General Conference

Conference is always such a spiritual feast. It also seems to usher in the Halloween decorations at our house! These silly boys enjoyed playing with stuff from the decoration box.

We started the Saturday session in pajama's, and the kids were excited to play Bingo with candy corn as they listened to the speakers. This time I still printed their usual packets from lds.org to take notes, but I also tried something new. I gave them a brown bag to open at the beginning of each session with something to help keep their attention or play quietly. The first was the Bingo game, the second was new packs of loom bands, the third was a color by number page and new crayons, and the fourth was candy necklaces. I'm sure I could think of better things if I put more time into it, but the idea was successful.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what stood out to me, because I loved every talk. I heard so many things I needed to hear personally. I balled during Elder Holland's talk about motherhood, much because the parallels between the Savior and bearing children were so poignant for me as I am currently pregnant, and also because every mother needs such strong and validating encouragement!

I loved the quote from Elder Bradley D. Foster that children are the largest group of investigators, and that parenting need to be intentional during perilous times. He quoted Jesus saying "Behold your little ones" and asked what the Savior wanted us to see? Their divine potential. It was comforting to hear that Heavenly Father wants us to succeed because they were His first.

It was awesome to see the three new apostles called and hear them speak for the first time! They bore powerful and memorable testimonies and I look forward to hearing from them more.

That night during the Priesthood session we continued a tradition we started last year of making personal pumpkin pies. My old neighbor Jen told me about how her family did this, and I thought it was so fun we needed to try it. It's been a hit so the tradition continues!

Yummy... my only revision to the tradition would be starting earlier so we can actually enjoy them before bedtime!

The Sunday sessions were wonderful too. Jake spent lots of time snuggling with Daddy. It's his very favorite spot.

President Monson was so sweet to see and his determination moving, even as his strength faltered at the end. I loved how a member of our bishopric compared the situation to Kind Benjamin, who said. "For even as this time, my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you; but the Lord God doth support me, and hath suffered me that I might speak unto you..." (Mosiah 2:30) President Monson has certainly worn out his life in the service of the Lord. He has been an apostle for 54 years, and served faithfully in other callings before that! I appreciated his message about being a light to the world. He emphasized that reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures is essential, and communication through prayer is vital.

I loved President Nelson's talk about women. It strikes a chord with me when he talks about his career as a cardiologist because he performed surgery on my own grandpa before he died.

I also needed the reminder to pray every day for the pure love of Christ.

Besides coloring and crafting, the kids got creative with leading the music.

It made my heart happy when conference was over and the kids expressed sadness. I asked them why they were sad and they said because they love being together as a family, and hearing the prophet. I'm thankful that they caught the spirit of conference!