Well, girlies, enjoy it while it lasts!!! Conference with 3 very small kids is NOT the same experience as when you don't have kids!
I REALLY tried. We downloaded conference packets for the kids, played conference bingo, had snacks, games, special coloring books, puzzles, etc. Lots of things to keep the kiddies quiet so we could listen. But that's not exactly what happened. I literally do not remember a single talk on Sunday. How sad is that?? I heard that Julie B. Beck got released, which was sad, but I couldn't tell you about anything else. Let me tell you: Sitting quietly and listening and a 1 1/2 year old do NOT mix. Which I already knew. I'm a child development scholar for crying out loud! But for some reason I thought if I really tried hard, it would all work out.
Conference bingo sort of worked. But the kids don't read well, so they kept asking me to jump up and check to see if they had one. Which I did happily about every 30 seconds until it got old. Then Aidan kept snatching the Froot Loops the kids were using as Bingo markers....even though he had a whole cupful for himself! He stole their markers, ripped their pictures, and generally wrecked havoc. Which is exactly what toddlers do, so I don't know what I was expecting! Funniest moment. Paul was on the couch eating a bowl of Cheerios. During conference, Aidan wanders over to Paul to get a bite, trips and falls right on the bowl of Cheerios. It tips and dumps ALL over the poor baby's head! So he's crying and crying (I'm trying not to laugh). Paul is pissed because there is milk and Cheerios all over the floor and we JUST had the carpets cleaned. I get Aidan cleaned up and dressed in new clothes. Then he climbs up on the stool at the counter and falls off and whacks his head. Which wasn't funny at all. But this gives you a sense of how conference went!
I love this mischievous little monkey!
So I'm feeling particularly sorry for myself and jealous of all you lovelies who get to just listen to conference. Then the closing hymn came on. It was "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". One of my favorites. If you remember, there is a part where the men's section comes in really strong. When they started singing, suddenly everyone in my entire house was quiet. I really felt the Spirit here, especially the part that says, "here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above". It hit me that my heart was in the right place and Heavenly Father knew that I was trying my best even though things didn't exactly work out as planned. I had a strong feeling of His love for me and a peace that my family was exactly where we needed to be.
Here is the choir singing this beautiful song (from 2007, but it's the same version. I LOVE IT!)
Well, that was the morning session, and the afternoon was pretty similar. But conference was a success in my opinion....I'm just glad that the Ensign publishes all the talks cause I'm going to need to read them! :)
Your baby is adorable! Good thing, right? ;) That choir number hit home for me too. It's such a powerful arrangement, and the MoTab was spectacular, as always.
ReplyDeleteRead Elder Holland's talk on forgiveness first. my favorite! but he's always my favorite.. I'm sure Heavenly Father would rather you raise/help your family than listen anyway! ;)
ReplyDeleteIt is so amazing that general conference is broadcast around the world! It is so nice to be able to sit in the comfort of your own home and listen to counsel from the prophets. From your story, it sounds like a real blessing for families too! It would be quite difficult to have a church building full of energetic little ones trying to be reverent. Sounds like you guys made some memories though :) and you were even able to feel the spirit some
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