A Special Stake Conference

From what I understand, the special training that was provided to the Stake Leadership yesterday enabled us to have a special stake conference today with one of the members of the presidency of the seventy. In the April General Conference it was announced that Visiting and Home Teaching as we know it are done away with. In its place is a new program more in line with the way that the Savior taught. We are called to minister to each other. What that means hasn't been exactly clear. It is clear that we are to take care of each other, but what exactly that looks like, I'm not sure.

President Ballard - the acting president of the quorum of the twelve apostles came into town this weekend and yesterday conducted meetings in Brampton. The missionaries met, the young single adults met, area Stake presidencies met, and today Pres. Ballard presided at a Special Stake Conference in Toronto. We were privileged to have Elder Robert C. Gay of the presidency of the Seventy, and the mission president and his wife attend our meetings.

Listening to each of the speakers bear powerful witness of our Savior Jesus Christ filled my soul. I am so thankful that we were able to attend the meeting today.

Our Stake President spoke first. He spoke about the windstorm that we had on Friday. About coming home and finding great patches of shingles missing from his roof. He spoke about our need to be anchored to our Savior, asking us to consider are there parts of our testimonies that are exposed that need "patching" up. He spoke about the fact that it isn't a matter of if the windstorms of life come, but when.

The mission president and his wife (Pres. and Sis. Shields) spoke about their experiences. They spoke about smiling. Of letting the light of Christ shine to those around us. We need to share our testimonies and DO something.

Elder Gay spoke last. He shared stories about where he has in his life learned gospel principles. He began speaking with a funny story. He spoke about sitting with his girlfriend in a meeting, when she was attending what is now, BYU Idaho. I don't remember if it was her brother? Her Dad maybe was the bishop conducting the meeting? Anyway, the person sitting beside his wife was asleep and she leaned over and told the young man that he needed to wake up, that it was announced that he was supposed to give the closing prayer. So much to the shock of everyone, he got up and gave the closing prayer. Elder Gay said he knew right then and there that he could never fall asleep in a meeting next to her. He asked us if we were awake in the gospel.

Next he told the story of Elder Ballard extending the call to him and his wife to be the mission president. He told Elder Ballard that it wasn't a good time. His business needed him, his children needed him, it wasn't a good time. Then Elder Ballard gave him three pieces of counsel. First he said "You're not your children's Savior, you know that right?". Second he asked him if he was living a life of covenants or of convenience. Lastly he told him that he needed to serve with all his might so that the Lord could bless him and his family. He and his wife were called to serve in the Accra, Ghana mission from 2004 to 2007.

He would make monthly travels to Sierra Leone as part of his missionary work. On one of these travels he and his assistants were in a terrible road accident. He had glass in his head, and a huge chunk of his arm was missing. He was taken to a clinic in Sierra Leone. In the operating theatre the doctor noticed his missionary tag. He told Elder Gay that the only reason he was able to clean his wounds, and help him was because a missionary couple came from the church the year before and brought the supplies. Elder Gay had been feeling sorry for himself because he just had found out about a business deal that would have made him a billionaire, he didn't understand why he had to serve then and not a few years later, he didn't understand why they were in a crash, why he might die. And lying there in that clinic (that he told us you never want to go to) that it came to him that "everything that you have is because of someone's service".

He told us we are all called to give service, that his is ministering. There's nothing perfect about any of us. We're called to love each other and serve each other. He said if our church allowed tattoos he would get "lives are at stake" tattooed on his arm. He said that we need to minister to each other, that lives are at stake.

Typing it out, it seems so much less than it was. His testimony about how his family was blessed while he served was so powerful. Five of his children were sealed in the temple when he and his wife served. He said he didn't attend any of the sealings.

I didn't want the meeting to end. I felt so much hope and so much power. I'm so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I'm thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I hope I can live a life of covenants and not one of convenience. I hope I can teach my children to do the same.

Easter Fun

Friday
The girls wanted to do their Easter egg hunt on Friday so I said sure, why not. On Thursday night I prepped their baskets.

I still get a kick out of putting the stuff together for the girls. Easter Bunny Ken was the one who hid the eggs this year. He did a good job, hiding three together so it was cute when one girl would discover an egg, she in fact discovered three. And of course Easter Bunny Wendy knows what her kids like so each egg was labelled with an initial and the eggs were filled with different candies.

After the hunt, after the gorging on candy, after Ken finished baking - oh my goodness fresh bread, it was divine.

We went to the zoo.

It was good to get out of the house and the weather was good - a little cool, but good.

Saturday
The only thing that we had wanted to do over March Break but didn't do was go to the White Feather Country Store and see the baby chicks. We made plans to do that this morning before conference and we did it! We held the chicks, got a few treats, and made it home in time to start watching conference.

General Conference was amazing. Ah-mazing. Today's first session was a solemn assembly because this was our first opportunity as a church to sustain President Russell M. Nelson as the prophet and president of the church. Two new apostles were also called. Russell M. Nelson was a heart surgeon for many years. He was on the team that developed the heart/lung machine. He's extremely energetic and at 93 years of age, doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

This is Gerrit W. Gong was born and raised in California. His ancestors are Chinese. He has degrees in Asian studies, Philosophy and International Relations. He was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford. Professionally he worked in Washington D.C. and he worked for the ambassador to China.

Ulisses Soares has degrees in economics, accounting and business administration. He worked in Brazil for different corporations.

 

I cried happy tears of joy when they were called. Diversity takes time and it is coming to the highest levels of church administration and that is a good and beautiful thing.

Sunday

We continued to watch conference. Snuggling in blankets and being entertained by weird puppet shows...

By Sunday evening I really wasn't feeling well. The girls had been begging to go to the park by McLean Community Centre and so Ken (wonder Dad) took the girls while I stayed home. Poor Alice cut herself on an exposed screw on the park. The girls did have some fun though.

Monday
We were supposed to go swimming at the Grandparents today, but I felt so lousy. The girls were great. I was upstairs most of the morning, and eventually came downstairs. I did start to feel better which was good, but we ended our long Easter weekend pretty quietly.

I am thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for General Conference. And I am thankful for four day weekends!

March Break

Friday 9
The girls had a P.A. day and Ken worked from home. He said they were pretty good, and he was able to do work. Kate cleaned up the family room for extra chore money so I came home to a tidier house than normal for a P.A. day. I got home and then sat in the car in the garage for 25 minutes listening to the end of my book! (And no one even noticed!) Ken made pizza for dinner which was awesome. It used to be a Friday ritual - every other week he'd make pizza with the girls, because when you work from home you can take 20 minutes in the afternoon to make dough.

Saturday 10
Ken went shopping in the morning, and then we all went to Grandma and Grandpa's for lunch. We picked up Harvey's on the way - one of Grandpa's favourites. Grandpa turned 78 today. We had lunch, went swimming and then had ice cream cake.

On the way home from the Grandparents we dropped Ken off at his toast masters event, went to Fabricland and bought fabric, and went to Blue Sky.  I went home and got ready to go meet Ken. Our babysitter Christie came, the girls ate subs for dinner, and  I left to go join Ken at the Toast Masters Celebration.

It was a gala celebration for the chapter for the year. Ken has had a really great year belonging to the club. He's learned so much and he's found a lovely community to be a part of. A group of people all committed to bettering themselves and supporting others in the process is just so lovely. There were a few speeches, and then they handed out some awards to some of the members. Ken was recognized for providing "energy, enthusiasm, and life" to the Ajax-Pickering Toastmasters Club - The Spark Plug Award.

Sunday 11
The clocks changed last night - springing forward. Kate had some sort of mental mix up about this and thought that she should wake up earlier. Kate was up before 6 a.m. We did survive the day. I'm going to post these pics of the Plasticine. Alice was given this by Lauren and Hazel for her birthday. She has created and created and created. Fiona has also been allowed to play and create. Alice's family creation is pretty awesome.

Monday 12
I feel kind of quiet and sad. Going into holiday times (breaks from school) I usually have lots and lots planned. Lots. This week is pretty wide open. All of my dear ones that I like to see during breaks are off having family adventures. I know in my head that I need a quiet week - I'm feeling very, very burned out by life - my job, but my heart, I'm having a hard time convincing my heart that a quiet week will be a good thing.

We headed to Michael's and Once Upon a Child this morning to get t-shirts to make dresses. The plan - the girls will play, and I will sew.

Oh and Ken thought it would be fun to go to Rochester for an overnight at the end of the week. I think so too, but we don't have any money. Enter Airmiles! I booked a hotel in Rochester on Friday night. We're going to surprise the girls and take them to the Children's Museum, so that is definitely something to look forward to.

I managed to finish two of the dresses, but I am not feeling good about Alice's dress. Not at all. The style of t-shirt shapes the whole dress. I bought Fiona and Kate shirts at Once Upon a Child - golf shirts, and now I'm really wishing that I'd bought one for Alice too. 

Tuesday 13
I decided that I just couldn't, so we went back to Once Upon a Child and bought a golf shirt for Alice. Today's plan includes: finishing the dresses, taking the girls swimming at my Mom and Dad's and then leaving them there. Mom has asked/offered several times in the last little while to have a sleep over with the girls. Originally it was supposed to be on Saturday night but Mom had forgotten about the time change. The girls are so very excited for their first (sort of - Kate and Alice slept over the night before we had Fiona) sleep over at Grandma's. I might be a little excited too!

I finished the dresses, the girls and I swam and showered, and now I'm on my way to meet Ken for dinner at KB in Whitby. (KB - the chef Kevin Brown - the place is so good. He changes the menu all the time and his food is excellent. Excellent.)

Oh and I'm so very happy that I redid Alice's dress. I think it looks great!

Wednesday 14
After having plans yesterday with Ruth Plumb, that didn't work out - she'd mixed up her appointment times, to re-scheduling today I was excited to have one friend Play-Date for the week. So when Ruth messaged this morning and let me know that David had taken the day so they could have a family day, I was happy for her, but sad for me. The plan had been that I'd pick up the girls and we'd head up to visit with Ruth and Ava. When that changed it turned into hang out at the Grandparents house for a long while!

The girls had a good time at their sleep-over, but Grandma had the most "fun" night. Kate went to sleep around 9. And according to Grandma, Fiona and Alice weren't really settled until 10:30/11:00. There was some crying, and Alice and Fiona ended up sleeping with Grandma, although I'm not so sure Grandma slept that much. I'm not sure when Grandma will want to have another sleepover!

Grandma taught Alice how to knit. She's very excited about it! It's cute. Oh and Fiona's weird peanut toothpick eating is well, funny weird! The girls also enjoyed icing cupcake/muffins.

Thursday 15
Today is GO fun day! First - go to the Mall and see the BUNNY! There's also a fun Easter Train at the mall and a new play area. FUN! The girls wore their homemade Easter Dresses. Fiona didn't smile... my funny little weirdo.

Between the Bunny and the Train was the Koodo mobile kiosk. I thought about getting a new phone - I've been thinking about it for a while... but I just couldn't. My phone is FINE!

After the mall we stopped in quickly at the lake - to say hello.

Next up was egg decorating. This, this is when I miss my sister and my annual March Break trips to visit her. It just no longer makes sense when Suzanne is working and all of the kids are in school. And right now, Suzanne having just sold her house, Matthew already living in Utah, with all of the pressures she's facing, I really, really wanted to go visit and help in any way that I could, but she said it was too much. The Easter Egg Tradition that I had with her kids, it is such a sweet memory. I just checked, the last March Break trip was actually back in 2008 before Kate and Anna were born. That's crazy to me - ten years ago. Time is such a funny thing!

Then the girls cleaned their rooms while I got dinner ready for the sister missionaries. We had bacon & cheese quiche, and cheese quiche and a really fun time with Sister Lindsey (from Colorado) and Sister Benoit (from Prince Edward Island).

Friday 16
Today is FAMILY GO fun day! Ken is taking the day - yay! We are starting with lunch at Purple Woods at the Maple Syrup festival. Then we'll drive to Laura and Joaquin's for his citizenship party. AND then we'll drive to Rochester. This morning as we were getting ready, the girls finally got wise - why were we packing all this stuff just to go to Auntie Laura's. We played a guessing game and they danced around screaming when we told them we were going to the Children's Museum in Rochester.

We made the not tough choice to take the 407 to Laura and Joaquin's, because saving two hours seemed like more fun! Joaquin has been in Canada since 2010. He and Laura were married in August 2011. I'm not sure when he applied for citizenship, but today was his swearing in ceremony. He's officially Canadian now - too cool! The girls all wore their Canada Day shirts and we went to the party. Laura did an awesome job. The party was so fun. Ken's parents were there so the girls got to visit with Nana and Papa. And of course the highlight for Alice and Fiona was playing with cousin Rachael. Ken bought Joaquin some maple syrup from the festival - and some maple syrup candies.

Saturday 17
Almost every year I bemoan the fact that we all have a serious lack of green in our wardrobes. Maybe next year will be the year I splurge and get everyone decked out in green. Then again, St. Patrick's Day will be on Sunday next year - so probably not! Everyone had at least one tiny speck of green in their clothing, so that was that. We had breakfast in the hotel - okay, stinkiest smoke smelling hotel ever, not our room but the hallways, but Alice still said she wanted to live there?! We got to the Children's Museum pretty much when it opened and the girls were super excited!

The last time we went to the Children's Museum was July of 2016. It's crazy that Fiona was only three and a bit and really she won't remember that. We need to keep doing fun kid stuff for as long as we can so Kate won't be the only one with memories!

We left the museum 4 ish - can't remember exactly what time. The girls had an amazing time. We all did! We decided to drive back over the border and then stop and eat dinner at the highway stop near Niagara-on-the-Lake. While we were eating we decided - or maybe it was before that, to go to the Outlet Stores afterward, Kate needed bigger shoes, and I decided to get a new pair too - my big toe was starting to work it's way out. (On the way home my phone really, really bugged out when the battery died - and that was when I decided I would get a new phone!) We got home just before 10, put the girls in their beds, then Ken started working on his import, and I went grocery shopping. When I got home from shopping Ken went to drive over to his office because he couldn't access his computer and figured someone must have turned it off. He got to his office to find out there was a power failure, hard drive in hand he came home and started working. 

Sunday 18
Today we headed out a little earlier to go to Sacrament Meeting at Don Valley Ward. Ken and I were in Don Valley ward from January 2004 - August 2007. One of my callings when I was there was working with the Young Women. Dianne and Julia were two of the cuties that turned 12 when I was there.

This picture is one of the temple trips we went on, from left to right it's Dianne, Caelan and Julia.

Just after we moved to Ajax Dianne had her farewell before leaving on her mission to Paris, France. I missed her farewell, it was just too crazy. I promised myself I wouldn't miss her homecoming. Dianne is such a beautiful human. She had an amazing time learning, growing and serving in France. It was so wonderful to take the girls and listen to her speak. It was also wonderful to return to Don Valley and see so many old familiar, friendly faces.

And just like that a wonderful week was over and it was time to go back to work/school. We had a wonderful week. It was quiet, but fun and it was just the rest and slow down that I needed and I'm very, very grateful to have had it!