this weekend, i feasted

We spent the afternoon at my grandparents' house enjoying steaks that were almost as big as our dinner plates.  The Diet Coke was flowing freely and we ended our meal with apple crisp and a new treat of cinnamon roll cake.  (Dave has insisted that I get the recipe from my uncle.)  It was a wonderful meal.

But, as great as that meal was, most of the feasting I did this weekend was in the form of a spiritual buffet called General Conference.

The two weekends a year that we enjoy General Conference are probably my favorite of the year.   My family gathers together around the TV for spiritual enlightenment.  The feeling I get lounging around the living room with the people I love is reminiscent of an infamous hurricane scare where everything shuts down, no one goes to work, and we all stay indoors and, often, in the same room.  There is a feeling of heightened safety in the midst of destruction outside.  Even though we are aware of the perilous spinning storm somewhere out in the gulf, we are all together, safe in our home.

It isn't too surprising that General Conference gives me a similar sense of security.  Except, in this case, the spiraling maelstrom of evil is right outside my door and every other day, I find myself having to venture out, clutching the umbrella of the Gospel and trying to protect my family from the danger.

I really appreciate the respite for a weekend.  I feel safe and secure and we have a good time.  We eat good food.  We enjoy being together.  We gather together in the safety of our faith.

During one of my favorite talks, a prophet of the Lord spoke about the divine role of women in the home and I felt reassured of the decisions I am making in my life with my family.

As he was speaking, I just happened to be getting Katelyn out of the kitchen sink.  She had eaten a lunch of brisket and sweet potato fries and had covered herself in ketchup.  I brought her into the living room to dress her and comb her hair.  I listened as he spoke about the world needing women who were gentle and kind and suddenly, sitting on the floor combing a tangled snarly nest of toddler hair seemed more noble than usual.  I was reminded of all the ways I could be more loving and Christlike and committed to be a better mother. And then to top it off, when I had finished tending to Kate, she stood up, turned around, and kissed me before she ran off to play.

I almost burst into tears.

I am so grateful for the words I heard this weekend.  There were so many things I needed to hear.  There are so many ways I need to be better.  After such a wonderful conference, I'm ready to step back out and brave the storm.