Gas money: $180, New tires: $644, Bowling: $10, Ice cream at Leatherby's: $32, Spending General Conference weekend at Temple Square: Priceless

Let's start at the beginning, shall we?

Friday, about 3 am, after loading the car, Ryan went in to get the kids up and began to remove the Fisher Price aquarium toy that Rori CANNOT sleep without!  She woke up and just watched him, half asleep wondering what the heck Daddy was doing in her room at this hour of the morning.  But when she saw him take off the fish and put them in a bag, she got this look on her face of complete betrayal!  My fish!  My fish!  Don't take my fish!!!  She was so sad!  It was almost comical! lol

We loaded the kids (and fish) and were on our way!  We were making great time, things were going smoothly. :)

Then shortly after passing Twin Falls, we discovered that the front passenger tire was flat.  We ended up needing to put on the Space Saver and SLOWLY resumed our travel toward SLC.  We called a shop in Ogden and they said they weren't busy and to stop in.  We were told it would take about half an hour so we decided to go ahead and get all of the tires replaced, since we needed to get them replaced anyway.  So we waited.  And waited.  And waited.  They took THREE TIMES longer than they told us they would!  Frustration!  Finally, we had our tires and we were back on our way!

We were meeting friends at a bowling alley at 7pm and ended up getting there almost a whole hour late!  So not cool.  I felt really bad!  But my friends were SO NICE and stuck around so we would still get to visit a little.  We were starving so I ordered us some grub at the counter and we ate while we bowled.  It was a FUN bowling alley!  The only part I really feel bad about (besides being so late) was that half our group was in one area and half in the other and I felt I didn't really get to do as much visiting as I should have and would have liked to.  Still, it was good to see everyone!  I wish I had taken pictures.  I got out my camera but I was so tired that I never really took any pics. :(

We stayed with my friend, Jessica and her family.  They were VERY generous to let us stay with them and we SO appreciate it!  Acadia and her daughters hit it RIGHT OFF!  Especially Jessica's oldest!  It was so cute to see them together. 

Saturday morning we got up early but before we could go to Temple Square, we needed to get some medication for Acadia (nothing major) so we stopped by Walgreens.  By the time we got to Temple Square, traffic and parkng were SO BAD!  We decided to not stress.  We accepted that we wouldn't be trying to get into the first session and decided to take our time, so we planned on watching from the visitor center.  It worked out well watching it there and it was a great location because the stand-by line starts right in front of the visitor center and I was able to get into line immediately after the first session so Ryan and Cadi could get into the second session.

One of the cutest parts of the first session was Rori raising her hand while we sustained our leaders and then folding her arms during the prayers.  CUTENESS! :)

The weather was cold and rainy on Saturday but Rori and I still waited in line for Ryan and Cadi while they ran to the car to get our lunches and bring them back to us...





Ryan and Cadi DID make it into the sesion and had pretty decent seats!  You're allowed to take pictures inside before and after the session, just not during it.  Ryan kind of forgot until after the session was over.  He took a few pics of Cadi inside but was too late to get pics of any General Authorities...





After the second session, we went back to the car where Ryan had a bite to eat while Cadi, Rori, and I changed into more casual, comfortable, and warmer clothes.  We then headed back to the north visitor center again and spent time looking around and taking pictures...











Ryan watched the Priesthood Session there at the visitor center with our friend, Landon.  The girls and I went to dinner, shopped a bit, and then walked around Temple Square. 

Funny story...  As we were walking around, I was taking Cadi around the back of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to show her a beautiful view of the temple, lit up at night.  As we got there, I looked around and could not find my camera anywhere!  The last time I remember having it was when we were using the restroom and I hung it on the back of the door.  I panicked!  Cadi and I ran to see if it was still there.  We entered a door that had a few stairs going down to the main floor and I was so worried about the camera that I decided to just push the stroller down the stairs - there were only about 5 steps.  It went okay until something fell out of the back of the stroller, I tripped on it, and pretty much shoved the stroller into the floor.  Rori slept through the whole thing! lol  As I was picking up all the stuff that I had spilt out of the stroller basket through that ordeal, I saw my camera sitting in the little console of the stroller's handle.  DOLT!  I felt SO STUPID!!!  As we were leaving, Cadi turned to me and said, "Mom, you're embarressing me!"  I told her, "Oh just wait until you're a teenager!" LOL

So, now that I had my camera, I took these...





After the guys were done with their session, we met up with them.  The girls sure do love Daddy!



We all went out to have some ice cream together.  Now, here's a little background... My family has a tradition.  Every General Conference, we go to Leatherby's in Sacramento.  We go after the second session before the guys head off to Priesthood Session.  It's YUMMY ice cream!!!  Cadi and I (Ryan is usually working) try to carry on this tradition but we go to Boppin' Bo's in Vancouver since there is no Leatherby's where we live.  But in SLC there IS a Leatherby's!!!  So, we all went to Leatherby's to have our family tradition!

















All good things must come to an end so after our sundaes were eaten we took Landon back to his hotel and headed "home".  Sunday morning we were up early again and ready to go back to conference.  We had tickets for the first session but parking was so bad that we still needed to get there fairly early.  First we had to take Rori to my friend's house.  Again, we are SO GRATEFUL to Loots and her husband who watched Rori for us that session!  VERY GENEROUS!!!  And we really enjoyed going to the session together! 
An added benefit of attending the Sunday morning session is also being there for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's weekly broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word.  It was awesome! 



















We knew we wouldn't have much of a chance to get into the second session so Ryan and Cadi went to the Church History Museum while I picked Rori up from Loots' house.  We ate lunch next to the Tabernacle.  (It was a beautiful day.)  And we watched the final session in the visitor center again.  After that session, we walked around the temple, taking more pics before heading back to Jessica's.









We had a really nice dinner with Jessica and her family, visited for awhile and then packed everything up and set off on the long drive home.  We drove through the night and got home in 11 1/2 hours.  The girls slept the entire time.  It was a great weekend!  Allow me to leave you with a few more pictures...

Conference Notes

We had a great time in SLC this weekend!  I am currently uploading my pics so I'll post them a bit later.  For now, I have notes to share!

I didn't get to take as many notes as I would have liked, I was struggling to keep Rori entertained during both of Saturday's sessions.  In fact, she had such a hard time during the Saturday afternoon session, I hardly have any notes from it at all! :(  I even had to miss parts of it when I took her out in the hall for awhile.  Thankfully, next month I will get to read ALL of the talks in the Ensign. :) 

Saturday Morning Session
Henry B. Eyring is called to serve as the 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency.
Quentin L. Cook is called to serve as an Apostle.

Boyd K. PackerThe way our church leadership/callings are organized is unique.  They are revealed by God.
The Lord uses "weak things of the world".
It is not where we serve, but how.
All that's required is an abiding testimony.
Church leaders are NOT more important and are NOT of more worth.
The most important service is to our family - spouse and kids.
We ALL have the same access to revelation.
The Lord is not a respecter of persons.

Richard C. Edgley
Mosiah 18:8-9  Compassionate Service
Wards are organized in a way to be able to provide compassionate service.
Wards will draw closer together when enduring together.
Enduring together - whatever happens to one, happens to all.

Mary N. Cooke
How powerful individual actions can influence others - especially in your family.
All families need strengthening.
The Lord is depending on you to help strengthen your family.
Do that by being an example of a righteous life; pray, study, pay tithing, attend meetings, participate in family activities (FHE, family prayer, family scripture study), etc.

Enrique R. Falabella
Happiness does not depend on money.
The Gospel brings real and eternal happiness. 
Eternal families bring happiness.
Priesthood blessings and ordinances bring happiness.
A personal testimony of Jesus Christ brings happiness.
The atonement brings happiness.

Spencer J. CondieThe first principle is Faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.
This includes the knowledge of the atonement and resurrection, also includes the First Vision and restoration of the Gospel.
Is anything too hard for the Lord?  (Story of Abraham and Sarah)
Story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel - "And God remembered Rachel" - and He will remember you, too!

Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Now Let Us Rejoice!  The Gospel is a GREAT reason to rejoice!
The Gospel is not a habit; it must be a way of life.
We need to trust Heavenly Father and make wise choices.
Enduring to the end.
This is Christ's Gospel and He wants us to succeed!

*Rori started to really fuss during Elder Uchtdorf's talk and I wasn't able to take anymore notes that session.*

Saturday Afternoon Session

M. Russell BallardMisunderstandings about the church may be partly our fault for not being complete and clear when we answer questions.
Share accurate facts
Be an example - a GOOD example

Joseph B. Wirthlin
What quality best defines us as members of the church?
The greatest commandment - Love God; the second is like unto it - Love thy neighbor as thyself.
*Once again, Aurora was really fussy for the rest of this session.  I was not able to take notes on the rest of Elder Wirthlin's talk or any others that afternoon. :( :(
**Note... I was really touched when as Elder Wirthlin began to shake while he spoke, within moments Elder Nelson was by his side, steadying him.  I love these men.  They are good, honest, kind men.  It is sometimes hard to see that many of them are growing old and their bodies are getting weak and tired.  It was hard to see how weak Elder Wirthlin's body was.  But his spirit is so strong and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to listen to his words and testimony.  I am grateful for the example Elder Nelson was, a friend standing by Elder Wirthlin's side as he completed his message to us.

Sunday Morning Session

President Henry B. EyringI am not giving you these experiences for yourself; write them down!
Write for our children - share our witness/examples/experiences
Write about when we see the hand of God in our lives.
Find ways to recognize and remember God's kindness.
Do it diligently - lest ye forget.
Everyone has had spiritual experiences, even if they didn't recognize it.

Quentin L. CookD&C 68:5-6
We must live by faith and not by fear!
Raising children and helping to increase their faith:
1) Follow the prophet
2) Create the spirit of the Gospel in your home
3) Be a light and example wherever you go
4) Focus on temple ordinances and principles
Love, Faith, Prayer

Claudio R. M. CostaProtect and strengthen our families:
1) Family Prayer
2) Family Home Evenings
3) Personal and Family scripture study
We don't know what will happen tomorrow, which is why we must use TODAY to show our love to our family.

Julie B. Beck"Our mothers knew it", we need more mothers who "know".
When mothers "know", they will have great power and influence.
They need to know who they are and have a testimony of Heavely Father and Jesus Christ.
Point children toward the temple.
Nurture means to cultivate, help to grow.
Make our home a climate of spiritual growth.
Mothers who "know" are leaders.
Always teachers - never off duty.
Home should be a "pre MTC", then the principles taught in the MTC will be a review, not a revelation.
We need to spend more time together - working, singing, playing, talking.
Be strong and immovable; do not give up.

Christoffell Golden Jr.In it's essentials, the Gospel is simple and easy to understand.
Pray for help, we will be heard and answered.
The Book of Mormon is a convincing influence.

David A. BednarThe sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost.
Repent, Come to me, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost.
Repent - turn our heart and will to God, renunciate sin
Come to me - through sacred covenants, turn toward and learn of Christ
Repenting/Coming to Christ/being baptized - prerequisites to receiving the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost - Converts us from carnality to spirituality; sanctifies and refines our souls so we can stand spotless.
Doing good, being good, becoming better.
Our goal - have our hearts changed so we no longer have a disposition to do evil.
Overcome sin AND the DESIRE to sin.
It is possible to have clean hands but not a pure heart.  But WE NEED BOTH to stand in His presence.
Only the Atonement can help us overcome sin and cleanses and sanctifies our hearts.
Clean hands alone will not be enough.
Press forward, make steady process.
We learn line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, there a little.

President Gordon B. HinckleyHe has given 200 talks in General Conference and will be repeating one today.
There are 13 million members - one LARGE family
A great miracle is taking place before our eyes.
This work will continue to grow, propser, and move across the earth.
It is unique and wonderful.
There are many accounts of Christ appearing to prophets in the Bible and Book of Mormon. 
But BOTH Jesus Christ AND God, the Father appeared to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove.  It is because this is the dispensation of the fullness of times, the last and final dispensation.

Sunday Afternoon Session

Robert D. HalesNeed for revelation
When we are on the Lord's errand, we will be provided with what we need to fulfill it.
Rely on the spirit rather than the wisdom of the world.
Pray, then study it out/ponder
Move forward in faith.  Answers to prayer come on the Lord's timetable.
Listen to the spirit.
The more we receive and acknowledge revelation, the more our testimony will grow.

Richard G. ScottThere are two ways to find truth:
Scientific method - through experimentation, analizing data, etc.
But you can never be sure you've found pure truth and can sometimes get a wrong result.
Spiritual method - Revelation
Sometimes takes enormous effort, which develops righteous character necessary to handle trials and make difficult decisions.
Only you can weaken or destroy your character.

Daniel K. JuddTeach the Gospel of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Don't use wisdom of the world, but use doctrine of Christ.
We must nourish those we teach by focusing on fundamental doctrines.
The spirit is the most effective teacher.

Octavio Tenorio
Blessings of the temple bring happiness and comfort.
Families are sealed for eternity.
Comfort and calmness

Claudio D. ZivicWe have chosen not to be ordinary.
We are free to choose.
"We will never reach our divine potential while we remain in our sins."
It is difficult to bear sufferings in life, but much worse will be the sufferings if we do not live up to our potential and do not repent of our sins.
Recognize all we have comes from God.
Do all we can to share teh Gospel with others.
Do all we can do until the end of our probation; Endure to the end.

Douglas L. CallisterTruth has never been dependant on the number that embrace it.
It is a grand thing to know - and to know that you know it.
There are proxies for ordinances but none for the acquisition of a testimony.
There is a price to pay to gain a testimony and only you can pay it, in order to know that you know that you know.
A testimony can not abide unless it is expressed.
Our children must know that we know.
There only has to be one witness, but it MUST be YOURSELF!

Steven E. SnowI wish I had served more.  I could have done more.
We demonstrate love when we help and serve others. 
We cannot live unto ourselves.
It is better to do things of seemingly little consequence than to do nothing at all.
God knows and watches over us but He usually uses others to provide for our needs.

*I had to step out at the end of this talk and also missed the beginning of Elder Oaks. :(

Dallin H. OaksFamily time, one-on-one time - parent/child
Do not overschedule; preserve time for family prayer, family scripture study, Family Home Evening and other activities and one-on-one time.
Eat dinner together - What your child wants for dinner is YOU.
Some uses of family time are better or best.
Good - Better - Best
Good: Belong to the church
Better: Keep Commandments
Best: To do it all with Love
Good: Do your visiting teaching
Better: Keep your visit brief and share a message
Best: Make a difference in the lives that we touch

President Gordon B. HinckleyThis conference has edified, uplifted and inspired.
We will meet again in 6 months. 
He is 97 years old but still hopes to be there! :)

"Music speaks the beauty that words cannot express."

One of the things that I didn't take notes on, but that really touched me, was the music. I love the music in Conference! I feel the spirit very strongly when the choirs sing. Sometimes people can't attend conference and it isn't something they can control, so it's great that we have access to the talks on-line and also in the Ensign. But sometimes people choose not to watch thinking they can just read it later. True, you can. But there are sometimes messages in the music that won't show up in the Ensign. You can't feel the power of the spirit in the music that is shared when you read the talks later.

I was touched several times by the choirs this weekend. I loved the YW choir on Saturday afternoon! I became emotional (and Ryan later told me that he did as well) when they sang Joseph Smith's First Prayer. Wow, the last verse was so powerfully sung! The other songs they sang were well done as well and I felt the spirit strongly.

Because we had tickets to the Sunday morning session, we were blessed to be in the Conference Center when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed their weekly broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word just prior to the session. One of the hymns they sang was "This is the Christ", which I have loved for a long time! The words to this hymn were written by President James E. Faust and it is a powerful and beautiful piece!

I also love the closing hymn from the Sunday morning session, "How Firm a Foundation". That has been my favorite hymn for awhile and the 3rd verse has always been my favorite of the verses. But when the choir sang that hymn yesterday, I felt the spirit speak to me and I became overwhelmed. Verse seven is now my favorite verse. I still love the others but this is where I am today. I am ready for this to be MY anthem:


The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!


I loved Conference this weekend! I loved being there with my family! I love the spirit I felt there and that my family felt it too. I love that my testimony was strengthened and that I felt the spirit speak to me as I heard the words of inspired leaders, called by God. There was no better place for me to be this weekend than right where I was. I'm grateful that when we can't go to SLC, we can still participate in conference by watching it in our home or at the stake center. I look forward to it every six months and I'm already looking foward to April 2008!

SLC or BUST!

Twice a year, our church holds a huge conference. We have the opportunity to listen to the leaders of our church give inspired counsel pertaining to us today. I love General Conference!

Two years ago, I went with the youth of our ward as they attended General Conference in SLC. It was amazing to sit in the same conference hall as these great men and women who have been called by God to guide us today. I cannot express the overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude for being able to be there, sustaining a true and living prophet of God today, in his presence!

I knew right away that as soon as Cadi was 8, I wanted to come back with my family so she could have the same experience that I had.

This weekend is General Conference. And Acadia is 8! So that means we're going to Salt Lake City!!!

We'll be getting up before any normal person should ever have to. lol Leaving around 2am and driving the 770 miles to SLC, arriving late afternoon. We'll stay with one of my friends and get the chance to hang out with many of my "vfriends", giving my family a chance to meet these girls that I have come to love! We'll also get to meet up with our good friend, Landon and his family while there. This is a great bonus for us because we usually only get to see him once a year! (He was just down here early this summer for Cadi's baptism.)

But most of all, we'll be able to attend most of the conference sessions in person. The ones we don't attend in the Conference Center, we'll watch in other theaters on Temple Square. Ryan and I will switch off on Saturday, one going in with Cadi and one staying out with Rori. But on Sunday, one of my friends has GENEROUSLY offered to watch Rori so Ryan, Cadi and I can attend the morning session in the Conference Center together!

I am so excited to be there with my family! I'm so excited to hear the words that will be spoken! I'm so excited to be able to again sustain the prophet and other leaders, while sitting in the same hall and looking directly at them!

I love the Gospel so much! I have such a strong testimony of it and I see and feel the MANY blessings that it brings me every day! I love our dear prophet! I love to hear him speak! I love knowing that God has not left us alone, He has given us a prophet to guide us in these dangerous and confusing times!

I will return with many notes and many pictures early next week! :)

Today is a good day.

Rori has a cold. She did not sleep well last night. She didn't do very well on naps today either.

But today is a good day. :)

Today is our annivesary! No, not yours and mine... unless you're Ryan, but for the rest of you, nope not ours... it is Ryan and my 11th wedding anniversary today!

He had to work today. The only real bad part about that is that when he works, it's ALL DAY. He leaves at 6 am and gets home at 9 pm. So, no chance to go out or have a nice dinner or anything. And tonight he's going to need to do some homework.

But that's okay! Today is a good day. :)

Even though Rori was sick, she was a sweet and good girl. I was able to clean the bathrooms, do dishes, start laundry, and take a shower! That's a big deal! lol And she was really snuggly during part of the day. (Awww.)

I also learned that I am not just a biased, proud mommy. Acadia REALLY IS doing exceptionally well at piano! I have been very surprised at how quickly she is picking it up but I figured it might have just been me making a bigger deal of it than it was, so I didn't say anything to anyone else. But today her teacher told me she is picking it up really fast! She has been taking lessons for just one month and she is already playing with both hands and is really "getting" the concepts of sharps/flats, rests, etc. I am still a biased, proud mommy... but I'm totally justified! lol

I made a really yummy dinner tonight! And it was really easy! I made Melt In Your Mouth BBQ Ribs. I made the sauce from scratch and let it all cook in the crockpot all day. The meat was falling off the bones - I couldn't get it all out of the crockpot without the bones falling away from the meat and back in the pot! YUMMY! I also made some Mac 'n Cheese from scratch, corn on the cob, and a green salad.

Today is such a good day.

All day, I kept thinking of how grateful I am for my life. I am so grateful that I have Ryan. I love him so much! He is fun, considerate, loving, generous, a great dad, a hard worker, and so much more! He really is my best friend. I am grateful for all that he does for our family! And I am so grateful that I have the rest of eternity to spend with him. :)

I love you, Babe!