General Conference 2014, IN SLC

My sister in law Katie lives in Anaktuvik pass, Alaska. Don't know where that is? Neither do I, really. But I do know it is super remote and far away and thus we don't see Katie and her family very often. She planned to remedy this by getting all of us gals together for a general conference trip, and while we weren't all able to go (Carla because of her baby and DeAnn because of her pregnancy), those of us that did had a wonderful time.

Emilee and Louise drove up to ABQ on Thursday night. On Friday morning after a hectic run getting the kids off to school (except Bekah), getting the oil changed in my van, and picking up last minute goods, we were off (with Carla's daughter Libby). I was driving and said I didn't know how to get there, but we needed to head in the general direction of Santa Fe, right?
Right, they said.
And then I actually drove to Santa Fe, missing our exit by about 30 miles. So we took a different route to Utah, and it worked out fine, and Louise and Emilee were much better navigators after that.
We drove and drove...I'm not really used to doing 10 hours in one swoop, but I know a lot of families that do it and my hat is off to them. I felt blessed to not have all my kids with me, and to have Emilee's awesome playlist to keep me musically entertained. And to have survived driving Price Canyon at night. Seriously. That road is not safe.
We met up with Katie and her daughter Claire that night at the hotel, and we all were happy to go right to sleep.
We had tickets for the Saturday morning session of GC, so we had to get up bright and early to get ready and catch our Blue Line to Temple Square on the Trax. (I think riding the Trax was one of the girls' favorite things to do!) I had been texting my BFF Lindsey to coordinate where and when we were going to meet at temple square so she could go in with us, and right as we were getting of the train at temple square, I got a text from her that she was at the same intersection. I looked around but couldn't see her, and so, with crowds all around me, I simply yelled, "Lindsey!" as loud as I could several times. I still didn't see her so we all crossed the street and began to walk towards the conference center. The crowds cleared and there she was, saying, "I heard you calling me so I turned around!" Ah, happy reunion! I love my Lindsey!
We happily made through the crowds with none of us tripping up the stairs whatsoever and into the conference center. Our tickets were for the terrace, where all the people on the stage look miniscule and it's easier to just watch the big screen tvs. But it was still awesome. I just kept telling myself that if I were to yell President Monson's name really loud, he would hear me.
Before the speakers spoke, I made a list of questions and concerns that I have. Bekah made a list as well. I was so happy when her concerns were specifically addressed by one of the speakers. We both looked at each other and knew that Heavenly Father had answered her prayer. It was a special experience. I have failed to mention how completely excited Bekah was to go to conference center! She had watched the women's conference with me and had been excited for the whole week to actually be in SLC, at temple square, in the conference center. I gave her a little backpack to hold her pens and notebook and snacks, and she had everything laid out before the first talk - pens, paper, snacks. She kept wonderful notes that she insisted I read after every speaker. She did it for every session and never once said she was bored or tired. She wants so much to be good and choose the right, and I am so grateful for her valiant example. Favorite talk: Jeffrey R. Holland (If he were a Baptist, he'd be pounding the pulpit, and I love that about him!)

After the first session (and working the crowds for lunch and a tiny bit of shopping), we made our way through temple square to try and find a good place to watch the second session. Katie had been teasing that at least one of the girls needed to be photographed in the Ensign - Katie's kids and Carla's kids have been in the Ensign before - and as we were walking towards the tabernacle, we saw a man way across the lawn with a big camera. We told the girls to run over towards him because he was the Ensign guy and maybe they would get their picture in the Ensign. They took off running while Emilee and I made "caw-caw!" sounds to get the guy's attention. He must have heard us because he turned our way, saw the girls running towards him with their umbrellas, and immediately started taking pictures of them...which made them immediately freeze and start posing. It was hilarious how instantaneously they turned on the charm. (That's where the above photo came from.)
It turned out that the guy was planning to submit pictures to the Ensign, and he wasn't just some guy, he was a friend of Lindsey's that she hadn't seen for a long time! I uploaded the three photos here from his blog, you should check out his other amazing conference photos at timhansenphotography.com
We wound up watching the afternoon session in a movie-theater-type-room in the visitor's center - with way comfier seats and a better view than we'd had watching it live. And again the session was wonderful. Favorite talk: Craig W. Zwick about communicating more compassionately
Afterwards we tried to peruse Deseret Book with about 1000 other people, and the best things I found in there were the Richardson's (from SV, AZ), and these heavenly lemon-covered almonds. Mmm...
I had to say my goodbyes to Lindsey at this point because she needed to head home to her sweetheart. I have to tell you, Lindsey is the most insightful person I know - always studying and praying and learning and being taught. I love that about her.
The rest of us ladies headed back to the hotel (yay for Trax again), enjoyed a fun dip in the pool, opened Emilee's eyes to the world of IKEA, and had a super late night dinner at the Cheesecake factory (it was worth it).
Sunday morning was nice and slow - amazingly enough those little girls slept in until 9am - and as the adult staying in the room with them, I was super grateful. (Favorite talk: Elder Bednar) We watched part of conference on the TV and then headed back up to temple square to have a picnic lunch with Katie's inlaws. We had tickets to the afternoon session that day, and so after lunch we made our way to the conference center. We had seats on the balcony this time, the highest level, because the girls really, really wanted to sit up there. I think the spirit dissipates the higher up you sit because I found myself behind a large family that couldn't stop massaging each other's backs and hands and arms...and in front of a group of college kids who really liked to audibly quote the scriptures along with the speaker, and then leave during the closing song (rude). Please, please, if just for me, DON'T spend two hours massaging your companion's back. I don't care how much you like them or how bored you get. The person sitting behind you might not be able to control their puking-reflex as well as I can. Favorite talk: Marcos A Aidukaitis
After that session, we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then went back to the hotel for another dip in the pool. We knew we had an early morning the next day, so we headed to bed before midnight that night.
The drive home (with Katie and Claire now joining us), was long but swift...even swifter because we went the right way that time. I am so grateful that we were able to take this trip. I love Katie and Emilee and Louise and I feel very blessed to have had that time to spend with them! And I am grateful for the time I had with Bekah. She and I have had some rocky times together, and this trip was really good for us.