General Conference

Suddenly we're in the month in October. We all have been VERY excited for General Conference. I love preparing all week. I attended the temple, took a break from social media, cleaned the house, bought groceries, printed out activities for the kids to do during conference and did our usual trip to the Dollar Tree for activity books and treats. 

Monday: While Eleanor goes to ballet, Adelaide and I walk around Liberty. It's so quiet when I have just one little one! Sometimes I feel like I've forgotten what it's like when I was a mom to just one baby.

I LOVE that Eleanor's dance studio has this Psalm on the wall. "Let them praise His name with Dancing."

When it was time for dinner, we grabbed a red pepper, tomato and green onions from our garden. 

On Thursday evening, Joe and Cathy Kozlarek stopped by to visit us! Joe served as the bishop of the single's ward for 10 years when I was in Chicago. I love them both dearly. They have now retired and bought an RV and are traveling the U.S. They are stopping along the way and visiting with former single adults from Chicago. I was so excited when they texted me that they'd be close to our house! We had a lovely visit and I'm so grateful for the love and service they gave to so many single adults, including me!

I want to the temple on Thursday evening and I loved every second of it. I love attending the temple and since Covid, we are required to have an appointment to go in and it's been hard to get there for some reason. I schedule appointments in advance and then we've been sick or traveling... I'm determined to attend twice a month, once with Aaron and once alone. 

Saturday morning we woke up and enjoyed walking around the temple, seeing the beautiful flowers and eating donuts. Lots of donuts. 

Conference was so spiritually uplifting! I'm so grateful that as soon as I feel this heavy, heavy weight on my shoulders and I wonder how we'll ever survive how wicked the world is becoming, it's time for General Conference and I breathe a sigh of relief and think, "Yes! There is so much to be grateful for! We have a living Prophet! More temples are being built! There's so much goodness in the world!" 

The kids had several birthday parties this weekend. Eli was able to go to a birthday party on Friday after school and Austin had a party Friday night. Eleanor and Austin were invited to a birthday party between conference sessions. We love our friends!

Sunday was spent with family and friends and listening to more of General Conference! I told Aaron that I'm so grateful that my mom made General Conference on both days a priority. I remember as a little girl going to the church as a family to watch conference on Saturday. Most times we'd be the only family at the church on Saturdays. 

I love listening to the talks and I love even more going back to listen to them and reading the talks. I'm determined to be better and more focused on things that really matter. The kids cheered when President Nelson announced 13 more temples! 13! So amazing.