Time Out for Women

Time Out for Women is a two day conference specifically geared toward women (there's one for girls too) and presented in several cities by Deseret Book once a year. I hadn't heard of it until these ladies invited me to join them for the conference and a free overnight stay at a hotel. What fun!

I was a little worried Desert Book would push its name and products all throughout the conference—they were a client of ours when I worked at SHC…oh the stories I can tell—but to my surprise they didn't and I was glad. 

Below: Me, Tiffany (who is the first counselor in Young Women…oh, did I mention that I am the Young Women President now? More on that later. Maybe.) Jeanette, she and her husband have a bunch of us over to play cards late at night when the kids are in bed. Lots of food is ALWAYS involved and it's so fun. And then Marla who I've mentioned before.

This year the theme for the conference was "Inevitable Light." I had to go find a good explanation of it because it's a little…complicated. Here is what I found:

…We found this great quote: “For those of us who feel wanting when it comes to talents and gifts, it is encouraging to know that this invitation is not to dazzle others with who we are or what we know. Rather, our light is the Light of the Lord reflected in us as we simply strive to do as He did. (Elder Lawrence Corbridge,Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus Christ)

And then it was clear. Our gifts aren’t about US. They are about HIM. And His Light.  

Elder Corbridge goes onto say, “Your light will shine as an inevitable consequence of faithfully choosing to follow the Lord whatever the cost.” 

Speakers and entertainment included: Heidi Swinton, Hudson Lights (Music), Elaine Dalton, Terryl & Fiona Givens, Hillary Weeks (music), Emily Watts, S. Michael Wilcox, Tamu Smith & Zandra Vranes, Emily Freeman.

The first day (for me) was a little disappointing. The information was presented in a way I'd already heard. One speaker repeated a message I had actually seen in a video of hers before. But the next day was much better. There was laughing and new knowledge shared. I even received information I've needed about something that's been bothering me for a while—it was inspiring and sweet to receive my answer to say in the least. 

Above left (Marla, Tiffany, Jeanette) Above right: (I dared Tiffany to walk up on stage so I could get a picture of her. Brave girl. She's got a little adventure in her. But shame on me for egging her on!)

We left midway through and ate at Potbelly's for lunch. Have you been there? Best chocolate cookies. Good wraps and sandwiches. Here are the place tags Jeanette made for us to keep our seats while we were gone.

It was a good couple of days. I am still surprised these ladies like me enough to have invited me (I'm the quiet one in the group and feel I have little to share because these ladies are SO AMAZING and have so much more life experience than me)…but this little getaway was very nice and they are a pleasure to be around. Maybe I just need to get over my insecurities….

And because I just can't STAND it I have to point out this sign. It was on stage so I was FORCED to look at it the whole weekend. The lettering on the word "light" BOTHERS ME SO BAD! Look at the "t". It's obviously thinner than all the other letters. Someone needs to fix it so my eye can stop twitching!!!

At Least We Won't Starve

Dove is edible? Those pretty birds that symbolize love and peace are hunted? Yes. There is a season for them. And it has begun. Part of Adam's job is to court people in the business—for their business. So he gets paid while experiencing fun and new things with the client. He's been dove hunting twice now…during work days. Awesome!

According to the other "dudes" Adam is a good shot. He hit the most on the last run, and brought back the maximum birds allowed. He said he's surprised he actually hits anything. (Not that he's bad, it's just that the birds are so small.)

After shooting the bird, the hunter finds the bird and quickly pops off the head. It's a quick and humane death for the animal. Adam said it's extremely easier (physically) than he thought it would be.
One bird he fetched for a fellow was still quite alive, awake and blinking and looking around. That one was hard to kill, "It was looking at me," he said. He took it back to the guy saying, "You're going to have to do this one."

To clean the birds you just stick your thumb up under the breast plate and rip the breast out. Then rinse off any feathers. Look it up on Youtube. It's the only edible part (well, the only part we eat anyway) and comes away easily. It's a dark red meat and very small. The meat has a texture a little similar to liver, especially if its been marinated. I don't mind it and am curious to try new ways to cook it. It was fun trying something new.

So, now I know… doves are an option—as long as we have a gun and there are doves we won't starve.

Addendum
After posting this my Dad responded with this story:

When I was a kid, I went dove hunting many times with my dad and his dad ("Baba" to me). I remember waking up in the dark and being out in the fields before dawn. I still can smell the pungent safflower crops we crouched in, keeping quiet and low to the ground. Baba's black retriever would run out and scare up the birds and bring the fallen ones back. My job was to put them in a canvas bag. Those mornings were chilly and the soft little bodies warmed my cold hands. At Baba's house I helped pluck the feathers. Blood made it a sticky mess. At home, Mom would bake and serve the doves whole. We learned to suck all the meat morsels off every tiny bone and to chew carefully because of the BBs. When we had a meal of dove, duck, pheasant, or venison that my dad had hunted, it always seemed to us a special family feast.

30 What!?

Being in our 30's is weird. I'm not sure I like it. I'm not sure I like my husband getting older. There are a few gray hairs on his head which catch my attention from time to time—which will probably make him look more handsome as he develops more but I don't like that it means time is flying by. He turned 33 this year. I'm just glad he's not balding!

As per his request we went out for dinner at Texas Roadhouse where he ordered his usual steak and we both chowed down on the rolls—the best ever. I am still attempting to find a good copycat recipe.

While we were there I interviewed him:

Is there anything you've done this year you'd like to do again?
Go trout fishing and hunting.

What are you really good at?
Making people laugh.

What health problems do you have?
My gut is hanging over my belt.

In what ways have you changed in the last three years?
I can't be as aggressive in sports because I hurt longer. I can't eat the same crap as I used to. And I feel like I'm more confident in my job.

What have you done this year that you don't want to do again?
Go to Walmart construction training.

What kind of music are you listening to these days?
Country, 21 Pilots, Grouplove, and Bruno Mars

What book are you in the middle of?
See You at the Top by Zig Zigglar

Who do you look up to or want to emulate?
My Dad and best friend.

What amazes you?
How to this day, that sometimes I look at my wife and am amazed that we are together. It's totally awesome. I just look at her and think, holly crap, she's mine. Best feeling ever.

And on that high note we'll move on.

A few years ago Adam requested a birthday cake with no frosting. And I thought, "How can I make a cake without frosting and have it still taste…interesting?" And then I thought, "Aha! Ganache!" And came up with this DELICIOUS concoction:

The cake is Hershey's Deep Dark Chocolate Cake recipe. I make it the night before and wrap the layers in saran wrap while they are still just barely warm. In my mind it helps the cake retain moisture. I despise most cakes and it's because most cakes are dry (because most cakes come from a box.)

The next day a few hours before we're ready to eat it, I assemble the rest of the cake.
First, the layers get cut in half and chocolate pudding gets spread in between each one and stacked. This year I made the pudding from scratch and had great success. This too helps the cake taste ooey gooey chocolatey in your mouth. Yum.

Then chocolate ganache made from semisweet chocolate gets poured over all the layers. It's not smooth because I don't bother cutting the sides of the cake—which is fine—I don't want to waste any delicious chocolatyness.

Then I whip cream with vanilla, sugar, and a few dashes of cinnamon (which is perfection) and pipe it over the top. And lastly sprinkle Heath bar all over it.

It has been such a GREAT hit, (it's even better the next day coming out of the fridge) that we have given it the permanent title, Adam's Birthday Cake and I'm pretty sure it will be a tradition for the rest of his life. We will eat it at his funeral….which is getting closer.

Lucky birthday boy got sung to twice, the Marlex's came over and then later we took cake to Dafni's house and sang again! (As you can tell, this cake does not travel well—see right photo. But hey.)

Happy Birthday my love.

FREEEEDOM!!!

WE DID IT!!!

Thanks to everyone who supported us. Thanks to everyone who still invited us out…it's nice to be remembered even when we need to say no. Thanks to everyone who accepted our answer "our financial advisor told us we can't" as a viable!

We paid off the loan several months earlier than planned (and 14 years earlier than the required payments would have taken.). The best part? We surprised ourselves with this news! I haven't been adding up the money going into my business accounts (it's much easier NOT to watch it—bad for bookkeeping I know...) but on Adam's birthday I decided to do the math and—tah-dah! Best birthday present EVER!

Next step #3: 3-6 months of living expenses in a savings account. Here we go!!! We've decided to add emergency food storage to this step as well.

Addendum: Oct 4th
Below, Adam wanted a photo of us paying off the loan. Maybe if you squint really hard you can see that the payment was over $16,000. A huge chunk but so worth it.

In all, since we started this Dave Ramsey thing about 2.9 years ago (and then got REALLY serious in February) we've paid off my school loan, the car, purchased a second car in cash, and paid off Adam's loan. 

About a week after we became debt free I was driving home from the grocery store and a rush of happiness overtook me so much that I started laughing out loud and the tears of gratitude hit. I must have looked ridiculous (and I missed slowing down in a school zone…eeehhh.) I felt SO incredibly GRATEFUL for getting this obstacle out of our lives. Grateful to Heavenly Father for putting a plan in our path at a time when we were ready to listen (after backing out of a house purchase that would have been a massive mistake). 

This debt free thing truly is freedom, freedom for the soul.