Wonderful Conference!!

Oct. 4, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

I can't really remember anything else about the week, because conference was so wonderful. So many things I needed to hear, wanted to hear, etc. I'm looking forward to going back and listening to them all over again. I met with my presidency tonight and they all said that the priesthood session was awesome too, so now I have to listen to those talks.

It was also so nice to hear from Bro. Wasden and see a picture he had taken of you and to hear how much it means to him to have you and your companion in his home. I wrote him back a quick note of thank you.

I hope some of your investigators were able to listen to conference. I'm sure they would have loved it. 

We spoke with Alex tonight and he is home from his trip to New York. Sounds like he had such a great time. He met with lots of advertising agencies and was very impressed with them and is hoping to be able to do his internship with one of them next year. Of course, that would mean that he and Savannah would have to move to New York, but I would definitely go there to visit since I have never been there. Alex said he would show me how to get around now that he's a pro. haha

We made honey mustard wings for our conference dinner today and they were soooo good. The girls wanted to eat them all, but I made them leave some for another night. They weren't happy. haha I'm also having them start their piano lessons again tomorrow. Leah is not happy about it, but she really does play well and Sally is good with them. It takes a village and I can use the village these days…

So how is your training coming along? Is there an actual format that you follow to train? Did you receive training on how to train? I really don't know how that works. Just wondering if your companion is feeling trained.

This week we are going to Utah again for Dakota's wedding. The girls are going to miss Friday since her wedding is actually on Friday. The girls have their first fall concert/bbq this Thursday night, so we can't leave until after they perform Thursday night. So we'll be night driving. We're going to have them sing and then immediately leave the stage and get into the car-kind of like the von Trapp family in Sound of Music, haha, then we'll escape as a family over the hills into Utah. We're also going to go to a BYU football game while we're down there. And on Saturday morning, there's a baby shower for Mary. Mary is due in November and having a little boy, so I'll try to find something cute for him this week.

My presidency can't believe how many events I have to go to these past few months, but they said, well, that's because you have 11 brothers and sisters, which is true. All those cousins of yours are now having weddings and babies and I want to be there for as many as I can!

Not much to report from Sean and Blair. They are pretty much moved in and Sean is busy getting his new lab set up. It won't be up and running for another month or so, so he's learning a lot about physically setting up businesses, etc. Blair has been applying for jobs and is waiting to see who gets back to her. I hope she can get something in her field. She'd love to work in the aquarium there. Kirk is doing really well at Verizon (according to Sarah). Kirk never tells me anything, but Sarah says he gets awards from his work and now a manager is training him to become an area manager over the northern Utah area. He's also working on his Masters degree. and of course Addie is the light of all our lives. 

Family is everything. Elder Holland's talk about and to women was one of the most amazing talks ever. It pierced my soul. It was so powerful. I need to read it again and again. I love being a mom, but it's also the hardest thing I have ever done especially now when Nikki and Leah struggle through their teenage years. I have to rely on the spirit soooo much and it's taught me so much, but I need help every single day. I love knowing who I am and whose I am. I also love knowing that each of you are His children and He loves you even more than me (which is so hard to believe), but that's what brings me peace and helps me see those around me as He sees them.

I hope you have a wonderful week. Look over your notes from conference often. I can even print out a talk for you if you'd like one in writing to read and mark. Spread the light of Christ one person at a time.

Love you more than ever,

Mom xxoo