One Hour

So...I have been MIA lately. Life has been busier than it has ever been. I know it will only get busier as the kids get older, but for now, it has been difficult to handle the multiple activities.

But tonight I just had to post that I am walking out the door...headed to pick up CK from the airport. :) Only one hour. I am so excited. I am so grateful to have such an amazing man love me, want me, and take care of me. I am lucky indeed.

Oh and it is XDH's birthday today: Happy Birthday! Hope you love your presents! :)

Pumpkin Patch 2010

Yesterday, we went to the Pumpkin Patch with some dear friends. The first time I went was in 2002. It has become such a tradition. C was only one and K only three. Oh, how they have grown! And, so has this local pumpkin patch. It was almost too crowded and too over-the-top for me. This year was great, but I don't know if I will return. It was actually perfect weather. A little warm, but I have been many times where it is swelteringly hot and a few where we were absolutely freezing. The sunburn I got this time is nothing. We went with many dear friends and had a wonderful time.

Here is J with C and A:
J with C again...they are such great friends! -

J was having fun bouncing in a bounce house...when I pointed out the CAT machines building a road right by the pumpkin patch. He was in heaven. His smile was huge and watching them work on the road right in front of his eyes was a dream come true for this little guy. I had to hurry to get a picture with the CAT machine AND J's face. J did not want to take his eyes off of them.

J got to feed a horse. He couldn't hold his hand quite right and the horse bit him a little. It didn't even leave a mark on his skin, but he did have me feed the horse the apple after that!

A couple other random pictures thrown in....I got to go the temple last night. Loved it! I have missed it. And, I saw two dear friends there. What a blessing to be there together as sisters!

And, this week has been a struggle. The older two kids were hurt somewhat by XDH. In an effort to help K, he took her on a daddy-daughter date tonight. It was awesome. He took her to a salon just for girls where they did her hair, nails, and toenails. She looks beautiful and she had a great time. Good choice, XDH!

Infinite Hope in Jesus Christ (and it is 10-10-10!)

First, before I begin....it is 10.10.10!!!! ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!!!!

Now, this weekend I had the amazing experience of attending Time Out for Women. This is my 4th or 5th time and, as always, it was incredible.

I came away with a greater appreciation for my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is everything. He is the true source of Hope. I know He lives.
How lucky am I??

Here are a few pictures from Time Out with the people that I love so dearly. I forgot my camera was still on no-flash from K's choir concert...so this isn't the best, but it is with amazing women that I love: Me, Sis. W., A, and A.

More special women: A, me, and M.
My good friend, J, with me:

As I sat there and listened to the presenters and reflecting back on the last 2 1/2 years of trial in my life, there were three women, I call them "My Angels" that have been with me from Day 1. I wept as I noticed that I was surrounded by them Friday night. All three were with me at the last Time Out, which was exactly a month before everything began with XDH. I think Heavenly Father knew that we would need to strengthen our bonds then in preparation for what was coming. I had to take a picture of me with my angels, J, A, me, and S:

Some of the presenters from Saturday. I wish I'd taken more of these pictures. A was good at it...but I forgot mostly. Here they are. They were each amazing in their own ways:

Many, many of my dear friends and sisters came from our ward (or were from what used to be our ward before it split). Here are just a few that we could gather. I love them ALL!

My sister brought her friend, W. She is amazing. I am so glad I got to know her. I am so glad we came together. We had a great time. Here are S and W.

Me with my Sister. We are so lucky to live close. She is absolutely wonderful. :)

A and I. We have been best friends now for years. Last Christmas, we got each other the exact same picture frame (completely unplanned) and we needed a picture of the two of us to go in it. We found it! First take, too. Isn't she gorgeous???

I loved Time Out. Loved it. I don't think I have stopped glowing yet. The Spirit was strong. The company incredible. The desire to be better tangible. The only thing that would've made it better is coming home to CK. One day.

Random thoughts on a Wednesday Morning

I have a few random thoughts running through my brain and itching to get out:

1. I love CK. I am having a difficult time being patient. The fear of the future is diminished greatly with the love we are developing daily. I have 16, 37, and 49 days until I see him.
2. I am canceling my Dish today. I love my DVR, but the reality is that we just don't use it. After Conference, too, I realize that we are leaving the door open for filth we don't want in our home. Right now, the door is always closed, but it is available to open. Also, financially it makes sense...C is starting to eat like crazy and I have a few other places I'd like to use the money. I will miss it, but not too much.
3. Time Out for Women is in TWO days! I am soooooooooooo excited. I love the women I am going with. I love the Spirit that is always present there. I am very glad I get to go. The last time I went was 2 1/2 years ago. As I look back, life was so different then. That was before anything happened with XDH at all. Life was busy and blissful. I had a toddler, a new calling, and a growing business, but I was happy. Now, I am happy again, but the road took a twist that was unexpected and painful.
4. If I had a million dollars, I would spend it at Home Depot/Lowe's. J and I walked around Home Depot for a couple of hours while I got new brakes on the van. -sigh- I drooled down every aisle. I want a to install a screen door, buy a few saws, build a shed, install a radiant barrier in the attic, put shelves in the closets, remodel the counter tops in my kitchen. Oh, I really do need more time and money for all these dreams.
5. I get to go to lunch with dear, dear friend, J. She is not a huge fan of Texas....she misses her family, friends, and old job so much, but she is an angel to me and I am so glad she moved here. Selfish, I know.
6. I have been listening to Conference talks instead of music over the last couple of days. I love it. The Spirit that prevails in my life is so much better. I am happier, more at peace, and better able to understand what I need to improve. What a blessing to have technology!

Conference Weekend

(see below for pictures of the weekend with CK and A....I am starting with Conference notes)

General Conference: My favorite two times of the year! I so look forward to it every October and April. This last weekend was General Conference. Oh, how I love it! To get to sit at the feet of prophets and feel the love of the Lord and His counsel and direction. What a blessing!

A few (a very few...I have pages of notes) things that struck me this weekend:

• Brother McConkie: When we ask the Lord a question in prayer, we can hear "That's a good question. What does it say in the scriptures?"
• Elder Christofferson: Life offers you two precious gifts: time and agency to do with what you want of that time. Life is a stewardship of time and choices. 5 elements to a consecrated life: purity, work, respect for one's physical body, service, and integrity.
• President Uchtdorf: Diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world. We have reason to rejoice, not rush!
• Elder Cook: Black out from our homes that which destroys light and hope.
• Elder Gong: Savior takes care of it all. World looks to self-help books, but we cannot save ourselves.
• Elder Scott: Consistent righteous life produces inner power and strength. Empowering principles of faith: trust in God, obedience to commandments, sensitivity to promptings of the Spirit, and patience.
• President Eyring: We show trust in God when we listen with intent to learn and then go and do.
• Sister Cook: Be an example of the believers. Never permit ourselves to do anything we would not want our children to do.
• President Monson: Giving thanks opens the doors of heaven and we see God's love. To live with gratitude in our hearts is to touch heaven.
• Elder Bednar: Do we get distracted by the routine of living and forget the gift of the Holy Ghost? Everything the gospel teaches us to do and become is to allow us the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Okay...there was so much more. Just looking in my journal to see what notes I wanted to share brought back the amazing spirit of the conference and helps me see where I can improve my life and where I just need to keep doing what I am doing. Again, what an amazing blessing General Conference is!

Now...for the weekend. It wasn't just conference that was amazing. The kids and I left Friday after school (which happened to be a half day...so we left at 1:00) to go to Oklahoma to meet CK and his daughter, A. Oklahoma is about half way for us...so we met there. We had so much fun. We played and laughed and, of course, watched/listened to conference. The kids loved each other and enjoyed (for the most part) their time together. A couple of times they even fought like siblings.

Here they are playing ping pong in the game room down the hall. They loved to pile up their pillows and blankets and jump in to them. Breakfast (C is not really grumpy...he just was making a face for the camera): Swimming. The water was warm, even though the air outside was cool. They must heat it. It was fun. The three bigger kids swam and played together the whole time. J liked the hot tub best. Good thing it wasn't super hot. We took a short hike down to the lake before the Priesthood session. It was fun. The kids loved it. I didn't even have my make up on, so I am not looking my best, but this is one of the few pictures of me with CK. And, I do love my eyes.....they look almost fake the water makes them so blue.

I had brought some blocks for J to use during conference. He didn't. But, C did. This is the conference center. If you know what it looks like, he did a really great job at capturing it, fountains and all. While CK was at the priesthood session, the girls put on a fashion show. A was great at being the director. On Sunday, we had to check out before any session of conference. We went and watched it at the local branch building. We then found a park to eat at between sessions. I had made soup on Friday before we left and warmed it up Sunday morning. We had fun eating at the park, even though the wind was blowing and it was a chilly fall day.

We had a great time. We enjoyed each other's company and the company of the prophets. I expected a great weekend and it was even better than I had dreamed. For those of you that know me and worry.....CK and I had different bedrooms. No worries. :) There is a very real possibility that someday we will be married...then is when we will share a room. ;) Not before.