Reason #2 - I get to take "Girl Trips" with my Mom

Just a couple of weeks ago my mom and I attended Time Out for Women, an event put on by Deseret Book. My dear friend Chrislyn is the Event Coordinator, and she wanted me to come and experience a huge piece of her life. We drove up to Logan on Friday afternoon and had a short visit with my sweet grandparents, then checked in to Chrislyn's hotel and walked on over to the event. It was fabulous! We had front row seats, just behind all of the presenters, and were able to hear some incredible speakers and musical guests. Jenny Oaks Baker and Kenneth Cope were the musical entertainment, and they were phenomenal. And then we heard from James Ferrell (the writer of The Peacegiver which is a fantastic book about the atonement), Mary Ellen Edmonds, Amanda Dickson, Camille Fronk Olsen, Merrilee Boyack, and Sharon Larsen. We also got to eat lunch with the presenters Saturday afternoon before the second portion of the day started. So the perks of knowing someone in charge were great, but really, just being there in an auditorium filled with thousands of women all seeking the spirit was amazing. And being able to share that with my mom and one of my best friends made it even better.

I had been fasting and praying for weeks about a decision I have been struggling with, and Thursday night before we left, I got on my knees and acknowledged my acceptance of the Lord's will, but asked for confirmation to make sure I was making the right decision. I received an overwhelming confirmation on Friday afternoon, and as I sat and listened to Jenny Oaks Baker play beautiful, sweet, pure music that night, I wept realizing the amazing love God has for me, and how mindful he is of me. After such a longing for guidance, it was incredible to spend a weekend so filled with the spirit.

I love 30 Reason #1

It is pretty obvious that I'm new to this blogging thing. I didn't think it would be hard to find time to jot down a few lines, so all I can say is, thanks to the University of Phoenix for providing just enough boredom in my life for me to create and update my blog. Really, I get a little more out of school occasionally, but some weeks, at 9:15pm, I just can't think intellectually anymore.

So, on to my first reason why my 30th year here in the world is going to be the best year ever. It turns out I've been given a great opportunity to help me overcome one of my fears. Since birth I have been TERRIFIED of bees. I have never been stung, but there is something about knowing that if I attempt to kill a bee, I might miss and that little sucker could turn kamakazi and come at me with missile like force. And where would I go? He has the advantage of flight. I am just one little girl and wherever I run... he might follow.

A few weeks ago, I happened to be in Price, UT with one of my employees who has recently taken on beekeeping. He suggested that we go see his bees before I headed back toward home after our day's work. I wasn't such a fan of the idea, but I thought I should be supportive and he promised I was safe. So I donned my netted helmet, and gloves that reached my armpits and headed out to the beehives, dress, heels and all.

I can't say I touched any bees, but I can say I stood within 5 feet of thousands of bees. And as I watched him pulling out shelves, and holding handfuls of bees, I started to think maybe he was right; maybe bees are not such mean creatures after all. I mean really, I guess I must have to really irritate the poor creatures if they are willing to kill themselves over making their point (no pun intended). And watching Paul hold this little bee by its legs for a good 2 minutes while he tried to show me the wax it was making, I realized they are pretty mellow, as long as you send them love as I learned in The Secret Life of Bees.

While I'm not in a hurry to get back to the beehives, I do now feel a little tenderness toward the bees, and I also am a big fan of honey straight from the hive. Yum!