Just what I needed...

I wanted to share a few thoughts & feelings about this past weekend & what a great weekend it was. Conference was awesome-it was just what I needed. My Mom came over on Saturday & we scrapped while we watched the 2 Saturday sessions. Thanks Mom! The kids were pretty good about staying upstairs & watching their movie. I think the Lord helps them behave when He knows we are trying to do something worthwhile. :0) It was so neat to watch the Solemn Assembly-what amazing men! I felt such a wave of reverence & awe come over me to think of the intense responsibility that has come to President Monson. He has always been one of my favorites & now we will get to know him even more. He spoke with such power & authority. My favorite line from him was when he said 'We are fighting a war with sin, brothers & sisters, but it is a war we will win!' He said it with such conviction- I had the chills & knew that he was right. My favorite talk was by Elder M. Russell Ballard at the end of the 2nd session on Sunday. He directed it towards the young mothers of the church & it was just what I needed to hear. I hope Danny was awake to hear it. :0) His story about sitting with his family during Sacrament meeting for the first time in 10 years was hilarious! I think we could all relate to that experience! Everything he said resonated so strongly with me-my heart swelled with gratitude to hear an apostle of God say things that I already knew in my heart-I just needed a little reminder. Elder Ballard made me want to do better & be better-but not feel overwhelmed. As young mothers so much is expected of us & it can be so easy to feel overwhelmed & inadequate. But it is talks like his (& books like 'I am a Mother' by Jane Clayson Johnson) that reaffirm to me that I am doing the most important thing that I could be doing right now: raising & taking care of my family. It really stuck out to me when he explained that children are with us for such a short time before they go out in the world on their own. It is our responsibility to teach them everything we can during the time that we have them in our homes. But of course, I think they usually teach us more. I am constantly trying to be better about living in the moment-slowing down-enjoying the journey. The dishes & laundry can wait-that is what naptime is for right? :0) One of my favorite quotes is from President David O. McKay-'No other success can compensate for failure in the home'. It doesn't get much more straightforward than that. So here is to being a better wife & mother! Thanks to all of YOU-I have been blessed with so many wonderful examples all around me. ChEeRs!