Wonderful Weekend

Today as I sit, wishing for something different to do, and tiring of Facebook, I decided I should blog. Last week Todd was in Ohio for the week. I was determined to get caught up on my house and it was the perfect time to do it.

I got in 3 days of exercising
completed all the kids' laundry
got the dishes all done up
worked on my calling
got dinner started before kids came home from school
helped with homework
completed dinners
went to Alex's football game and remembered all the necessities
got the boys to scouts and attended my Wednesday night meeting
felt great about what I had accomplished

Todd came home on Friday and this weekend has been a bit crazy. Toys are everywhere...I mean everywhere!! Boxes are strewn around the family room. Dishes were piled in both sides of the sink and all over the counters, stove and table. And I was about to go crazy! Luckily we had a special church activity for the Relief Society sisters in our Stake (Women's organization at church).

I was able to get out of the house and help complete some service projects for Warm Up Columbia. After which I was blessed to sit among these wonderful women, most I do not know yet but I felt of their spirits, and watch the Relief Society General Broadcast from Salt Lake. I adore listening to the General Relief Society presidency. They are awesome women who have been called to guide and direct us in our efforts in becoming more like Him.

I must confess, though, that my most favorite part was when our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, spoke to us. I absolutely love his sense of humor. I have admired this man since I was young enough to pay attention to General Conference talks. I love the stories he tells, I love his passion for the Gospel and his love for the Saints. I have always felt a great love for this man, whom our Loving Heavenly Father called to be our Prophet today. So, when he was sustained as Prophet of the Church it was easy for me to sustain him. What an amazing man he is. I can't wait to get the November Ensign to read the message he shared with us last night and refresh my memory.

He talked a lot about not judging others. If we spent more time focusing on making sure we were the type of people our Savior wants us to be, we wouldn't have any time left to judge others. Here is a little quote from his talk:

"My dear sisters, each of you is unique. You are different from each other in many ways. There are those of you who are married. Some of you stay at home with your children, while others of you work outside your homes. Some of you are empty-nesters. There are those of you who are married but do not have children. There are those who are divorced, those who are widowed. Many of you are single women. Some of you have college degrees; some of you do not. There are those who can afford the latest fashions and those who are lucky to have one appropriate Sunday outfit. Such differences are almost endless. Do these differences tempt us to judge one another?

Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” I ask: Can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I answer—with Mother Teresa—“No; we cannot.”"

This really made me think a lot about myself and search deep within to see where I may have made judgments when I should have been focusing on my own flaws instead. I love the quote President Monson used from Mother Teresa! It's amazing how love for others can change our outlook...and theirs as well.

Inside of each person is a spirit son or daughter of God. He loves them. He loves us.

I went away feeling uplifted and filled. I was able to get to know a few of the sisters in my new ward a little better. It was a great night. The wonderful weekend continued as I attended church meetings with my family this morning and enjoyed the lessons that were prepared and taught there. And it didn't stop there...

I went out with my new Visiting Teaching companion to see one of the sisters we are assigned to. Over the years I have learned that it is vital for women to have other women. It's so important to our wellbeing. We got lost on our way to this sister's home but eventually found our way to her sweet, comfortable home. There we visited and got to know each other a little more. We laughed and talked and shared stories.

So, when I arrived back home to the mess yet again, I sighed and decided it would just have to wait until tomorrow....when I can start all over again with the new routine I created last week....and get my home in order again. But I will have the wonderful spirit that filled my heart this weekend with me throughout the week to strengthen me and lift me and keep me going each day.

I am so thankful to be blessed to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. All the chaos of life seems less difficult with the knowledge of the gospel to guide our lives.