Quenched

I don't believe I am going to pull any posts from my archives for a long, long time. Obviously those archives are not a very effective blog-sitter.

I have returned from two days of drinking deeply from a living well. I was fortunate enough to attend BYU Women's Conference with my 4 sisters and my mom and my mother-in-law. It was wonderful. I can't wait until next year.

I gained so much this year. I don't even know where to begin.

The majority of the classes I attended were geared toward parenting. Because lately I have felt like I am ruining my kids. Like- really ruining them. And so, I need direction. And it has been the object of my prayers for many weeks. I have a desire to raise quality human beings- ones who will contribute. To society. And whatever else they may choose to contribute to.

I was sitting in one particular class listening to an amazing speaker. One who I felt like we were sitting one-on-one and she was spoon-feeding me answers to questions that were weighing on me in regards to mothering my children. As I was listening, I began to believe that I knew this woman. And then I had a hunch (like Velma of Scooby Doo fame. she always had hunches.) that this speaker was the (follow me here) mother of the wife of the husband's oldest sister's son. So, my niece-in-law's mother. And she was. The mother of my cute niece (in-law).

And one of the best things she told me was to lay aside my cravings for sleep- because I love a good nap. And a good sleep-in. And to put away the things of the world (this blog). And to arise early for studying the scriptures. And to not be too quick to answer my children's questions, but to allow them to come to their own conclusions. And when they fall, teach them how to recover by teaching them about the atonement.

The speaker who followed her also hit on some amazing principles. One that I loved was that we should encourage our children to define themselves by their growing testimonies and not their sports abilities or talents. Brilliant!

She also quoted from a talk by President Ezra Taft Benson when he said

First, take time to always be at the crossroads when your children are either
coming or going--when they leave and return from school--when they leave and
return from dates--when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads
whether your children are six or sixteen. In Proverbs we read: "A child left
to himself bringeth his mother to shame" (Proverbs 29:15). Among the
greatest concerns in our society are the millions of latchkey children who
come home daily to empty houses unsupervised by working parents.

Anyway, I got a great drink and I am not as thirsty as I have been lately. It is wonderful! I feel like I can do this mom-thing for a few more days.

After all, it's a pretty great gig.