Conference notes

Picking a favorite talk...too hard. Every talk on Saturday spoke to me. And the Sunday evening session was inspiring.

Oh, so many things resonated with me in Elder Ballard's talk tonight, though. Rob and I just finished listening to it (thank you DVR and sleeping children)...

Now, I know that three years doesn't compare to ten and four children doesn't compare to six, but man oh man could I relate to his intro and his wife! I'm counting down the days (crossing my fingers) until Rob will be released. My plan is to volunteer to give a talk or lip sync with the ward choir just so I can sit up front and watch him try to handle the kids by himself! He hasn't ever sat in sacrament meeting with Evan and Anna. My smile will be huge that day!

His words made me so proud to be a mommy! I love my children so much and find so much joy in being their mom. The joy of motherhood comes in moments, though--and that is OKAY! Moms need time away--and that's OKAY. I sometimes wonder if my kids should be involved in more "things", am I depriving them because they're not?? No, I'm not--it's OKAY to not be over scheduled! And it's OKAY that I say "no" to myself being over scheduled! I so strongly believe, as Elder Ballard said, that these young years in my children's life are so precious and important and that my role as their mother is essential in their growth. And to raise happy healthy children, I , myself need to be happy and take time for myself.

Rob took many notes during this talk and when Elder Ballard talked about how husbands can support their wives, I made sure to pause the TV for him, so he could get all the important info! down! Rob is an awesome husband and father and "bends, twists and turns" backwards for us every day. He is such a blessing to me!

I only had to pause twice for him during the talk..."Give your wife a day away and take over the household duties for her." PAUSE. And that means the house shouldn't be destroyed when she gets home so she has to do all the work she would have done while she was there. "Come home from work," PAUSE. Just wanted to make sure he heard that part! Work has kept him very busy lately. I need to do my part and be more supportive of him. It's been a struggle for me, but I know that his family ultimately comes first and that is such a comfort to me.

The kids did not watch this last session with us, but I think it there were several talks they would have enjoyed and several we felt can benefit our family. We will pick one to listen to for Family Home Evening tomorrow. Maybe Elder Ballard's..do you think hearing an apostle counsel the children to clean up their toys and say thank you without being asked, will make a difference???