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It has been an awesome weekend, and my heart is full today. We had stake conference this weekend and I feel spiritually filled. I prayed really hard this stake conference that personal prayers would be answered and that I would know how I could be of better service to those around me in my family and in my life.  My prayers were answered, and things were said that felt like they were just for me. 

I'm so grateful for inspired priesthood leaders.  At the adult session of stake conference there were two single sisters who spoke. One was divorced, and the other has never had the opportunity to marry. Both of these sisters were faithful sisters who came from broken and somewhat dysfunctional homes.  Another speaker was a recent convert to the church who was working to put in his mission papers. At the end of the adult session the stake president led a discussion and simply asked the audience what the spirit had taught them that night and if they would be willing to share. One man stood up that was single, and said he felt inspired that he should keep holding on and being faithful, in spite of the fact that he didn't have "the perfect family yet". Another man who had been divorced and inactive for most of his life stood up and talked about how he was able to remarry and was now faithfully active in the church after 21 years of inactivity.  

I share this, because sometimes it's easy to think that everyone in the congregation at church has it all together, and has the perfect family with no problems.  Of course I know this isn't true, but sometimes it really feels like it.  Sitting in conference last night, and hearing these raw stories, was a good reminder that the church is full of imperfect people, from imperfect, and broken homes, striving their best to stay on the path in their own way. 

One recent convert mentioned that the book of Mormon, more than any other book of scripture is a story about families. Not just any family, but about a broken family.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is not for the perfect, but for the imperfect. For the down trodden. For the sinner, the addict,the depressed, and broken hearted. For the divorced. The married. The single. The orphaned. The widowed. Yes it is for the righteous and the good, and the striving, but it is every much as bit for the lost sheep and the rebellious. There truly is a place for everyone here.  All of us have been lost at some point, and can only through the grace of God be found. 

I just felt so touched this weekend, by the raw stories that people shared, and their strong testimonies that have seen them through the rough times. The spirit was so strong, and I'm grateful I got to be a part of it. 

We ended this wonderful weekend off with a trip to the temple with the kids. The weather was perfect. Literally perfect. The gardens were gorgeous. And the spirit on the grounds at the Seattle temple was felt by my kids, who are normally quite lively and active, but on this occasion were quite docile and reverent walking around the grounds.  It felt so peaceful to be there, and I felt so incredibly grateful for this little family of mine, and for the knowledge that our relationship will go on after death. 

Life has it's up's and down's. And this weekend has been all up. 

I wish Jaron was in this picture! 

The Daily Schedule

A copy of the schedule I am leaving Jaron with to help him keep everything straight this week while I'm out of town. Normally this all just swirls around in my head somewhere, and somehow I manage to make it on time to things with every bodies clothes on and faces washed. Actually it really is a small miracle every time we make it out the door without forgetting someone's shoes, or violin, or soccer ball.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to post the schedule I wrote up here for our family history.

Here it is:

Daily Schedule

8:30am-Make lunches pack backpacks.

9:30am- School Starts (we walk out the door at 9:10)

12:30-1:00-Any time after lunch I do story time with Buster and Ruby and Ruby naps

3:38pm-Go get the kids from school. You can let them walk home if it’s easier, or meet them at the gate.

4:00-Snack time for the kids. Don’t skip this. Trust me, they will be much less grumpy if you get them a snack right after school and much happier to do violin practice. They come home starving. See below for suggested snacks. 

4:15pm-Violin practice for Warner and Liv and homework  

Weekly Schedule:

Tuesday,

4:40pm-I get dropped off at airport.

5:15pm- drop little’s off with Carina

6:15-8:30pm- Group lessons (take the drum you’ll be playing)

Wednesday

11:30pm-Late Start so don’t drop them off at 9:30!  

5:15pm- Warner Soccer Practice

Thursday

3:38pm-Talent Show rehearsal right after school until 4:30pm. Meet the kids at the school and bring them their violins. Ask P.E. Teacher if our kids and Zara can try out first at the practice, since you have violin lessons to get to and will have Ruby and Buster there running around. He will be understanding.  Bring Zara home she is sleeping over that day.

4:45pm- Drop kids off at Andrea’s and head to Patty’s

5:30pm- Violin Lesson’s at Patty’s

Friday

2:00pm, Talent Show at the school (Warner and Liv need their violins!)

6:30pm, Night time Talent Show

Saturday

9:40pm- Warner’s Soccer Game Drop little’s off at Jannah’s

Sunday

 9:55am- pick me up from the airport!!

Suggested Meal plan for you:

Tuesday Night: Just eat out, because it's going to be crazy getting me to the airport and getting to group lessons on time. 

Wednesday Night: Spaghetti (we have Italian sausage in the middle drawer. Brown it with some chopped onion and pour spaghetti sauce over it) add some frozen peas and you've got yourself a fine meal that the kids will love.

Thursday Night: Grilled Chicken and Rice with steamed veggie of some sort

Friday Night: Pancake night

Saturday Night: Homeade pizza night. Just buy the dough from winco, throw some sauce and mozzarella cheese on, and let the kids choose their toppings.

Sunday: I’ll be home!

Special Note: When putting Ruby down I always read her a story and sing to her. She usually goes down happily if I spend 15 minutes with her putting her down. The bubble book is her favorite and Baby Boats lullaby. Same for Buster.

I know you don't need any of this, because you are the dad, and if they just eat Oreo and Nuttella sandwiches three times a day and watch movies they will have the time of their lives and somehow survive.