CA adventures and CARS LAND!!

Our first real, full day at a park!  We went to California Adventures today.  It was HOT!  We saw Pluto first thing, and loved how he signed his autograph on his nose!  The best part was cars land...looks just like the movie!  We were walking through Radiator Springs!  We took pictures with Lightning McQueen at the Cozy Cone...also Mater and Red and we loved the crazy tractor ride!  We also rode the tires that float on air and you bump into each other...and the favorite ride of everyone but Grandma was the racers.  It was too fast for me!  After cars land  we went to an amazing Aladdin show (the Genie stole the show, but the whole things was incredible, flying carpet and all!) which was inside and it felt good to sit for awhile!  The actors were fun to watch and the music was great too.  We went on an Ariel ride (Under the Sea), grandma really liked that one...(it's the blurry picture below) and a very fun Toy Story ride.   Amanda and Grandpa braved the roller coaster and we all loved Grandma's favorite, Soaring over California (we did it twice!).  None of us were brave enough for the Tower of Terror!  And we ran out of time for Bugs life (not our favorite anyway)... We stayed until dark so we could see the World of Color water show.  It was a long day but VERY fun!  The thing that saved me was when Grandpa bought me a super yummy rootbeer float!  We were sad that they took out the giant letters that spell California...we liked to take pictures by that,and  Amanda was always partial to the A.  So we made it through the day and walked back to our hotel very tired.  We all wore our BYU shirts and got lots of "Go Cougars!" comments throughout the day.  That was fun.  We used our sunblock and were very good about being out all day.We had taken lots of snacks and water and we bought dinner in the park.  Tomorrow we are going to rent a stroller for David, it's a lot of walking for little legs (big legs too)! Can't wait for Disneyland tomorrow!

Mother's Day 2014...

Right after David's soccer game on Saturday, we came home, had lunch and then packed up the car to hit the road!  We are going to Disneyland!  The little boys don't know this yet though, they just know they are going on a fun trip!  Clif and Lindsay had dropped into town Friday night for a funeral on Saturday.  We didn't get to see much of them...but they left me a Jim Brickman CD for mother's day!  Love me some Jim Brickman!  Amanda and the boys got me a new RED frying pan and a cute FAMILY sign that I had noticed at the boutique we went to and really liked.  We drove to Las Vegas and spent the night at Circus Circus. The boys traveled so well.  Oh how I wish we would have had those portable movie players when our kids were small and traveling!  Amanda only let them watch one movie though...she had other things for them to do in the car.  What a good mom! We watched an amazing trapeze act at Circus Circus!  And we got Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast!  We then drove on to Anaheim, the boys still not knowing where we were going!  With everything at our hotel advertising Disneyland (we were just down the block from the Magical Kingdom) Amanda decided she'd better break the news to the boys before they figured it out!  They were a little surprised and very happy!  David just fell back on the bed like he was shocked.  It was funny. The BEST part of the day though, was of course skyping with Elder McKinney!  Amazingly enough (BLESSED enough) we got good reception and were able to visit with him for almost 2 hours!  He demonstrated for us his newly acquired Rubiks cube skills (impressive!) and we all just had fun talking with him.  He is doing great and that is all a mom needs to know on mother's day!  Got a loving text from Ashley as well...but didn't hear from Clark.  I know he is having some difficult challenges right now. So it was an amazing day and we are so excited to be here for our Disney fun!  We went over to the park tonight to watch Fantasmic as that is the only time it is on our whole visit here!  While we were there we went to Grandma's favorite ride...the Haunted Mansion!  I was afraid it would be too scary for Jacob, but turns out he loved it and wanted to do it again!!  So we did!  We typically wouldn't ever do a thing like this on Sunday, and do feel terribly guilty, but it was our only time to use that days' ticket and see the light show.  We were going to save the ticket for Thursday morning before our drive home, but seeing that the park doesn't open until 10 - it just wouldn't work.  And we would miss Fantasmic.  I hope I can fully repent and be forgiven of going to Disneyland on Sunday! And of course I thought of my mom on this day we honor our mothers...love and miss her.  She would definitely not approve of what we did!  Sorry Mom!!  It is a dark picture, but Jacob was so tired tonight that he fell asleep before we got out the gates of the park...and he slept right through Amanda dressing him for bed and tucking him in!  Thanks kids for making me feel good today!  Love my family!

Lindon Soccer...

We went to watch David play soccer.  He is on the 6-8 year old team.  They don't keep score and they don't have a goalie (technically).  It's pretty funny to watch them. They look so cute in their cleats and shin guards. It is just a mass of bodies wherever the ball is.  They get a little timid when they get near it and barely tap it instead of giving it a good kick!  But they have fun and they run a lot.  Some of the older boys are not as afraid and they tend to dominate.  Goals do get made somehow sometimes.  Their coach is an 18 year old who just got his mission call. It was rather chilly that morning but we made it through the game and we had fun watching David play.  Afterwards it was lunch time and leave for Disneyland time!  The boys didn't know where we were going, just that we were leaving on a trip after David's game.  My next few posts will have TONS of pictures.  You have been warned...

Dooby, Dooby, Moo and a Fun run...

Little David was in a play at his school.  He was the Duck (the star of the show!) and he did a GREAT job!  It was so fun to watch him (with the other barn animals).  We didn't get very good pictures from the audience, but got a few good ones after the fact.  First they all sang a cute song for us (see my little duck in the middle of his classmates?) then the class put on three plays and they were all very cute!  His was called Dooby, Dooby, Moo and it was about farm animals that went to a talent show at the fair. I loved it when they were all in the truck going to the fair!  We also got to see David's silhouette picture and self portrait.  Jacob had gotten a hair cut that day so there is a picture of him looking sharp!  Later that night (Thurs) Carson and Jackson came to spend a couple of nights at our house.  Jackson was a little shy at breakfast, but he warmed up to us!  After lunch on Friday we went to David's school for a Fun Run we had signed up for.  It was cloudy and a little rainy, but they held it anyway!  Carson and Jackson joined us.  They wanted a shirt too, so they wore mine and Dave's.  It was a fun way to spend a little time and burn a little energy (for the kids).  Glad it only sprinkled for a minute and then stayed dry while we ran (walked) our mile.  While we were waiting to start, Carson decided to visit Alaska.  That night when I gave them their bath, we put colored tablets in the water.  I sent a picture to their mom teasing her that her kids were so dirty...look at that water!  It was fun having them here for a couple of days.  I'm pretty sure Jackson was happy to get home to his momma!

Notes from Women's Conference part four (last one!)

These are for my study benefit, but if you enjoy reading them too, then even better!

I'll strengthen thee...by Kathy Seninger and Annie Clegg

Kathy: Trials: no exemptions, just variations.  TRUE THAT.
Be a healer.  Be a helper. Lift burdens.
Do we take the Sacrament for granted?
Satan weakens faith with fear.  Faith overcomes every fear.  Choose faith.
God gives us not he power of fear, He gives power of love, sound mind
Ann: How firm is my foundation?
Our best efforts are not equal to His.  Yoke with Him.
Rejoice during struggles
Make and keep covenants to receive strength
Be faithful and willing during trials.

******************************************

All the talks/classes were so amazing.  Little notes here and there can not do it justice.  I gained a lot for my spiritual reserves and will be studying my notes, scriptures (many referenced that I didn't include here) and conference talks, as well as studying GRACE and the atonement.  The concluding speakers were Elder Quentin L. Cook and his lovely wife.  She spoke only briefly and her message was "Be of Good Cheer."
Elder Cook:
The Great and Spacious Building is getting louder, more contentious, and less tolerant. (SO TRUE!).  Are we ready to meet God?
Are we sufficiently humble?
Are we stripped of pride?
Are we stripped of envy? (Must have gratitude!!!)
Do we mock or persecute (in today's venacular, bullying)?
Are we raising righteous families?
Build Zion in our hearts and homes.
Mistakes - corrected, Sins - repent
Prospering in the land (as spoken in the scriptural promises) = having sufficient for our needs. (That was a wake up call for me!)

I so loved my two days on the beautiful BYU campus and sure wish I could have attended more classes! It was so hard to narrow it down!  But it was wonderful having Donna here to go with me and we helped pick the final classes together!  What a wonderful, spiritual  and fun feast!  Can't wait to do it again next year!  And there's always education week coming up in the fall...hint hint!

Notes from Women's conference part three...

Day Two!  More fountains of knowledge, spirit, and things to study!

The 3 women auxilliary presidents spoke in the morning session at the Marriott Center.  They were amazing, then they were joined by their counselors for the first class of the day which we attended (still in the Marriott Center).

Linda K. Burton - HE is the ultimate personal trainer.  Don't quit.  keep playing (referencing the story of the concert pianist and the little boy who worked his way to the stage and was playing on the piano before the concert pianist went out and joined him and told him to keep playing)
Faith and optimism!
Bonnie L. Oscarsen - Atonement must become personal, individualized.
EVERYONE, WITHOUT EXCEPTION needs the power of the atonement.
Rosemary M. Wixom - "Talk me in" (at night instead of tuck me in).
Desire to Change
Courage to be obedient
Burdens lifted through Christ's grace
HE is real - look for His hand in our lives.
Know Him.

Strength from Grace - Faithful LDS Women (Each sister spoke for 5 minutes and each told a story of a different amazing woman. It was BEAUTIFUL!) And they went in alphabetical order (after they all stood up there linked arm in arm and gave us all a "hug" vicariously.  It was so sweet!).

Sis Burton: Gift of Grace is benevolence.  Forgiveness is a liberating gift.
Sis. Esplin: Missionaries = angels.  Would be hard if we were along, but we are not.  Take the hand of Christ.  Fear and doubt are opposite of faith.
Sis. Marriott: Grace helps us through challenges and pressures.  Smile. Walk with purpose through our personal rainstorms (another motto I need pasted in front of me!).
Sis. McConkie: Keeping covenants scrubs out selfishness.  Challenges are opportunities to learn and grow.
Sis. Oscarson: Trust the Lord's Grace and trust His timing.  Elder Holland's quote about blessings that will come whether in this life or the next..they WILL come (that's not the exact quote! Gotta look it up!)
Sis. Reeves: (if you have less active children) Be an example.  Pour out love. Serve faithfully.
Sis. Stephens: Bump in the family road. Don't let negativity in.  No time or energy for a pity party!  Be allergic to despair, anxiety, fear, doubt, etc.  all negative emotions. (I loved that concept...be allergic!).  Choose to wear the atonement.  Be attracted to sunshine, laughter, beauty, spirit, light, goodness, etc. Bearing a load is necessary.  Pull your load with the Savior over the bump in the family road.
Sis. Stevens: Grace - divine Heavenly help.
Sis. Wixom: Afflictions swallowed up in joy of Christ.  Refuge in the temple.  Enabling power of the atonement gives us strength beyond our own.

I loved listening to all of them and wish I could remember the stories of each of the women they told about.  One of them spoke of the sister missionaries in the Philippines during the tsunami.  She showed pictures of visiting the house where they climbed to the roof and prayed for the waters to recede.  Oh my goodness...

Replenishing and fortifying our spiritual reserves by Annette Burton and Mary Ellen Edmunds
(This class was also in the Marriott Center...we sat in the soft seats and did no walking the whole morning!)
Annette:
Physical reserves: gas, food, money.
Family bank of spiritual reserves
Nourish reserves each day.
The Lord gives and forgives, Man gets and forgets.  ha ha...TRUE.
Scriptures provide answers.  Unread scriptures can not help us in our lives.
Write the words in your heart.
Mary Ellen Edmunds: (she was a hoot! also very sweet and cute!  I loved her!)
Mary Ellen Edmunds was introduced as a "happifier" she likes to happify!  Loved that.
Responding to spirit replenishes reserves.  A spiritual person has no priorities ahead of God.
drought reservoirs (doubt etc)
5 virgins fortified their reserve
1) Think deeply, ponder, meditate (a form of prayer), listen
2) Pray earnestly, honest and often, communicate
3) Search scriptures, put in heart, adds oil to your lamp
4) Follow prophet (Conference Ensign addition to D&C)
5) Express gratitude.  Ingratitude=sin. Commandment to thank God.
6) Come to the temple
7) Let heart be filled with love

One more class and then the closing session with Elder and Sis. Cook! One more post!

Notes from Women's Conference part two...

Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him...taught by Stephanie Dibb Sorensen ad Alan L. Wilkins

Stephanie: Using Agency to act and not just be acted upon...
The gifts of Jesus through the Atonement = Grace.  Forgiveness, enabling power, divine compensation
Come What May and Love it - Elder Wirthlin Oct. 2008 conference
Elder Bednar's talk in Apr 2012 to single mothers (I have more reading to do!)
I am the loaves and the fish in the Lord's hands (loved that thought)
What I lack is compensated by Him
Be acted upon by Christ
She referenced a country song (don't know which one!) and I loved it, "Breathe in Grace, Breathe out Praise."  I need to paint that motto on a wall somewhere!!

Alan: Then will I make weak things become strong (Ether 12:27)
How was Moroni made strong?  Compensation - Lord makes up the difference
The Holy Ghost will testify of the writings
Weakness, Grace and perfection:
1) Don't confuse weakness with sin.  Humble yourself, exercise faith
2) Seek to please Heavenly Father
3) don't compare yourself to others...can lead to pride or discouragement
4) act with bold humility and faith
5) Be ye perfect, not perfectionistic (loved that one)
He gave a CS Lewis quote about the Grandfather God - I need to look that up!
This life is the perfect plan to teach us and lead us to God.

This is the Spirit of Revelation Which is in Me...taught by Barbara Bradshaw and Jennifer W. Smith

Barbara: HOW IS YOUR FAITH? (response to assignments, trials etc.) When faith is strengthened you are more responsive to the Spirit.
HOW IS YOUR TRUST? His will for you, His promises, His prophets, His Grace, in yourself and to act
Thoughts, feelings, impressions - learn how the Spirit speaks to YOU. Doubt not the Lord.
HOW IS YOUR OBEDIENCE? Desire for spirit, what must I do today to have the holy spirit with me?
HOW IS YOUR GRATITUDE? Gratitude journal - list 5 specific things each day!  Heart becomes tender and receives revelation.

Jennifer:  Bible Dictionary - Revelation
To know the things of God.  Know it, then live it.  Still learning about it.
It requires that we pay attention (work on our part)
Seek His will
1) calm doubts and fears
2) learn to take a few steps into the darkness with faith and hope
3) be aware of our own expectations and desires
The Samaritan woman (read whole story!) Christ is there waiting for us to come.  Bring your vessel (time)
Peace - Pondering - Practice - Patience
The more we act, we learn to recognize the voice of the holy Ghost.  It will be familiar to us.  Dedicate time to recognize and to learn.

Elder and Sister Hafen
Clarify key elements of the Atonement
Increase understanding and willingness
The fall was a grand victory
Unconditional and conditional blessings
Unconditional: Mercy, creation, birth, resurrection, cleanses Aam's original sin
Conditional: forgiving, strengthen, perfecting
We have a perpetual need to repent (Amen!) He will help us change.  Grace comes BEFORE, DURING,and AFTER "all that we can do."
Our obedience and His grace strengthens us.
Put off the natural man.  Repent.  Let go of doubts.  Burdens bless and teach us and sanctify us.
Charity is a gift of Grace.
Perfecting attributes
mistakes, adversities, afflictions - all fellowship of suffering linked to Discipleship

That is the end of DAY ONE.  More to come...and lots more reading and studying for me to do!!

Notes from Women's conference part one...(gonna be lengthy!)

I decided to transcribe my notes from women's conference, not for anyone's benefit but my own.  I just like them where I can read them!  There are a lot of them...an most of them I can actually still read (it was kind of dark in some rooms taking notes, especially the Marriott Center).

May 1st (Thursday) at the opening session of this wonderful conference, the new president of BYU and his wife were introduced. President Worthen. It was his FIRST DAY on the job!  What an initiation!  Ha!  He was thanked for providing the facility for us.  When he stood to give a few remarks he said, "I didn't provide this facility, I am a STEWARD over this facility.  It's his duty to assist INDIVIDUALS, not just students, in their quest for perfection and eternal life.  He encouraged us to listen for things not heard over the pulpit, to listen and feel and the Spirit will testify and instruct us personally.

Then the keynote speaker was Sheri Dew!  She had been so ill on Monday, and the Dr. told her she needed to be in bed for at least 10 days!  But she had 15,000 of her "best friends" counting on her for Thursday.  Through priesthood power, much prayer and fasting from her family and friends, she was there to deliver her address.  Her voice sounded bad, like a really bad sore throat, but she gave an amazing talk. (not surprised!).  Sis. Dew said she asked a stake Relief Society presidency what ladies in their stake would want to learn about Grace...they said they didn't know enough about that to know what they would want!  So Sis. Dew's first question to us was "What do you understand about Grace?"  She spoke of Grace being amazing power, redeeming power, the fruit of the atonement.  Grace is power that flows from the atonement.  Read "Grace" in the bible dictionary.  When reading a scripture with the word "Grace" substitute the word "power."

"How can grace help me?" The Lord doesn't move the mountain, but he helps us climb it.  He makes his power available to us (Holy Ghost, Priesthood power, keys authorized to use by both men and women etc.)

"What must we do to obtain grace?" To know something, we go to the university.  To become something, we go to the Temple.  The scripture "Saved by Grace after all we can do." All we can do = the direction we are heading.  It's all about discipleship.  Loving the Lord first, a change of heart, behave like a true follower, remember Him in all activities, conflicts, temptations...IMMERSION in the Gospel.

What one thing would I give up starting today to center more on the Savior and unlock his Grace?

Then this statement really made me sit up and think..."We are preparing the world to receive the Savior...and to present the Church of the Lamb TO the Lamb."

The key to unlocking the power to covenant women is for covenant women to work on unlocking the power.  Sis. Dew referenced a talk by Bruce C. Hafen called "The Enabling Power of the Atonement."

We can't be a disciple of someone we don't know.  For a brief synopsis of her talk you can go here.  I will be studying much more about this topic, I assure you!

The first class Miss Donna and I decided to attend was "My Grace is Sufficient for Thee" by Elaine Carter and Grant Anderson.  Sis. Carter went first.  She was a great speaker, very inspiring and has an amazing story of her own.  She talked about the Atonement being a redemptive power, and an enabling power.  Helps us become Saints.  She taught us to have a "To Be" list instead of a "To Do" list.  To focus on Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.  To know them, to become like them and we can't until we know them.  She referenced a talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland titled "Lessons from Liberty Jail" and one from Elder David A. Bednar titled "In the Strength of the Lord" and a book "The Continuous Atonement" by Brad Wilcox. (I believe there is a talk by him with a similar theme "His Grace is Sufficient" I think it's called - still have to look that up!).

Mortal angels help us.
Don't 1-up people.
Be more merciful and kind.
Pray for others
Don't judge
See good in others

"Anything we do well is a gift from God." - Lloyd Newell

Sister Carter also referenced a talk by President Monson "Goblet of Gratitude."

Perfection will not be achieved in this life.  Throw away the big stick you beat yourself up with.
Pray to Father to judge and parent me.  God cares more about our growth than our comfort.
Oct. 1953 J. Reuben Clark said "He want so save ALL of His children.

And my favorite quote from her talk was by Bruce C. Hafen "Grace can be BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER all we can do.  I think I always tend to think it comes AFTER the trial or whatever I'm working on is DONE.

Bro. Grant:

Sorrow is a key component of earth life.
Separations - death and otherwise
Heartbreak is all around us
He referenced two hymns with these lines "Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer, let not sorrow overwhelm us" "In a world where sorrow ever will be known"
Grace in Greek = Divine or holy influence on the heart
Sufficient in Greek = strength be enough - defend
Frustrations essentially a function of high expectations
Don't shake your fists at God for what you expect from living right (expectations)

I learned that the word YEA in the scriptures is often and "amplifier word." More clarity, (louder).  Clarifies what was spoken before the word yea.  "Highly favored, yea, having had great knowledge of the mysteries of God."
The Lord only gives bread and fish, not stones and serpents (S. Michael Wilcox gave a wonderful talk about this last year at education week!).
Even during a wrestle we can have peace and forgiving.
Why should I linger in the valley of sorrow?  Don't let it overwhelm you, be helped through His Grae.

That was just the first two hours of the morning!  I obviously have a lot of reading and studying to do!  I can see that I need to break this down into a few sections...too much information for one sitting!

Spiritually Fed...day two

Friday morning we were up and at it again!  We were excited to have another wonderful day at BYU!  The morning session in the Marriott Center was amazing again. We got to hear from Linda K. Burton, Bonnie L. Oscarson, and Rosemary M. Wixom.  It was wonderful!  We had discovered the soft blue seats behind the podium so that is where we sat.  We watch it all on the megatron anyway so we didn't mind being behind them. It was fun to see the teleprompter too.  I forgot to mention the beautiful musical numbers they had at each beginning and closing session.  Oh my goodness...so incredible the talent and music that inspired us! A family choir (grandmother, daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughters), a pianist and his 12 year old daughter who played the violin amazingly!  The pianist (a music professor I believe) also played a solo, and then the opera student Rebecca Peterson that sang two numbers (one with a violinist as well as the piano professor). All 4 sessions (opening and closing each day) had two amazing musical numbers.  After the Friday morning session, thankfully our next two classes were in the Marriott center so we just stayed there!  In the soft seats!  I don't think my legs and feet could have taken much more walking!  We then came out to go to the Wilkinson center and ran into my sweet friend Marilyn Zimmerman from Arizona!  I had facebook messaged her where I was at and she had been at that class too, so she found me!  That was fun!  After our last class at the Wilkinson center we decided to walk back for the closing session by way of the Hinckley building so we could take our pictures by the tulips.  Who do you suppose we ran into there doing the very same thing?  Jan Budge and her daughters/daughters-in-law!  So fun!  We helped them take pictures and they took ours and then we all sat together for the closing session.  It was so fun to see them and be able to visit for a little bit!  I sure loved visiting with Christi Budge and catching up on their sweet little family! The closing session was Elder Quentin L. Cook and his wife.  WOW.  It was so neat to have them there and to listen to their talks.  So uplifting and inspirational.  I know the topic I need to put more study into is GRACE.  If I learned nothing this week, it's that I need to learn more about that.  The theme of the conference was taken from Psalm  84:11 "For the Lord God is a and Shield: the Lord will give Grace and Glory: no Good Thing will HE withhold from them that walk uprightly."

Beautiful, Beautiful conference.  I feel so blessed to have been there!  And so grateful that Donna came to go with me!  I have truly been spiritually fed until my cup runneth over!  After the conference came to an end, we went to Cafe Rio so Donna could learn how good THEIR food is!  She liked it!  We watched some more Avonlea in the evening and just relaxed as best we could.  She had checked flights for the next morning (she flies standby) and things were looking good for her to get home.  Of course, I wouldn't have minded it if she had to stay!  Saturday morning we got Kneaders for breakfast (what else?) and took her to the airport.  I was sorry to see her go, but we do not say Goodbye.  We say, see ya soon!  Thank you Donna for being here with me and for being such a beloved and good friend to me!  I WILL be seeing ya soon!

Donna and Jan... 

 If you look hard, you can see Elder Cook in this picture...

 Sweet Pork Salad for Donna, smothered sweet pork burrito for me...

and chunky french toast at Kneaders...good stuff!  Only some strawberries left!

Spiritually Fed...day one

Dave left for Boston on Monday morning.  It was good timing for him to be gone, you will see why. I got busy getting this house cleaned and the guest bath and bedroom ready.  My kindred spirit friend Donna was coming for BYU Women's Conference! I put some Puff Corm, Chocolates and a BYU or bust notebook on her bed to greet her.  She flew in on Wednesday and the fun began!  We scanned some of her old negatives (really cute pics of her when she was little!) and then we went to "Sacred Gifts" at the art museum at BYU.  It was beautiful to go again and see the beautiful artwork (some of them had been changed out since last time we were there).  Amanda came with us.  She and I have both seen the exhibit before but it is totally worth seeing more than once!  I was so glad that Donna got to see it.  It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.  Those paintings will go back to Denmark and Germany and New York and they will never come back.  A truly beautiful experience.  After viewing the exhibit we drove past the Provo Tabernacle which is being turned into a temple.  What a sight!  We then went to dinner at Zupas because Donna had never been there.  We all enjoyed it!  Thursday morning we were up early to get to BYU for day one of Women's Conference.  It didn't seem real that we were there!  We parked by the stadium and walked UPHILL to the Marriott Center.  There were women and cars everywhere!  But the weather was beautiful and the BYU campus was beautiful and we were just so happy to be there!  Sheri Dew was the keynote speaker that first morning and she was wonderful!  (As always).  She called us her best friends!  All 15,000 of us!  She had been deathly ill on Monday threatened with a hospital stay and the dr. telling her it would take 10 days before she could get up and be getting better.  Through faith, prayer and fasting on all of her friends and family's behalf, she was there on Thursday to inspire and move us.  The whole ticket was worth it just for that!  We then went to three classes (so hard to pick when there are so many wonderful ones to choose from!).  We walked all over that campus!  Were my legs and feet TIRED!  The campus was so beautiful though and the tulips were amazing!  We HAD to take pictures of them. We went to the bookstore after our last class and Donna bought us the special Women's Conference Bags.  They are so cute!  Thank you Donna!  Then we went back to the Marriott Center for the closing session of the day with Elder Bruce C. Hafen and his wife.  It was an amazing and spiritually uplifting day!  We had taken snack with us to eat throughout the day as there really never was enough time to stop and eat!  We walked back to the stadium and drove home where Amanda had homemade pizza ready for us!  It was delicious!  We had to take Donna to Macey's for a KONG CONE...we of course got the "baby" cones which are plenty big themselves (and only 99 cents).  I kept hoping someone would order an actual Kong Cone so Donna could see how BIG they are (over a pound of ice cream and very tall!) but no one did while were there.  We then spent the evening watching some Avonlea episodes and getting our nails done by Amanda.  What a wonderful day!  We then went to bed to try and sleep and be ready for another day of spiritual enlightenment!  So glad Donna was here to go with me!  We took a picture as soon as we sat down in the Marriott Center that morning...my nose is red from the cold and walking all that way!  Ha!  Why does Donna look so good!? She was colder than me! 

 That's Sheri Dew! You can't tell, but I can!

Love you Donna!  So glad you came!!