Women’s Conference

We had a great weekend get away at Asia Area Women’s Conference.  There were little workshops to go to teaching you everything from Faith to Improving Relationships.

Here is part of our group: Back: Maya, Jennifer, Lori, Allison B..  Front: Alison W., Me, Cheryl, and Shelley.

And here we are again at the Airport together.

On our way to Outback… because it was high time we had some Cheese Fries.  We don’t have an Outback in Shanghai.

 

And of course we couldn’t wait to introduce my good friend Shelley, who is from Australian to our version of Australian food.  Um, she’d never heard of a ‘Bloomin’ Onion’… and neither had any other Australian.  Um, and Cheese Fries were not exactly Australian either.  Luckily, Shelley’s game for anything, and ate the greasy American food with us anyway.

Then we were on to the workshops.  I signed up for some great ones.  One was taught by my very close friend Tracey Butters, from our Branch.  She had about 10 tips to a successful marriage, that reminded me of the book “The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands”, by Dr. Laura.

Here were her some of her 10 tips, all on bright yellow paper, written clearly:

1. Temple marriage doesn’t always mean a successful marriage.  You have to work at it.

2.  Getting married is just a step in the process of life, not the exactly the point of arrival.

3.  You women do not carry an ‘umbrella of righteousness’.  If you can’t say anything nice…Society has demeaned men.  Many have given up.  Never criticize your husband’s efforts.  If you ask your husband to do something, followed up by corrections, he’ll never want to help again.

4.  You have the ability for a fantastic marriage.  Marriage is to be enjoyed, not endured.  Daily habits:

-Make your spouse THE priority

-Talk nice.  Don’t complain about the kind of bread he brings home if it doesn’t match your request exactly.  It’s just bread.  It’s not worth hurting his feelings.

-“Don’t focus on whether you married the ‘right’ person, focus on treating him ‘right’.”

-Don’t talk to someone else about your marriage.  Go to him.  He needs to know that all people you associate with knows you think he’s Superman.

-Don’t play ‘cut the pie’.  He works full time.

-Don’t be angry if he stays late for work, he is working!

-Don’t play ‘can you guess what I’m feeling and why’.

-Untie knots with family and friends… you are tied to HIM.

-Forgive everything.  Right now.  For past, present and future.  Forgiveness is not a gift you just give, it is truly a gift you receive.

 

Then she spoke on this!  Atta girl.  Such an avoided topic among Christian women.  Such a necessary part of a healthy balanced marriage.

-Get dressed up.  Not just for ‘other women’ (lol, ‘cause you know we do) you see throughout the day, but get ready for him. Do your makeup.  Dress nice, he deserves it.

-Don’t take him for granted.  Make his time with you worth his while.

-Remember and talk about the good things.

-Don’t set up ‘traps’ for him.

-Assume the best.

-Gifts, notes… just because.

-Text him all the time, he’ll love it.  (I think this was the only part I didn’t think Tim would love, lol). 

 

We tied quilts (all arranged by my friend Jennifer, above) for orphans. 

Cheryl, Alison, Me, Alyson, Jennifer, Shelley, Lori, Peila, Tonya.  Front: Jane, Allison, Maya.

There is a website for the Asian Area Women’s Conference…. just need to find it.  It was wonderful.  There were sisters from all around Asia.  My group just represented the Eastern part of Shanghai.