~ Conference Weekend ~

These are a few pictures of what the boys were up to conference weekend. I always get very excited when General Conference comes. I really look forward to hearing the recurrent theme that the speakers address to us. I love that the speakers are not given a topic to speak on, and that through prayer and pondering they choose what to address the members of our church around the world. But every conference session there is always a recurrent theme in many talks, letting us know what our Heavenly Father really wants us to hear. General Conference happens twice a year in April and in October, it is a time to listen to the Prophet speak and also his Apostles and other General Authorities. It is a weekend, Saturday and Sunday, where we can be together as families and listen.. We are so blessed to have Conference. In many times in my life the talks given at conference have been pure scripture to me, and have been my saving grace. I learned so much this conference session and look forward to reading the talks and making them a part of my everyday life. To listen or read the conference talks, click here.

Caleb up bright and early waiting for someone to come get him out of bed already! :) 

This used to be Jonathon's shirt, it makes me laugh, it is the perfect phrase for my boys.

Wagon rides on the little wagon my Grandpa Garduno sent to Jonathon when he was a baby :) Jonathon is such a good brother, he loves (most of  the time) to play with Caleb and make him happy. He very much dislikes when Caleb cries, he really will do anything to stop him from crying, as will I.

Caleb looking outside at the pretty blossoms, welcome Spring! I love Spring because that means we're getting closer to Summer. Hallelujah!

 I just love this picture of Jonathon, his deep, dark chocolate, brown eyes just capture me! What a cutie!

I really looked forward to Jonathon being an active participant of conference this year. Last year, at 3, it was pretty much impossible to get him to even let me get one word in about what mom and dad were watching and why and who was speaking and why we love them, etc. This year, it was awesome! I found this Armor of God printable online and we cut it out and he wore it all weekend, he loves dressing up, and swords, and armor stuff, so this was his cup of tea! In putting each thing on Jake and I explained to him what each piece of armor represents. The Shield of Faith, Helmet of Salvation, Breastplate of Righteousness, Belt of Truth, Sword of the Spirit, and feet Prepared with the Gospel of Peace. We explained that by putting on the whole armor of God, we are able to withstand evil (bad guys, bad things) and stand firm in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For breakfast I always like to make something fancy for us to eat when we watch conference at home, so this year I made Paula Deen's Monkey bread, can I say MmmmMmmm!

 

Overall, we learned so much and there was so much peace in our home and hope in our hearts. It was a wonderful weekend. My favorite talk was by Richard G. Scott, one of the Twelve Apostles. His talk this year reminded me very much of the talk he gave a couple years ago. I remember his talk from two years ago because it was given at the conference two months after Ryan passed away. His talk, along with many others, pierced my soul and my heart like nothing I have ever experience in my entire life. It was like, at that moment, Heavenly Father was talking right to me, through His servant, this wonderfully cute, humble man. In that moment I felt so much peace and hope and love, and also gratitude. Because I didn't feel forgotten, I knew that that talk was an answer to my prayer and I knew that Heavenly Father was aware of my pain. I read that talk hundreds of times. And so now, this conference, two years later, the same thing happened to me as he spoke of the two babies he and his wife lost. He knows what it's like to lose a baby, and unless you have actually lost one, to really comprehend that tragedy is impossible. I was talking to my friend Chelsea about this and I told her that as I was watching him speak it was like looking into a glimpse of the future. As I watched this grown, 80 plus year old man talk of his loss, with tears streaming down his face, my face mirrored his as I had tears down mine. And I knew, that even when I'm 80 years old, I will still feel this same way, because a  part of me will always be missing. It's like losing a limb, but a million times worse. Ryan was the best part of me, as are my other two boys. I made him, he grew inside me, I felt his personality and his spirit as he moved around in me for seven months and squeezed my pinkie when I sang him songs after he was born. So.... to have him gone is like losing the most significant part of your body and trying to get through life without your eyes, or legs, or hands. Anyway, two years later, I am so grateful the topic came again in his talk and after some tears, calmed my soul this Spring. You have to watch it, or read it, here.