Prophet Comes to AZ

I just got back from a special meeting. The Prophet, his wife, President Oaks, and his wife all came to speak to the members in the Phoenix Area. I knew going to the stadium would be out of the question because of Dave working so we went to the church building.

Today I was excited about it! We prepped the kids and told them the expectations, I took them and went early. I limited distractions ahead of time also. I was hoping they would have a positive experience hearing a prophet speak to them.  I even sat them in the big room with everyone hoping that would help them be more reverent-WRONG! I was completely embarrassed. William bothered his sisters, they bothered him, they rolled all over the ground and kept bothering me. I cried on the way home. Oh NOW they feel bad-now that I cried. I told them they missed out. I also told them they ruined it for me and they ruined it for themselves.

Initially I didn't want to go at all because I knew it would be rough without Dave-and foolishly I was optimistic by going. Lesson to be learned-keep your expectations LOW!

Ya know, it's just plain old rough having Dave miss Sundays, events at night, holidays, weekends, ect. I'm gonna hang in there till nursing school is done-then PLEAD with him to have some type of regular schedule for the sake of our family.

My own Dad worked out of town regularly-my mom raised 6 kids-6! She always worked all day everyday, I totally get why she cried sometimes. I guessed mom's just need to try their best while Dad's try their best. I feel very alone raising these kids sometimes-but I just need to hang it there, and know that God will bless my kids for every little effort I make.

I think back to the time I went to church most Sundays along when Will was 4, Allison, one, and Holly a baby-and I was Young Women's president. Whew-those were rough times. There were a few times I would cry out in the hallway-but I had to pull it together by the time sacrament meeting ended because I had a million YW things to do.

It has gotten better, but still my kids for some reason can not behave themselves in church meetings. We do much better when Dave is with us because he can handle at least one kid, I can handle another, and we keep trading between the three. I have tried everything possible-snack/books/coloring-having NOTHING at all, practicing, bribery, letting them do whatever they want, letting them do nothing they want.

Times, and seasons right? Someday I'll be board stiff in church meetings and miss having them there right? Right.