I was sooooo HUNGRY!!

"If you understand the great plan of happiness and follow it, what goes on in the world will not determine your happiness." - Boyd K. Packer



OH man. It is really hard being a mother on a Sunday. I don't get to hear anything that is being said at church. In fact, I spend most of my time outside with one (or two on a bad day) of my children. I never thought I'd actually miss listening to the messages given in church. I do. OH. I DO!!! I am in Primary the next two hours after Sacrament meeting. Don't get me wrong. Primary rocks. I learn a lot from those kids, and they are quite amusing. However. I CRAVE adult conversation, enlightenment, support, and a good deep scripture discussion. Until last night, I was starving for some spiritual food. I mean I was famished, dehydrated, on my death bed.... Can I make it any clearer?

Then last night happened. Oh, what a wonderful night! We left the children with a (wonderful) babysitter. They had a great time. We were able to go to our Stake Conference adult session. Nobody knows why, but we had one of the Twelve Apostles there, Elder Russell M. Nelson. What a wonderful man. It really is an amazing feeling one gets when one of the 12 men on the earth that are set apart as Apostles is in your midst. I breathed a sigh of relief as I sat there and savored every word spoken. I learned so much. It's amazing how the talks given can speak personally to anyone who wants to hear it. The Spirit tells you exactly what YOU need to hear, and what you need to do. I left that building last night full. I hadn't even eaten dinner. I didn't need to. I was STUFFED with everything I have been needing to hear for a few years.

Then this morning happened. Oh, what a wonderful morning! I was dreading church this morning. The building was going to be overflowing with over 1000 people squeezed into every room in that Stake center. No nursery. Two children. Two hours. UGH. We decided not to sit in the Chapel even though the Garner's would have saved us a seat. Like I said, we are usually outside half the time anyway, and Greta wasn't feeling well which makes her such a *joy*. We sat in the Relief Society room and watched the talks on the TV for the first half. The kids were pretty good, and I felt relaxed because we were segregated in another room away from the speakers. The second hour we stumbled across the High Council room. There were only 2 people in there. Big comfy chairs! A white board for the kids to draw on! It was good. I was actually able to hear a talk. A good one, too. When it was over, I told Cameron that we should jet out of there so we wouldn't have to wait for an hour to get out of the parking lot. He mentioned that the door we were standing near was the door that Elder Nelson would be walking out of. We agreed to wait so Greta could see him in person. She REALLY wanted to. Cameron was right. Out he came. He started to walk the other way when he caught our eyes. I think he saw Austin first. He turned around and came to our family. I have to say that I am not very good at holding my composure, so I was at a loss for words. I had so many things I would have loved to say to him. I was screaming from inside myself. He looked at my children, said hello, then he looked straight into my eyes. Deeply into my eyes. He knew what I had to say. He knew how I felt. I layed my head on his shoulder. He kissed me on my forehead and hugged me. He simply said, "Thank you for being such a good mother." That was all I needed to hear. That was all he needed to say. His eyes were so kind, so gentle. What a wise man.

There is not a single cell in my body that doubts that what I am doing with my life is right. It feels right. I know it is. The Spirit quietly testifies that to me every time I do something right. I feel a warm swelling in my heart. In my soul. I am happy when I do what is right. My life is happy. My life is full. Anyone searching to fill a void in their life, to feel pure, overflowing joy, should open their hearts to the Gospel. To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The only church with a Prophet, 12 Apostles. One that is organized in the same manner as the Church in Christ's life. What a blessing it was to actually meet one of these men.

I'm glad that I have had such a feast, because next week is another hard day at church. I know things will get better. The kids will learn to sit. (hopefully!) They will grow. I will not be forever in Primary. Until then, I will forever remember the day I felt like a little starving child, never knowing real nourishment until one day she was presented with a feast that far surpassed her wildest dreams.