Women's Conference at BYU!!!!!

I love Women's Conference!!!!!  I can't express how  much I  love it!  The first year I ever went to Women's Conference was when I was a student at BYU in 87.  I was just about to be married and my roommate Diane and I wanted to check it out.  I loved it so much that I have been going every since.  The first year I went there were less than a thousand, but now there are over 15,000 or more.  This year was my 18th year of going. Matt has always been so supportive of me going because he knows I come back  spiritual renewed and rejuvenated!  This year was no exception.  Julie, one of my best friends, and I have been going together for several years now. 

One of my favorite parts of Women's Conference are the sharing stations.  The Sharing Stations share ideas for service in the home/family, church or community, as well as other ideas for personal and family enrichment.  I love how creative women can be.  There is such a feeling of sisterhood at the sharing stations.

Sister Sandra Rogers, is Chair for BYU's Women's Conference.  She gave one of the best talks.  Her talk was on Discipleship and Ministry.   She said that our lives must be a symbol of our dedication to the Savior.  Others must know him and love him through us.  She talked about how he doesn't grade on a curve, he wants us all.  She said our lives are our most powerful sermons we will ever give. 

 I love going to the nightly entertainment they have on Thursday nights and this  year was no exception.  The performers were the following:  Hilary Weeks, Jenny Oaks Baker, Dallyn Vail Bayles, Alex Boyé, Mercy River,

and Michael McLean. 

 

Julie and I ate a lot of our meals at the Cannon's Center right by where our dorms were.   I felt bad for all of the BYU students who took over their campus and cafeteria.   While I was at Women's Conference I was able to see where Coby works and I also was able to take him out to lunch.  Coby is a wonderful son!!!!!!!  We went and quickly checked out  the new exhibit, "Beauty and Belief, Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture." 

 At Women's Conference they also have opportunities to serve others.  On Wednesday and Thursday nights there are opportunities to serve other.  There are countless projects to do and they are all so rewarding and go to countries throughout the world.   It is so neat to see women listening to talks while they crochet, or knit something.  The number of things completed to help the world are astounding. 

Here are some of the excerpts from some of my favorite talks:
depth of preparation=depth of inspiration
Choose to wake up each day and say, "This is going to be  my happiest day ever."
"We don't leave a loaded gun on the counter just  like we don't leave the Internet access open to our children."
"You will be in an onion patch your whole life.  You didn't come to earth for the weeds, you came for the Savior."  
"When bad things happen, they might slow me, but they won't unravel me."
"The tuition of life hasn't changed.  If we want to value and love the gospel we must work at it each day.  Who are you listening to, the world or the Lord?"
Persecution can either motivate us into action or crush us."
"Winning an argument isn't as important as winning a friendship."
"In a world where selfishness and greed are accepted and almost encouraged it is our responsibility as parents to provide opportunities for service." 
"Just focus on the Gospel.  This, too, shall pass." 
"Everything will be okay in the end.  If it's not okay, it's not the end."

“When you are more sensitive about taking his name upon you, seeking the spiritual gifts from his sacred ordinances and giving added care to following him, you feel greater strength,” “You see more clearly, sense more deeply your identity as a daughter of God and realize with greater measure the purposes you have accomplished, are accomplishing and will yet accomplish.”

25th Anniversary Weekend get away

For our anniversary Matt planned everything.   He reserved a cabin at the Alaskan Inn.  We have stayed there before for a get away and  loved it.  We weren't disappointed this time at all. It is up Ogden Canyon and it is so breathtaking up there!

Pictures of the quaint cabins.

 

We drove to Odgen in the morning.  Matt's dad called to wish us a Happy Anniversary.  Darrel said that Kathleen told him to call.  Thanks to my mom in law too!!!

Our first stop was lunch at the Junction.  This is where the new Larry H. Miller theater is. Matt wanted to take me to see  the new Nicolas Sparks movie, "The Lucky One."    I of course enjoyed it.  I love Nicolas Sparks.  I don't think Matt enjoyed it as much as I but he is always such a good sport and will take me to any movie I want to see,; chick flick or not. After the movie we went to check out our beautiful room.

Later that evening we had dinner at the Timbermine restaurant.  It was delicious!!!!!!!   

I got the crab legs and steak.  It was very reasonable priced too!

Matt had the Prime Rib.

On Saturday morning they bring you breakfast in bed.  They also leave cookies in your room and sparkling cider.  Yummy!!!!!    They bring you breakfast in bed and it is yummy!!

After leaving the Alaskan Inn Matt took me to see the Tulip Festival.  It was absolutely beautiful!!!!!  He knew I would love and I couldn't be any happier!!!  I love color!!!!!!  I am so grateful we live in a colorful world.  

Below are pictures of our adventure there!!!

This one is my favorite!!

They had some entertainment.  FUN!!!! 

Forget-me-not!!!!  I can't look at these and not think of President Uctdorf's talk about them!!!!! One of my favorite talks by the way!!!! :)

After looking at the Tulip Festival we went to The Harvest Restaurant!!  This had the best food!!!!  After being inspired by all the beautiful flowers we went and bought some of our own.  Matt also took me shopping for a couple new outfits.  He is so sweet.   Then we went home and planted them and spent time with our kidlets!!!!  

On Sunday, which was our actual wedding anniversary Coby came over and all of the kids made us a wonderful meal.  Thank you very much!!!!  I am so grateful for the life Matt and I have together.  I love my man, my family and I grateful beyond measure how much the Lord has blessed me. 

25 years!!!!

This picture was taken shortly after we met at one of my high school dances. Matt won the best dancer that night. Kind of silly!!!

Pictures from our wedding reception.  We didn't have pictures taken at our wedding because I was sick.  I was actually throwing up during the wedding ceremony  I am not sure if I had the stomach flu or I was so nervous I made myself sick.

I wanted to put pictures on this page from the last 25 years, but my scanning capability needs a lot of help.  The above pictures are just a few of the ones I scanned that look somewhat normal.    I am so grateful I married Matthew Glenn Vail 25 years ago in the temple.  He has made my life whole.  One thing I realize now more than ever is that it goes by in a blink.  I remember vividly when my children were little how I thought they would never grow.  I felt overwhelmed and thought I would always have kids in diapers.  But now I stand back in awe and just watch my life unfold. They grow so fast.  They change so quickly.  Love.  Always love.  Then. Now.  And tomorrow!!!

 

 

 

  

I feel tremendous love for  my husband and children.  And although it sounds trite I am more in love with my husband today then I thought was possible 25 years ago.  I can't wait for the next 25 together!!!!!

The best anniversary present!!

Matt and I are leaving in a bit to go away for our 25th wedding anniversary.  On our anniversary Matt is ordaining Spencer to be an Elder!!!  This is by far the best anniversary present I could ask for.  Spencer is leaving to head to Fiji in 18 days.  We are going to miss him so much!!!!!!   If you want to learn more about what he is going to be doing there is a post I wrote a few weeks ago that talks about it. I am terrible at tagging posts.  Anyways, Happy 25th anniversary to my hubby!!!!!!!  I will write more about this after we get back!!!

Easter Weekend

On Saturday Coby came over after having lunch with his friend Autumn.  We Matt and I came home the kids were playing video games.  Colton was there to, but kept trying to get out of the picture.

For some reason pictures from our  cell phone always tend to turn out blurry.  Matt taking a picture of me at what I seem to do a lot----cleaning.

We ended up having Easter dinner at our home.  It had been planned at my brother Matthew's and Suzanne's, but my nephew Nathan had been throwing up.  So we had it here minus Nathan and Suzanne.  We sure missed Nathan and Suzanne.

Coby trying to introduce us to the BBC version of Sherlock.  Unfortunately we weren't able to finish it.

Easter baskets!!!!

Easter Dinner at the FUN table!!!

Adult table!!!!  You can't really see my brother Matthew only his back side.  He left today to run the Boston Marathon!!!!  I am so excited for him.  I know he will do awesome!!!!!!!  Good luck Matthew on the Monday the 16th!!!!

How grateful I am that Christ has risen for each of us.  How amazing that He was not there that day so long ago. He was risen.

And he is still risen. And although he was not "there" that morning he is here. In our hearts. With us always. Beckoning us to "follow." Waiting to help us through our deepest woes and worries if we'll only remember to let Him in.

Because He's been there.

How incredibly grateful I am for that knowledge.