Grace had a four-day weekend that started with last Friday off school. Grant still had preschool in the afternoon. And Cori worked from home that day. The kids and I took it easy in the morning, toys and halloween cartoons. Grace and I painted toe nails. We did a little cleaning. After lunch, Grant went to school, Eden went down for her nap, and Grace and I spent the afternoon out.
(One of the perks of living in the land of eternal sun - summer clothing liquidation central. I got an additional 40% of that price too.)
Cori and I went to dinner with friends that night. It was one of the best Fridays I'd had in quite some time.
Saturday and Sunday brought General Conference. Usually, this is the weekend we make our Fall getaway. But I was glad to be at home, focussed on these messages. Lately, my heart has been so full of concern and questions. I know of so many good people doing the right things who have been faced with huge trials. I think of friends struggling through stretches of unemployment, even going back to school and changing careers in search of more opportunity. I think of our Papa Ray and Grammie Sandy well into year two of fighting Ray's thyroid cancer. I think of my amazing mom who has patiently dealt with all kinds of pain for so long. I think of my sweet friend, mother of three, who was just diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Why does the rain fall so heavily on some while the rest of us stand freely in the sunshine?
There are so many possible answers to that question. The Relief Society broadcast and the messages from our Prophet and Church leaders left me completely reassured that the Lord is in charge. The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings happiness and peace regardless of the size of our trials. Our Savior knows us, what we are and what we are meant to become. Life will never be fair, by the world's standards anyway. But fair is not the point. Becoming like Him is the point. My testimony of this has been further strengthened by the examples of these very people I mentioned who are facing their troubles with grace and an open heart.
Grace and Grant were great during the conference sessions. They stayed busy with reverent activities and with the cute conference packets Grammie Sandy sent. Saturday afternoon found us in the back doing a little yard work. Ah, just like my conference weekends of yore. Grace and I made a big batch of pesto. And we enjoyed spending those two days together without anywhere else to go.
We also put up some outside decorations. I've mentioned before that Halloween is to our neighborhood what Christmas is to normal people as far as outdoor decor is concerned. We are slowly building our stock of spiders and webs. One of my favorite things in the month of October is watching the kids play the 'This is Halloween' song on Just Dance 3.
On Monday, Cori went back to work. The children and I decided to spend the first half of the day at the zoo. We loaded up scooters and bikes, donned swimsuits and sunscreen, and packed a picnic lunch. We got to the zoo and learned that bikes and scooters were no longer allowed :( and that Yakulla Caverns, the favorite splash pad, was being serviced. Grant was very unamused with the whole situation. But we managed to be happy walking and talking with the animals (at a zoo! go figure). I took the kids into the petting zoo area, which I normally avoid at all costs, as compensation.
We spent the afternoon relaxing. It was so nice having Gracie home. She is such a super big sister. That night was Grant's first soccer practice of the season (no camera! bummer!) and we went to bed good and ready for real life to commence again.
