Women's Conference Tradition

Oh, I do love traditions! Rebekah and Ann came again for BYU Women's Conference. I love being with my family and being spiritually fed.

The thought that stand out in my mind was quoted by Sandra Rogers-

“Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet."   Marvin J Ashton

(I asked everyone- Am I really this short?  Apparently, YES!)

This year Rebekah drove out with some of her friends from her ward. They ended up staying in campus housing and enjoyed the convenience it gave them.

FUNNY STORY:

This is my 7th year attending WC. The first year I was alone and ended up parking at the Married Student Stake Center across 9th East. Since that worked so well I've just done that every year since, but this year I've noticed that the *construction-dudes* were parking there and I wondered if there would be adequate parking. So I decided to park back by the Creamery. It wasn't until I was committed to the left turn that I saw the sign that said *NO EVENT PARKING*. BAH! But I continued back there anyway to see what they was to see. There was a fellow just getting out of his car so I rolled down the window and asked if I could park there. He said if I didn't have an A parking sticker I would get towed. So in my sweetest voice I asked if he had an extra A sticker. He said no but then turned around and got something out of his car. IT WAS A PARKING PASS FOR *ROCK-STAR* PARKING right in front of the Marriott Center! For both days!

Yes, it always pays to ask for the free upgrade!

Every year there are Make, Take & Return kits for various items- burp cloths, scarfs, mittens, fleece blankets, etc. for the sisters to work on during or between conference sessions that go to meet humanitarian needs. In previous years I've been too slow in getting one so this year we went early so we could get some. Ann made a pair of lovely lavender mittens and burp cloth. I'd gotten a mitten kit too but gave it to some sweet lady who'd missed getting a kit! I ended up making a couple of crocheted-edge burp cloths- but the twist was we used chenille yarn for the single crochet edge, only once around. It made this wonderful fuzzy edge. I'm going to have to make some of those for MY grandbabies!

This is only one of several piles of returned kits Friday afternoon-

What a marvelous blessing this Women's Conference Tradition is in my life.

Women's Conference Tradition!

2007 was the first year I attended the BYU Women's Conference. I decided at the last minute to go and loved it so much that now it has become a tradition! (If you'd like to read about prior year's escapades click on the Women's Conference tag at the bottom of the post.)

This year only Ann was able to join me, Rebekah's boys were off on spring break and she couldn't leave them to trek back to Provo to join us =(. We always enjoy these wonderful times of being together.



2008 Ann and Rebekah joined me for the spiritual feast. If you know me, you know that I love trail mix and think that it is just about the perfect snack for most places... not just the trail. That year I made a wonderful goodie bag for each of us including: trail mix (duh), nut bars, water, other miscellaneous snacks and a cute notebook and pen for notes. But the trail mix seems to be the one that takes center stage.  Ann and I were discussing how many times we've been and she figured it out by who provided the trail mix each year!!  We've had quite the fun with our *personality trail mix*.   How can fruit and nuts have a personality? I'm not sure, but they do!

But this year disaster struck! (dun, dun, dun!) I thought I'd closed my trail mix bag after getting out the first handful and found that I hadn't shaken it up to mix it... hmmmm, apparently not. I grabbed hold of the bottom of the bag to give it a good shake... umm, dumped it straight into my WC backpack!! I just sat there and laughed! How could I not? Ann held my zip-lock bag while I scooped it back in.  We were just grateful I hadn't dumped it on the floor of the Marriot Center.



On Thursday evening there are always service projects to participate in. There were numerous stations where literally thousands of sisters worked on various projects. This year we wanted to do the newborn humanitarian kits.

Each newborn kit contains:

* a fleece or flannel receiving blanket
* 4 diapers
* a cotton-knit layette
* 2 bars of soap
* 1 pair of booties or socks
* 1 knit cap
* 4 diaper pins

Can you imagine only having that to clothe your baby? But this is a definite step up from wrapping you baby in newspaper!

We worked in assembly line fashion to put these kits together. Ann and I worked on the end with the blankets, diapers, layette and then stuffing that portion into a large zip-lock bag. I stayed as far away as possible from the soap... it always makes me sneeze!  The next sisters added the remaining items and closed up the zip-lock bag.

Our station completed 720 of the 34,315 humanitarian newborn, hygiene and school kits completed that night! What a blessing of many helping hands!


(CAN YOU SEE THAT MY POOR HAIR MELTED IN A SERIES OF HOT-FLASHES DOING OUR ASSEMBLY LINE?)

We came home exhausted, but happy. We were back up the next morning for the second day of wonderful talks and classes that help us grow and become more like our Savior. I'm already looking forward to next year!

120- Spiritually Fed

BYU Women's Conference was yesterday and today. This is my 4th year attending. I always come away so wonderfully fed and spiritually uplifted.

Beautiful tulips on the BYU campus with the Wasatch Mountain range in the background.

I was so impressed with my experience that I emailed my family and told them about the rebroadcast of some of the classes so they wouldn't miss out on all of the wonderfulness. (This year they will be rebroadcast on Thursday, 5/13, 1pm and Friday, 5/14, 1pm)

Then two years ago we started a new tradition; Ann and Rebekah joined me for Women's Conference. It was another wonderful feast, but even more importantly we were able to connect as strong *Caraway* women.

Last year Bek and Ann joined me again... sadly, Camille works (what's up with that?) but we did pull her in for Cafe Rio dinner. To somewhat *make up* for the fact that Camille is left out of Women's Conference-party Rebekah stayed with her in her big apartment those first two years.

We've instituted a few traditions that are a must for our successful WC experience. Towards the top of the list is trail mix (must have munchies to keep up our strength as we trek all over campus.) The first year I provided goodie bags; including trail mix, water bottles, notebooks and snacks.

Last year Rebekah made some *Totally Awesome Trail Mix* with humorous results. Ann took the assignment this year, with delicious results, and look who decided to join us again... my nutty little friend. (Since Rebekah was in a different class I took this photo and texted it to her so she could laugh with us.)



This year we had one little change to the WC tradition, Bek came with a whole SUV-full of her friends from Coarsegold so they all stayed in a local motel but we were able to hook up for some of the classes. (How did I NOT get a photo with her in it?)



We all came together for the closing address which always proves to be the Creme Brulee of the feast. This day was no exception. We always sing several hymns as a 15,000+ sisters choir in preparation for these opening and closing addresses in the Marriot Center. It adds so much to the spirit.

I quote from my journal-

"Elsie is here!
I am sitting between Bek and Ann singing Choose The Right reveling in the beauty of our blended voices and feeling the closeness of family. I thought, "I wish Mom was here!" Immediately I felt that she was there with us. I wrote the above and showed it to Ann and Bek, then none of us could sing! There is an empty chair to Ann's right!"

Interestingly enough during the opening address on Thursday Ann wrote, "What is the mission of the daughters of Elsie Caraway?" I'm so grateful she would come and join us as strong Caraway women!

121- Silliness!

I always enjoy the little things in life that make me laugh. Last year before our first session of BYU Womens' Conference I made up little goodie bags with snacks for us to munch on. Trying to get a time to eat is sometimes tricky when you are trying to get to the next class.

This year I gave Rebekah the assignment of finding trail mix since she was going to WalMart anyway. She and Camille couldn't find any good trail mix so they decided to make their own. They searched all over the ginormous store trying to find just the right ingredients for our trail mix. They'd scoured the store for about an hour looking for yogurt raisins when Camille found them; she lifted them in the air and let our an opera "aaaahhh" worthy of something I would do (yeah, it must be genetic!) They took all the ingredients home and make some *Totally Awesome Trail Mix*

So today I am munching away and.............



LOOK who was in my bag (Oh, OK, so I added the face!) It was all I could do to not laugh right out loud! Bek pulled out her camera and got a candid shot of our little friend (with his cranberry hat!).

120- You Make the Difference

Today was our first day of BYU Womens' Conference. What a wonderful experience. The theme this year is In the Strength of the Lord.



I think the one thing that sticks out most to me are comments made during the opening session by a Sister Webb. She told us about the hymn Now Let Us Rejoice. It was written by W W Phelps just after the Saints had been driven out of Jackson County Missouri in the dead of winter. Imagine... what a difficult time to rejoice!

After she'd talked about the hymn and told us how we were to sing it we did sing it. I was a mess before the first line was even finished! To think of the trials that we all go through and that we are to rejoice... In the Strength of the Lord all things can be met with joy!

Sister Webb told us "You make the difference!" And you know, she's right. With the strength of the Lord we can make the difference

119- Just Girls...

I love traditions... they seem to bring a closer bond to those fun times that we get to spend together! Rebekah flew in today from CA to be here for BYU Womens' Conference. (This is her second year).

Last year Rebekah stayed with Camille in her *big* room... and since Camille just moved to another big room they are repeating the *sleep-over*. I am so glad these girls have each other. Sisters are the best.



One of our favorite traditions is to have dinner (or lunch or whatever!!) at Cafe Rio. It is just the yummiest. It is funny when you have regional restaurants... when I go to CA I can hardly wait for In n Out and Panera Bread.



I'm looking forward to the next few days with Rebekah here. My sister Ann is also coming to join us. Maybe someday Camille will be able to join us for Womens' Conference... but until then we will just enjoy each other.

Women's Conference

Last year, after living in Utah for 2 years, I decided to attend BYU Women’s Conference. I didn’t have anyone to go with, but that was ok, I’m a big girl. I was so impressed by the wonderful outpouring of the Spirit that I wrote to my family and friends and encouraged them to watch the rebroadcast on KBYU. Then Cindy gave me the best heads-up of all… some of the WC addresses were offered as Podcasts at iTunes (LDS Voices). I have thoroughly enjoyed them. I frequently have trouble falling asleep at night so I will listen to them (or General Conference address) until I am ready to go to sleep.

This year I got a lovely treat. Both Ann and Rebekah said they would like to come to Women’s Conference with me. Ann and Wayne came up Wednesday night and stayed here with us until Saturday. Rebekah flew in Wednesday evening and stayed with Camille in Provo. What a fun treat for them to have a girls’ visit.

I felt just a little bit like a child on Christmas Eve. I was so excited to be able to share this experience with my family! The night before I packed snack bags for each of us in case we got the rumblies in our tumblies! Sometimes it is hard to work in time to stop and eat.

(*I got artsy with this photo. You have to do something when you ask some random person to take your photo and it ends up all blurry! This is a wonderful technique from Kimi. The frame is from OScrap's Moonrise kit)

I just can’t even imagine how much work goes into organizing Women’s Conference! They do a lovely job of accommodating thousands of women. This year we stayed for the Thursday night service activities and the concert (Rebekah said she enjoyed watching Ann and I get jiggy with Eclipse). We started our day at 7 am and finished at about 11 pm… I was tired. There are always so many choices for the classes that I always have a hard time deciding which ones to take. I’ve pretty much decided that I will rarely be disappointed regardless which class I take.

This year the closing address was President Thomas S Monson. I was excited as I contemplated the fact that I would be in the same room with the Prophet of God (albeit a very large room… the Marriot Center). As he entered we all rose and after finishing the song we were singing, we broke into spontaneous song, We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet. The Spirit was very strong, confirming what I already knew, that Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet here on earth. What a marvelous blessing to have that witness borne so strongly.

So, once again, I will encourage anyone who wasn’t able to attend to watch the rebroadcast on KBYU May 15 & 16. I know I will be there!

(*this is the photo I started with)