TOFW 2011: Choose to Become

Since the T.O.F.W. theme this year was Choose to Become, they challenged us all to CHOOSE something to BECOME this year. Here's what the ladies decided.
Liz Zollinger- I'm going to become a better friend and pay closer attention to the messages Heavenly Father sends me each day.
Teri Zollinger- I Choose to Become more charitable and understanding toward others so I can become more Christlike in my relationships.
Becky Disher- I am going to become more patient.
Jennifer Mausolf- A nurse (working) and a better mommy!
Julie Wright- I will become old, then dead! (We all hope that this isn't a self-fulfilling prophecy. LOL)
Amy Wright- I will become happy!
Wendy Potter- I am going to try to be a more patient mom & wife. I will try to pay attention to my surroundings and render help if needed.
Julie McPherson- Wow! There are so many things I would like to BECOME but since I have to choose one for now I am going to try to become fit.
Debbie Stephenson- I would like to be more in tune (my eyes more open) to what Heavenly Father wants me to become! ;)
Jill Erikson- I would like to become a better friend and be more social.
Allison Cudney- I will be SOCIAL!!
Jenny West- I will become more active in determining the path my life takes. I will strive to write Christ's name on my heart. I will develop my talents and watch for opportunities to serve.
Kristen Brotherson- (slacker! lol)

Sheleray Seamons- I CHOOSE to become contagiously HAPPY! I think becoming this means 1- seeking help from my Heavenly Father every day. 2- Finding ways to keep my eyes wide open for opportunities to be happy and share that happiness with others. 3-Consistently reminding myself why I am happy- an attitude of gratitude! Wish me luck! ;)

What do YOU choose to BECOME?

TOFW 2011: To The Rescue

Our real TOFW Adventure:
As you know, my sweet friends and I ended up renting a 15 passenger van to travel down to Minneapolis so we could ride all together. As you also know, we stopped at the Outlet Malls on the way back to Fargo. That made it pretty late when we were on the final stretch home. We were about 45 minutes from Fargo when the battery gage started jumping back and forth. The van seemed to be running fine so we kept driving. As we made it to Moorhead, the brake light turned on and the lights went dead. I turned to my sweet sisters and told them all to say a prayer cuz it looked like the van was dying. As we held our breath, we tried to decide if we could make it to the Church exit. We crossed just over the ND border when the van made a sad noise so we pulled over to the side of the highway and  that was it. A fifteen passenger van carrying 12 ladies and lots of luggage was dead on the side of a North Dakota Highway at 11 o'clock at night.
Are you kidding me!!!??? LOL! We first called a tow truck. Then, we called Ellen (Kristen's daughter) to come rescue us. It just happened that Ellen was with a bunch of friends so they came over with 4 cars to haul all the ladies and their luggage back to the Church (only about 5 minutes away). One of those cars belonged to Nick. It just happened that by accident, Nick locked his keys in the truck when he hopped out to greet us. So he ended up having to call his Mom to come rescue him with the second set of keys. (It was a night of rescuing, for sure. lol) It worked out perfect though because the other cars took all the ladies to the Church while Kristen and I AND Nick waiting for a bit more rescuing.

The tow truck came next. By now, lack of sleep was an understatement and silliness had overpowered us. Kristen and I found everything to be a bit funny! We even took pictures with the tow truck man, Alex and told him he was our HERO! We documented our whole rescue experience. Our big van being hoisted up, our Hero Alex and us trying to help lift the van into place. I'm sure it is was a night he won't quickly forget. lol Thanks Alex for coming to our rescue!

As we watched the tow truck pull away, even more silliness ensued. We took sad pictures of Kristen and I alone on the highway with our luggage and even a few of us trying to hitch-hike home. LOL! We are SOOOO funny! Not sure Nick thought we were that funny but he was a good sport. Finally, Sister LaDuke came with the 2nd set of keys and once again, we were rescued. Wahoo! Thanks to everyone who had a hand in RESCUING us tonight! You are our HEROs!

Safely back at the Church and in our car, Kristen and I laughed at the memories of our Adventure! We laughed so hard we almost cried! What a day! What a long, long, glorious day to be rescued!

MORAL of the STORY: We were so tired from our long weekend & lack of sleep and this was NOT in the plans!!! It could have been a really awful experience BUT... we CHOSE to notice it as a miracle. We could have broken down 45 minutes from Fargo but instead we had just crossed the state line. Ellen could have been alone and would have had to make several trips but a youth dance was that night and they were all together. Nick could have not locked his keys in his car and we would have not had the privilege of being saved twice. ;) There could have been snow and 30 degree temps but Spring came this week to Fargo. It could have been raining but the rains didn't come until the morning. We could have been really mad but it was probably one of the most memorable parts of the trip. It was amazing to us how Heavenly Father watched over his little group of daughters in the middle of the night on a highway in ND. We are so blessed and we CHOOSE to be very grateful for His RESCUE!

TOFW 2011: Saturday

Saturday was a busy day! Way before bright and early, I had a meeting so I left the Hotel before I normally would even be awake. (Early mornings are for the birds NOT the Seamons :) The other ladies enjoyed a bit of a free breakfast before coming to the Convention Center. Hope they enjoyed some for me! LOL. The Saturday Event was filled once again with music, friends, laughter, tears and learning. (See post about the Inspiring Words of the Presenters) Fabulous as always!

Like usual, Deseret Book set up shop out in the foyer. During breaks and lunch, we had the opportunity to shop for books and music from the Presenters as well as other popular DB items. One fun thing that happened this year was getting to buy an autographed copy of To The Rescue: The Biography Of Thomas S. Monson. It is signed by President Monson himself- the TOFW representative switched the ones they were bringing out for the signed ones before he came to Minneapolis. Yeah! Jenny and I missed part of one of the presenters but it was worth it! They ran out of them quickly. There was so many great things to buy. I think everyone came home with at least one bag full of fun finds.

Another TOFW trip tradition involves a bit more shopping. After the event, we always take a short drive to Albertville for some Outlet Mall fun! By then my feet had already called it quits but I tagged along with some die-hard shoppers nonetheless. An hour or two and many, many bags later (hopefully everyone got a bite to eat), we all met back at the van. A little squishier than the trip down but we were ready to head home.

It always amazes me how women can talk and talk and talk and talk. No radio, no CDs and no sleeping (as far as I knew) and 3 hours flew by like it was 15 minutes. Thanks ladies for the great time. I loved being with you all. You are the bestest friends a lady could ask for!

Well....

Normally this would be the end of the story. We would roll into the Church parking lot a lot later than we should, pile out with our luggage and stumble to our respective cars to head home. We would hug each other and mumble incoherently our goodbyes. Another TOFW Adventure complete!

BUT...

NOT this time! Stay tuned because little did we know that at 11:00 PM our Adventure had just begun!

TOFW 2011: Words of Inspiration

We had fabulous presenters this year at TOFW! They always say and sing things that touch my heart. Each one shared a message of BECOMING. I'd like to share a main idea or two of what I want to become from their message.



Friday Night:

Jenny Oaks Baker- She has an amazing musical talent! Some songs she played for us on her violin were Love is Spoken Here, More Savior Like Thee, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and Amazing Grace. Funny side-note: I had forgotten while I was at TOFW but as I was chatting with Brett when I got home, I remembered. Before Brett and I met, he worked at a bank in SLC. The bank happened to be the bank that Elder & Sister Oaks go to. Sister Oaks was about the nicest lady alive and came to the drive-up often. She adored Brett. A couple of times she tried to set him up with her daughter, Jenny. She even sent him a picture of her once through the money shoot. Too funny! It coulda been Jenny Oaks Seamons. Lucky for me- it's not! ;)

Jason Wright- I Choose to Have my eyes WIDE open! I choose to focus on the ONE and opportunities to save someone's life by small, unplanned acts of service.

Dean Hughes- I Choose to become a positive Self-Talker! I choose to step back and get a bit of perspective before I judge myself or others. 

Saturday:
Mercy River- Darling! Such fun and talented, musical sisters! I Choose to become a happy, strong woman and choose to enjoy being a Mother. Go Dora the Explorer! lol :)
Amanda Dickinson- I Choose to Become a better friend! "A lack of friends is as damaging to your health as smoking 14 cigarettes a day or being an alcoholic."- Do you believe that?  Be your own B.F.F. and in turn become a better friend to others.
Emily Watts-I Choose to Become Habitually Happy! I choose to create habits that will allow me to rejoice in my journey.
Brad Wilcox- We totally expected Brad to have us rolling in laughter but he totally surprised us. Instead, we cried together for an hour. I Choose to become Redeemed! I Choose to allow Christ to write His name on my heart and allow Him not only to save me but make me better!
Merrilee Boyack- Choose to B.E.C.O.M.E. U.! I choose to blaze my own trail and bloom where I'm planted.
Emily Belle Freeman- I Choose to write God's signature on my heart. Instead of you're welcome I will choose to say- "You're worth it!"

During one of the breaks, Jenny & I went up and actually met Mercy River. They are such sweet and beautiful sisters. So fun and inspiring!

TOFW-What a great experience to share with my friends. So many inspiring ideas to help me BECOME all that God as created me to become. I am so grateful for the chance to come to events like this. It was AWESOME! I'm already looking forward to TOFW coming back in 2014. I can't wait!!!

TOFW 2011: Possibility Packs

Something new that TOFW started last year was a Service Project Opportunity- the Possibility Packs Project!

"As a part of our CHOOSE TO BECOME TOUR we will be collecting items for and assembling POSSIBILITY PACKS Saturday. These are similar to a "hygiene" kit, but will include items specialized to give women the opportunity they need to get back on their feet and BECOME their BEST selves. Come prepared to MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

DONATION NEEDS
In order for us to create complete packs for the shelter, please bring BOTH items listed next to the first letter of your last name:
A-D: Body Spray (2-3 oz) AND Luffa or washcloth (travel size)
E-I: Toothbrush (full size) AND Toothpaste (travel size)
J-M: Deodorant (full-size non-aerosol) AND new Ink Pen (1)
N-R: Shower Gel (travel size) AND Small lined notebook (appr. 7” x 5”)
S-Z: Lip Gloss AND Kleenex packet (travel size)
*In order to fit into pack, please bring requested sizes. (If you would like to donate additional items on this list you are welcome to do so)"
We all brought our assigned items and a few extras to donate. Even some of the ladies in our ward that couldn't come wanted to participate. Thanks Amy & Rita! Since I was on the Possibility Pack Team, I made sure that a few ladies came and participted during part of lunch when we put them together. They got to grab a bag and fill it with all kinds of personal care items along with a uplifting note of possibility. It was a special opportunity to participate.



This is Angela (she works for TOFW & was the Emcee for the weekend) with the ladies from the Ready for Success Program:



Team Minneapolis actually ended up making 235 Possibility Packs for the local Ready for Success Program. Way to go ladies!!!

TOFW 2011: Team Minneapolis

I had the opportunity this year to be on the TOFW Minneapolis Team. Basically that means I got to be involved behind the scenes of having the Event come to Minneapolis. We had phone conferences and Pep Rally calls months before the event. We kept weekly contact with the Team leads through email and a Team Blog. The ladies in charge were so great! Tennisa, works for Desert Book as the TOFW Manager and is so positive and encouraging. Breanna, the regional Team Lead was so sweet and made our entire team home-made purple flower pins- so darling! Patty was our Stake's Team Captain and she's always amazing at everything she does. What a privilege to be a part of such an amazing group!

Prior to the Event, team members were responsibility to pass the word and info out about the Event to those in our area. I so appreciate all the hard work that it takes to put on an Event this size. (Not that I didn't appreciate it before- It's just you never really know all that's involved until you are actually a part of planning it) It was so great to finally meet all the awesome ladies involved after getting to know them over the phone.

TOFW Team Minneapolis 2011





Such FUN ladies!



At the Event, we had early Team meetings [not my favorite part of the weekend. LOL - the early part of it at least] and each got assignments to perform. Everyone pitched in and helped out where they were needed to make it a huge success. As a thank-you, they gave us a  few special gifts for being on the team (as if meeting such incredible ladies wasn't enough). It was a great experience! 

As part of my assignment, I was put on the Possibility Pack Team. We helped collect, sort, count and express thanks for all the items donated. Then we took sifts during lunch to man the assembly line. Afterwards, we helped pack the boxes, label them and get them ready to donate. The ladies I worked with were so much fun! What a great opportunity to serve and have a blast doing it!

I did miss spending the whole time with my own girlfriends. It was weird to just meet up with them when I could. But they were great to let me just jump back into the fun when I was there. Thanks to Jen and Kristen for eating a fast lunch with me so that I could be there for my sift. Sure love you ladies! You're the BEST!



TOFW 2011: Friday

What if you had the chance to take a weekend to discover something new?
What if this was the year for you to make meaningful change?
We did. This is!
"CHOOSE TO BECOME just a little closer to the woman you were meant to be—through your testimony, through your relationships, and through your personal improvement. There is a whole world of possibilities out there just waiting to be discovered…come find the ones waiting for YOU!"
This weekend, the TIME OUT FOR WOMEN 2011 TOUR came to Minneapolis, MN. Eleven of my dear sweet friends and I joined 800 other amazing women  for an inspirational weekend of messages and music. [We're so sad that Lisa and Cheryl couldn't come- we missed you ladies!] This was the 3rd time that a group of Fargo Friends made the journey. As always- it was an awesome adventure!
We met at the Church this morning where we and all our luggage piled into a 15 passenger green van (so funny since last time we went in a Green Beast as well) that we had rented especially for the occasion. KTuck even stopped by to wish us luck and bring us a couple of bags of treats for our trip. She is AWESOME! I so need the recipe, lady! The popcorn was the best I've ever had. Thank you so much! We luv ya and wish you could have come.
After a prayer from the Bishop Sean (this was not an official Church activity so we called him Sean ;), we loaded our junk stuff into the back AND in the extra seats AND under the benches LOL! and all piled into the van. We were definitely cozy but so glad we could all ride together. Stories, laughter, treats, each other's laps and a box of chocolates were generously shared.

TOFW Tradition requires that we make a stop in St. Cloud, MN at the Gruber's Quilt Shop. I actually thought the tradition might not happen this time because my die-hard Fab buddy wasn't joining us (Brooke has a tiny baby at home this year and couldn't come). But most ended up wanting to go- so off we went. Beautiful fabric in every color you can imagine and idea after idea after idea. A Fab-Addict Heaven! 



Another tradition we enjoy on our TOFW trips is lunch @ Panera's. Yummy and quick! There's something for everyone which is a bonus! Yeah for delicious traditions!

We finally made it to the Millennium Hotel around 4 o'clock and Kristen did an awesome job of parking the Green Beast in the parking garage. She deserves a Green Machine Parking Metal! Then we got our key cards and got the ladies assigned as roomies. We were a bit bummed cuz they actually told me we had rooms across the hall from each other. In reality, we had 2 rooms across from each other and the other two rooms were on the other end of the 6th floor. Bugger! But we didn't spend a whole lot of time in them anyways so... whatever, right? I had an early meeting so I took off while the other ladies got settled, visited or took naps. I met up with them at the event at 6:00 PM. Yeah- let the fun continue! While we were taking pictures in front of the sign, Breanna (the TOFW Minn Team Lead) came and took pics and did a few videos of our group. We'll see if we end up famous!!! ;)

The Friday Night Event was awesome! I'll share some of the things we learned in a different post. After the event, we got together with some other ladies from Fargo (Martha, Brittney, and Marvia) for a late dinner. There was a fun, little restaurant in the lobby of the hotel which was open late and could seat all 17 of us. Perfect! The prices were way decent and the staff was great! Better yet we didn't have to load everyone in the van and drive anywhere. Lucky us!

Back in our rooms, we stayed up late and visited (at least we did in our room). That's what you do at a sleepover, right? Not much sleep but good times! Wahoo!

Superman!

Before I tell you anything about my fun weekend out with the ladies, I owe a BIG, BIG, BIG thanks to my SUPER amazing, SUPER patient, SUPER resourceful, SUPER fun, SUPER good-lookin' Hubby! Thanks, Love for watching up to 9 children for 38 hours so that my girlfriends and I could go. You are the best SUPER hero ever!

Brett is definitely my SUPERMAN this week but around the Y and at his work, he's known as Captain America. Proof that no matter how you look at it- He's a SUPER hero! XOXOXO

Thanks again, SUPERMAN! I am so lucky to have you! XOXO

Time Out for Women is coming to MN in April- Wanna Come?

A Huge Shoutout to all my lady friends!

(not that I don't luv our guy friends but sorry! you're NOT invited ;)

TOFW has become one of my favorite traditions with my Fargo girlfriends. And it's coming to Minneapolis again in April. I am SO going! Want to join me?

Here's a little info on what it's all about:

"No doubt there are days when your clear perspective about life dims a little and you long for someone to remind you why you’re here and who you are.

It is our hope that during this [weekend] filled with messages of inspiration from respected authors and music artists [from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints], you will learn, you will laugh, and your spirits and sights will be lifted. It is Deseret Book’s great pleasure to invite you to catch your breath, take a break from daily pressures, “huddle” with your sisters and friends, and feel rejuvenated for the days ahead." -Sheri Dew

Time Out for Women 2011 Minneapolis

Friday, April 8, 2011
6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
9:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
@ Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 Second Avenue South

Here's the amazing presenters coming to the MN event:
FRIDAY
Jenny Oaks Baker
Master of Music, Juilliard; former first violinist, National Symphony Orchestra; albums include Then Sings My Soul
Musical Presentation
Jason F. Wright
New York Times bestselling author, including Christmas Jars and The Wednesday Letters
Line Upon Line
Dean Hughes
Best-selling author, Children of the Promise and Hearts of the Children series
What Did You Just Say?
SATURDAY
Mercy River
Three former soloists in the Jenny Phillips choir; each has recorded on multiple inspirational albums; albums include Mercy River and a second album that will release this spring
Musical Presentation
Brad Wilcox
Ph.D., University of Wyoming; associate professor, BYU; former president, Chile Santiago East Mission; author, The Continuous Atonement
The Miracle of Redemption
Emily Watts
Senior editor, Deseret Book Company; mother of five; author, I Hate It When Exercise Is the Answer
Habitually Happy To Be The Mom
Merrilee Boyack
Law degree, Santa Clara Law School; professional life coach; author, In Trying Times, Just Keep Trying
Blaze Your Own Trail
Emily Freeman
Author, 21 Days Closer to Christ and The Promise of Enough
Becoming His
Amanda Dickson
Morning show co-host, KSL News radio (Salt Lake City); author, Change It Up
No Woman Is An Island

Need more: Check out the TOFW blog with info about the Minneapolis event:
http://deseretbook.com/timeout/event/143

Call me if your interested in attending

with a group or have any questions!

It will be a blast!

Also- If you want to know what it was like last time we went check out these posts:

http://bsseamonsfam.blogspot.com/2009/10/tofw-part-1-getting-down-there.html

http://bsseamonsfam.blogspot.com/2009/10/tofw-part-2-friday-night.html
http://bsseamonsfam.blogspot.com/2009/10/tofw-part-4-saturday.html
http://bsseamonsfam.blogspot.com/2009/10/tofw-part-5-sweet-memories.html