A little Time Out

I adore my husband.

I'm in love with my kids.

And I also really enjoy my occasional weekends away from them.

Matt has quickly caught on to what a little time away with the girls does for me as a wife and mom and readily encourages these now annual trips to relax, recharge and refocus.

This year it was a trip to Philly to go to this:

It was a perfect weekend. Of course we squeezed in a little New York time, but the highlight was going to the conference with my dear Jersey friends who always have a way of inspiring and uplifting me. I even ran into my cute friend Jessica (who lived in Redlands once upon a time and now lives in PA) unexpectedly at the conference. It was so fun to see you, Jess! The only thing that could have made the weekend more perfect would have been to have Matt and the kids there with me. I loved being back in New Jersey. I loved the cool weather and the fall colors. Most of all I loved going to back to church in East Brunswick. After a year and a half, it still felt like I never left. There's something pretty special about that ward (that really feels life family) that I can't quite let go of. If it hadn't been for Matt and the kids back in Texas, I might not have ever left.

Then again, had Matt and the kids come with me, it would have defeated the whole purpose of the girls weekend. And it really was all just what I needed. I left here one Thursday night a few weeks ago, feeling like I was running somewhat on empty. While the last year has been incredibly enriching, exciting and adventurous for our family, it's also been extremely draining on me.

I came home at peace and empowered in my own little ways to face my own challenges.

I started reading on the flight home:

Good thing I was in a window seat and could somewhat curl up in my little corner as the tears poured down my face onto my dry roasted peanuts. It seemed to just sum up the message I felt from my Heavenly Father throughout the weekend.

And have you read this little book?

I read it on a monthly basis.

can't get it out of my head

This Story about the Nielsons. About sisters. About hope. About love.

And now that I've stopped crying, something else I can't get out of my head is my own sisters. Their lives. Their challenges. Their strengths. I need to be a better sister.

I'm grateful for sisters. Blood, law, and the ones that fill in when the real kind are too far away.

spiritual feasting with a side of drama

My Conference Saturday consisted of 1 hour of General Conference followed by:

(What's General Conference? See * below)

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4 Paramedics

20 little heart monitor sticker things all over my chest

1 CT scan

6 hours in the ER

and finally, a diagnosis of "it seems you just had an unexplained fainting"

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Don't worry, though. I'm fine. Here's what happened:

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I got up during the middle of the first session of conference (which was wonderful, by the way) to get a drink of water. A few minutes after I got into the kitchen, I evidently passed out for no apparent reason. I had labored breathing and was shaking enough that Matt thought I was having a seizure and called 911. I feel fine now, but have instructions to take it easy and not drive until I see the neurologist next week. I'm sure it's just a precaution and nothing to worry about.

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Conference today was wonderful. My testimony of Jesus Christ and his restored gospel is strengthened. I feel spiritually filled and determined to be better- in so many ways. After a bit of a scary episode yesterday, I was so grateful to be at home today together with my family as we listened to the words of the prophet and apostles of God.

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*General Conference is a semi-annual meeting that the worldwide membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participate in and look forward to. The conference is broadcast from Salt Lake City, Utah and is available by television, radio, internet and satellite. There are two sessions on Saturday, two sessions on Sunday and separate meetings for the men and the women. At these meetings we are instructed, educated, and edified by our prophet and our apostles as well as uplifted through beautiful music.

wise woman

In her book, Small and Simple Things, Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley wrote: "I love the scripture in Mosiah: 'And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.' Choose carefully each day that which you will do and that which you will not do, and the Lord will bless you to accomplish the important things that have eternal consequences..." (page 104). Thanks, Sister Hinckley. I needed that tonight.