I am home again after a few weeks on the road. Like Cameron said in the previous blog--I started in Omaha, Nebraska and within a few days Cameron and I took the scenic route to Ft. Madison, Iowa, across the river to Nauvoo, Illinois, then to Carthage, Illinois; Hannibal, Missouri; Adam-on-Di-Aman; Independence, Missouri; Liberty, Missouri; and then back to Omaha to spend time with Kris, Cami, Jordan, and Jo-Jo. I got to go to walking club twice and lunch once at Jordan's school. After flying back to SLC it was on to Women's Conference in Provo with Ashley and Rita and our friend from college, Nancy Stewart. We had a lot of fun complaining about our tiny little old dorm rooms and somewhat less than attractive bathroom but by the time we went to all the classes and walked all over campus the beds felt pretty good. We ate mint brownies and chocolate covered cinnamon bears and even got to see Rebecca and Baby Jack and he really is as cute as he looks in pictures. The conference was over before we knew it and I went back to South Jordan with Ashley and we spent the weekend checking out the new Deseret Book flagship store next to Temple Square and painting a wooden craft together and working on the handouts for the lesson she taught in Young Womens on Sunday on Temple Marriage. She did great!! On Tuesday, Ashley and I flew to Phoenix to spend a week with Grandma Mom so she wouldn't be alone on Mothers' Day. We had a good time just relaxing in the sun and around the pool. OK--we did a little shopping --and some eating--and some working out--but mostly just enjoying the warm temperatures and swimming. It was all good.
It is good to be back home again with Cary and Baxter--but it does make me wish that we all lived closer together so that it wouldn't be such an expense to get all together. I am now getting back into the thick of things like serving at the temple on Wednesday mornings, Girls' Camp and the Regional Dance Festival coming up in about a month here in Vancouver.
I was reading an old Ensign today after Church and I found this quote from President Hinkley: "I hope that everyone gets to the temple on a regular basis. . . . . I know your lives are busy. I know that you have much to do. But I make you a promise that if you will go to the house of the Lord, you will be blessed, life will be better for you."
What a great blessing and promise made by a prophet of the Lord. I know that going to the temple on a weekly basis has been a real blessing in my life and has made me wish that we had gone more often when our family was young because as I reflect back on those busy days I realize that very often we spent a lot of time on things that don't really matter. Attending the temple teaches us why we are really here on this earth and why we wanted to come and life really is better when we put spiritual things before wordly wants and desires. Those things will all fall into place if we focus on Heavenly Fathers plan and let Him guide us. I challenge us all to not get caught up in the "thick of thin things" and make time for attending the Temple on a regular basis. Have a great week. Mom
