3rd Annual Bell Women's Conference: California Edition

I was blessed to be able to attend the 3rd Annual Bell Women's Conference in

SAN FRANSISCO.....

well...... actually, Moraga, California.

It was an incredible weekend spent with incredibly inspiring, loving, faithful, fun and intelligent women. Thank you Melanie and Nate for your generosity!

Melanie planned an amazing weekend!

Favorite highlights include but are not limited to:

• the absolutely breathtaking, never-ending and "kinda hilly" drive to Stinson beach.
• Remembering how much I LOVED living with Nate and Melanie!! Moraga is like a dream!
• Breathing in the salty sea air and watching Tiff and Tash walk out into the surf......the FREEZING surf.
• The look on theirs, Megan, Brittany and Ashley's faces when they learned of the impending speaker......and feeling Kristen's passion for the subject (now we know why Tiff!)
• Walking, talking, giggling and clamouring to get out of the rain in the red wood forest.....eating the most delicious roasted veggies.
• losing my voice. Getting tired of trying to be heard and giving up all together :)
• Trying to find an unused outlet or mirror to get ready in front of....watching 15 women all trying to get ready at once.
• Joshua's delicious thighs!
• Melanie's dog training skills.
• The view of San Fransisco from the Oakland Temple.
• Watching Jolynn climb onto the planter box to take a picture ;)
• Changing in the Stake Center bathroom like teen aged girls; all loud and giggling.
• Driving Melanie's super cute Acura in San Fransisco......being terrified of the ridiculously designed streets.
• An unforgettable culinary experience in the heart of China town.....the looks on our faces at the "safe" table as we scoured the menu for anything edible ;)
• Walking back to the McDonald's for second ice cream cones and diet coke.
• The homeless woman with her cats in a stroller and the man who could play his coffee cup.....we just don't have talent like that in Farmington.
• Jolynn raising her hand after Melanie asked if there was anything else we needed and saying "where are those cookies?!"
• Melanie charming the temple workers into doing a session just for us.
• Watching each other nod off throughout our special session ;)
• Brynn's clever truth and lies game all so that she could tell us how she mooned a fellow traveler in the airplane restroom.
• Taking a "day off" on Saturday to recover from our late night "talk"......going to the container store and H&M in Walnut creek.
• Recovering from the shock of the pathetic candy aisle at the grocery store in Lafayette.....it was ridiculous!
• Buyer's remorse after leaving the store with our 10 bags of junk food......being oh so grateful for each and every bag late that night.
• Cameron joining in our conversations and making us laugh.
• Jackson sharing his mission experience, feeling the spirit while he did and being so grateful for the opportunity to live in America and to raise my children in a clean, safe place.
• Laughing to the point of discomfort as Eliza reenacted the story of her Mother body surfing.
• Having the chance to get to know and chat with each of you separately.

I can't wait for next year....I will always treasure these memories!