General conference

General conference is very busy for me working for Church News and I love it. But I do miss watching sessions with my family. So we felt so fortunate that my boss gave us tickets for Saturday morning! She had each employee take a session off to watch at home with their families or in the Conference Center.  This was such a great thing for each of us. We get so busy writing and writing that it's wonderful to sit and really listen.

I was so happy to be able to be there with the whole family -- especially our oldest who will soon be going on a mission.

 

We got there early so we stood and stretched for a while.

Listening to the speakers in person and singing with everyone there makes you feel like such a part of something so significant and special.

After the morning session, I took everyone back to my office and they met my coworkers, then JB drove everyone home and I stayed to write and publish stories. Saturday evening I went back to the Conference Center to the media room and met a large group of Haitian-Americans and interviewed them about their experience (read more here).

Sunday I went back into the office early and was there til hours past the second session as we worked to reach people around the world where new temples were announced. What a thrill to hear of a new temple for Natal, Brazil, where JB served his mission! One of his friends sent us a quote to use in the article (read more here).

In between Sunday sessions, KSL Radio aired a special hour I hosted about JustServe. This was also the Church News podcast this past week (listen more here or see the full transcript while you listen here).

Meanwhile, Ben made this incredibly delicious peanut butter pie. JB sent me this photo and I had some when I got home.

I can't wait to study the talks further to prepare for Relief Society lessons and to strengthen my testimony.

Spring break 2023 in Oceanside

Our spring break was the last week of March. We were grateful to spend a few days together in a beach house in Oceanside, California. We had a few days of sunny weather after all the snow here in Utah, and treasured the laid back time to focus on resting and playing.

The "back yard" of the house was all sand, and then over a rock wall was the ocean. At night, the waves crashed against the rocks. I loved the sound. James asked if we could turn it off — like a white noise machine.

The rocks were great play places. The first night, the kids and JB explored the shore. Here's the picture I took from the high point.

And here are the pictures JB took on the rocks.

This was a spot along the rocky beach where there was a drainage tunnel Andrew kind of fit in.

And Millie

Here's Jamesey on a walk with JB one morning to bring back donuts.

We went to church at a building we found ten minutes away. It was fast and testimony meeting, and two marines from Camp Pendleton bore their testimonies, which we all loved to hear. And Millie fell asleep on me.

During the week, the sandy back yard was the scene of much digging and playing soccer. The four boys played soccer for hours! JB and I kept saying we couldn't believe how much they played together. Andrew and Max played on a team against Ben and James. And Millie dug and dug.

The big boys also played with these paddles. Until that little blue ball sailed away too far.

On the sunniest day, Monday, we went to the beach north of Oceanside pier. The boys played more soccer.

Andrew tried a sand angel but that became a little uncomfortable. 

Ben dug a deeper hole for Mille and faster than she ever could.

James and Andrew tried boogie boarding. The water was chilly but they got a few rides in.

I waded a little in with Millie 

She splashed and splashed, until she got cold.

James also got some good cuddles with dad back at the house. We watched movies and The Chosen together every day.

We couldn't get over the beautiful sunsets on the water. We could see them from the balcony, and many people would walk along the beach and sit on the rocks to watch. 

Wednesday the forecast called for rain, so we set an appointment for Max, Ben and Andrew to do baptisms in the Newport Beach temple, about an hour north. First, Max and JB took a walk.

The temple was beautiful. We met four other families from Utah also on spring break.

That afternoon, it cleared and the kids played at the end of the rocky spot off our backyard and let the waves splash over them.

We found mollusks and clams and shellfish and hermit crabs on the rocks.

JB and I walked over to the Oceanside Pier and grabbed fish and chips.

The night we were home again, I missed the sound of the ocean right out the window. This vacation was one where I hope we created lasting memories and grew closer together as a family during a tender time.