Last night me and all three of my daughters went to the General Women's Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Derek and I had been gone all afternoon on a walking dinner tour of down town Raleigh with our really good friends.
As soon as we got home us girls needed to get dressed and leave for the conference. Maddie was excited to go (even though she is not 8 yet, but decided that since I was the Bishop's wife I could do whatever I wanted.) Samantha was excited to see a friend who was supposed to come but ended up getting sick and staying home. Samantha was very good about not getting upset and still coming with us and keeping a good attitude. Elizabeth was less than happy. I talked to her, Derek talked to her, we threatened and finally came up with consequences if she did not attend. We explained to her that this is what our family does. We obey and we go. With a lot of anger and frustration she got ready and in the car. She spent the entire ride with ear buds in and watching a video on her phone.
At the church we saw friends and family. It was so nice to feel so loved. As I sat down Elizabeth kept asking me if someone could sit with us so they wouldn't be alone, her MiaMaid adviser, the sister missionaries and their investigator. Then just as the conference started she asked if she could sit by a primary age girl from our ward who was sitting alone. She has such a good heart. She loves to help people and wants them to feel loved and important. She is amazing.
We enjoyed the conference. Maddie colored and I didn't think she really got anyting our of it. Samantha had also sat with a friend.
We were excited because our good friend's mother was speaking in this session. As she spoke she mentioned a story about "Alyssa" who is Michael's age and goes to preschool with him. We all go to so excited.
After the conference Elizabeth came up to me and said, "See none of my friends were here. I knew it would be that way." As we drove home I felt that we should stop somewhere and have dessert. Chick-fil-A to the rescue (they were open!) As I gathered my girls around me I asked them what they had learned. I was amazed at the responses. They loved the talk by Elder Uchdorf on Faith. They spoke about how we have to not listen better but listen differently to hear the Spirit. How we need to speak positively from Sis. Bingham. Sis. Stephens talked about a girl who is bi-polar. How her mother wanted to take the pain and suffering away but then the girl said that Christ already took the pain away. Elizabeth liked the story but didn't understand because He took the pain but we still experience pain. This led to a good discussion and then referenced to a song "The Test" by Janice Kapp Perry. We listened to uplifting songs all the way home and never again did the ear bud go back in the ear.
I was amazed, my girls had listened, they had learned, they grew. I came home and told Derek that our struggles to get Elizabeth to the conference paid off. She heard words that made her think and addressed things she is struggling with. I was so grateful we did not give in to her desires.
As soon as we got home us girls needed to get dressed and leave for the conference. Maddie was excited to go (even though she is not 8 yet, but decided that since I was the Bishop's wife I could do whatever I wanted.) Samantha was excited to see a friend who was supposed to come but ended up getting sick and staying home. Samantha was very good about not getting upset and still coming with us and keeping a good attitude. Elizabeth was less than happy. I talked to her, Derek talked to her, we threatened and finally came up with consequences if she did not attend. We explained to her that this is what our family does. We obey and we go. With a lot of anger and frustration she got ready and in the car. She spent the entire ride with ear buds in and watching a video on her phone.
At the church we saw friends and family. It was so nice to feel so loved. As I sat down Elizabeth kept asking me if someone could sit with us so they wouldn't be alone, her MiaMaid adviser, the sister missionaries and their investigator. Then just as the conference started she asked if she could sit by a primary age girl from our ward who was sitting alone. She has such a good heart. She loves to help people and wants them to feel loved and important. She is amazing.
We enjoyed the conference. Maddie colored and I didn't think she really got anyting our of it. Samantha had also sat with a friend.
We were excited because our good friend's mother was speaking in this session. As she spoke she mentioned a story about "Alyssa" who is Michael's age and goes to preschool with him. We all go to so excited.
After the conference Elizabeth came up to me and said, "See none of my friends were here. I knew it would be that way." As we drove home I felt that we should stop somewhere and have dessert. Chick-fil-A to the rescue (they were open!) As I gathered my girls around me I asked them what they had learned. I was amazed at the responses. They loved the talk by Elder Uchdorf on Faith. They spoke about how we have to not listen better but listen differently to hear the Spirit. How we need to speak positively from Sis. Bingham. Sis. Stephens talked about a girl who is bi-polar. How her mother wanted to take the pain and suffering away but then the girl said that Christ already took the pain away. Elizabeth liked the story but didn't understand because He took the pain but we still experience pain. This led to a good discussion and then referenced to a song "The Test" by Janice Kapp Perry. We listened to uplifting songs all the way home and never again did the ear bud go back in the ear.
I was amazed, my girls had listened, they had learned, they grew. I came home and told Derek that our struggles to get Elizabeth to the conference paid off. She heard words that made her think and addressed things she is struggling with. I was so grateful we did not give in to her desires.
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