Weekend

 Adam came home Friday night.  It was a brilliant start to a good weekend.  He's leaving again this week and I am sad about it, but at least I don't have any procedures scheduled/parent teacher conferences.

Last week was rough.

Emma came over Saturday morning and we spent the day mostly in the basement.  I made Christmas ornaments for my students and Emma worked on a puzzle and the four of us enjoyed watching conference.

Between the first two sessions, we went to Trader Joe's.  Emma didn't go with us, but I think every other person in Utah County was there.  It was crazy.  It was hard to shop because every check stand lane extended practically to the back of the store. 

I guess that is what happens when everyone is doing their errands between conference sessions.

Between the second and third session, Mark stayed home and Emma went with us to Winco.  It was much less chaotic.  I was walking along and realized, I just feel happy. That is the power of being nourished by the good word of God.

I was reminded that I am loved, that Jesus Christ brings peace and healing, and that serving and kindness and love bring blessings.

Between the two shopping excursions, we created a feast out of cheeses and crackers and jalapeño artichoke dip.  Adam cooked some appetizers in the air fryer and I prepped raspberries and apple slices and oranges.  Emma picked out a Wensleydale lemon honey cheese and it maybe changed my life.

A slice of that cheese atop a perfect Honeycrisp apple slice would probably create world peace if everyone could have one.

Sunday was more wonderful hours spent being lifted and encouraged.  I think we hear the messages we need to hear and I felt like over and over the message for me was to find joy in Jesus Christ despite anything else happening in my life.  I was inspired by stories of other people who had done that very thing.

On Sunday afternoon, when Elder Stevenson said, "At the conclusion of this conference...."

I said, "Oh, that always makes me so sad!"

But I know that I don't need conference weekend to keep internalizing the messages I heard.  I love the cozy autumnal time spent together with my family, but I can keep learning and growing from here.

And I could always buy more of that cheese to accompany my study....