Laura Murphy and Tiffani Pharr have both experienced a season of grief and loss. They decided to take their trials and turn them into a story of healing and hope as they bring “Joy Comes in the Morning Women’s Conference” to Owensboro this March.
“I have wanted to do this for a long time,” Murphy said. “I decided it was finally time.”
Murphy, who lost her unborn daughter Liv in April 2020, organized an annual 5K in her honor for 3 years consecutively. Each event raised money for local adoptions or Care Net Owensboro, causes that Murphy said mean something to her personally.
“It’s about life. We did not get to keep Liv earthside, and I wanted the Life After Liv 5K to be done in her honor. Helping other babies helps our hearts to heal,” she said.
After losing her mom in a car accident in 2022, Murphy said she knew it was time to take what she learned during each of her trials and create a day for women who have experienced grief or pain in any capacity to come together and find hope. The conference is designed as an uplifting day of connection and inspiration.
“I reached out to Tiffani because she has an incredible story to tell,” Murphy said. “Through loss and devastation, she found a platform to bring others hope. We got together and started brainstorming ways to make this day special for other women.”
Pharr will be speaking on some of the personal trials she faced over the last few years, challenging others to take steps towards their own healing.
“My goal is to go into what I once saw as a mess and turn it into a message, and my message into a testimony,” Pharr said.
The conference will include morning breakout sessions with topics such as joy in journaling, women in business, more-than-a-mom, and creative crafts.
Local teacher and author Lauren Fitzmaurice will offer a calligraphy session, and Julie Moore of Embody will offer a breakout session about breathwork and gentle movement. The afternoon session offers participants a choice between a canvas painting with Paint the Town or a bracelet making class with Jackie Blue Handmade.
“I wanted to involve as many people on this day as possible. I see it as connecting pieces to a puzzle— so many local people have talents to share and stories to tell,” Murphy said.
Maria Kelly of Nona’s Market and Red Swing Coffee will provide the catering, and desserts will come from Crumbl Cookies.
The conference is set for March 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 600 Salem Drive. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
“I look forward to seeing a room full of women coming together to connect,” Murphy said. “Our conference name is based on Psalms 30:5, ‘Weeping may last for the night but joy comes in the morning.’ I feel blessed to be a testimony of holding on to that promise.”
