When He's Away

Last weekend we visited Salt Lake City to enjoy a weekend with my parents and to attend the Saturday morning session of General Conference. We were advised to write the feelings we had as we participated in the solemn assembly and sustaining the new prophet, Russell M Nelson. As we were talking about this wonderful opportunity we had on the drive home, we were happy that we got to a full conference center participate in such a simple act of unity. When each quorum was called to sustain President Nelson, it feels so personal to stand and raise your hand, but having the whole church stand together as a disciples of Christ was a different level of amazing.

I personally sustain the new prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and know he is chosen of Christ to lead us to be better individuals. The changes that have been implemented over the weekend are already exciting ways that will help people grow to be more unified and caring towards others. I'm excited to minister to sisters instead of just visit them and be the hand of Christ on Earth for those who are His children.

While we were traveling, I learned a valuable lesson about making sure to bring enough cloth diapers for Claire! We were very close to running out, we were using our last diaper on the drive home and a few of the last ones were kept on probably a little longer than they should have. I thought that I had brought a good amount but from now on I will be over estimating to using 6 a day instead of 5 like she does as home. She doesn't like to be in the car seat for very long when she is traveling unless one of us is sitting beside her so for a trip up to Montana we bought a car baby mirror. I would suggest this to everyone traveling with a baby! It was so much easier being able to see her when I'm alone and didn't have Chris to be back there and entertain her.

Speaking of not having Chris....he is away and I had to find ways to entertain myself while he was gone. First and foremost I want to express how much I will never want to be a single parent because it is soooooooo hard. I felt like I didn't have any time to myself to do anything and it was harder to do anything like shop, pack, or work out. It is also harder to work out when I felt like I didn't have a place I could go with her in a stroller during the weekend! The indoor track at BYUI has been so helpful this winter because I can go with Claire, but most gyms don't have an indoor place to walk in a stroller.

I enjoyed doing my spring wreath project this past week while Chris was gone and I shouldn't have made it so sparkly...there was glitter everywhere! I had the option to buy normal tulle but I can't help myself when I get around glitter. I looked up a couple different references to see how much I would need to make the wreath and over estimated because I liked more colors. I ended up using all but maybe a yard of the 5 different 6 yd tulle spools from Walmart for my 12" wreath, but they were all squished together very tight. I liked the turn out and it is exactly what I wanted because it is easy to pack away and use again next year without having to have it ruined.

What I wish I had done before Chris has gone out of town was get some videos of him speaking to Claire like reading a story for bed time. She likes to look at the pictures that he sends our way and she is always more cranky when she doesn't have us both around. Visiting grandparents, having visitors over, and getting out of the house was a way to help her be distracted from not having her daddy around. I hosted a book club and wanted to share how well my doughnuts turned out! Weird but I was excited to share how easy and yummy they were to make. I made them out of the pre-made biscuit by Pillsbury with simply cutting out the wholes, frying them in oil at 300 degrees, and covering them in glaze or cinnamon and sugar. Yeah! That simple, but I was also thinking I could have done some jelly filled ones if I didn't cut them up...so may possibilities for the future.