The Good, the Bad & the Cutie Pie?

{Landon: September 2012 enjoying a spoonful of peanut butter. These pictures have nothing to do with this post. Just thought I'd include some cute Landon photos.}

These past few days have been a bit on the difficult side for me on a very personal level. But one that I got through with the help of my incredibly amazing family and friends! I honestly couldn't have made it without them! (So thank you!!) 

I think that's to be expected from time to time...situations that come up to test our strength, growth, limits and helps you to stay focused on the truly important things that matter in life. (Like the same family and friends that got me through it!)

Here is the short note I posted on Facebook regarding this difficult time:

"When life catches you off guard and throws you to the ground (or sometimes into a ditch!)...sure makes you see the big picture and appreciate your blessings. Today I am very thankful for my husband: who loves me and our children more than life itself. Who is always always there for me! I really lucked out marrying my best friend! And I'm very thankful for my amazing friends: that support and love me no matter what! They make me laugh when I'm sad, strong when I'm weak and hopeful when I feel all alone. I love knowing I have true friends out there (that know I'm there for them too) and have the most incredible husband ever - to carry me through the happy and sad moments in life!"

I really try to focus on the positive no matter how hard things get. 

So I will be okay. :)

On a good note...we sold our van. Finally! 

Making it so we're only car-less for about a week.

And on another very good note...General Conference starts tomorrow! 

(You can find it HERE)

This seriously couldn't have come at a better time than now. I've been looking so forward to hearing some spiritual enlightenment from our living Prophet today and other amazing church leaders all week long! And this year, we will be making some delicious cinnamon rolls to celebrate the event and our time together as a family. I can't wait!

General Conference Weekend

Two times a year, we have the honor to hear from our living Prophet and many other great leaders - to uplift and inspire us to be grateful, do better, feel blessed + encouraged, to hear the things we are needing to focus and work on and to know more about the Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ and how to become more like Him. I absolutely love hearing and taking in all of the great messages! It wasn't always this way though. Not that I didn't feel it's importance growing up and listening to 4 hours of talks x 2 days. But being young, well, it's hard to sit still and listen for that long of a time. Even with quiet activities and snacks. It still IS sometimes hard to sit that long even today. But as I get older, I realize it's importance more and more and yearn for it even greater as each general conference comes around. It really is a spiritual feast for me! My brother made a good point when we were exchanging emails a few weeks ago....I hope he doesn't mind me sharing his great comment: "There have been some really great messages.  Its always easy to listen to the talks and feel inspired, but then the difficulty comes when we try to apply what we have learned and felt.  Changing isn't very easy." It's so true though! He hit it right on the nail. Change is difficult to do. Especially when it comes to important changes!

This conference, I had big aspirations to make the usual homemade cinnamon rolls. It just wasn't in the cards of things to do though so we settled on some store bought ones. It wasn't as satisfying that's for sure but it was food and that's how it goes sometimes! After breakfast and a few other things got done around the house, the kids and I spread out some blankets and pillows and set up the computer to watch and listen to conference from the comfort of our own home. Thankfully Landon was taking his nap during the morning session. I don't think we'd hear very much otherwise. I'm very flexible with the younger kids but it's hard to keep them interested and sitting even in the same room without making a run for it! I wanted to print them off some conference packets and activities to keep them interested and focused but they're still just a bit too young for it. Jocelyn is just now learning to read, so hopefully when next conference time rolls around, she'll be ready for it. I at least ask them to sit and listen to the Prophet speak. Aubrey and I can listen without much difficulty (unless said kids are whining or hungry or bored or tired or....you get the idea!) I used to sit and take a ton of notes but have found a love for the Ensign's conference edition where I can highlight and take notes there. Of course if I feel inspired by something I hear, I'll write it down but I found it to be too repetitive to write down what they say when I can read and see it in the Ensign magazine a month or so later. I think it also has something to do with three little ones? Not having the means to hear or the time to even write? Hmm...yeah, I'm pretty sure it's mostly that! In fact, for the Saturday afternoon session, the kids scattered and became uninterested. I found the time to listen as I folded laundry and went for a walk. To end our beautiful conference weekend, we made a great feast and huddled around the table as a family - this time to feed our hungry tummies (with some Ziti, corn on the cob and rolls - it was delish)!

This conference also had soooo many wonderful talks given. A lot about families which I loved! And so many uplifting words of comfort and inspiration. In fact, many talks were instantly quoted not even a day later! How wonderful is that? We really do have some amazing leaders and people very much in-tune with the spirit of the Lord. I can't wait to get the conference edition of the Ensign in the mail so I can study and apply the messages in my life. So I can learn to be better and do better for me and my family! And as always, I look forward to next conference - already!!! :)