Stake Conference & Todd's 11th Birthday

Two of our handsome and wonderful sons-in-law, DJ & Brad

Little Jack-Jack ready for Conference

Katey Bug heading to the kitchen!

Todd with his completed Erector set project!
Our budding engineer who wants to attend MIT

Our beautiful Cindy with little Porter

Jordy finished her dinner! Gotta love that smile!

Regan and Todd sat with their folks and Elder and Sister Clark

Fun-loving Morgan with Jack!

Kaleb and Grampie!

The babies loved Todd's BD balloons! (Oh, and suckers!)

Todd blowing out his candles before cake and ice cream

Todd opening all his cards and enjoying every one!

He was absolutely thrilled with his State Quarter coin collection we gave him as part of his birthday.

Todd opening his IHome
(poor DJ crashed in mid-stream!)

Regan looking at her State Quarters Collection with Gramps!
LOVE THE HAT!

Kami lovin' on Uncle Brad!

Give each other loves! Ohhhhhhh!

Mom with Lori and Cindy

Our boys busy constructing with Legos.

Stake Conference is always as special for me as General Conference. It seems that we receive wonderful teaching from our Prophet, Apostles and Seventy at General Conference and then at our Stake Conferences following we receive very specific instructions regarding those principles. I am so thankful for the wonderful doctrine taught in this conference and for the privilege of having Elder and Sister Kim B. Clark stay with us in our home (our visiting authority and his wife). Sister Clark and I had several hours together here at the house Saturday afternoon while our husbands were in meetings. We yacked about our kids, their spouses, our grandkids and our husbands and felt we were kindred spirits. We are at the same point in our lives, about the same age, close to the same number of grandchildren about the same age as ours, empty-nesters, and last but not least, we both have bad knees! It was so fun to hear a little about their lives living and raising a family in Boston before moving out here to take the position of President of BYUI. They have certainly had their family challenges just like all the rest of us but their faith in Jesus Christ has seen them through just as it has for all of us who will allow Him into our lives .

Anyway, Lori and Brad and our little Todd, Kate, and Jack arrived late that afternoon earlier than expected which was a great surprise! Again, more time to visit and play with the kids before our Saturday night session. Todd tended the kids so Lori and Brad could attend the 7:00 pm meeting with us. Elder Clark made it an interactive meeting, using a white board and a mike and having portable mikes passed to members of the congregation for their responses to his questions. He taught from the Family Proclamation on what it means to preside, provide, protect and nurture and what things get in the way of our doing that well. All I can say is WOW! It was not the same old, same old! We laughed and cried together and were taught from on high! We all came home afterward and visited for about another hour before heading to bed. Our little Wilson kids are so fun to have around and thoroughly charmed the Clarks! Todd was building a crane or something with his erector set, Jack was sending cars speeding down Grandma's race track set, and Kate was just being the cute little girl she is. She even did a few moves from her Hansel and Gretal ballet. They were happy to have a bowl of popcorn and watch a movie while we were gone.

Sunday morning we had breakfast prior to the 8:00am youth session. Lori and I then cleaned up and set the tables for dinner so we would be ready to eat in a timely manner after the 10:00am general session. I prepared the food the day before so we were just able to enjoy the day and not fuss over dinner. My mom arrived and we headed to the church at 9:00am to get good seats. There were over 90 more people in attendance this conference which was so gratifying. Again, it was a great session. Jessica Loveland, a beautiful young woman from our ward and our this year's Homecoming queen spoke and did a beautiful job. Greg spoke and the spirit bore witness. He spoke on the use of our leisure time, that some of our activities are taken to an extreme and take priority over the things of an eternal nature; that as Pres. Monson said: "We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we're doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the "thick of thin things." In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes." We put recreation, television, internet use and entertainment, etc. ahead of those spiritual commandments that truly have eternal consequences. Also that some of what we watch and participate in we do at the peril of our salvation and that of our families not realizing that we have left the "high ground" and are being "poisoned by degrees". I am totally paraphrasing here but you get the idea. I spoke to one sister this morning who told me they went home after conference and had a family counsel and discussed together what things they were doing in their home that were offensive to the spirit and what they could do to alleviate them. She said the kids were actively involved and on board and it was exciting!

Elder Clark called on Lori to speak on the spot. She was unruffled and bore a powerful testimony which increased the spirit at our meeting even further. She is a sweetheart. How we love her and Brad and their kids and treasure our relationship with them.

Elder Clark spoke on three patterns of Zion:

1. Be good! Live your life so the Holy Ghost can be with you at all times! Do not do, say, or listen to anything that will drive the spirit away!
2. Serve the Lord by serving each other.
3. When adversity comes, look into the mirror of Christ and not the mirror of fear! Through the mirror of Christ you can see yourself on a journey, in the mirror of fear you see the adversary speaking discouragement to you. Turn to Christ ALWAYS because He knows exactly what we need.

I am not doing any of this justice, but I want to record it so I can refer back to it often. Just a wonderful conference...such a good spirit there with our members. Our hearts are full!

Brad and Lori and kids, and Sister Clark and I headed home while Elder Clark and Greg met with the bishops and high council for a "wrap up" session. Cindy and DJ and the kids arrived soon after for dinner and time to visit with the Clarks before they headed home. We missed Julie and Stanton and kids so much but Julie as their new ward choir director was directing their choir's number in Sacrament meeting. The time schedule just didn't mesh and we completely understood. There will be other times. It is always these times when we get together as family that we also miss Matt and Sara and the kids even more than usual! But December is coming quickly and we are so excited for their arrival!

When Elder Clark saw DJ he made the connection that he was an employee at the college and was so pleased to know he was our son-in-law. He is doing a great work for BYUI and its students and we are proud of him. I was so happy that the girls, their husbands, and my Mom had some time to visit with the Clarks before, during, and after dinner.

Now, another very fun thing as can be seen from the pictures is that we were able to celebrate Todd's 11th birthday here this weekend. I think it was pretty special for him...a special occasion for a special young man! Happy Birthday, Todd! We love you and know that Heavenly Father has great things ahead for you as you keep his commandments! Hope you enjoy all your fun books, legos, etc. as well as your state quarter collection!

Before Elder and Sister Clark left, Brad, DJ and he gave Greg a priesthood blessing. We are so grateful for the power of the priesthood and appreciate that special moment with so many of our grandchildren there to feel the Spirit that is present on occasions such as this.

(PS. A humorous little addition to this post. Can I say that I am grateful every two years to have conference visitors stay with us because it insures I will DEEP CLEAN my guest bathroom and bedroom at least that often! Oh, no, what happens after Greg is released?)