Conference is Coming!

Two of my favorite times of the year are April and October when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has its semi-annual conference. We listen to inspired messages from church leaders and modern-day prophets and apostles. These words always deliver just what I need to learn (or be reminded of) and give me a needed boost that lasts until the next conference rolls around.

Here's one such gem from April:

"'To be, or not to be' is actually a very good question.¹ The Savior posed the question in a far more profound way, making it a vital doctrinal question for each of us: 'What manner of men [and women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am' (3 Nephi 27:27; emphasis added). The first-person present tense of the verb be is I Am. He invites us to take upon us His name and His nature.

"To become as He is, we must also do the things He did: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do” (3 Nephi 27:21; emphasis added).

"To be and to do are inseparable. As interdependent doctrines they reinforce and promote each other. Faith inspires one to pray, for example, and prayer in turn strengthens one’s faith." (Elder Lynn G. Robbins, "What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?")

I soaked in Elder Robbins' words on striving to emphasize be-ing and let the do-ing follow, especially in parenting. It epitomized exactly what I hope to do as a parent and what I feel my parents did for me. His closing words were perfect:

"May your efforts to develop Christlike attributes be successful so that His image may be engraven in your countenance and His attributes manifest in your behavior. Then, when your children or others feel of your love and see your behavior, it will remind them of the Savior and draw them to Him is my prayer and testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

This is exactly what I want to be.

We are sure to enjoy many equally inspired words this weekend.

We had our preview on Saturday night as women all over the world joined together via satellite broadcast for the General Relief Society Meeting of the church. I loved words from President Uchtdorf (as did everyone who watched, I am sure). He used the five petals of a forget-me-not flower as a metaphor of things we as women need to remember: to be patient with ourselves, the difference between a good and a foolish sacrifice, to be happy now, the "why" of the gospel, and that the Lord loves you. What wonderful reminders and the examples he used to illustrate his point truly hit home. If you have twenty minutes, watch it here. You won't regret it.

Also, I loved the chocolate fountain we enjoyed before the broadcast started. Mmmm.

Now I just have to figure out some quiet crafts and activities to keep the kids busy for eight hours (luckily, it's in two-hour increments). Here's what we did last time...

toilet paper roll figures of the prophet and his counselors

and a pulpit for them to speak at

At It Again

Two weeks ago, I impulsively decided to go ahead and give potty-training a go with Kate, who has been showing some interest and signs of readiness the past couple months (few diapers, dry through the night, interest in panties, went on the potty once or twice, that kind of thing). I was kind of nervous, as she is only twenty-one months, and I didn't want to push her too much. But I figured might as well try it. It was either now or not for six months, because after the baby is here I am sure I will be too overwhelmed to try until the spring.

I used the same method as with Maggie. Sticking her in underwear, playing in the kitchen or bathroom all day for a couple days (hard floors are easier to clean up), giving her lots of liquids and stuff, and rushing her to the potty anytime she had to go. We'd clean up messes together and practice what to do if you have to go, reiterating where to go. And just at the end of the second day, when I was starting to get discouraged, she got it! (I learned from potty-training Maggie not to have her say "Oh no! Pee-pee, Mama!!" So she simply requests "potty" instead.) Now I just hope it sticks. We had a great week last week, with only one accident, but we had a couple at the beginning of this week. Still I think we are on to something. Another cha-ching for the college fund...though it may be Mike's grad school fund instead...haha. :)

Kate is so proud of wearing "pan-ies," just like big sis. We got her "kitty" ones (as in Hello Kitty), to add to the collection of Elmo and Princess underwear. (Maggie has "kitty" ones too, so it was necessary.)

And hopefully, we'll be diaper-free around here for a month! Definitely worth a few exhausting days.

Busy

As I near the eight-month mark of my pregnancy, strangers who see me with this adorable pair in tow often tell me, "You are really going to be busy in a couple months."

I smile and say something like, "Don't I know it," while thinking, "Oh dear. I already thought I was busy. I guess I am crazy..."

Seriously, I am so very excited to have three. Even though I know there will be hard days, when my head is spinning, there are sure to be even more good ones. Just like there are now, only with another darling to love and adore. But I do need every day I have until she makes her appearance.

I am busy, as my neglect of the blog has shown. But it's a good kind of busy. (Mostly.) Summer was full of fun: visits and visitors, outings, pool time, and more. The girls and I went and visited my family for a week-and-a-half at the end of August and had a great time with them. Now that we're back, nothing has slowed down. We had friends over for playdates, another chance to visit with Mike's family (this time for our niece's first birthday), and were excited to get back to our library's story time.

September is going all too quickly. I've been trying to spend more time doing quick, fun and educational activities with the girls. We've gone to friends' houses and had friends over. Grandma and Grandpa came over one Saturday afternoon and kept us company as Mike was chaperoning a youth temple trip. We enjoyed Labor Day with the cousins. I got to go to my first couple meetings as the patron rep for our library building renovation committee (it's fun to give my two cents there). After one last hundred-degree spell, the weather has cooled off and it's pleasant to be outside again. We have taken walks, trike-rides and trips to the park. Mike and I recently enjoyed a fun date consisting of tennis-playing and slushee-enjoying (not simultaneously). We started the chore of shopping for new fall clothes and changing out the summer clothes. (Seasonal clothing changes almost always result in a clothing explosion for several days.) And Kate has some big news to announce in a future post...

More detailed posts and pictures to come. Just wanted to say, we are back and don't give up on us. I will try to be a bit more consistent again. Because, c'mon, who isn't busy?