WOW... what a amazing Womens' Conference

tonight. I was such a pleasure to go to the Semi Annual General Relief Society Conference with my mother. We sat there snuggling (trying to keep warm since the a/c was pumping) intently listening to the conference. It was just what my spirit needed.

Life has been difficult lately. I have been struggling with moving and with home life. Sometimes is has been so hard that I felt like I was wondering without direction. Things just didn't feel right. I was missing something. Despite trying to keep up with regular scripture study, attending all much church meetings, volunteering whenever I could and praying more intently, I just continued to feel lost. Deep within me I knew that I must attend the temple. It sounds so simple -- just take 2 hours out of your day and go. But each time I tried to go something happened. I either missed the session or couldn't find child care or Ian had an emergency surgery or maybe I was just full of too many excuses. But today I woke up around 5 am and was unable to go back to sleep. I kept toying with the idea of getting up and going to the Mesa Temple (since I was staying at my parent's home) but I kept fighting myself -- making excuses. When 5:45 came I knew I must go; I just HAD to make it to the 6:30 session. With the quickest shower, help from mom and lots of prayers for green traffic lights I made it to the temple by 6:20 -- Just enough time to make it to the session.

As I sat reverently listen to the words of the endowment my mind was opened. I learned so much more than I have ever learned before. Then an amazing feeling came over me and I felt peace. I knew that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who has created me to fulfill specific roles in life and that one of these roles is to be happy.

Then tonight, my impressions from the temple sunk deep into my heart when I heard President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (BTW -- isn't he good looking?) said that "Happiness is our Heritage" and that we are sent here to CREATE! Even if it is to simply make a little place in my house more beautiful or to take up painting again or to have this little furniture store or to sing or to play with my kids more -- this is what I need to do to fulfill my creative role.

I am now at peace! I know what I need to do and I am happy to have the Heavenly right to be HAPPY!

Fun Commerical...

this one made me giggle. I am not sure how to save a YouTube video (if anyone can help me with at I would love it) and then save the uplinks but here is the link to click on to view this cute video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A2Ap3DyvLg

So, I am finally going to do it...

Annie (one of my younger more style savvy sisters) and I are starting our own furniture and accessory business. Our goal is to sale high quality items at a reasonable price. I am totally excited -- overwhelmed but excited. I keep dreaming of all the possibilities. So far we only have started on the paperwork to form an LLC along with gaining a wholesale licence number, have the name chosen and reserved the websites for 5 years. So, are you dieing to know the name? (probably not, but you can humor me on this one). The main store is called Comfort, Inc. and the children and tween store is called A Little Comfort, Inc. I will keep you all posted on all our news. And if you have any special fun items, websites, designers, etc. that you know about, please feel free to pass it on.

Addy said such a cute thing...

the other day. I was washing my bedroom sheets and was waiting for them to dry before I put them back on. Right before bed, Addy went into my room. A second later she came out giggling, "Mom, your bed is...naked." How silly!

"I demand a recount..."

Kadan came home from school yesterday and was completely frustrated with the score that he got on his spelling test. He made a 87% -- just not good enough for him. When reviewing the test with him he got all the spelling words correct and 2 out of the 3 challenge words correct. Then we saw the reason for his score -- in writing his sentences, he thought the teacher said "in" instead of "on." These were the only errors on his page. He grabbed his paper and lifted it in the air and said "Mom, I demand a recount!" I just laughed. He is such a funny kid.

I have always been a Southern Belle...

at heart. Being born and raised in South Carolina to a mother whom was truly a southern debutant has been deeply inbred the southern spirit in me. I have always loved grits, azaleas, southern accents, saying "ya'll" and much of the formality of southern living and their amazing hospitality. This last weekend, when I heard that my Aunt Sherri (my mom's twin sister), Uncle Bobby, cousin Hamp, and Nanny (my grandmother) were coming into town to visit, I just HAD to make the trip to the valley even if we could only see each other for a short time.

Let me share little more about all these wonderful people.

First my Aunt Sherri. She is a woman of great strength. She smiles despite her pain (she has been suffering from abdominal and cervical pain for years with numerous failed surgeries). She has the sweetest voice you ever heard. I do not recall her ever speaking poorly of anyone and if she is around others that may be saying something a little sour she will say "now, let's be nice." She is creative -- I always remember her over-the-top primary lessons and primary programs. She always goes the extra mile. She calls me her little Southern Belle and I LOVE it.

Now my Uncle Bobby. He is the funnest and funniest man ever. He is such a kid at heart. At breakfast he had all the kids occupied sharing stories, showing magic tricks (my favorite is the one where he acts like he is pulling off his finger), whistling and then asking "where's the birdy," asking you "are you as sorry as you look?" and then last but definitely not least, trying to get you to say "peas and corn" so he can give you a horsey bite on your knee. And let me tell you -- no matter how old you are (even my dad can get it) if you accidentally say those two words together even if you are talking to him on the phone he WILL remember and you will be in trouble the next time you see him.Watch out Spencer -- the horse bite is comin'! Here he is acting like he is breaking his nose -- always a crowd pleaser.

My Nanny -- what a posed princess. She is always put together and always smells amazing. She also has a quirky side and says some shockers. For example, I told her to "be good" in jest as I was leaving and she said, "Well, Jenny (she still calls me Jenny), that wouldn't be any fun." She is always ready to party and go to any new adventures (even though she is over 80). She also is the most amazing cook -- you cannot beat her baked mac-n-cheese and her Thanksgiving dinners.My cousin Hamp is such a handsome man. He has always been so kind and epitomizes southern hospitality. Talk about his southern charm. I have always heard him address women as "yes, Ma'am" and men as "sir." Hamp is the 2nd one from the right.

Last is my Aunt Mimi -- the youngest of the group -- she is such a pretty woman. She has been living in Arizona for years now and is so fun to have around. She has a way to make anyone laugh and feel comfortable.

As a mom I have always hoped for this day...

a day that my children would be reverent during an entire sacrament meeting and would all be singing beautifully to all the music. Well yesterday was that day. I just sat there relishing in the moment and was so proud of them . As a matter of fact, I was so busy smiling and sneaking peaks at them reverently sitting that I barely even heard many of the talks. Kadan kept leaning over to kiss me, Hunter was rubbing my arm, Bo was quietly coloring and Addy was sitting reverently in Ian's lap. As a side note, when Bo would ask me a question I would tell her to "whisper." One time she tried to whistle (thinking I said whistle instead of whisper) and said quietly "mommy, I can't" -- too funny. And the most glorious moment for me was when my boys sang loudly, following along in their church books and the girls singing as best the could without knowing the words. Ahhh Heaven. I have waited 9 years, 7 months and 28 days for just one reverent Sunday and it was AWESOME. I just hope I don't have to wait another 9 years for the next one :-)