:::water to a parched earth:::

for months i've been looking forward to this coming weekend, yearning for it so deeply that it hurts. in my mind's eye i've been imagining an opening camera shot of the salt lake temple in the background with swaying tulips in the foreground as the motab sings and the announcer welcomes us to the 179th annual general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. classic general conference fare, you know what i'm talking about. the opening shot always makes me feel right at home, as if there is no other place on the entire planet that i would rather be at that moment, and no place that the lord would rather have me be. i feel connected to something bigger than the earth but small enough to fit inside my heart.

part of the reason i get so jazzed up about conference is that i know i'll be told everything i need to do in order to lead a happy and fulfilling life, and everything i need to become in order to be more Christlike. how nice is that? not that i will be anywhere near perfect by monday, but i will know more, and because of that, i can do more and become more. conference is a perfectly packaged weekend of inspiration, guidance, love, and kinship that i wish the whole world would participate in. to borrow a quote from President Monson, it is like "crystal clear water to a parched earth." by the time all four sessions are done, i always realize that i was much thirstier than i previously thought.

the only sad thing about this weekend is that i still miss President Hinckley so much. he was everything i ever wanted to be in life, and i just miss checking in with him every six months. i always felt that when he was speaking we were having a personal conversation, and i really miss that now.


nevertheless, i am still so excited that i can barely stand it. i've been talking about conference for weeks, and looking forwards to it for months. i can't wait to sit in my room and just listen and relax and plan for the future.

what are your plans for this weekend? what do you usually do? are you going to eat anything special? work on any projects during conference? do something in between sessions? i think i'll make pioneer woman's yogurt cream with some strawberries, and i hope to have some kind of rote project like cutting or gluing something to work on during the saturday sessions. excitement!


i'm looking forward to all of the speakers, but i'm really hoping to hear from...

Sister Julie Beck, Relief Society General President, who's "mother's who know" talk revolutionized my life...


Sister Cheryl Lant, Primary General President...


Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, who i love...


President Boyd K. Packer...


and Elder Richard G. Scott, always...


it's almost here! only two more days!