Women Of Worth

The Women Of Worth Spring Seminar 2006 was a big success. Friday night the ladies showed up ready to worship and take in whatever was available to them. They were there at 5:30 getting there name tags and sifting through their goody bags even though the event didn’t start until 7:00. We had over 250 women sign up and I think it was a great crowd for our first attempt at an event like this.

During the day on Friday I had a wonderful peace that seemed to support me as I did my daily routine. I should have been very stressed, with my class coming up the next day and our trip to Florida the day after that I had a lot to do…but I didn’t feel stressed. I felt remarkably calm. Prayer will do that. I got the boys ready and we were out the door in plenty of time to get the boys to the nursery, run after a few needed supplies and props, laugh with a few friends and meet the other teachers for prayer back stage. Pastor Sarah started things off by leading us into worship, Becky did a skit that was a big success and then Sarah came back up and tucked us right into the arms of the Father before Sandy took the stage to tell us how much He loves us. The theme was Who You Are In Christ and it was a very pointed message centered on Sandy’s testimony and the miracle of realizing the love of our Savior. Her history is too much to go into and is the stuff of novels. Her present is remarkable and her future who can tell? It was a moving message and many responded at the alter. I don’t know what happened in the lives of the beautiful women who came forward that night I’m still waiting to hear more detailed reports. I do know that the Spirit of God was present in that place and that people who are not prone to drama were dramatically moved.

Saturday morning came too early and as I got the boys up and ready to go I prayed as I went having gotten up too late for an intimate encounter. Things went well, I didn’t forget anything of any great importance and the boys were in good humor for the most part. Ivan did have a tummy ache during the morning while I was teaching but the sweet girls taking care of him were good to him and I didn’t know about it until they had worked it all out and he was his happy self when I picked him up. Everyone was given the option to attend four of the ten electives offered. Each break-out session or class was 50 minutes long and offered four times. So I taught my class four times. The first session I had three women…and one of them stopped me about half way through and said…”this isn’t the parenting class?” Uh…no. The second and third sessions were good and full with about 15 to 20 in each. The fourth one was down again with about 6 ladies. The ages and situations varied greatly in these classes and I found myself teaching my notes differently in each session depending on the needs presented. In one session I had a 16 year old girl, in another I had a majority of women who had been divorced more than once and had children in college and some had grandchildren (I gave them all your number dad…just kidding). They were all very open and interested in what I had to say. I had a great time. The comments and questions were pertinent and helpful, there were requests for my notes and my e-mail address, as well as a few laughs and a few tears. What more could a girl want?

After the break-out sessions there was a large group session for an open forum question and answer time. The ten teachers sat on stage and the women were allowed to ask anything they wanted. One woman who had been to my class said that she wanted to thank the teachers…she said she went to my class and made this comment “I have been looking for a husband for a long time, I went to Mary Jo’s class and I realized I’m not ready for a husband yet. I’m going to take the next six months just to work on being a better me.” That made me feel so good. All the teachers had such good feedback and the women were excited about what they were able to take home with them. I only wish I could have attended a couple of the classes myself.

Pastor Sandy called me today and said she wants to take all of us out to dinner as a big thank you for our hard work. Okay…I’m always up for that.