LDS General Conference trip

Where to begin!?
We got up at 3:30 am and on the road by 4:20. Dale drove the first 4 hours while the rest of us slept. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel in ID for lunch (I got my 2 servings of fried okra). We got to our WorldMark resort in Eden, UT by 7:00 local time.
We decided to watch the first session on TV. We stood on street corners with signs asking for 4 tickets. Mark got 3 and Dale got 1. We made it in! The balcony is way above were the speakers were. We enjoyed it.
While Dale and Mark went to the Priesthood session Rachel and I drove to Park City to go see Sharlene Cottis, my Mia Maid advisor when I was 14-15. She was a big part of my life back then, a huge influence. She loved me. I wish I had taken a picture.
Sunday morning we left the resort early so we could be in our seats for the Music and Spoken Word. In between sessions we ate homemade sandwiches. Rachel and I scored 4 tickets for the last session. We had dinner at the Kirby's, friends we knew in Maryland. Jayel and I were young mothers together. Mark & Emily are only a few months apart in age. Michael and Dale worked together for a little while.

We then went back to the resort and enjoyed the hot tub.
Monday morning 3 of us woke up at 4:45 so we got up and left. On the way home we stopped at the Brietigams for lunch. Chuck and Dale served in the Navy at the same time and Chuck and Tina were the people who introduced Dale to the gospel. It is wonderful to reestablish friendships.

Blessed Life

I'm feeling grateful for my own life and the blessings that Heavenly Father has given me stewardship over. I have 4 healthy children and a great husband who loves and supports me no mater what I've done. We are driving to go see the LDS General Conference in Utah this week-end. We will be in the same room as the Prophet of the Lord, just like Noah was in his day. I am truly blessed.

I've heard of 4 deaths in the last week, including my visiting teaching companion lost her 22 year old disabled son. My mom just lost her sister. I feel for all these people and what a loss they are going through.

Job etc.

• I'm trying to get a job. I've applied for 2 at Kent School District; Administrative Assistant I at the Kent Phoenix Academy and as a Substitute Administrative Assistant. There is only 1 piece of paper work left for them to receive, then hopefully I should get an interview. It is important to me that I'm home when my 2 high school kids are home. In the meantime I start at the Elections Department on October 18 for 3 weeks.
• The Evergreen Piecemakers Quilt Guild had their quilt show this week end. I displayed my DC Temple quilt and also Daddy's quilt he made for Dale and I to honor my parents 50 wedding anniversary. I was supposed to pick up the quilts after the show, but I forgot them! I'm hoping to pick them up at tonight's awards meeting. Whoops!
• Glenn's 19 birthday was yesterday. His first one away from home. The cake we ordered him came "messed up" and I have not yet mailed him his present. I will today. I don't think anyone really did much for him. I'm just sure it was a disappointment to him.
• I have 1 quilt top that needs to be quilted and another one should be ready for quilting today.
• I have a friend (Kellie Lee) who is engaged! I can't wait to start on her temple quilt!
• Rachel is home sick today.
• Laundry is getting done.
• VT'ing later today.
• Temple tomorrow.
• I get my hair colored on Thursday.
• We go to General Conference next weekend!

My Stripling Warriors

This book "What Latter-day Stripling Warriors Learn from Their Mothers" came out in 1996, when I had a new born son and a 2 year old son and a 9 year old daughter. I wanted to know how to be the best mom I could possibly be for these 3 special spirits that came to me with their own personalities, so different from my own. As I read it, I felt the spirit and was moved to be a more spiritual mom. I yearned for my children to doubt not what their mother knew.

Fast forward to 2013, 17 years later. I was cleaning out books from our library and I saw this and decided to read it again. I wanted to see if I had "measured up" to what I had felt years before. I thought I would read it on the drive to take Glenn to college. I didn't have the courage to. Well I finally read it, finishing most of it today. I cried nearly all the way through.

Did we read scriptures enough? Did we have meaningful Family Home Evenings enough? Did I play enough? Did I teach enough? Did I testify of my Savior enough? Did we pray as a family enough? Did I do enough? The answer is always no, hence the tears today. Maybe I set the bar to high for myself, as in, Did I do all those things perfectly? The answer is always no. Maybe I need to answer what I asked myself in the first place, Enough? I think I'll have to wait for a long time still to know that answer.

Post by themselves

1. Trip to Greely, CO with Glenn to go through Freshman & Parent Orientation.
2. Jamie visit for a short week.
3. Grandma Ebrite (who lived to be 100) funeral in IN.
4. Biggest Loser at Vision Quest gym.
5. Signature Verification at King County Elections.
6. Embroidered Temple Quilts.
7. What should I do to celebrate 21 years of marriage to my best friend?
8. 30 High School Reunion in VA, I am not going to.
9. Family Search problems, oh well.

Choices

I love being a mom to my kids! I hate it when they make poor choices for themselves! I'm grateful for the patience Heavenly Father helped me develop while I was primary president. I'm grateful to be calm when the parenting storms rise. 3 teen-agers at once, is at times, hard to swallow. I have the bigger picture in mind when we talk though. And the hits keep coming.

I joined "The Biggest Loser" challenge at my gym. My goal is 20-30 pounds in the next 90 days. Wish me luck.

Glenn and I are taking a trip to the University of Northern Colorado right after graduation. We hope to visit with Cameo while in CO.

Dale is visiting his family in NJ this week end! He had a business trip and tagged this on at the end.

I'm working on a tee-shirt quilt for Glenn's graduation. I'm trying an easier way to put it together than I did with Dale's tee-shirt quilt some 18 years ago or so.

Good Stuff!

• I had a spiritual experience Wednesday morning (May 22). I shared it with my husband and children soon as the boys came home from seminary. I then called my dad and talked to him about it. I'm not going to share it here, but I did write it in my journal too. I always cry when I feel the spirit. Sometimes I wish I wouldn't cry. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father who loves me and knows what I need and provides a way for me to receive what I need and want.
• Mark got his recommend for his Patriarchal Blessing this past Sunday. He did not even talk to us about it, he was in a 6 month interview with the Bishop and got it, kind of spur of the moment. He said he had been thinking about it for awhile just never mentioned it to his parents.
• Glenn will graduate from Seminary in 13 days. He has earned his "Seminary Pin" all 4 years. I'm pleasantly surprised and proud of him.
• Jamie went to "Duck Beach" NC this past Memorial Day weekend. She said it is the Mormon version of Spring Break. She had a good time.
• Rachel is still getting straight "A's". She is managing the school track team too. Busy Busy Busy!
• Dale and I joined the Vision Quest gym. I also joined the "Biggest Loser" competition at the gym to help motivate me. It sounds like fun with all that they do.

Stuff

• Glenn is on Prom Court. Dale and I have to chaperone for prom. The king and queen will be announced at 10:00 that night. I hope I can comfortably stay awake for it all.
• Evita is over! Yeah!
• Rachel and Mark are done with "From Cumorah's Hill" performance!
• Rachel is a manager for the Meeker Middle school track team.
• I don't know what to do about a child failing in school? Their choice?
• I have wanted to blog about my current health, but someday a potential employer will discriminate against me, so I don't.
• I have 2 quilts to finish. Then I will sew a highlow skirt for Rachel and then a graduation tee-shirt quilt for Glenn. I don't know if I'll ever get to clean out my sewing room.
• At Relief Society meeting last night I shared the story about how Grandma & Grandpa Claspell joined the LDS church. That felt good.
• I wish my parents would write a personal history like Grandma did! I started mine, years ago but got to some complicated stuff and quit. I should pick it up again.
• I updated my other blog, "Quilted Milestones". Kylie's quilt is better than I thought.
• I am off to Costco today.