April Conference 2008 even better than I expected

Well one thing it for sure, this weekend was even better than I had expected. It was AMAZING and such a great testimony builder. This was a special conference and I have been very excited to be able to listen to President Monson. But what I got was so much more it was unexpected and great.

I turned the TV on and gathered the family for the 10 am session Saturday and I was crying before the 1st prayer was even over it was just amazing. I just felt the warm comforting feeling that you feel when you know you are witnessing something amazing. The solemn assembly was so incredibly powerful. I couldn't have ever been prepared for the strong and wonderful spirit that I felt in my home as my children stood so excited to raise their hands and we stood there together as a family and were able to sustain and support the Prophet. We talked a little about how wonderful it is that God doesn't leave us to go it alone but that he sends us great leaders to help us. And even when we loose one as great as President Hinckley our Heavenly Father has already groomed and prepared someone to take his place. I hope they could feel the spirit as well. I am so grateful that we got to have this experience. It was also nice being that I live in UT and we got to watch a special presentation about the life of President Monson and the kids got to see a little of what I meant by Heavenly Father preparing him for this great work his whole life. It was great. And then his remarks at the very end on Sunday when you could tell he was just speaking from the cuff. Oh how endearing. He has such a great humor and such a fun way about him and hearing him talk about his wife being worried about the 4th quarter taxes. He is so real just a real person so much like the rest of us so humble and yet so amazingly powerful. I am sad that I missed the ear wiggling at the priesthood session on Sat. It sounded great.

The talks were all great. I know that several times I felt as though they were talking right to me and that the talk was given just for my ears to hear it. I always feel this way during conference I am sure that is why I love it so much. Also my favorite talk was the "mom" talk by Elder M. Russel Ballard. I laughed when I told my hubby that it made me feel guilty for always feeling guilty about not being a good enough mom. Can't wait to re-watch it tomorrow. I recorded it all.

And despite my feeling guilt for feeling guilt, I was so happy to hear him say that we need to remember that parenting is about the "moments" (and WOW Crystal that is your word for the year totally thought of you. Are you on the right wave length or what?) It helped me to know that it is ok to not worry so much about the next 'thing' then next task or even or checking something off my mental to do list but to enjoy the kids while they are young. I had to have Will and his constant sicknesses and neediness to teach me this, and I have been working on it, even if by being forced by Will to take the time for the moments, but I am glad because this is so important. I need to really remember that the important thing as a mom is that I need to take the time to enjoy them, to love them, to pray with them, and to teach them, because these are the things that will really matter in the end. Not if I had enough fun planned, attended enough events, did enough homework, gave them enough educational toys, make enough posters, did I do enough time outs, do I do too many time outs, was at the school enough, did all the teacher gifts, made all the handouts cute, etc. you know, all the stuff we beat ourselves up with as moms. I need to do my best and just do my best.

Even though now I kind of feel guilty that I got a job because I was sick of feeling like a failure as a mom and couldn't stand it and have to have a pay check so that I feel worth anything. It was a great talk if even for me to realize that a mothers worth is priceless. Though admittedly I am still not ditching the job because #1 now I have the new house to pay for and its not as job optional as it was. #2 because I work at home in the middle of the night when they are all sleeping so I am not missing much #3 because I love having "me" time and I get to do other stuff while working like uhm blog, relax, chat on IM with my friends, do a little family history work, and my new joy extractions, and make scrapbook pages when I actually take the time to. And #4 because even if a mothers worth is priceless I now know that having a price attached to me makes me sane and less homicidal/suicidal. Sad I know, but that's just how it is. I do need to work on the guilt thing though. And if having a job helps me deal with my postpartum depression bad mom issues than so be it.

Anyway it was just a great weekend. The kids had fun having the grandparents over for dinner and of course loved going to the park after conference for a family picnic. Complete with freezing cold wind and a little rain of course. And we even got to take my niece Savannah from Jesse's side of the family with us too so it was double great. Yeah I needed that outing. Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend too.

Totally Looking Forward to Conference

It is that time again when we get to participate in LDS General Conference and I am so excited. I have really been looking forward to this session. I can't wait to hear from the new President of the LDS church Thomas S. Monson. For those that aren't LDS and want to know a little about what we believe you should tune in. The sessions are at 10 am and 2 pm Mountain Time and You can watch on Dish Network or on Direct TV or listen by visiting the LDS website here. I can't explain it but I am just excited. The past few weeks feel more like the past few years and it will just be really nice to relax and watch from home and get to feel the spirit. Sometimes being to busy with the kids and our callings at church you start to feel like you are missing the point. It will be a great chance to refocus on the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And to not have to fight the kids. We don't make our kids sit an listen they can so things but they don't get to have the TV's or Radios on except for conference. That way if they are playing with toys or coloring or putting together a puzzle or etc. they are still listening. And amazingly they do get something out of it.

We also have some really fun traditions for conference weekends. That, may be part of my excitement. I have needed a family together outing day for a while. We haven't done anything fun for a while. Just building, packing, moving, going crazy, and etc. For fall conference we usually drive up to see the changing of the leaves on Saturday in between the 2 sessions and have lunch and then take a drive and listen to the second session on the radio. For spring we take a drive and look for the signs of spring. Usually out to the lake to see the icebergs but this year I don't think there are any. Well at least I can't see them from my upstairs window but we are probably going to drive down and look anyway. It will still be fun and nice to spend time just being a family.

And then on Sunday we have dinner with my MIL in between the 2 sessions. This year we are having her at our house since this past week has been totally exhausting for her and since we are LOVE LOVE LOVING having a house that we can actually have guests in. My Mom and Dad are coming over too. It will be nice to hang out and eat. And then after the 2nd session on Sunday. we are going to a family picnic to celebrate my birthday and my nieces birthday and my BIL's b-day. That should be fun too except that I know I will be making my family leave earlier than they will want to be leaving so that I can get home to work. It is killing them that I have to be home and logged in before the sun actually goes down. They want me to move to a later shift. The only bad thing is that if I start later I also finish later and I already don't get off until 2 am so that may be really hard. I also want to change but think I better wait until May because then Jaden can watch the little kids for me in the mornings and I can sleep in. That is the only way it could work. Unfortunately I have to sleep sometimes. DARN IT! That is the one thing that is appealing about the Twilight vampires no sleeping. That would be so nice. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Questions:
What kind of Conference traditions do you have?
Do you make your kids sit right at the TV and Listen?
Do you make them take notes or etc?
Wouldn't it be nice to not have to sleep when the rest of the world is sleeping?

FOOD: It is such a waste of time after all. Eating too. I feel like we spend so much time working to pay for food, shopping to buy the food, making the food, eating the food (ok that part is good), cleaning up the food, and then the whole mess of pooping of the food. Really how much time do you think you waste on food related items? TONS!! WOW did I get off subject here? LOL I know I am nutz for sure

Jaden in the Wax Museum as Gordon B. Hinckley

This week at school all the 5th graders did their Wax Museum Presentations. Each kid picks a famous person from American History and they prepare a 5 sentence dialog and then they get to dress as that character. They sit or stand and hold still like a wax figure and when you push their button (aka sticker) they repeat their little spill. Jaden chose to be Gordan B. Hinckley. He did a great job and I was so proud of him. Of all the famous Americans from sports, to music, to historical, that he could have picked to be Hinckley is who he chose. He is a really neat kid.

It has been so amazing to watch as this 11 year old boy has grieved the passing of the only prophet the has ever known in his lifetime so far. He will also have such a special connection to President Hinckley and I hope he will always remember how he felt about him and his teachings. Jaden has always been the one in our family to get mad at the other kids during conference and tell them "sssshhhhh that is the prophet speaking and I need to listen" He had a really hard time when he found out about the passing or the prophet, and I felt that this was a great opportunity for him to pay tribute in his own way to such a great man that not only did so much for the members of the LDS faith but for people all over the country and all over the world. I am so glad that he would pick such a great man at his hero! I don't think that he could find anyone more Christlike to follow than the leaders of our church. I am so Thankful for their testimonies of Jesus Christ and that my children have the opportunity to listen to them and learn from them.

I didn't even know that he was doing this and he did all his own research and preparation. He even called around and found a cane to use. It was a really fun night for us. I had several people come up to me after the night was over to tell me that he really, is such an amazing boy and that his presentation really made them think about President Hinckley and that he carried such a reverence to himself as he did it. I am grateful to have such a great person in my life. Jaden I learn more from you everyday than what you will ever learn from me. You are one of my greatest heroes buddy! I am one lucky mom!!!!

Glenn Beck talking about Gordon B. Hinckley

I use to watch Glenn Beck, but don't really get the chance to now because of working nights. (I so need Tivo) But I was sent this video of his tribute to President Hinckley and I found if very moving. I thought I would post it here since so many of my family and friends wanted to see it.

One of the neat things about Glenn Beck is the way he has changed into a better person and has really moved away from his past mistakes but how he realizes that #1 those are part of what has shaped him into who he is and that #2 he is still a work in progress. I like his down to earth way of speaking. Though if I watch his show or listen to his radio show too much it can get me scared. LOL

We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet!

Beloved Prophet

Gordon Bitner Hinckley

1910-2008

Because words can not describe how I feel about this amazing Christlike Man that has strengthened and guided me for these past many years. This song says it all:

We thank thee, O God, for a Prophet
To guide us in these latter days;
We thank thee for sending the Gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays;
We thank thee for every blessing,
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand;
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee,
And love to obey thy commands.

When dark clouds of trouble hand o'er us,
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is Hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv'rance is nigh;
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness,
We've proved him in days that are past;

The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.

We'll sing of his goodness and mercy;
We'll praise him by day and by night;
Rejoice in his glorious Gospel,
And bask in its life-giving light;
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go;
While they who reject this glad message,
Shall never such happiness know.

He will be greatly missed!

A few thoughts from me:

I am thankful for a leader to guide me as I stumble down this path called life.

I am thankful for such a pure example of true love.

I want to "Stand for Something" & "Be a little better" than I am today.

I am thankful for his humor, and wit and that at 97 he was a tireless leader.

I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and for his mercy and unconditional love.

I am thankful that I can live eternally with my beloved family.

I am thankful that I am not alone, and have amazing examples to follow.