause one time someone told me i reminded them of their sister in law but everybody hated. oh the joy.
so, amanda, it was fun to "see" you today at my doctor's office. you (you not her) are a total pleasure. so glad you got to go to this event! hope you feel filled up beyond belief. take care hon, kathleen :)
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