Women's Conference

On Saturday was the General Relief Society Meeting. My friends from the cruise texted me and said let's extend the cruise and have a girls night out, go to the meeting then on to dinner. I was game and I needed to go to the meeting. If they hadn't texted me I probably would not have gone. But I did go and learned or relearned some valuable lessons.
1. I love my husband. At the meeting a few women brought their children. I could hear them crying throughout and it made me appreciate Ryan so much. The entire time we have had children I have never felt like I couldn't leave them with him. He knows I need to go to these meetings so he says go and I leave without a second thought of if my little ones will be OK. I know they are. Ryan is a great dad and most of the time a better parent than me.
2. Those same women who brought their kids taught me that clearly they needed to be at the meeting. Even though they had little ones they knew how important it was to go. They were at the meeting and listening to some wise council. I know if I had to bring my little ones I would not have gone to the meeting. But these women did and I am sure they are blessed for it.
3. I need to do better on my visit teaching. Whenever I go I am blessed. I visit two great women and each time I learn something different from them that I wouldn't learn if I don't go.
4. President Monson is a true prophet of God. I loved his talk on not judging. I needed that reminder. I don't know how often I will judge only to find out the rest of the story and wish I hadn't judged. President Monson's talk was great. I know he is called of God to lead our church now. I know if I follow his council I will have a better life and live with our Heavenly Father again someday. Here is a link to his talk. I love his sense of humor.
http://new.lds.org/pages/general-rs-meeting-sept-2010?lang=eng

Back to Reality

I am home from my great vacation. I relaxed, didn't sleep nearly enough, laughed, talked and had a great time. I was a little torn, since I went on the cruise I was not able to hike the Grand Canyon. I heard it was a grand time and that I missed out on a fun group. I will hike it next year if my dad is up to it. It has only been two days since they did it so I don't know if they are prepared to do it again. But if he is I will go.

Back to the cruise. Below is a picture of all of us on Catalina Island. We did the zip line and all of us went, even though we were all scared. The rest of the week we laid on the adult only deck and laughed, ate and got way too much sun. These women are great and I appreciate all of the different perspectives that come from them. Each one teaches me something I need to know even though they don't realize it.

I had a great time and I am so grateful to my husband. I am truly blessed to be married to such a great man. I know my little ones and house were taken care of. The entire cruise I never worried about my family.

I can't wait till next year.

Angie, Eileen, Talena, Lori, Dyan, Becky, Jene, Amy and Kierra.

Going cruising

I am leaving my family behind for one week. A bunch of friends and I are going on a four night five day cruise. I have mixed emotions. On the one hand I can't wait and on the other hand I know I will miss Ryan and the little ones.
But it is needed. It is needed because my kids need to ask their dad to open the piece of candy he just handed to them instead of walking across the room to have me do it. It is needed because my kids need to have their dad tie their shoes and make them do their homework. It is needed so I can go to the bathroom without "MOM" being yelled ten times. It is needed so I can appreciate all that I have and what a great man I am married to.
Jay has promised to save all of his squeezes he gives me everyday and give them all to me when I get back. Ryan and Jack seem to think that the house will fall apart without me and that I am the one who makes sure everything runs smoothly. Kate had no idea that I am going but hopefully will be happy to see me when I get back.
I know my family will be taken care of. I don't doubt Ryan's abilities at all. They will have fun and maybe they will not go to bed every night at eight but they will be smiling when I see them on Friday.

I can't wait!!!!!

Attack of the Ducks

Last weekend in Show Low we spent the afternoon at Fool Hollow Lake. We love it there. It is so pretty and the weather was fabulous. We had some goldfish from the car and since there were ducks the kids decided to feed them. These ducks were not afraid. They ate goldfish out of Jack's hand. The funniest thing was Ryan trying to feed the ducks and he got bit. I guess it was so funny because he had just told Jack to not be afraid of the ducks and then he got bit. After that we were all a little leery of the ducks. I have never seen ducks so aggressive. We had fun feeding the ducks even when we get bit.