On May 9th, 16 amazing women took the Stage at Thanksgiving Point, for the first annual LTYM show in Utah. The night was amazing start to finish.
Missing Polly (who had to rush home to nurse a hungry baby).
The audience was second to none and laughed and cried right along with us.
Let me give you a quick run down.
Abby started off the night introducing all of us to Ms. Hanigan, “Between the Ideal and the Reality”. And then we laughed as our poet Shannon gave us her version of the Night Before Christmas in “The Popcorn Poem”. In which her son covers a man in chewed up popcorn.
Courtney shared her story of dealing with infertility. And reminded us that we all need to “Make the Grass Greener”. And Lindsey walked us through the hours leading up to her youngest son being placed in their arms, and we were all moved by her adoption story.
Jenny Smith read us a letter she wrote her daughter “Dear Maggie”, who went to heaven too soon. And then Melody read “Not About Laundry” a beautiful piece dedicated to her mother who endured abuse and still provided a beautiful life for her children.
Jenny Eckton reminded us that the loss of a child must be endured with patience. And gave us the courage to answer “How many children to you have?” with confidence. Megan has a daughter who loves stars. “It Remains” gave us the courage to honestly wait for our children to be ready for the tough conversations and that the truth is always the truth.
Carly Kerby compared her mothers’ stories to an old time Google and reminded us why story telling is so important in the first place. Then Holly took the mic to tell us all the lessons she has learned from raising 24! children. “Everything she needs to know she learned from being a mom”.
With tears I couldn’t fight, I shared the struggle I am having as I realize my child bearing years are coming to an end, because “Motherhood has always been my style”. And June shared Mothering Tip #57. Where she taught us all about object lessons. Once she had us laughing, the laughter didn’t stop because Julie took the mic as “Tired Mom”. The audience hit the floor when she shared her family motto “keep your hands out of your pants”.
Polly kept the laughter going as she “came to grips with motherhood” and Shannon shared her very first serious piece with us, “Stretching”.
Amy made us all realize that if we aren’t careful we will all have broken “Estimators”, missing out on what matters most as mothers, and Aleisha finished up the night with her beautiful “Happy Mother’s Day To a Mom I know…Me”.
These women were honest and vulnerable and real, and the audience appreciated and hung on every word.
After the show the room was filled with “Me Too’s”. Women and men lined up to talk with each of us. Shouting thanks for expressing what was in their own hearts and minds.
This night couldn’t have been a success without these women. They are lifelong friends. We support, love and miss one another now that we are a part. I had no idea the depth of the relationships that would be developed through this process.
Thanks must also go out to Thanksgiving Point and the staff that worked so hard to help get the room “just so”. Pete from “Can I get a copy” who handled the videography. His expertise eased my worried mind. Our photographer Naoma Stewart of Naoma Stewart photography for capturing the night and helping us preserve the memories. As well as to Justin Hackworth who was so willing to share his images of Mothers and Daughters with us. And thank you to our charity, Utah County Children’s Justice Center. We are so excited to be able to donate 10% of ticket sales to them.
A huge Thank you to our National Media Sponsor BlogHer, our Supporting Media Sponsor One2One Network and our Megaphone Sponsor The Healing Group. As well as Street Bauble, who made our beautiful “Listen” necklaces. We couldn’t have done it without their support.
Thank you, to each and everyone of you who attended the show. Thank you for listening to the stories, for supporting the message and for laughing and crying right along with us.
We all have a story. Each and every one of us. You have a story and now Utah has a microphone, waiting for you to share. Take a minute to write your story down and consider auditioning next year. The mic has your name written all over it.
Until Next Year Utah! 2014 or bust!!!
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