Ever been camping? Ever sat and just watched a campfire? If you were to take a coal out of the fire it would have a beautiful red glow and emanate heat. Leave that coal sit around, away from the flame and it would slowly go back to it's black colour and be easy to handle with bare hands. Now pick it up and put it back in the flame and watch it go back to it's red glowing state.

What does a piece of coal have to do with TOFW? Well I believe that the strength from TOFW is in the women in attendance. When I am surrounded by so many other women who are like minded and in need of a Time Out, I find great strength and support from their 'fire'. 

On top of the 'fire' that are these women we have the presenters who leave home and family to come and stoke the flame. They get the fire to burn brighter and hotter, allowing those who attend to leave burning bright and ready to deal with being outside the flame yet again. 

Come be a part of the fire of TOFW and join us in Salt Lake City on November 22nd and 23rd. Click here to learn more.

On Saturday August 3rd I attended Time Out For Women in Sydney Australia. Since I first heard about TOFW back in March of 2005, I longed for them to come to Australia. Women everywhere need a Time Out. Since 2005 I have bugged the powers that be to bring it down to Australia. In February 2011 I moved from Brisbane, Australia to Bountiful, Utah. It seems like days after I arrived in Utah I learned that TOFW were going to head overseas to Sydney later that year. I was THRILLED to say the least. I was also completely bummed that I wouldn't be there to be a part of it.

This year I was headed home to attend my father's 80th birthday in the beginning of July. I figured if I strung my holidays out just a little longer I could actually attend TOFW in Sydney. So....I did.

I was lucky enough to share this experience with some of my sisters and my daughter. I met up with many wonderful friends. Some I hadn't seen for maybe 30 years.

Setting up the service project area. Sisters who attended were asked to bring food items that would then be bagged to feed a family of four. The goal for the day was to have at least 100 of these bags to be able to hand over to the NSW Foodbank.

More milling around getting things organized as the sisters would bring food items the helpers would organize it in a way to make it all run smoothly when other volunteers would come to bag the food items.

Hilary Weeks singing about some of her favourite things...."Bedtime and naptime and bedtime and naptime....." (I am not known for my photography skills)

Bedlam begins as so many sisters want to be a part of the service project and bag the food items.

The end result was 376 bags of meals for a family of four with many more individual items of food that would go along to the foodbank. 

It was wonderful meeting up with much loved family friends. I have heard Brad Wilcox talk about how wonderful it was to watch as women met up with friends from all over the country that they hadn't seen in years. This year it was my turn to experience it with my sisters. 

This is Maggie. Maggie came and sat on her walker in the isle right beside me. When Hilary Weeks started playing her fun 'Dancing in the Rain' song Maggie was sitting there 'dancing'. I jumped up and took her right out the front and started dancing her around on her walker. She loved it....I loved it. It was great fun.

After the break she came back and sat in the middle of the isle again. I am aware of the safety issue of having people in the isles so I suggested she might want to find a safer, more appropriate spot. She promptly turned to Sheri Dew (who was on the other side of the isle), pointed to an empty seat two seats down from her (beside Sis. Pierce). Sheri smiled and nodded. Maggie then wheeled herself over to the empty seat and sat right in it. 

As soon as Maggie sat down, Virginia Pierce smiled and leaned over to give Maggie a huge hug. As did Laurel Christensen Day who was sitting on the other side. This made me love these women even more. Accepting and loving.

After one of the breaks Chrislyn asked for a couple of volunteers to come up and help with the drawing of some prizes. Being the goofball I am, I waved my arms and yelled something or other. I was one of the ones chosen. My sister captured this photo. I can't think what made me make this face but I think it's one of my most favourite photos ever. It makes me smile. It was fun. 

The presenters were fabulous. I believe everyone who attended left with any burden they carry, a little lighter. Their heart a little more full and the spirit a little more closer to God.

If you ever have an opportunity to attend TOFW then I would strongly suggest you grab a group of friends and GO. Listening to the speakers is wonderful to be sure but I think the best thing about these events is being with like minded women with similar goals and needs....this includes the presenters.

Hilary Weeks....'Dancing in the Rain'.

Want to know more about what TOFW has to offer? Check out this clip.